Dried Strawberries

Dried strawberries are one of the sweetest of the dried fruits, and for that reason are most often seen accompanying desserts and sweet breakfast items, though they have limited use in savory dishes.

To make dried strawberries, fresh strawberries are picked at their ripest point, sliced, infused with a sweetener, and dehydrated. The resulting dried fruit is soft and chewy, and very sweet. The strawberry seeds add a nice crunchy coating and enhance the satisfying texture of dried strawberries.

Dried strawberries can be enjoyed as a snack by themselves, and while sweet, are still a healthy choice. They are fat-free, and retain the nutrients of fresh strawberries, notably Vitamin C and fiber.

Popular recipes that include dried strawberries include strawberry cakes, muffins, scones, chocolate covered strawberry bites, chocolate bark, icing, mousse, ice cream, sorbet, and gelato. Strawberry gelato is called fragola, Italian for “strawberry.” For breakfast, sprinkle dried strawberries over oatmeal, granola, and breakfast cereals for a sweet addition to a balanced meal. “Strawberries and Cream” is a common flavor that requires dried strawberries.

Like most dried fruit, strawberries have a stable shelf life. They can be kept for at least one month if stored in a cool dry place, and longer when stored in the refrigerator.