8 Best Dehydrated Fruit Garnishes To Upgrade Your Cocktail Drink
Dehydrated garnishes are a great way to add sophistication and flavor to your cocktails. Whether you're looking for berries, citrus fruits, or stone fruits, there is a cocktail garnish out there for you.
We’ll highlight some of the best choices for dehydrated fruit garnishes to make your concoctions aesthetically pleasing!
The Best Dehydrated Fruit Garnishes
1. Dehydrated Lemon
A dehydrated lemon provides a unique and pleasant look to a cocktail as a garnish. Lemons retain their yellow color even with a dried appearance. They can also last for months as opposed to fresh lemons when stored properly.
2. Dehydrated Lime
While their brownish look may make them less appealing to the eye, dehydrated limes are preferable to fresh limes in certain instances. A dried lime wheel will not throw off the overall balance of the drink, unlike a fresh one.
3. Dehydrated Orange
Dried oranges are even brighter than lemons. Blood oranges are another famous dehydrated fruit garnish, as they retain their blood-red color.
As with most dehydrated citrus wheels, cut slices not too thick to avoid a bitter taste. Most cocktails, especially wine, pair well with dehydrated oranges.
4. Dehydrated Pineapples
A wedge in tropical cocktails like piña colada uses fresh pineapples as the main garnish. However, dehydrated pineapples are mostly cut into thin round slices.
You can cut pineapple slices with the core to achieve a flower-like appearance. This will make any drink more playful and creative!
5. Dehydrated Rhubarb
In comparison to the other cocktail garnishes mentioned, a dehydrated rhubarb is in the form of a ribbon. You can make rhubarb ribbons using a peeler and twirl them around a chopstick, straw, or anything similar to give it a candy-like appearance.
6. Dehydrated Strawberries
A dry strawberry can be cut into thin slices lengthwise or dried whole like a raspberry. Because of its brilliant red color and appearance, resembling tiny hearts, this cocktail garnish is a fun and imaginative choice for Valentine's day beverages.
7. Dehydrated Raspberries
Dehydrated raspberries pair beautifully with sparkling gin and raspberry-flavored syrup cocktails. This fruit is dehydrated entirely rather than chopped into slices for garnishing.
8. Dehydrated Mangoes
Mango Mojito - Image by thegarage.sg
Unlike dehydrated citrus wheels, dehydrated mangoes are dried until they reach a chewy texture rather than being crisp. Before the dehydration process, mango slices cut into narrow strips are usually seasoned with chili powders.
Shelf Life of Dehydrated Fruits
When stored properly, dried fruits last for about 4 to 12 months. However, the quality of stored food degrades more quickly in warm climates.
When stored at a temperature of 60° F, most dried fruit can last up to a year. Dried fruits will last for up to six months when stored at 80° F.
Check the dry foods you've stored every two or three weeks to ensure they're still dry. Moisture that gets into clear packaging, such as a canning jar, is seen on the container's edges.
If anything has absorbed moisture, use it as soon as possible. If it's moldy, toss it out.
Proper Storage of Dehydrated Fruits
Insect damage or reabsorbing moisture from the air can cause deterioration of improperly stored dried foods. These issues can be practically eliminated with proper storage.
Store dehydrated fruits in airtight containers such as Ziploc bags, freezer containers, or canning jars as soon as the fruit has cooled to room temperature.
Pack them in as tightly as possible without causing damage and in quantities that will be consumed all at once. Keep the sealed containers somewhere cool, dry, and dark.
Conditioning Dehydrated Fruits
If a fruit’s moisture content is around 20%, it is considered dry. It will likely have a leathery feel, similar to raisins or prunes, depending on the exact fruit.
When moisture comes out of the dehydrator, the fruits will be unevenly dehydrated. You may condition the fruits by loosely packing them in a sealed container for a week or two.
After a few days, give the container a gentle shake. Drier components will absorb extra moisture from the rest during this time.
If there is condensation on the walls of the container after two weeks, dry the fruit in the dehydrator a little longer before storing it for long-term preservation.
Tips on Dehydrating Fruit Garnishes
- Using a serrated knife or a mandolin is a good choice. The thinner a citrus wheel is, the faster it will dry out and dehydrate.
- The sharper the knife, the better the slicing. Take care not to tear any of the fruits' flesh when cutting them.
- A dehydrator helps dry a large number of fruits at once. A standard dehydrator has different layers to facilitate bulk dehydration. Also, if you use one, you won't have to turn the fruits as often.
- Dry fruit can spoil after a lengthy period or if the seal is broken and moisture gets inside. Identify the signs to avoid buying spoiled dried fruit. Mold and a bad odor are both clear indicators of spoilage.
- Be on the lookout for discoloration, flavor loss, or hardness, which can occur over time. If you're unsure, it may be better to toss it out.
Conclusion
We hope you found this blog interesting! If you're seeking excellent ways to make your cocktails, these dehydrated fruit garnishes are the way to go.
Dried sliced fruit is a wonderful decoration in cocktails. They also add a great deal of flavor and texture to your favorite drinks by giving them new dimensions!
So, which fruit is your cocktail garnish of choice? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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Comments
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Dehydrated is OK but Fruits for Drinks is better – it actually gives colour, flavour and fragrance to all drinks. I also crush them and shake them to create amazing flavour packed cocktails. I buy them from amazon.
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