An electric dehydrator may make things a lot easier, and faster, but there are other food dehydration options out there.
Dehydrating food is a great way to preserve your garden bounty or farm produce purchases. Dehydrating is the process of removing moisture from food to give it a much longer shelf life.
This should not be confused with freeze-drying which is a more mechanical process.
Six options for dehydrating foods
Dehydrated foods typically last up to a year or more. This does not include meat jerky which should be consumed within 3 months. Below are your food dehydration options so you can get started on your journey today.
Off Grid Drying Racks
This method allows you to use natural dehydration to dehydrate your food without artificial heat. Having the mesh on the sides helps keep bugs and unwanted matter away from your food. This method means you’re not reliant on an energy source other than the wind and sun, but you are dependent on perfect weather for it.
Non-humid sunny days work best for this natural food drying method. These are easy (and inexpensive) to build with some scrap wood and window screening. This method is slower, but not being on the grid has it’s benefits, too!
One common item dehydrated outside is tomatoes. Slice them thin enough and you can shorten the time needed and maybe even have some for dinner!
Solar Powered Dehydrator
A solar food dehydrator uses the sun’s energy to remove moisture from food. This version, similar to the off-grid, is less mobile making it a bit better for those that are not in an off-grid location. It can still be built, but you can buy them as well. They offer more space and the metal slanted planks help produce more heat to improve drying time.
It has a clear cover that traps heat inside. Air passes through the dehydrator, helping to dry the food evenly. This method preserves nutrients and extends the food’s shelf life.
Electric Food Dehydrator
Electric dehydrators are the most convenient option. You can throw food in and walk away. There is no need to worry about weather, bugs or making sure outdoor conditions are prime.
But you are dependent on some kind of power to run them. They are also the most reliable means of dehydrating safely. There are a full selection of electric dehydrators available on Amazon.
An electric dehydrator can be used for almost anything. Even dehydrated lettuce or pumpkin can be easily done.
Oven Drying
Oven drying allows you to have the benefit of heat drying without having to have a dehydrator. You can’t dehydrate as much food, and you do have to keep an eye on it more closely to regulate temperatures and rotate trays.
But if buying another appliance isn’t an option for you, dehydrating in the oven works well. In fact, some experts believe that oven dehydrating jerky in the oven is safer than in a dehydrator.
Air Drying
Air Drying has been a traditional method of dehydrating herbs and flowers for thousands of years. The simple act of tying a bundle, and hanging it from a well ventilated space allows the foods to natural dry from air circulation and pulling out the moisture.
This doesn’t work well in high humidity climates, but can be worked around. If you prefer, put a loosely tied paper bag around your bundles to keep dust and insects off. This is also a great way to do smaller bundles of herbs when you don’t want to tie your conventional dehydrator up.
This is the method I use to make homemade dried rosemary. It always leave my home smelling so good too.
Microwave Drying
Yes, you can “dehydrate” foods with a microwave, but it should be a last option. Layering foods in wax paper and cooking them for long periods of time draws the moisture out in a microwave. But you’re looking at a lot of time spent checking on the food to make sure it does not “cook” but dries.
If you want it crispy the way most dehydrated food tends to be, you still need to put it in a conventional oven. Is my bias showing here? Yes. But if you have no other options, it is a method that you can master to make the most of your food storage.
Have you tried any of these other dehydration methods? If you have tips to share we would love to hear them.
