How to Make Dried Citrus
In my opinion, there is nothing that screams “summer” more than citrus everything! Whether you want to add citrus to a cocktail (or mocktail!), to dress up your baked goods, or even use as decor for a fun party (hint: more on that coming real soon 😉), making dried citrus is a really simple, natural way to dress up all of these areas of your life! If you’ve never done it before, I’m going to give you the full breakdown on how to dry your own citrus this summer, or you can check out my holiday blog all about making dried oranges here.
Natural decor ideas using dried citrus
There are so many ways you can take this simple DIY and turn it into a multitasker! Here are some possibilities:
Make a DIY citrus garland! Poke holes at the top of each sliced citrus and string with twine. Add pine cones, fallen pine off the ground, whatever you can find.
Elevate your wrapping game. Tie dried citrus to your gifts with rosemary, cedar, ethically sourced cinnamon sticks, dried lavender, etc. for the most beautiful presents your friends and family will have ever seen! (If you use twine you don’t need tape.)
Add dried citrus to a wreath, mantel, centrepiece, or homemade sustainable potpourri. You can even turn them into ornaments for your tree during the holidays!
Use as a ready-made garnish for any seasonal cocktails or beverages.
When you’re ready to take down your decorations, you can either compost your dried citrus or keep them to reuse next year! Store in a jar with a tightly sealed lid (you’ll notice they’ll get darker each year).
How to make dried citrus: step-by-step
Your citrus of choice (not too thick).
Use a Swedish dishcloth to pat them dry (we love this one from Goldilocks Goods, a Vancouver Island-based company!).
Place on a rack and cook for 2.5-3 hours at 250°F (this will depend on your oven, so watch for burning — but we also love the half burnt look).
Let dry even more afterwards if a little sticky (they will crisp as they cool).
Enjoy using some of our above ideas or however you like to decorate!
If you plan to make these and other dried fruits, veggies and herbs frequently, we have a dehydrator from Commercial Dehydrators & love it! Use code PURPOSEFUL10 for 10% off your order with them.
If you’re planning to make a dried citrus garland, but you’re not sure where to start, follow these simple steps:
How to make a dried citrus garland
Once your dried citrus is completely cooled, use a toothpick to poke holes in the citrus slice. I’d suggest poking two holes on either side of the dried citrus slice. Repeat this on as many dried slices as you need to complete your garland.
Start by tying a loop at the end of your thread so your citrus doesn’t slide off the string. Thread your string or twine through the holes of the sliced citrus until your garland is complete.
Tie a loop at the end to secure it, and use as decor when needed!
Let me know in the comments below if you give dried citrus a try and how you used it. It’s such a fun and natural way to decorate and enjoy your food & drink throughout the summer, so I hope you love it as much as I do!
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