Alternative to a Food Dehydrator
Long before the food storage processes of canning and freezing were invented, people preserved food by drying it. Today there are food dehydrators that remove the moisture from the food. However, if you do not have a food dehydrator, there are ways to dehydrate or dry food to produce meat jerky, fruit leather and dried vegetable chips. Does this Spark an idea?
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Oven Drying
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Place thinly sliced food on oven racks and place in an oven set at 140 degrees to 160 degrees. Be sure to keep the door slightly ajar, and rotate the food often.
Sun Drying
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On days when the humidity is low and the temperature is at least 85 degrees, place food on screens in direct sunlight and cover with cheesecloth to keep away insects. Onions, tomatoes and grapes dry well with this method.
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Sunny Window
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Place a cheesecloth-covered drying screen in front of a sunny window, in a sunroom or even in a car window.
Wood Stove or Furnace
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Hang food like nuts in net bags or vegetables like beans strung in a string near the woodstove or furnace. This method has been used for centuries.
Drying in a Room
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Herbs can be gathered, bundled together and hung upside down in a warm room. String Garlic and peppers to dry while hanging; they also serve as a decoration.
Warning
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Using metal trays or cookie sheets is not a good idea for drying because air needs to circulate around the food at the same time. Also do not use racks made of galvanized screen, aluminum, copper, fiberglass or vinyl. Galvanized screen contains zinc and cadmium, which will form harmful compounds, darken food and causes an unwanted flavor. Copper materials eliminate vitamin C, fiberglass can leave dangerous splinters and vinyl melts at the temperatures needed for drying.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Stefano A.
