Dried papaya adds a tropical twist to trail mix, granola and fruit-nut bars. Begin with the best quality papaya you can buy or harvest. You'll have better results if you pre-treat the fruit with citric or ascorbic acid, which are available at supermarkets and drugstores. If you don't have a dehydrator, you can also dry the fruit in an oven. For best results, set wire cooling racks over cookie sheets for better air circulation.
Wash and peel each papaya. Slice the fruit in half lengthwise and scoop the seeds out of the papaya halves.
Turn the halves cut side down. Cut the papaya into lengthwise slices that are about 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick.
Stir 1 teaspoon citric acid, or 2½ tablespoons ascorbic acid, into a bowl containing 1 quart of water. Add the cut papaya and let the pieces soak for 10 minutes.
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Drain the papaya in a colander.
Set your oven to its lowest possible temperature.
Arrange the drained papaya on wire racks set over cookie sheets, leaving plenty of space between the slices. Set the cookie sheets in the oven, and prop the oven door open 2 to 6 inches. If you're concerned about air circulation, set a fan near the oven door.
Begin checking the papaya after 12 hours. Remove the pieces when they still bend easily but most of the moisture is gone. This can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.
Pack the papaya pieces loosely into one or more containers. Put a lid on the top of each container, and set the containers in a dark, airy place. Leave the fruit for about one week, shaking the containers once or twice a day. This step, known as conditioning, allows any remaining moisture to be evenly distributed to all pieces of fruit, which helps prevent later spoilage.
Set the dehydrated papaya in tightly closed plastic bags or glass jars after they have finished conditioning. Keep the dried fruit in a dark cabinet.
Tip
Use parchment paper on the cookie sheets if you don't have wire racks. Be prepared for the fruit to take a little longer to dry in the oven.
If you own a dehydrator, stack the pre-treated papaya pieces on the appliance's trays, and dry them at about 100 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit, for at least 12 hours. Keep in mind that fruit dries more quickly in a dehydrator.
For sun-drying, use window screens in frames or cookie sheets lined with parchment and covered with cheesecloth or screen to keep insects away. Bring the trays in at night or if rain threatens. Check the pre-treated papaya pieces daily until they reach the leathery stage.
To make papaya fruit leather, puree the chopped, peeled pieces of papaya. Then spread the pureed papaya onto the plastic tray liners that typically come with dehydrators. If you don't have the trays, use plastic wrap lightly sprayed with cooking oil. Set the dehydrator tray liners in the dehydrator trays, and dry the puree for about 16 hours at 100 F.
Warning
Some ovens don't have a low enough temperature setting to efficiently dry papaya. If you're concerned, test the situation by placing a cooking thermometer on a cookie sheet in the preheated oven, then prop the oven door open slightly. If the thermometer registers higher than 145 F -- even with a fan near the oven door -- using another dehydrating method may be best.
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Writer Bio
With a focus on food, nutrition, cocktails and the latest dining trends, Melissa J. has been a freelance writer for more than 15 years. Her specialties include articles for such publications as SF Chronicle and National Geographic Green Living, as well as blog posts for the hospitality industry. Her previous positions include newspaper staff reporter and communications specialist for a nonprofit agency.