Marshmallows have always been a delicious snack for many people but dehydrated marshmallows are in a league of their own. They are easy to prepare and always turn out sweet and crunchy like Lucky Charms cereal.
Dehydrated marshmallows are essentially dried marshmallows; the same way one can dry fruits to make them crunchy, they can do the same to marshmallows. Some people call them mallow bits, and they enjoy them by placing the dehydrated marshmallows in small containers and pouring some chocolate over them.
To dehydrate marshmallows in an air fryer you must first make sure they are placed in the basket with plenty of space between each one. Set your air fryer to 72 degrees and leave for 1 hour. After the timer is done check the status of the marshmallows and repeat for smaller increments of time.
Others mix them with cereal to spice things up or eat them as plain snacks. Also, they can be added as a topping on cakes or other baked foods. If regularly prepared well, dried marshmallows can become an addictive snack to make and eat.
Can You Dehydrate Marshmallows in An Air Fryer?
Yes, you can dehydrate marshmallows in an air fryer. If set to the right temperature and kept for the right amount of time in the fryer, the dried marshmallows would come out with an irresistible appearance that would make one want to eat some on the spot.
To know if they are properly dehydrated, pick up some of them and squeeze gently. If the marshmallows feel hard to the touch, unlike their normal soft texture, then they are fully dehydrated. In cases when they do not have their usual soft texture but are slightly hard then they would need another trip to the air fryer.
After dehydrating your marshmallows in your air fryer, you should store them in an airtight container if you would not be eating all right away. Storing them in places where air would have a hard time getting to them would help them stay fresh for a long time.
Keeping them in ordinary airtight containers could keep them edible for a couple of months but using a vacuum seal to keep them would make them edible for up to a year.
Is It Safe to Dehydrate Marshmallows in An Air Fryer?
Of course, it is safe to dehydrate your marshmallows in an air fryer. Air frying has been proven to be a healthier method of frying food items when compared to other mainstream methods already in use.
It requires a relatively small amount of cooking oil to prepare foods; in this case, it would limit the amount of fat one takes in when eating the dehydrated marshmallows.
There are some questions about whether the size of the marshmallows would change when it is dehydrated. Generally, they stay at roughly the same size, and any change the marshmallows experience in this regard is negligible.
However, keep in mind that results may vary depending on the brand of marshmallows you are working with but all things being equal, expect them to remain the way they are when they get dehydrated.
When you want to dehydrate your marshmallow in an air fryer, note that the size you decide to use does not matter. However, the bigger the marshmallow used, the longer it would take to be completely dehydrated.
It is worth noting that the fact that big marshmallows will be exposed to heat for a long time does not mean that they will be unhealthy or unsafe for anyone to eat. Instead, the heat will help it gain the crunchy texture that people love so much.
How to Dehydrate Marshmallows in An Air Fryer?
It is easy to guess that everything needed to dehydrate marshmallows in an air fryer is just all the marshmallows you want to eat and the air fryer. If you have access to only large marshmallows, it is possible to cut them into smaller sizes if that is what you prefer.
Here is the step-by-step method used to prepare dried marshmallows.
- Place all the marshmallows you want to dehydrate in the air fryer rack or fry basket.
- Ensure there is space between each marshmallow. Do not lump them all together.
- Take all the arranged marshmallows and place them inside the air fryer and set the temperature to about 72 degrees Celsius (160 degrees Fahrenheit).
Leave them to dehydrate for an hour at least. - When the timer hits the hour mark, take out the marshmallows and test if they are completely dehydrated.
Most large marshmallows would still need more time to dry so you can put them into the fryer for 15 more minutes and check the texture afterward.
Keep adding small bits of time until you get the desired texture. - Whenever the marshmallows are firm to your squeeze, then know that they have been successfully dehydrated.
- Once they have been fully dried, take them out of the air fryer, leave them to cool in open air, and keep them in airtight containers.
Helpful Tips
- If taken out of the air fryer before they are completely dry, the marshmallows will become soggy when left to cool down.
- If not stored in an airtight container, the dehydrated marshmallows would absorb moisture and become stale and soft.
- If you want to make many dried marshmallows at a time, be patient and prepare them in batches.
- Always space each marshmallow out when setting them up for drying so the heat distribution would be even.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.