Papayas are such a delicious tropical treat, but let’s be real—they don’t stay fresh for long! If you find yourself with more fruit than you can eat right away, you’ve got to get creative with preserving them. One of my favorite ways to save that tropical flavor is by drying the fruit slices. They make the perfect healthy snack to grab on the go!
Stick with Ripe Fruit Only
When it comes to drying, you really want to make sure you’re using fully ripe fruit. You can tell a papaya is ripe when the skin starts shifting from green to yellow. Just a heads-up: some of the larger varieties aren’t actually at their peak until the skin is completely yellow.
Now, you *can* cook with unripe green papayas (they’re great in savory dishes!), but they aren’t a good choice for dehydrating. If you try to dry an unripe one, it loses pretty much all its flavor in the process.
Prepping Your Fruit
Papayas are super juicy, which means they can take a while to dry out completely. To speed things up, you’ll want to cut the fruit into nice, thin slices.
First, slice the papaya in half and scoop out the seeds. You might notice some light-colored fibers clinging to the seeds—make sure to scrape those out too, as they can be a bit bitter. And hey, don’t toss those seeds! You can actually grow your own papaya tree from the seeds if you’re feeling adventurous.
Next, peel the fruit. You want to peel deep enough to reveal that vibrant orange flesh; any yellow bits left just under the skin can have a bitter aftertaste. Once it’s peeled and seeded, cut the fruit into quarters and then into thin, even slices.
The Drying Process
To get drying, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay your slices out in a single layer. Pop the tray into the oven at about 120°F (50°C). Pro tip: Keep the oven door cracked open just a tiny bit so the moisture can escape. The total time it takes will depend on how thick your slices are, so keep an eye on them!
Once they’re done, store your dried papaya in a cool, dry place. An airtight container or a mason jar is perfect for keeping them chewy and delicious.