3 Ways to Dry Food at Home

image

Many people who are concerned about the environmental and health impacts of processed or conventionally raised food have turned to using farmer’s markets or growing a lot of their own food themselves. That can raise the problem, however, of how to preserve this food. Food preservation has almost become a dying art, but it is one well worth relearning. Below are have ways to dry foods – one of the best ways to preserve it. Drying is a safe way to preserve food since it removes the moisture that is necessary for bacteria to reproduce and it is an easy method as well.

Sun-Drying

To dry foods in the sun, make sure that you have several days in a row that will be above 85 degrees Fahrenheit without too much humidity and set food out on a rack with some tinfoil placed underneath it to reflect the heat; make sure there is also air beneath the rack so that it can circulate under the food. Cover the food with cheesecloth to keep away pests. It is an especially good way to dry and preserve fruit.

Oven-drying

Ovens are another good way to dry food, but they do take a bit longer than sun-drying and can require a bit more work. This method is good for fruits as well, but also for vegetables, meats and herbs. To oven-dry food, set it on the lowest temperature possible and spread food on trays or racks. Turn food regularly as it dries, which is usually about every 20-30 minutes for fruits and vegetables or every few hours for meats.

Food Dehydrator

This is a great tool for drying foods, but unless you are going to do it regularly or in large quantities, it is probably better to use another method. They are easy to monitor for factors like drying time, temperature and humidity. With some dehydrators, it is possible to pre-program them so that the job can be done automatically.

There are a lot of reasons why at-home preservation is beginning to appeal to more and more people. First and foremost is that, when you prepare and process your own foods, you know exactly what goes into them and are not at the mercy of the food industry. It can also be very economical, since growing and preserving your own food generally costs a lot less than simply going to the store and buying it. In addition to this, it can be a much healthier way to eat since you are avoiding a lot of artificial preservatives and other additives that you might not want in your foods. So try these methods at home and start learning the lost skills of food preservation – they are great skills to have.

More by Christine . S

5 Flat Belly Chicken Recipes

7 Foods to Increase Your Iron Intake

6 Hidden Health Hazards in the Home

Christine . S
Christine has written articles on most health-related topics, including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.