This recipe for dehydrated lime wheels is so easy to make, all you need is a small dehydrator and you’ll be cranking out professional-grade garnishes in no time! No dehydrator? Don’t worry! I have some workarounds for you, too!
As someone who has been making homemade cocktails and mocktails for over a decade, I’ve learned the importance of a reliable garnish. There is no better garnish than dehydrated citrus! It works in any recipe really, but it’s perfect in recipes that have lime juice or lime wedges, because it acts as a flavor clue for your guests and also creates visual interest.
This recipe was inspired by cocktails like this Cuban Daiquiri, which uses dehydrated lime as a garnish. When you’re buying lots of fresh limes for cocktails, like mojitos or mules, you’re bound to have an extra lime or two laying around. Instead of letting them go to waste, use them up in this recipe! Wanting to dehydrate even MORE custom cocktail garnishes? Check out my dehydrated blood oranges and dehydrated starfruit posts!
💕 why you’ve gotta make this dried lime wheel recipe
🍋 cocktail classic. Dehydrated citrus is a classic cocktail garnish. A dried lime wheel is a timeless finishing touch for any beverage, from cocktails to mocktails!
🎁 super giftable. If you have friends and family who enjoy making their own drinks at home, this is the perfect unique gift to bring to a dinner party or holiday celebration!
♻️ zero-waste. This recipe makes use of all those one-off pieces of citrus roaming around your produce drawer. Once you get started dehydrating your own citrus, you’ll find yourself wanting to experiment with even more fruits and veggies.
🛒 ingredients
- limes – that’s right— all you need for this recipe are fresh limes and some time! The best part is, you don’t have to choose the prettiest, ripest limes, because you’ll be drying them out. This recipe is also great if you have some limes leftover from other recipes, or if you’ve forgotten about your limes in the produce drawer for a little too long. Hey, we’ve all been there! 😅 It’s also a great way to take advantage of citrus season, which generally runs from mid to late winter all the way through early spring!
See the recipe card for quantities.
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
I'll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Wash and dry your limes to remove any dirt or impurities.
Step 2: Using a sharp knife or mandolin slicer, slice your limes at a 1/8” thickness. If you can’t slice them that thinly, aim for a little less than 1/4” in thickness.
Step 3: Once you have sliced your limes, place them evenly arranged on the dehydrator trays.
Step 4: Put the lime slices in the dehydrator and set the temperature for 90ºF and set the timer for 16-18 hours. Alternatively you can raise the temperature to 120ºF for 8 – 9 hours. Check the recipe card for directions using an oven.
Step 5: Once the limes are dried, turn the machine off and allow the slices to cool completely.
Step 6: Store the dried lime slices in an airtight container for up to one year.
Hint: Slicing your fruit as uniformly as possible helps to make sure the drying time is the same for each slice of citrus.
💡tips and tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
as a cocktail or mocktail garnish
Dehydrated lime wheels are the perfect cocktail garnish because they work in any cocktail that uses lime juice and they keep fresh for so long! When properly stored, you can hang on to your dried lime wheels for months and months! Here are some of my favorite cocktails to garnish with a dehydrated lime:
- Moscow mules – this classic cocktail has vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. I use dehydrated lime wheels to garnish nearly all my mules, from a classic Moscow mule mocktail to seasonal variations like this festive holiday cranberry Yule Mule.
- daiquiris – a simple cocktail requires a simple garnish. Truly, sometimes you don’t need to put a banana dolphin in a rum cocktail, and that is the case with this classic Cuban Daiquiri recipe. Simple = classy with this timeless recipe that is so easy to customize to your liking.
ground into a powder
Dried fruit like limes can be ground into a powder using a coffee grinder, food processor, or mortar and pestle. Keep in mind, this powder may be bitter because it contains the pith, or white part, of the limes. You can then use your lime powder to add zesty lime flavor to any food such as:
- lime sugar – mix lime powder with sugar to create a tangy lime sugar that is perfect for using to rim cocktail glasses or dust baked goods like muffins or shortbread cookies.
- lime salt – you can use ground lime powder mixed with salt to create a homemade lime salt like this recipe here! You can then use this salt in any recipe you like to add a citrus zest. It’s especially great in taco seasoning, rice, or used to rim margarita glasses!
rehydrate them
Limes that have been dehydrated can actually be rehydrated all over again! Use your limes in the following ways:
- simmer pots – use your dried citrus in simmer pots throughout the year to made a delightfully fragrant home. This is especially wonderful around the holidays. Use a handful of dried lime wheels and a couple cinnamon sticks for a great holiday scent!
- hot tea – use these limes in hot beverages, like tea, to impart a subtle taste of lime while your tea steeps!
gifts & decor
You can also use your lime wheels for gifting and decorating!
- garland – string lime wheels together to make a festive holiday citrus garland, perfect for a mantle or staircase railing during the holidays!
- potpourri – put some dried citrus in a small dish with other herbs and spices to freshen up a room and use it as homemade potpourri.
- gifting – put a stack of limes in a cute mason jar and you have the perfect hostess gift for a dinner or holiday party!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
Even though this is a one-ingredient recipe, things can go wrong! Try these troubleshooting tips if your limes don’t look quite right.
- slice thinly – slice your limes as evenly as possible so they all dry at a similar rate. Use a mandolin if you have one, or a very sharp chefs knife, to make sure you cut the lime wheels evenly. I like to aim for about 1/8 – 1/4 inch thick per slice.
- brown limes – if your limes have turned brown or darkened in color, that’s totally normal! When you dry limes at a higher temperature, they will darken because of the natural sugars in the fruit. If you want to preserve more of the coloring in your limes, dry them at a lower temperature for longer. The lower temperature helps to preserve the color without burning the sugars in the fruit, and turning the citrus slices brown. If you’re using your oven or an air fryer, chances are it’ll be too hot to preserve the light green color in the limes. The good news is, the flavor will still be okay!
⚖️ scaling tips
You can make as many or as few dried lime slices as you like, but keep in mind that they will dry out faster if there are fewer limes in the dehydrator. Likewise, they will take longer to dry if there are more limes in the dehydrator.
🔆 top tip
If you want your limes to dehydrate evenly, make sure to cut them into thin wheels of a similar thickness. Use a super sharp knife or a mandolin slicer for the most even results!
♻️ substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- lemons or oranges – lemons also dry nicely in the dehydrator and you can use them in similar ways to the dried lime slices. Try using meyer lemons, too. Dehydrated lemon slices are great to use in your hot tea, too! You can also make dried orange slices in your dehydrator! I love using different varieties like blood oranges or even mandarin oranges for cocktail garnishes!
- key limes– key limes make the cutest garnishes because they are smaller in size than Persian limes. Dried key limes make the perfect garnish for drinks like this homemade key lime soda!
- dried berries – you can dehydrate berries, like blueberries, strawberries, or even raspberries. Dried berries can be used as cocktail garnishes or ground up into powders to rim glasses with. The only limit is your imagination!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
- dehydrator – I love my little dehydrator by Nesco. It fits neatly on the countertop, is whisper quiet, and is perfect for drying anything from citrus to other fruits, veggies, and herbs! If you have the means (and storage space) to grab this small kitchen appliance, I totally recommend it! This model also has racks that are dishwasher safe, which is a great bonus.
- chefs knife – You may have heard the old adage: “you’re more likely to cut yourself with a dull knife than a sharp one.” This is totally true, especially when cutting slippery things like juicy citrus fruits. Use a sharp knife to make sure you can easily cut through tough citrus skin. I love Wüsthof brand knives because they feel great in hand, are super sharp, and great heirloom quality.
- mandolin slicer – If you don’t trust your ability to evenly slice your citrus using a knife, you can use a mandolin slicer! I purchased a mandolin slicer in 2015 and I still use it to this day! It’s sharp, slices evenly, and stores safely, which is a huge bonus for a kitchen tool that is notoriously dangerous. 😬
- slicing glove – I like to use a protective glove as an added layer of protection when I use my mandolin slicer.
🫙 how to store your lime wheels
Once dried, your dehydrated citrus slices have a super long shelf life! Store your finished citrus for up to a year in a tightly sealed airtight container, like glass jars such as a mason jar.
You can also use food safe silica gel desiccant packets that absorb moisture, which is especially useful if you live in a humid area like I do in Florida. Store your lime slices at room temperature, and out of direct sunlight, for the longest term storage. If properly stored, they can last upwards of a year!
⏱️ how long to dehydrate different citrus fruits for
While this recipe is for limes, you can use the same process to make ANY dehydrated citrus for drink garnishes! Certain factors can affect how long it takes for citrus fruits to completely dehydrate. The biggest factors are:
- juiciness of the citrus – the juicier the fruit, the longer it will take to dry.
- humidity of your kitchen – if you live in a humid place, there is naturally more moisture in the air. This means it’ll take longer to remove moisture completely from the fruit, and you need to be careful to store the finished dehydrated fruits in an airtight container.
- size of citrus – if you are drying smaller fruit, it will take less time. If you are using larger fruit, it will take longer.
Here are general guidelines for dehydrating citrus fruits.
dehydrated lemons
- lemons are similar in size and juiciness to limes. On average, they will have a similar dry time so it is a great idea to slice both lemons and limes and dehydrate them together. Make sure to use as low of a temperature as possible to maintain the color in the lemons when dehydrating them. Certain varieties of lemons, like Meyer lemons, have more sugar in them, so they can brown more than other citrus.
- in a dehydrator – 90º – 120ºF (27º – 32ºC) for 18 – 22 hours
- in the oven – 170º – 200ºF ( 77º – 93ºC) for 4 – 6 hours, flipping every 30 minutes.
- in an air fryer – 120º -150ºF (49º – 66ºC) for 3 – 6 hours
dehydrated grapefruit and dehydrated pomelos
- Grapefruit and pomelos are some of the largest citrus varieties, so they will take the longest to dehydrate fully. They also have a lot of juice, so this contributes to their higher dry time as well.
- in a dehydrator – 100º – 130ºF (27º – 32ºC) for 20 – 24 hours
- in the oven – 170º – 200ºF ( 77º – 93ºC) for 6 – 9 hours, flipping every 30 minutes.
- in an air fryer – 120º -150ºF (49º – 66ºC) for 4 – 6 hours
💬 q+a
How long does it take to dehydrate limes?
In a dehydrator, it can take up to 18 hours to dry out lime slices. In the oven, dehydrating limes takes about 2-4 hours, but sometimes up to 6.
How long do dehydrated limes last?
When properly stored in an airtight jar or other container, dehydrated lime slices can last for up to a year or more!
How do you use dehydrated limes?
Dehydrated citrus slices can be used in a wide variety of ways! They make a great garnish for drinks or rehydrated in hot tea. They can be used as homemade potpourri, heated in simmer pots, or even made into garland for the holidays.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read every single comment! I also love connecting on social media, so snap a pic and hashtag it #myrecipeforfun and tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or pin this recipe on Pinterest!
Dehydrated Lime Wheels
Wanna save this recipe for later? 📬
I’ll email this recipe post to you so you can have it for later!
Equipment
- 1 Dehydrator
- 1 knife
- 1 Mandoline Slicer optional
- 1 cutting board
Ingredients
- 3 limes Use as many as you have, or as many will fit into your dehydrator, oven, or air fryer.
Instructions
DEHYDRATOR DIRECTIONS
- Wash and dry your limes, taking care to really scrub the skin to remove impurities.
- Thinly slice your limes using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife. Aim to cut each slice at 1/8 – 1/4 inch in thickness.
- Arrange your lime slices on the trays of your dehydrator.
- Place the trays into the dehydrator and set the temperature to 90ºF for 18-24 hours to keep the color of your limes, or 120ºF for 9-12 hours to dry faster.
- Once the dehydrator cycle ends, allow the lime slices to cool completely to room temperature before storing.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
OVEN DIRECTIONS
- Wash and dry your limes, taking care to really scrub the skin to remove impurities.
- Thinly slice your limes using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife. Aim to cut each slice at 1/8 – 1/4 inch in thickness.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange your lime slices on the lined baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet into the cold oven, then set the temperature to the lowest possible temperature. Usually this is 175ºF – 225º F.
- Bake the lime slices for 1 – 2 hours at a time, then take the baking sheet out and flip the slices so they dry evenly.
- In total, you may need up to 6 hours to fully dry your limes.
- Once the limes are fully dry, allow them to cool to room temperature on a cooling rack.
- Store your cooled and dried lime wheels in an airtight container in a cool dark place.
AIR FRYER DIRECTIONS
- Wash and dry your limes, taking care to really scrub the skin to remove impurities.
- Thinly slice your lime slices using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife. Aim to cut each slice at 1/8 – 1/4 inch in thickness.
- Line a baking sheet or your air fryer basket with parchment paper, taking care to not have an excess amount of parchment.
- Arrange your lime slices on the lined baking sheet or air fryer basket.
- Place the baking sheet into the cold air fryer, then set the temperature to the lowest possible temperature. Usually this is around 200º F.
- Air fry the lime slices for 30 minutes at a time, then take the baking sheet or fryer basket out and flip the slices so they dry evenly.
- In total, you may need up to 4 hours to fully dry your limes.
- Once the limes are fully dry, allow them to cool to room temperature on a cooling rack.
- Store your cooled and dried lime wheels in an airtight container in a cool dark place.
Notes
- Preserving the color – If you want to preserve the color of your sliced citrus, be sure to use the lowest possible temperature you can when dehydrating. Higher temperatures will result in darker colored citrus slices.
- Convection Fan – If your oven has a convection feature, this can help cut down on time when using an oven.
- Lower your Oven Temperature – You can also prop open your oven door to lower the temperature. Never do this with children or pets in the house or when using a gas-powered oven.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
