How to Dry Lychee Fruits

Drying Whole Lychees Outdoors

Blanch the lychees in boiling water for 5 minutes to treat them. Fill a large pot with water and heat it on your stove until it comes to a rolling boil. Drop the lychee fruits inside the pot and reduce the stove to medium heat. Stir the lychees occasionally while they boil for 5 minutes to help clean them. Pour the lychees into a colander to drain the water. Blanching the lychee fruits also helps preserve their flavor and color.

Put whole lychee fruits on a baking tray with a wire rack. Pick ripe lychee fruits that have bright red peels, or else they will taste bitter when you dry them. Set a wire rack on a baking tray so it’s elevated 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the surface. Place the lychees on the wire rack so they’re about ⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) apart so they dry out better. Elevating the wire rack allows air flow underneath the fruits so they dry more evenly.Tip: Place lychees that are similar in size next to each other on the tray so they dry out at the same rate.

Cover the tray with cheesecloth to protect them from pests. Cheesecloth is a thin fabric that is thin enough to keep pests out while still allowing air to flow through it. Use a piece that’s large enough to wrap around the entire tray and set it on top of the lychees. Tuck the edges of the cheesecloth underneath the legs of the wire rack so it doesn’t come loose. You can buy cheesecloth from kitchen supply stores or online. If you don’t have cheesecloth, you may use a piece of muslin instead.

Set the tray outdoors in a shaded area during the first 2 days. Wait until temperatures are higher than 75 °F (24 °C) and the humidity is less than 60%. Look for a flat, stable area that doesn’t receive any direct sunlight throughout the day. Make sure pets or children aren’t able to reach the tray so they don’t disturb the lychees while they’re drying. Leave the tray with the fruits alone during the day so they have time to dry. Putting the fruits in direct sunlight right away can make the dried lychees taste more bitter. Lychee fruits naturally turn brown after they’re picked, so it’s okay if the fruits discolor.

Bring the tray indoors at night and when it rains. Moisture can slow down the drying process or cause the fruits to rot, so try to keep them as dry as possible. Check your local weather forecast each day and take the fruits inside if there’s a chance of rain. Since dew can form on the fruits if they’re left overnight, bring them in just before sunset to ensure they stay dry. If you accidentally leave the fruits outside, check them in the morning for any pungent odors or discoloration since they may have gone bad. Throw away the tray of lychee fruits if you notice signs of rot.

Leave the tray in an area with full sun during the day for 2 weeks. After the first 2 days, search for a spot that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight during the day and set the tray there. Keep the fruits outside during the day and bring them in at night so they don’t get moist. Feel the fruits each day and stop drying them when they have a leathery texture, which will usually take about 2 weeks. If you don’t have a wire tray, then flip the lychee fruits over once daily so the tops and bottoms dry out evenly.

Store the dried lychee fruits in an airtight container. Leave the lychee fruits in their peels and place them in a jar or airtight plastic container. Label the container with the date so you can keep track of how long they’re good to eat. You may leave the dried lychees at room temperature in your pantry or put them in your fridge if you want them cold. Dried lychee lasts for up to 1 year at room temperature or in the fridge. You may also freeze dried lychees for up to 18 months. Allow the lychees to thaw completely before using them.

Remove the peel and pit when you want to eat the dried lychee. Use a sharp knife to poke through the dried peel and cut a small slit. Use your fingernail to pick off the peel and throw it away. Squeeze the bottom of the dried lychee and push up to force the pit out from the fruit before eating it.

Using a Dehydrator for Lychee Pieces

Peel and pit the lychee fruits. Hold the bottom of the lychee’s stem and give it a light tug to separate it from the fruit. Gently tear the peel off of the fruit with your fingernail and throw it away since it’s inedible. Push your finger into the middle of the fruit to force the bit out of the bottom. Continue peeling and removing the pit for each lychee fruit you’re drying. Do not eat the lychee pits since they can make you sick. You can try dehydrating the lychees whole, but they may taste more bitter from the peel.

Slice the lychees into ⁄4–⁄2 in (0.64–1.27 cm) pieces. Set the peeled lychees on your cutting board so the tops are face-up. Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the lychees into pieces that are about ⁄4–⁄2 inch (0.64–1.27 cm) thick so they dry more evenly. Make all of the pieces roughly the same size to ensure they finish dehydrating at the same time. Avoid using dull knives since they may push the juice out of the lychees and make the pieces tougher after they’re dry.

Spread the lychee pieces evenly on dehydrator trays. Dehydrators use low heat and a fan to remove moisture from fruits. Take the trays out from the dehydrator and place the lychee pieces on them so they have at least ⁄4 inch (0.64 cm) between them so air can travel through them. Stack the trays in the dehydrator once you’ve added all the fruit pieces and close the lid. You can buy a dehydrator from a kitchen supply store or online.

Run the dehydrator at 140 °F (60 °C) for 24 hours to dry the fruit. Avoid using temperatures any higher than 140 °F (60 °C) since it could affect the flavor of the lychee fruits. Plug your dehydrator in and set its timer for 24 hours to turn it on. Let the dehydrator run for the full length of the timer without opening the lid so the heat stays inside the machine. Always read the instructions for your dehydrator before using it since drying times could vary between different models. Allow the dehydrator to cool off for at least 10–15 minutes after the timer goes off since it could be hot if you open it right away.

Store dried lychees at room temperature in an airtight container. Use a container with a lid or a resealable plastic bag and place the dried lychee pieces inside it. Be sure to label the container with the date so you know when you made them. Keep the pieces in your pantry or a cabinet at room temperature for up to 1 year. You may also store dried lychees in your fridge or freezer for up to 18 months.Tip: Try putting dried lychee pieces in hot fruit-flavored tea as a natural sweetener.