Dried Orange Garland D.I.Y.
Dried orange garlands and decor will be the perfect classic and nostalgic touch for your holiday decor
I made these beautiful orange garlands & ornaments last holiday season and couldn’t wait to use them again this year. They added such a beautifully natural and nostalgic touch to my holiday decor and so many of you loved them as much as me. So I wanted to share with you my all best tips for making them as well as preserving them for years to come!
That said I had a few rounds of pinterest fails when I tried making them last year before I really perfected the process and I would love to spare you all the frustration if I can. While you may see diy’s for this online using a stove I can tell you from experience that I ruined 3 full batches trying to make mine in the stove (and I’m pretty crafty / handy in the kitchen lol).
I will be sharing how to make them in a food dehydrator which I found to be the best method. If you don’t have a dehydrator ask your friends who might be willing you lend you one for a week or keep your eyes peeled at value village and other thrift stores as they often have old ones in great working condition for super cheap!
Let’s dive into it!
Supplies You’ll Need:
-Dehydrator
-Naval Oranges - firm and seedless if possible (1 orange will make about 5 to 6 slices)
-Mandoline or Knife
-Paper towel
-Twine or Fishing-line
-Plastic Sewing Needle for twine or Normal Needle for fishing line
Steps:
1. Slice your oranges with a mandoline so that they ⅛" to ¼" in thickness. The thinner they are the less time they'll need to dehydrate. You can definitely use a knife for this step but it is much harder to control the thickness of your slices by hand
2. Pat down each side of your orange slices with a paper towel to remove as much excess juice as possible
3. Lay out your orange slices on dehydrator trays & be sure to leave room for air circulation
4. If your dehydrator is newer if should have a fruits and veggies setting and you can select that, older ones will just have 1 setting and that is fine as well
5. Check your oranges every 3 to 4 hours removing any that are done and adding in new slices to help speed up the overall process.
6. Depending on the thickness of the oranges and the efficiency of your dehydrator it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours for the slices to completely dry. It is helpful to flip the orange slices over halfway through the process.
7. Use your needle strung with your string of choice (either twine or fishing-line) to puncture your orange slices and create a garland or to add a loop for tree hanging.
Notes:
-I used an older dehydrator & mine took closer to 12 hours per batch. I basically had it running 24/7 for a week to dry out enough for all my decor. So while it is super easy it may take you a few days to have enough to work with so plan ahead for that.
-Use firm oranges if possible, they will have less juice and will be easier to slice
-For garlands I found they hang straightest if you run your string through the top portion of your orange as pictured bellow instead of through the middle.
-For tree ornaments I found they hang straightest if you tie one knot at the top of the slice before tying off your loop for hanging also pictured bellow
-If you have leftover they look great in bowls and vases to add extra touches around the house of your holiday decor
-If you want to store your oranges for years to come order a pack of silica gel packets (i found mine on amazon) and toss 7 to 10 little packets into a zip lock bag that you have filled with your oranges. Remove excess air and seal. This will ensure that if there is any excess moisture left in your oranges they will not start to mould in storage.
Hope that helps you all to avoid the fails I had last year lol, happy orange slice making !