To make oven-dried mango, cut washed, ripe mangos into 1/4-inch slices. Dry the slices in a preheated oven at 175°F for 8-12 hours until dry and chewy. Store dehydrated mango in airtight containers in a cool, dark, dry place for up to six months.
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How to Make Oven-Dried Mango Chips
Making dehydrated mangos in an oven is faster than using a food dehydrator. However, monitoring them as they dry is important to ensure they don’t burn.
Follow this guide to make perfect oven-dried mango chips:
- Select the best fresh mangos to dehydrate. They should be firm ripe mangos that give slightly when you squeeze them.
- Preheat the oven to the lowest temperature setting or 175°F.
- Wash the mangoes under cold running water and pat them dry with a clean kitchen cloth or paper towel.
- Place each mango on a cutting board and use a peeler or sharp knife to remove the skin.
- Cut each peeled mango into thin slices along the length of the mango. The slices should be 1/4-inch thick. You can also slice 1/4-inch strips along the sides.
- Arrange the mango slices and strips in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper, ensuring the pieces do not overlap.
- Place an oven-safe wire rack or cooling rack over the loaded baking sheet to enhance drying.
- Load the oven and dehydrate the mango pieces at 175°F or the lowest setting for 8-12 hours.
- Flip each mango piece every four hours or rotate the baking sheets to promote even drying. Leave the oven fan on or the oven door partially open so moisture can escape.
- After 8 hours, remove a few mango slices and cool them to room temperature. Check them for dryness. Dried mango will be pliable but will have no moisture when squeezed.
- If the mangos are fully dehydrated, remove them from the oven and cool them to room temperature.
- Condition the mangos for a week in clear, airtight containers, shaking the containers once per day. If any condensation is observed in the container, re-dehydrate the mangos.
- Transfer fully dehydrated mangoes into labeled, airtight containers and store them in a cool, dry place.
How Long Does it Take to Oven Dry Mango?
It takes 8-12 hours to dry mangos in the oven, depending on the size of the slices and the juiciness of the mangos. Remember to add a prep time of 15-20 minutes to the total time for washing, peeling, and cutting the mangos.
What is the Best Way to Slice a Mango for Dehydrating?
The best way to slice a mango is to cut it along the length of the fruit into thin slices measuring 1/4 inch thick. The resulting cut is an oval-shaped mango chip with a flattened surface.
This type of slice provides the largest surface area per piece for drying, which hastens the drying process. The strips you cut off the edges of the mango ensure you dry as much of the fruit as possible.
Is Oven-Dried Mango Healthy?
Homemade oven-dried mangos are a delicious snack that is healthier than store-bought mango chips. Here are some health benefits of dried mangos:
- Dried mango contains cancer-fighting flavonoids and polyphenols, especially when pretreated with lemon juice or citric acid.
- Dried mango is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E.
- Dry mango may help reduce bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels because it is rich in soluble and insoluble fiber.
- The fiber in dried mango may help with digestive problems such as constipation.
- The potassium in dried mango may help reduce the risk of hypertension.
- Vitamins B6 and B9 in dry mango may help manage depression symptoms.
What is the Difference Between Dehydrated and Dried Mango?
Dehydrated mangos and dried mangos are the same things. You can remove moisture from mangos by dehydrating or drying them in a food dehydrator or oven. You can also freeze-dry them in a freeze-dryer to remove even more moisture.
How Do You Store Dried Mango?
Store dried mango in labeled airtight containers at room temperature in a cool, dry, dark place. Add a desiccant packet if storing the dried fruit at room temperature in a high-humidity area. Vacuum-sealed freezer bags are excellent containers if you want to freeze mangos to extend their shelf life.
What is the Shelf Life of Dried Mango?
Dried mango kept in airtight containers can last 6-12 months at room temperature. You can extend this storage duration by keeping the dehydrated fruits in vacuum-sealed containers and freezing them. Frozen dehydrated mango has a shelf life of two years.