diff --git a/ndsl/quantity/state.py b/ndsl/quantity/state.py
index 4e1a7dd0..9447cccd 100644
--- a/ndsl/quantity/state.py
+++ b/ndsl/quantity/state.py
@@ -500,20 +500,10 @@ def _netcdf_name(self, directory_path: Path, postfix: str = "") -> Path:
             rank_postfix = f"_rank{MPI.COMM_WORLD.Get_rank()}"
         return directory_path / f"{type(self).__name__}{rank_postfix}{postfix}.nc4"
 
-    def to_netcdf(self, directory_path: Path | None = None, postfix: str = "") -> None:
+    def to_xarray(self) -> xr.DataTree:
         """
-        Save state to NetCDF. Can be reloaded with `update_from_netcdf`.
-
-        If applicable, will save separate NetCDF files for each running rank.
-
-        The file names are deduced from the class name, and post fix with rank number
-        in the case of a multi-process use.
-
-        Args:
-            directory_path: directory to save the netcdf in
+        Format the State into a xr.DataTree.
         """
-        if directory_path is None:
-            directory_path = Path("./")
 
         def _save_recursive(state: State) -> dict:
             local_data = {}
@@ -547,9 +537,24 @@ def _save_recursive(state: State) -> dict:
             datatree.pop(key)
         datatree["/"] = xr.Dataset(data_vars=top_level)
 
-        xr.DataTree.from_dict(datatree).to_netcdf(
-            self._netcdf_name(directory_path, postfix)
-        )
+        return xr.DataTree.from_dict(datatree)
+
+    def to_netcdf(self, directory_path: Path | None = None, postfix: str = "") -> None:
+        """
+        Save state to NetCDF. Can be reloaded with `update_from_netcdf`.
+
+        If applicable, will save separate NetCDF files for each running rank.
+
+        The file names are deduced from the class name, and post fix with rank number
+        in the case of a multi-process use.
+
+        Args:
+            directory_path: directory to save the netcdf in
+        """
+        if directory_path is None:
+            directory_path = Path("./")
+
+        self.to_xarray().to_netcdf(self._netcdf_name(directory_path, postfix))
 
     def update_from_netcdf(self, directory_path: Path, postfix: str = "") -> None:
         """This is a mirror of the `to_netcdf` method NOT a generic