Storage, Food Options, and How-to

There are a number of strategies typically used to dehydrate meals. Strategies differ by way of the best way that they dry meals, the period of time required, and the kind of gear wanted.

Listed here are among the hottest strategies (2):

Solar drying

Solar drying is likely one of the oldest and most straightforward strategies used to dehydrate meals.

It includes laying meals, similar to fruits like figs or mangos, on a mesh display screen or tray made with picket dowels. Then, you cowl the meals with a second display screen to discourage pests and bugs.

Meals will be dried in any sunny space with low humidity and a minimal temperature of 86° F (30° C).

If utilizing this methodology, it’s additionally vital to keep away from screens made with {hardware} fabric, as these could oxidize and go away residue in your meals.

Nevertheless, needless to say meals like fruits could take a number of days to totally dry when utilizing this methodology.

Air drying

Like solar drying, air drying is a dehydration methodology that’s so easy that it doesn’t require any particular gear.

Just like solar drying, air drying locations meals within the shade as an alternative of the solar.

This may also help shield meals from the solar’s highly effective rays, making it an excellent possibility for leafy greens, natural teas, and spices.

Photo voltaic drying

Photo voltaic dehydrators are powered by the solar, which may also help dehydrate your meals with out utilizing any electrical energy.

Photo voltaic dehydrators typically seem much like a tabletop greenhouse. They are often bought or made at house utilizing supplies which are available out of your native ironmongery store.

Oven drying

Your oven can be utilized to dry meals once you maintain it temperature round 140° F (60° C).

Although oven drying can take round 6-10 hours relying on the particular meals, this methodology could also be useful for individuals who don’t need to buy any further home equipment.

Make sure that your oven will be set to a temperature of 140° F (60° C) or much less, as greater temperatures will prepare dinner meals as an alternative of drying it.

Moreover, you should definitely prop the door open whereas dehydrating meals, which permits additional moisture to flee throughout the drying course of.

Electrical dehydrators

Electrical dehydrators are one of the vital environment friendly and handy strategies used for drying meals.

These home equipment are often outfitted with a timer and temperature gauge, together with followers to evenly distribute warmth.

In addition they usually have a number of trays, permitting you to dehydrate a number of varieties of meals concurrently.

Electrical dehydrators can vary fairly a bit in worth. Some fashions begin at round $50 and better finish choices could value as much as $1,000.

Whereas these electrical dehydrators stands out as the best dehydration methodology, they’re not your finest guess in the event you’re on a price range.

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There are a number of strategies typically used to dehydrate meals, together with solar drying, air drying, photo voltaic drying, oven drying, and electrical dehydrators.

Meals drying is usually used to increase the shelf-life of substances and assist them last more.

By lowering the moisture content material of meals, this course of can forestall the expansion of dangerous contaminants, together with varieties of micro organism and fungi which will make you sick (3).

This may be significantly useful for seasonal meals like vegetables and fruit by growing their availability all year long — even in distant places the place they don’t develop (4).

This methodology of meals preservation additionally reduces the burden and bulk of meals, which might lower packaging, dealing with, and transportation prices for producers (4).

It additionally alters the style and texture of meals merchandise, typically giving dried meals like fruits a sweeter, extra concentrated taste.

Whereas this may increasingly have each professionals and cons, these meals can provide a wide range of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the event you get pleasure from them instead of sugary sweets or different processed meals (5).

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Drying can block the expansion of dangerous contaminants in meals, extending their shelf-life and year-round availability. It could additionally lower the burden and bulk of meals whereas altering the style and texture.

Many meals will be dehydrated — together with fruits, greens, meats, yogurt, and even pet meals.

You possibly can even dehydrate jams and sauces to release space for storing and assist them last more within the pantry.

Nevertheless, needless to say meals which are excessive in fats or oil don’t dehydrate effectively, because the fats can go rancid. Due to this fact, keep away from drying meals like peanut butter or avocados and you should definitely trim meat to take away any fats earlier than dehydrating.

Whereas nonfat dairy merchandise can technically be dehydrated, it’s not beneficial and could also be related to the next threat of foodborne sickness.

Moreover, word that uncooked meat and poultry ought to be steamed, roasted, or cooked to an inside temperature of at the very least 160° F (71° C) and 165° F (74° C) to forestall foodborne sickness even earlier than drying (6).

Listed here are just a few concepts for meals you can strive dehydrating:

• Fruits: apples, bananas, apricots, cherries, grapes, mangos, peaches
• Greens: carrots, beets, broccoli, cabbage, mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini
• Lean meats: beef, hen, fish, jerky
• Sauces and syrups: jam, pizza sauce, maple syrup, spaghetti sauce, barbecue sauce, molasses
• Herbs: basil, dill, rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage, mint, lavender, marjoram

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Meals like fruits, greens, lean meats, sauces, syrups, and herbs will be dehydrated. However, sure meals will not be appropriate for drying, together with meals excessive in fats or oil.

Publicity to warmth and moisture could lower the shelf-life of your dried meals.

For that reason, dried meals ought to be saved in an hermetic container and positioned in a cool and dry space (7).

The shelf-life for these meals can vary from just a few months to a number of years, relying on the particular substances and the way you retailer the meals.

Right here is the beneficial shelf-life for just a few dried meals, in line with america Division of Agriculture (USDA) (8):

• Home made jerky: 1-2 months if saved within the pantry or fridge
• Dried fruit: 6 months if saved within the fridge or pantry, 1 month if saved within the pantry after opening
• Dried herbs: 1-2 years
• Dried mushrooms: 1-2 years if saved within the pantry, 3 months if saved within the panty after opening

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Dehydrated meals ought to be saved in an hermetic container in a cool, dry space. The shelf-life for these things relies on a number of components and will vary from a number of months to a number of years.

Correct preparation is vital on the subject of dehydrating meals. You should definitely slice meals evenly and goal for similar-sized items, which may also help be certain that meals dehydrate on the identical charge.

Fruit and veggies ought to be between 1/4-inch (0.6-cm) to 1/2-inch (1.3-cm) thick, whereas meat, fish, and poultry ought to be even thinner, if potential.

Blanching, a preparation approach that includes immersing meals into boiling water then putting in ice water, also can assist protect the flavour of vegetables and fruit earlier than drying.

Soaking sliced fruits in an acidic answer, similar to citric acid or lemon juice, also can forestall adjustments in colour and texture.

Moreover, keep away from drying substances with a stronger scent, similar to garlic or onions, with different meals which have a extra gentle or impartial aroma.

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Slicing meals evenly, blanching vegetables and fruit, and soaking sliced fruits in an acidic answer earlier than drying them will be useful. You also needs to keep away from drying meals with a robust scent along with different substances which have a extra gentle aroma.

Whereas dried meals can positively be a wholesome addition to a nutritious and well-rounded weight loss plan, they arrive with just a few downsides that you need to contemplate.

First, word that dried meals include an analogous set of vitamins as recent meals, but are packaged in a smaller and extra condensed types.

This may make it simpler to overeat, which can result in you consuming extra energy, sugar, or sodium (5).

Moreover, dehydration might result in some slight adjustments within the dietary worth of your meals. This will likely cut back the quantity of sure nutritional vitamins and minerals, similar to vitamin C and beta-carotene (9).

Lastly, needless to say moisture is faraway from meals throughout the dehydration course of.

It’s estimated that round 20-30% of your every day water consumption comes from meals sources, together with meals with a excessive water content material like vegetables and fruit (10).

For that reason, it’s vital to make sure you’re consuming loads of water or having fun with a wide range of recent vegetables and fruit. Consuming dried meals requite you to drink extra water to satisfy your hydration wants.

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Dried meals are extra condensed than recent meals, which might improve the danger of overeating. Dehydration may additionally barely alter the dietary worth of some substances and usually are not as hydrating as recent meals.

Dehydrating meals will be a simple and efficient approach to lengthen the shelf-life of substances, maximize space for storing, and revel in your favourite meals all yr lengthy.

There are a number of meals that may be dried, in addition to many various strategies that can be utilized.

Nevertheless, needless to say dehydrating meals decreases the water content material of your meals, could make it simpler to overeat, or could barely alter the dietary worth for some meals.

At any charge, get pleasure from your dried meals carefully.