Dehydration is one of the oldest and most effective methods to preserve foods for months. It is a genius way to retain more nutritional qualities than frozen or canned foods and preserve them for a long duration. This method allows you to preserve seasonal vegetables and fruits to savour them all year long without worrying about rotting.
The dehydration method removes all the water and moisture from food, inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi, mould, and yeast. It is almost like storing your food in a time capsule and soaking it again to bring its natural form back. Being one of the oldest preservation methods still used to this day, it is an efficient and reliable way to preserve food without the need for refrigeration or added preservatives.
Whether you are planning a long trip or want to save some space in your pantry, dehydrated foods are a perfect solution. But when it comes to buying dehydrated foods from the supermarket, many would back off after seeing the price label, which is considerably higher than the natural form. Therefore, think about making your own dehydrated foods at home and stop relying on supermarkets when you're backpacking.
5 Common Methods Of Dehydrating Foods At Home
1) Sun Drying
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The best and most widely used method for dehydration is drying in the Sun. Since it is the spring season and the Sun is up all day, you can make the most of it by using it to dehydrate your food all season. First, you need to select fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs that are in good condition and avoid ripped or damaged foods. Slice the foods if necessary and arrange them in a single layer on a tray, cover it with cheesecloth to protect it from pests, and keep it in sunny low-humidity areas above 86°F (30°C). This process may require several days depending on the type of food. Once dried, store it in airtight containers and enjoy it as a snack, top your diet or rehydrate for cooking.
2) Oven Drying
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If the weather seems cloudy, you can use your oven to dehydrate foods. This method is faster and more reliable since you can control the temperature of the food you want to dehydrate. On average, it takes up to 6 to 10 hours at 60° C or 140° F. Make sure to keep the temperature moderate, as high temperatures will cook the food. Keep the door slightly open to allow moisture to escape.
3) Electric Dehydration
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Electrical dehydrators are beneficial in even dehydrating and it helps in drying foods by circulating air at low temperatures as compared to an oven. It is perfect equipment when you often dehydrate your fruits, chips and jerky and want to intensify the flavours. You can alter the temperature based on the water content in foods, which is usually much higher in fruits as compared to vegetables. Also, the multiple racks allow you to dehydrate multiple foods at the same time.
4) Air Dehydration
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Air drying is similar to sun drying but without the sun. In it, you need to lay down your fruits and vegetables in a similar way, but you can dry it in the shade and indoors. This method does not require any special equipment and you only need to keep it away from moisture and humidity while drying. It is perfect for dehydrating leafy greens and herbs.
5) Solar-Powered Dehydration
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Solar dehydrators are solar-powered versions of electrical dehydrators. This machine runs on solar power and the best part about this dehydrator is that you can make it at home as a fun DIY project instead of buying it from the store. The design looks more like a mini indoor greenhouse and several tutorials are available on YouTube just like the one below demonstrating how to construct and utilise it effectively for dehydrating a variety of vegetables and fruits.
Dehydrate your own food at home and say yes to self-sustenance this season. These five prominent ways of dehydrating are simple and effective and you can start from scratch with no equipment at all to prepare your own dehydrated foods and enjoy them all year long.
