Can I dry pine cones Outside instead of the oven?

In the direct sun might help. I would never put pine cones in the oven.

It is in your best interest to dry them in the oven to kill the insects

Well, just be sure the critters don't climb back into the pine cones by using some kind of mesh fabric or lightweight fabric to protect them while they dry out.

Out in the sunshine is a good idea, but if your weather is like ours you may not have much sunshine. :( We've had cloudy rainy days for over a week. You need to put them someplace warm so even in the sunshine, I'm thinking that if you put them in a tray, spread apart, you could park your car in the sunshine and put them on the back seat. That will also help keep the critters out. If you have rainy or cloudy days, maybe near a heat vent inside would work along with using a hair dryer off and on for a while.

Good luck!

Come spend a week in Dallas, Tx, near me! Nov. 2, 2017–92 degrees. Cold tonight. By Sunday, I think, 88 degrees again. Crazy. But seriously, if it’s sunny outside dry the pine cones in a place in the sun, off the ground. Otherwise, on a sunny ledge or counter is fine. But the oven at 200 degrees, or near another heat source, will bake any insects in the cones, or run them out. I don’t think I’ve ever baked pine cones except to demo to others. 😇🍁

I know people that have dried them in an old grill, even a cheap small grill you don't plan to use for food, or maybe when your burning yard waste? The people that think its ok to put bleach soaked pinecones into the oven really have me going, insisting it safe. They must not pay attention to history!! I'm happy your using the safe alternate method! Cheers to you. Good luck!!

Here's instructions on how to do it. You want to do 200 degrees F, but if your oven goes lower, you could do that. It only takes about 30 min. but you have to watch them and be ready just in case. You could also do them part-way then let them finish by air drying. I'm thinking maybe 15 min. then pull them out. There are some other tips on this website so I though I'd pass it on to you.

http://tipnut.com/how-to-prepare-preserve-pinecones/

I dry pine cones naturally, in a large basket in my living room. The only time I put pine cones in my oven is to make cinnamon pine cones.