How To: Dehydrated Citrus Wheels

Dehydrated citrus wheels are an attractive and aromatic cocktail garnish. Even without a dehydrator, these can be made easily in the oven. Dehydrating the citrus concentrates the flavor and aroma, and you can add subtle variations to enhance the natural flavors.

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 200º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice your citrus into 1/8" slices. You'll need a very sharp knife and good knife skills, or a mandolin to get a consistent thickness.

Step 2

Arrange citrus slices in a single layer on the parchment lined baking sheet. Add flavorings here:

• Dust with powdered sugar for subtle sweetness
• Sprinkle with chili-lime salt for a margarita garnish
• Leave plain for a natural flavor

Step 3

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 4-5 hours. Flip the citrus wheels every hour or so. Bake until they are mostly dry to the touch, but still a little sticky. Turn the oven off and leave the baking sheet in the oven to finish drying overnight.

Store you citrus wheels in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 12 months!

Other Uses

Not just a cocktail garnish, dehydrated citrus wheels are great to have on hand for a quick flavor boost to all sorts of dishes. I like to add mine to hot tea, soups and stews that need a little citrus note, garnish baked goods, and infuse into spirits and vinegars.