Q&A for How to Dry Apples

You don't have to have them ripe, but unripened apples will taste tart and sour. If you prefer a sweeter taste, you use ripe apples.

Drying apples in the microwave oven is similar to doing so in a actual oven, except that you have to turn it to baking mode.

You do not have to, but if you do not soak them in lemon juice, they will turn brown very quickly. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) solution has the same effect.

The taste and initial tartness or sweetness of the apples will depend on the variety, but the sweet taste will get more pronounced the longer you dry the batch regardless of the variety.

Slice the apples thinly and dry them, then pulverize the dried apple slices.

Yes, although there might be a greasy residue on your apples. Personally, I've found that fully dried food comes off the dehydrator trays pretty easily.