08/07/2024
Drying for beginners
How does drying actually work?
Drying food in an oven or dehydrator removes moisture from the food. This means that as much moisture as possible is removed from the food, leaving bacteria, germs, and spores nowhere to attack. The best part is that the food doesn't lose any vitamins or minerals, and it lasts longer.
What do you need for successful drying?
- Dehydrator/Oven: Some foods can be dried easily in the fresh air, but other foods are better dried in a dehydrator or oven.
- Airtight containers: To ensure that no moisture gets to the dried food, it is best to use airtight containers for storage.
- Optional adhesive labels: The adhesive labels can be used to label the containers and note the date of manufacture.
Which foods can be dried?
Basically you can dry almost anything
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Nuts, grains, seeds
- Herbs
- Meat and fish
However, some plants such as chives or sorrel are not suitable for drying because they lose their aroma when dried.
Other foods are less suitable for drying due to their consistency. Eggs, for example, are commercially dried into a powder, but making this at home is almost impossible and poses health risks. The same applies to milk. Drying cheese and avocados is difficult due to their high fat content.
Step by step instructions:
Preparation
- Food selection: Only use fresh, undamaged, and ripe foods. Avoid unripe or spoiled foods.
- Peeling: If you want, you can peel the food. Of course, you can also dry it with the skin on.
- Blanching: Before drying vegetables, you can blanch them and thus reduce the drying time.
- Cutting: When cutting food, be careful not to cut too large or too even pieces. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will dry. Unevenly cut pieces will result in some drying sooner and others later.
- Lemon bath: Optionally, you can soak the food beforehand in water with lemon juice to prevent browning. 10 parts water to 1 part lemon juice.
Choose drying method
1. Air dry
When air-drying, you use a drying sieve or string the food on a string. You can also place it on an oven rack and dry it over the radiator. However, you should ensure that the room has good air circulation and the air is not too humid, as this could lead to mold growth. Air-drying is a particularly gentle method, as hardly any vitamins and minerals are lost.
2. Drying in the oven
First, you should check whether the oven is suitable for dehydrating. It must have a fan-assisted function and be able to maintain a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. Some modern ovens even have a dedicated dehydrating function.
If your oven is suitable for drying, you can spread the prepared food on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, select the fan-assisted oven function, and heat it to a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius. Then place the baking trays in the oven and let them dry for the required time.
Please note that many ovens cannot dehydrate raw foods, as they start at 50 degrees Celsius. Vitamins and enzymes are lost.
3. Drying in a dehydrator
Drying in a dehydrator is the most preferred method because it achieves the best possible results.
Place the prepared food on the drying trays, set the dehydrator to the recommended temperature (depending on the food), and let it dry for as long as the food requires. This may vary depending on the thickness. The dehydrator ensures perfect air distribution, ensuring even dehydration of the food.
If possible, identical foods with the same thickness should be placed on the different levels.
How long do you have to dry food?
This depends on the food, its thickness, and the selected temperature. Generally speaking, the lower the temperature, the longer the food needs to be dried. However, at a lower temperature, more nutrients and vitamins are retained.
If you want the food to dry for a shorter time, you should cut the food as thinly as possible.
It's important to check the food regularly and test whether it's dry enough before removing it. The food should be light and crispy, without being sticky or moist.
Proper storage of dried goods
If you want your dried goods to last a long time, you should store them in an airtight container. Glass containers with a tight screw cap are best. Otherwise, the dried goods will absorb the air from the surrounding area, making it easier for mold to grow. Of course, you can also vacuum seal the dried goods.
The container should be stored in a cool place away from direct sunlight, as this can reduce the vitamin and mineral content. Temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees Celsius are ideal for the growth of bacteria. Room temperature is also not an ideal storage location for dried goods. It would be better to store them in the basement or a cool room, such as a pantry, where the temperature is between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.
How long does dried food last?
When stored properly, dried food can last up to a year. It's important that the dried product is completely dry and sealed airtight. Exposure to moisture can lead to mold growth and render the food inedible.
You can find all products on this topic HERE: Fruit and vegetable processing