How to Dry Cauliflower

Cauliflower is one of the most versatile vegetables, but keeping it in your freezer eats away at limited space. 

Plus it gets soggy…gross.

Good news is it can be dehydrated and then saved for easy use down the road!

Let’s talk about how to do that, shall we?

How to Dry Cauliflower in a Dehydrator

Depending on how you plan to use the cauliflower, you can rice it by hand or in a food processor or simply cut it into one inch slices. 

Once you’ve cleaned and chopped the cauliflower, you may want to blanch it. This helps it retain its nice white color.

Use a blanching basket to add the cauliflower to boiling water and keep in for four minutes. 

Submerge in a bowl of ice and then remove. 

Place the cauliflower onto dehydrator trays and turn the temperature to 125 degrees.

Depending on the amount of vegetables you have drying at one time and how thickly you layer, you can expect it to dry in about a day. 

The yield for every cup of cauliflower will result in about 1/4 cup dried. Store dried cauliflower in sealed containers and keep in a cool dry place until ready to use. 

How Do You Dry Cauliflower Without a Dehydrator?

If you don’t have a dehydrator or want to use another option, you can get the same results by drying it in the sun.

This process takes longer but gives you the same results. 

How to Dry Cauliflower in the Sun

The most traditional method involves chopping the cauliflower and then stringing them with a thread. You can do this with as much or as little cauliflower as desired. 

Or you can place on trays in an enclosed, hanging solar dehydrator like this one:

Hang them in a hot sunny place to dry – preferably away from critters or pests. 

Take them in at night so they won’t get dew on them. 

It’ll take about seven days until the moisture is gone. The cauliflower will also shrink and grow very hard. 

You can then keep them on the threads until ready to use or remove and store. As with dehydrator cauliflower, store them in air tight containers in a cool, dry place. 

How to Make Cauliflower Flour (from Dried Cauliflower)

Many people use alternative flours today. And wouldn’t you know it, cauliflower makes a great flour too! 

With the dried cauliflower in hand, add it to a food processor and process until it reaches a flour-like consistency.

You may then use it as is or store until ready for use. 

If you plan to use the flour in recipes that use the fresh vegetable, then you’ll have to rehydrate it before using. 

Can You Make Cauliflower Rice from Dehydrated Cauliflower?

If you enjoy cauliflower rice (my family does!), you can use your dehydrated cauliflower to make sure you always have some on hand. 

In fact, some people go ahead and rice their cauliflower before drying – saves time!

If you haven’t done so yet, then take the pieces of dried cauliflower and place in a food processor. Pulse until it reaches a rice-like consistency. 

Keep in mind that the pieces should be smaller than rice as they will rehydrate to about four times their original size. 

How to Rehydrate Cauliflower

Cauliflower can be used in its dried form for some recipes, but usually we rehydrate it before using

This is a simple process and takes about 10-15 minutes. 

Take warm water and mix with the cauliflower. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes until the cauliflower has reached its original state. 

You may want to stir it every few minutes to allow the water to soak in evenly. 

Use a strainer or colander to drain any excess water. 

Tips & Things to Consider

If you’re new to drying or just new to working with cauliflower, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. 

When buying cauliflower, make sure to choose vegetables that are at their peak quality and flavor. 

Don’t use any parts of the vegetable that appear to be bruised, decaying, or have any mold. This will cause problems when being stored. 

Since cauliflower is firm naturally, it may be challenging to get an idea of when it’s completely dried. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ve dried it thoroughly, then conditioning it for a few days is a good idea. 

Here’s how:

Place the dried cauliflower in large plastic or glass containers to about two-thirds full. Lightly cover and store them in a dry place for 4-10 days. 

Stir or shake daily to separate the pieces. If you notice any beads of moisture, then remove and re-dry. 

Dried cauliflower will last for anywhere from six to 12 months. 

It’s a good idea to store them in labeled containers so you know which ones to use first. Proper storage will keep them from developing any bacterial growth. 

However, always inspect your containers before using and discard if they start to show any mold or have off-odors. Dried cauliflower has a strong smell on its own so this may be harder to tell. 

Although most people use cauliflower in their cooking, you can also eat it as a snack.

It has a stronger flavor than regular cauliflower and the crunch is surprisingly satisfying!

You can always add more flavor with your favorite seasonings or salt. 

If using the cauliflower in soup or stew, you don’t have to rehydrate it before adding. 

Simply add in the dried cauliflower as you’re cooking. You may want to add additional water or broth to account for the moisture taken up by the dried vegetable. 

How Do You Dry Frozen Cauliflower?

Drying frozen cauliflower is also possible. Start by thawing the cauliflower and draining excess moisture.

Then go through the same process as if you were using fresh cauli in the dehydrator!

>>> READ NEXT: Other super easy vegetables to dehydrate

5 thoughts on “How to Dry Cauliflower”

  1. My friend makes bread using cauliflower flour. I’m eating a slice right now. She just uses her normal white bread recipe but swaps flour 100% for cauliflower flour. It’s amazing!

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