Have you successfully dried orange and lemon slices????

[lilolilmanchester]

(have also posted under arts and crafts)
Have seen several decorations recently which use dried orange and lemon slices. Question is can I dry them at home and if so how? Please let me know if you have done this successfully and how you did it.
Also have a packet of cranberries surplus to requirements. Can i dry them (if so how?) to use for decorations? And any decoration ideas using these dried fruits very much appreciated. thanks.

You need Toys are like dogs Poncetastic thread!

Will try to link,or she may be around!

She is the orange slice drier extraordinaire!

Yes....cut the slices and put on an oven tray spaced apart, and turn the oven on VERY low for ages and ages...they will slowly dry out and look brilliant!

(sorry I cannot be more specific re temps and times..)

yes, I know, tis a bit pocetastic, but look and smell lovely. Was also wondering how long they last???

Do you have link to said thread please?

Thanks hambo, any idea whether "ages and ages" = overnight, or not quite so long?

I just recently dried out orange slices in the airing cupboard s using the oven was a nightmare for me, (new oven and can't get used to it!!) it took about 5 days, but the slices looked fab, and still kept their bright orange colour, not so sure on the cranberries though!!

I think it was about 4 hours...

I will investigate...

Dried cranberries may shrivel terribly...

poncetastic have just been searching my archives for home made playdoh recipe to use the cinnamon dust from drilling the sticks yesterday

Aaargh I can't find it,I wasn't accusing you of being PoncetasticBALD called it a Poncetastic thread!She had also been making butterscotch vodka,and making her own decorations.Sounded very industrious and put me to shame.I have just hung up some tinsel and eaten the Quality Street [Blush].Maybe if you do a message search for today under Poncetastic or she will be around later hopefully???I idn't post onit just lurked so I haven't got it saved,sorry!!!

Fresh cranberries lil?

I wouldn't dry them

Use them to make Cranberry Gin hang on I'll find the recipe

no but i am sampling my brandy soaked cherries.. before they get dipped in choccy .. they are a tad strong !!

I found this on the interweb...!

How to Dry Orange Slices
For oranges, slice them about 1/4 inch thick and gently squeeze out as much of the moisture as possible without squeezing and misshaping the slices. Then place the slices on a cookie sheet and dry for about 6 hours at 150 degrees. As with the apples, keep the oven door slighty ajar for air circulation

Oh lil how I am laughing

Its' your recipe from this thread roffle

This was not drinkable until August, we tried it at Christmas and it was harsh and horrid, so I stuck it back in the garage for the summer.

We drank it in August - lush lush lush, v delicate blush pink colour too.

LOL ToysArelikeDogs. My cranberry gin is already done and tastes fine. So fine, I've had to buy more cranberries to make some more cos first lot didn't make it to December let alone Christmas. Then bought cranberries to make cranberry sauce and had some left over so was just wondering what else to use them for and was wondering about using them for decorations.

Not sure why your cranberry gin was awful. Did you prick the cranberries? Bizarre that it didn't work, mine's been fine

Very low oven...for ages..it works very well

how long is "ages"? A couple of hours? Overnight?

about 4 hours i reckon

4 hours or thereabouts

No idea why Cranberry Gin didn't work for me last December, lil but it was yum eventually.. It's not an exact science so am quite used to stuffing away in garage for later IYSWIM

thanks troutspout. My mincemeat needs to go in the oven for 3 hours tomorrow at low heat so will stick the fruit slices in at the same time.