Freeze-dried kiwi is as good looking as it is tasty: the green ring and the black seeds survive, and the slices are sharp and sweet-sour. It makes a striking addition to trail mix and gift bags.
Kiwi is fairly quick for a fruit if the slices are thin. Very ripe kiwi is soft and hard to cut neatly, so slice it while still slightly firm.
Prep and loading
- Peel with a vegetable peeler or cut off the ends and scoop out with a spoon.
- Slice ¼ inch thick.
- Lay flat in a single layer on a lined tray.
- Golden kiwis work the same way and are a little sweeter.
How to tell it’s done
- Slices snap and the seeded center is dry, not glossy.
Not sure? The weight check compares two weighings and the expected dry weight for kiwi.
Problems and fixes
The center ring stayed dark and soft
The juicy core finishes last. Add a few hours of dry time.
Slices tingled or tasted bitter
Underripe kiwi. Let them ripen on the counter until they give slightly.
Rehydrating and storing
Rehydrate: Best eaten dry. By weight, 100 g of dried kiwi takes back about 471 g of water to return to fresh weight; the rehydration calculator does any amount.
Store: Jar or mylar with an oxygen absorber.
Ways to use it
- Snacking
- Trail mix and gift bags
- Powder for smoothies
- Cake and cupcake decoration
How much fits per batch
At a normal single layer, kiwi load at roughly 2 lb of fresh food per square foot of tray. That works out to:
| Machine | Fresh per batch | Dried per batch |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest Right Countertop 360 | 5.0 lb | 13.9 oz |
| Harvest Right Small | 6.0 lb | 1.06 lb |
| Harvest Right Medium | 9.4 lb | 1.64 lb |
| Harvest Right Large | 15.4 lb | 2.69 lb |
| Harvest Right X-Large | 31.3 lb | 5.48 lb |
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central: kiwifruit, green, raw (water content)
- Utah State University Extension: Can I Freeze-Dry That? (2026)
- Penn State Extension: Let’s Preserve: Freeze-Drying
- Iowa State University Extension AnswerLine: Preserving by home freeze drying
Water content rounded from USDA FoodData Central (kiwifruit, green, raw). Cycle times are typical ranges at default settings; thickness, load and your room change them. How we put these together.