How to Build a Solar Food Dehydrator
Food dehydration has been an efficient form of food preservation for centuries. Drying food preserves its nutrients while creating an easy-to-store food source that will last for months. Drying your own food allows you to save money and to control the source of the fuel you put into your body. Here are a few tips to get you started building your own energy-efficient solar food dehydrator. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cardboard box
- Aluminum foil
- Duct tape
- Box knife
- Window screen
- Clear plastic wrap
Instructions
-
-
1
Cover the bottom of the cardboard box with aluminum foil.
-
2
Cut a small hole in the front of and near the bottom of the box. Tape a piece of screen over the hole so as to keep bugs out but allow air to flow through the box.
-
-
3
Make a similar hole in the back of and near the top of the box. Tape a piece of screen over the hole so as to keep bugs out but allow air to flow through the box.
-
4
Tape piece of screen to the walls of the box, roughly the area of the bottom of the box about halfway between the top and bottom of the box.
-
5
Place the food you hope to dry on the screen shelf you just created.
-
6
Cover the top of the box with clear plastic wrap and tape it in place with the duct tape.
-
7
Place the dehydrator in direct sunlight to dry your food.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Solar dehydrators are best used during the warm summer months.
For proper drying the interior of the dehydrator should stay within a range of 100 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
