How do I dry Thick apple branches

[Olallie]

Hello,

I've perfected my recipe for thin apple branches. The chins can't get enough!

But now we've cut really thick apple branches. I want to use them as perches. What is the best way to dry them?

I can't boil them because they're too big, of course. But Im thinking some might be ok for oven drying, but the really big ones I'm not sure of.

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[AZChins]

You could give them a good scrub down with a very mild bleach solution, rinse really well and then stick them in the oven for drying. I haven't had a lot of apple wood here, but when I did get the thick branches I put them through the oven twice to dry them. Boiling them wasn't really possible...I figured baking them twice for *I think* 20 minutes each time would work out pretty well to kill off any bacteria and not completely burn the wood.

 

[Olallie]

Oh ok, sounds good. I'll give that a try.

Hopefully they all can fit, i think there might be one i wont be able to.

Would drying it out in the sun be possible?

 

[Spoof]

Sun is o.k. for short periods but does nothing unless they're in your car on a 100 degree day - stick them in a cool dark area (like a basement) for 2-3 months, they'll dry decently. I believe it takes almost 8 months for apple wood to fully cure on it's own.

I would cut a bunch and let them dry throughout the year in a box. Never oven baked until the last couple years where I figured out it speeds up the process. 200 for 1-2 hours for 2" - 3", 3-4 hours for 4"+ stuff. ) They don't have to be baked at all, but the chins will devour them over night - even the big ones.

 

[AZChins]

For the bigger stuff it doesn't burn keeping it in the oven for so long?

I've bought apple wood that has been burned so when I prepared it I was always really careful so that I wouldn't burn it.

 

[Spoof]

It shouldn't burn if you cook it low enough, never go higher than 250. Knock on wood I haven't burnt anything yet - even fell asleep and left a batch in for six hours one day. Whole house smelled like apples.

200 is more like a dehydrator, that's what I do jerky on. Mmm... jerky.

 

[Olallie]

mmm jerky