Sweet, chewy and flavorful, Watermelon Jerky is a delicious healthy snack that is super easy to make using only fresh watermelon and a dehydrator!
Fresh watermelon is a staple of summertime. Watermelon Jerky (dehydrated watermelon, also known as watermelon taffy) is a fun and unusual chewy fruit treat created by dehydrating this seasonal fruit. It is a naturally sweet treat that is perfect for for kids of all ages – you don’t even need to add any seasonings!
Factors that will affect the dehydrating time when making Watermelon Jerky:
The factors include:
- the type of dehydrator that you are using
- the thickness of the slices that you cut
- the size of the watermelon slices
- the number of trays that you use
- the climate where you live
- the time of year that you dehydrate
- humidity levels
- temperature of your house
ALL About the Watermelon
Can I make this any time of the year?
The US watermelon growing season is typically between April and November but thanks to imports, watermelon is available year round in most grocery stores. Any watermelon that is sweet and not too mealy can be used to make watermelon jerky.
Does the watermelon have to be seedless?
No, the watermelon doesn’t need to be seedless but we have found that removing the seeds from the watermelon can be time consuming and messy. Some people like the seeds in the jerky as they are said to become crispy and crunchy but we prefer using seedless watermelon when making watermelon jerky.
Can I use a Mini Watermelon?
Of course! You can use any watermelon that you like, big or little. It seems that people either love or hate watermelon jerky so a mini watermelon is the perfect size to try it out and find out what your family thinks!
How to make Watermelon Jerky (Dehydrated Watermelon)
Watermelon Jerky is an awesome treat that is really easy to make. It is naturally sweet, with no extra seasonings needed. The dehydrator transforms fresh thin watermelon slices into a chewy treat full of concentrated watermelon flavor in just a few simple steps.
Begin by cutting the watermelon into workable sized chunks. Completely remove the rind.
Cut the watermelon into slices between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. Cut into pieces about 3 inches long.
Place the prepared watermelon slices onto as many dehydrator trays as you want, making sure to leave room between them for air circulation.
Watermelon is sticky as it dehydrates. Use silicone tray liners if possible.
Set the dehydrator at 135°F / 58°C. Drying the watermelon slices will take somewhere between 10 and 18 hours depending on the size of your slices and other factors.
Dehydrate until the watermelon slices are until fully dried to the touch with no sticky parts remaining.
Check the slices periodically. You can carefully flip them over and move them around a bit after about 4 hours. This will help to keep them from sticking to the trays too much.
The dehydrating process can take anywhere from 10 to up to 18 hours. It is important to check the progress occasionally but don’t be overly worried about over drying them. It is very hard to do.
The pieces will be pliable and feel leathery when they’re done. There will not be any sticky or tacky parts remaining.
Let the slices cool and then remove from dehydrator trays.
Store the watermelon jerky in an airtight container or zip top bag to keep it from getting sticky again. It is really susceptible to humidity in the air. Enjoy!
Other Dehydrator Recipes you may like
Herbed Beef Jerky – Complex flavors from fresh onion, horseradish, herbs and soy sauce.
Worcestershire Beef Jerky – Our most requested jerky recipe with a a bold flavor that is undeniably good!
Dehydrated Strawberries – enjoy in oatmeal, yogurt, breakfast cereal, use in baking or just eat them plain!
Black Pepper Beef Jerky – This easy to make homemade Black Pepper Beef Jerky is delicious! With a low, subtle heat.
Dehydrated Mini Marshmallows – a light, airy and crunchy treat!
Sweet & Spicy Beef Jerky – Deliciously balanced between sweet & Spicy!
Teriyaki Sweet Hot Beef Jerky – Jerky with a sweet Teriyaki flavor and just the right amount of heat.
Watermelon Jerky (Dehydrated Watermelon)
Equipment
- 1 Dehydrator with adjustable temperature settings
Ingredients
- seedless watermelon any size
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon into workable sized chunks. Completely remove the rind.
- Cut the watermelon into slices between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. Cut into pieces about 3 inches long.
- Place the prepared watermelon slices onto as many dehydrator trays as you want, making sure to leave room between them for air circulation. Watermelon is sticky as it dehydrates. Use silicone tray liners if possible.
- Set the dehydrator at 135°F / 57°C. Drying the watermelon slices will take somewhere between 10 and 18 hours depending on the size of your slices and other factors.
- Dehydrate until the watermelon slices are until fully dried to the touch with no sticky parts remaining. They will feel leathery when they're done.
- Let the slices cool and then remove from dehydrator trays.
- Store the watermelon jerky in an airtight container or zip top bag. Enjoy!
* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
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