What temperature do you dry fruit leather at?

NCHFP says 140°F. It takes about 6 to 8 hours in a dehydrator, up to 18 hours in an oven.

How do you know when fruit leather is done?

NCHFP says to touch the center of the leather: no indentation should be left.

Can I use wax paper or foil for fruit leather?

No. NCHFP says not to use waxed paper or aluminum foil. Use plastic wrap on a cookie pan in the oven, or purpose-made dehydrator sheets.

How long does homemade fruit leather keep?

NCHFP says up to 1 month at room temperature, or up to 1 year tightly wrapped in the freezer.

How to Make Fruit Leather in a Dehydrator or Oven (NCHFP)

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Quick answerPuree 2 cups of ripe fruit, add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice if it's a light-colored fruit, spread it about 1/8 inch thick on a fruit roll sheet, and dry at 140°F for about 6 to 8 hours, until touching the center leaves no dent. Roll it while warm. That's from the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP).

Fruit leather is a way to use up very ripe fruit, and it's mostly hands-off once it's on the trays. The one piece of gear you'll want is a solid sheet for your dehydrator, since puree runs straight through a mesh tray.

Ingredients, per NCHFP

Fruit: ripe or slightly overripe. Wash it and remove peel, seeds and stems. Fresh, frozen or drained canned fruit all work.
Amount: 2 cups of fresh fruit makes one 13 x 15 inch leather. For canned or frozen fruit, use 1 pint per leather.
To keep light fruit from darkening: 2 teaspoons lemon juice or 1/8 teaspoon (375 mg) ascorbic acid per 2 cups.
Sweetener (optional): 1/4 to 1/2 cup corn syrup, honey or sugar per 2 cups. NCHFP says corn syrup or honey is better for longer storage because it prevents crystals. Saccharin-based sweeteners work; aspartame may lose sweetness during drying.
Applesauce: can be dried alone or mixed in. NCHFP says it cuts tartness and makes the leather smoother and more pliable.
Spices: start with 1/8 teaspoon per 2 cups of puree.

Step by step

Puree the fruit until smooth, with the lemon juice and any sweetener.
Line the tray. In a dehydrator, use a purpose-made plastic sheet or line the tray with plastic wrap. In the oven, use a 13 x 15 inch cookie pan with edges, lined with plastic wrap, wrinkles smoothed out. NCHFP says not to use waxed paper or aluminum foil.
Spread the puree evenly, about 1/8 inch thick, and keep it back from the edges.
Dry at 140°F. NCHFP gives 6 to 8 hours in a dehydrator, up to 18 hours in an oven, or 1 to 2 days in the sun. Bigger leathers take longer. It dries from the outside edge toward the center.
Test by touching the center. No indentation means it's done.
Roll while still warm: peel it off the sheet, roll it, let it cool and rewrap in plastic.

Fruit roll sheets for your dehydrator

Buy the sheet that matches your dehydrator's tray shape and size. Here's what the listings say they fit:

NESCO round, 15-1/2 inch trays (FD-1010, FD-1018A, FD-1040, FD-80): the SLD-2-6 holds up to 3 cups of puree per sheet and has a no-spill lip, per the listing.

NESCO large round

NESCO SLD-2-6 Fruit Roll Sheets (2)

Fits 15-1/2 inch NESCO trays, per the listing
Up to 3 cups of puree per sheet; no-spill lip
Fits FD-1010, FD-1018A, FD-1040, FD-80
BPA-free plastic, hand wash

Check price on Amazon

NESCO Snackmaster and smaller round models (20, 30, 60 and 70 series, including the FD-75A): the LSS-2-6, same 3-cup capacity and lip, per the listing.

NESCO small round

NESCO LSS-2-6 Snackmaster Fruit Roll Sheets (2)

Fits NESCO 20, 30, 60 and 70 series, including FD-75A, per the listing
Up to 3 cups of puree per sheet; no-spill lip
BPA-free plastic, hand wash

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COSORI square trays: two 11.3 x 12.8 inch sheets made for the COSORI CP267-FD, and listed for other square dehydrators with larger trays.

COSORI square

COSORI Fruit Leather Roll Sheets (2)

Two BPA-free sheets, 11.3 x 12.8 inches, per the listing
Made for the COSORI CP267-FD; fits square trays larger than the sheet
Hand wash only

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Excalibur 4-tray: ParaFlexx silicone sheets, 11 x 11 inches, listed to fit the Excalibur 2400. Check your model before ordering; these are listed for 4-tray Excalibur dehydrators.

Excalibur 4-tray

Excalibur ParaFlexx Drying Sheets, 11 in (4)

Four 11 x 11 inch silicone sheets, per the listing
Made for 4-tray Excalibur dehydrators (fits the 2400)
Listed for fruit leather and crackers

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Don't have a dehydrator yet? A stackable NESCO takes the round sheets above, and NESCO's FD-1018A includes fruit roll sheets, per the listing. More options in our dehydrator guide.

Roll sheets included

NESCO FD-1018A Gardenmaster Pro, 8 Trays

1,000 W with top-mounted fan; no tray rotation, per the listing
8 trays included, expandable to 30
Adjustable thermostat 95°F to 160°F
Fruit roll sheets, clean-a-screens and jerky seasoning included

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Storing fruit leather

NCHFP says fruit leather keeps up to 1 month at room temperature. For up to 1 year, put the tightly wrapped rolls in the freezer. Leathers with fillings like cream cheese or jam belong in the refrigerator.

Keep it to tested ingredientsNCHFP's directions are for fruit leathers. NCHFP's storage times (1 month at room temperature, 1 year frozen) are given for these leathers; filled leathers go in the refrigerator. NCHFP has separate pages for vegetable and mango leathers.

How to Make Fruit Leather: NCHFP's Method, Sheets and Storage

Ingredients, per NCHFP

Step by step