Baking Pine Cones To Open

I have been trying to sanitize pine cones but using the vinegar and water method soaking them for 30 minutes followed by baking them anywhere from 200 to 300 degrees for up to an hour and a half.

Baking pine cones to open. Watch pine cones closely to determine the appropriate amount of time. The pitch should melt off the pine cones layers. Place the pine cones in the oven making sure to check them often so they don t burn. I tried soaking them for only 10 minutes and they hadn t closed up too much but as soon as i put them in the oven they closed completely.

Stages of pine cone preparation. If you have only a few the speediest way to dry your pinecones. Choose newly fallen pinecones. Drying time in the oven depends on the oven temperature and the amount of moisture in the cones.

6 the pine cones will be fully open dry and shiny when finished baking. Drying time in the oven varies depending on the amount of moisture in the pinecones usually about 30 minutes or less. Gather up all the pine cones you like and preserve them for craft use with these easy tips drying opening pine cones. This should only take about 30 minutes.

This acts as a natural finish and preservation agent. If they have re opened then take them out. Baking the pine cones will finish killing any bugs that survived the water bath. Older cones can be rotten and full of insects.

7 cool the pine cones completely and use in your favorite crafts. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees and place your pine cones on a foil lined baking sheet or casserole dish. The shiny finish is due to the sap melting into the pine cones. If not then leave them in the oven for another 30 minutes.

As they are baking the pine cones will re open. Place the pine cones in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cones are fully opened and the sap has melted. The big difference with baking them in the oven is that the sap will melt and leave a nice glaze over your pine cone making it perfect for many crafts and if you have very sappy cones it will be hard to rid of the stickiness with only the wash method. This images shows from left to right.

The time it takes for the first batch of cones to open will determine the times for the remaining ones. Remove from the foil and let them cool completely on a cooling rack. These will open and become glorious cones once you complete the drying process. I took a few cake pans and lined them with aluminum foil and placed my damp pine cones in the lined pans.

At the one hour mark check to see if they have re opened. Cones that are closed tightly are ok too. Once the pine cones have opened up and the sap has had a chance to seep out and dry up the pine cones are done. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.