Dried Mango is easy to make in a dehydrator or the oven and you will end up with a healthy and delicious snack everyone will love! Once you dry your own mango chips, you will never buy store-bought again.
Why I Love This Recipe
I love making dried fruit in my dehydrator and Dried Mango is one of my absolute favorites! They are just a little chewy, full of tropical flavor, and a great snack.
The dehydration of fruit, especially mango, intensifies the flavor and the sweetness making it an irresistible handheld treat. I also love that this sweet treat is better for me than a candy bar or something processed.
Is Mango a Fruit?
Mango is a tropical fruit known for its sweet and juicy flavor. It belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, which also includes cashews and poison ivy.
The flesh of a ripe mango is juicy, tender, and vibrant in color, typically yellow or orange. It has a sweet, tropical flavor with a pleasant balance of acidity and some mango varieties may have hints of floral, citrus, or honey-like notes in their taste profile.
Are Mangos Healthy?
Mangoes are not only delicious but also nutritious. They are a good source of vitamins C and A, as well as dietary fiber. They also contain antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that contribute to their health-promoting properties.
How to Make Dried Mango in a Dehydrator
Cut the mangos into thin slices, about ¼" thick. You want the slices to be as similar in size and thickness as possible so that they all dry at the same rate.
Place the mango pieces on the tray of a dehydrator. Make sure to leave room around each slice so that the air can circulate them. You can sprinkle it with sugar or lemon juice if desired, but it's not necessary.
Place the lid on the dehydrator and set it to 135ºF. It will take anywhere from 6-10 hours for the mangos to fully dehydrate.
Start checking them around 6 hours. You want them to be just a little rubbery but not wet. I prefer my dried mango to be pliable and not completely crisp so I usually stop the drying at 6 hours.
They will firm up a bit more once they cool. You may need to remove some smaller pieces first and keep dehydrating any larger pieces a little longer.
How to Make Dried Mango in the Oven
Drying mango in the oven takes longer, but it can be done. Place the mango slices on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat to prevent sticking.
Set the oven to the lowest setting possible and prop the door open to allow moisture to escape. Be careful if you have kiddos!
Dry the mango for 2 hours, flip, and continue to dry flipping every hour. This process will take between 8 and 12 hours.
How to Store Dried Mango
Make sure the mango pieces have fully cooled before storing them. You can store them in an air-tight bag or container in a cool, dark place.
If you make a large batch, you can vacuum seal some of the mango slices for longer shelf life or freeze them for much later.
Tips for Making Dehydrated Mango
- To prevent the mango pieces from sticking to your dehydrator, flip them over after 4 hours. This will loosen them from the rack and also air in even drying.
- Once done, the mangos should be pliable with no moisture present. Cut one in half, if there is still moisture, keep drying the mango until no moisture appears.
- Times will vary depending on how thin the slices are, the climate, the outside and inside temperature at the time, and your dehydrator.
- Always read the manual for your dehydrator and follow all safety recommendations.
What to do with Dried Mango Chips
Dried mangoes make an easy and healthy snack for adults and kids. They are great for bringing along on road trips, hiking, and other outdoor activities. You can also use dried mango for a fancy cocktail or mocktail garnish!
What Dehydrator to Use to Make Dried Fruit?
I prefer to dry my fruit in a dehydrator. Similar to a crockpot, you just set it and forget it! This Nesco Dehydrator is the perfect dehydrator for newbies and experienced chefs and the dehydrator I use. It's easy to use and easy to clean.
Another option is this Cosori Dehydrator. It's a little more expensive but comes with a few more features and is much quieter.
Dried Mango
Equipment
- sharp knife
Ingredients
- 2 mangos (any variety)
- lemon juice or sugar (optional topping)
Instructions
- Cut the mangos into thin slices, about ¼" thick. You want the slices to be as similar in size and thickness as possible so that they all dry at the same rate.
- Place the mango pieces on the tray of a dehydrator. Make sure to leave room around each slice so that the air can circulate them. You can sprinkle with sugar or lemon juice if desired, but it's not necessary.
- Place the lid on the dehydrator and set it to 135ºF. It will take anywhere from 6-10 hours for the mangos to fully dehydrate. Start checking them around 6 hours. You want them to be just a little rubbery but not wet. I prefer my dried mango to be pliable and not completely crisp so I usually stop the drying at 6 hours. They will firm up a bit more once they cool. You may need to remove some smaller pieces first and keep dehydrating any larger pieces a little longer.
- Store the dried mango pieces in a sealable container in a cool dark place or freeze them for later.
Notes
- To prevent the mango pieces from sticking to your dehydrator, flip them over after 4 hours. This will loosen them from the rack and also air in even drying
- Once done, the mangos should be pliable with no moisture present. Cut one in half, if there is still moisture, keep drying the mango until no moisture appears
- Times will vary depending on how thin the slices are, the climate, the outside and inside temperature at the time, and your dehydrator.
- Always read the manual for your dehydrator and follow all safety recommendations.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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Raul B. Palaje, phil says
can we combine solar drying and hydration
Emily says
Hi, Raul. I have not personally sun-dried mango or any other fruit because there are so many variables that have to be perfect. I would also suggest picking one method over the other instead of doing both to avoid inconsistencies in temperature, etc. If you do solar dry, ensure the temperature is ideal (86 degrees, plus humidity under 60 percent), and you cover the fruit to keep any insects off.
Emily says
Very keen to try this! Just wondering though, how ripe do the mangoes need to be to do this?
Emily says
Hi! The more ripe the mangos are, the sweeter they will be dried. However, the dehydrating process makes them sweeter so you can use mangos that aren't as ripe and they should still be delicious when done. Enjoy!
Blanca says
Thanks for sharing this idea!
Jess says
This is so refreshing and tasty!
Emily says
Thank you!!
Rosanna says
Such a useful post, I never knew how to do this properly before and things like timing, thank you!
Emily says
You are so welcome!😊
Elaine says
This is one thing that I haven't done with mango yet. Excited to give this recipe a try now.
Emily says
It's so good, enjoy!
Sara Welch says
What an easy and tasty snack! Giving this a try for my kids lunches this week; looks too easy and delicious to pass up!
Emily says
It's definitely kid-approved!
Carrie Robinson says
Such a great idea to make your own dried fruit! Love that it doesn't have all the preservatives that store bought ones have.
Jess says
We are going on a major road trip soon, and this is going to be the perfect snack!
Emily says
Yes! perfect timing!
Karlie Kramer says
THANK YOU for instructions in the oven! I got rid of my dehydrator because I never used it — and I was so glad to learn I didn't need it for this recipe.
Emily says
I'm glad you found it helpful, Karlie.