How Can I Dry Fresh Fruit Without a Dehydrator?
Dehydrators are small kitchen appliances that dry out foods. Once dry a person can store these foods for up to one year. The drying method preserves the foods by removing all moisture. A person can eat the dried foods as a snack, add them to recipes and salads or use them for decoration. Although dehydrators are convenient, they are not the only way to dry foods. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Choose fresh fruits and vegetables and other food stuffs that you want to dry.
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Cut larger foods into narrow slices about ¼ inch thick. You do not need to cut smaller foods such as berries.
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Place the food on a cookie sheets on a single layer. Space them apart so they don't touch.
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Turn the oven on to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Place the cookie sheets into the oven.
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Keep the oven door ajar two to three inches. This keeps air circulating around the food.
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Place a small fan in front of the oven and turn it on. The Virginia Cooperative reports that the fan keeps the hot air in the oven moving around.
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Leave the food in the oven for 1 to 15 hours depending on the food. Some foods take longer to dry because of the high moisture content.
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Turn the food over every three to four hours so that the food dries evenly.
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Check food regularly. When the food is smaller in size and no longer feels plump, the food is done. Foods lose substantial weight during the drying process.
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Turn off fan and oven when food is 80 to 90 percent dry suggests the Virginia Cooperative.
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Remove food from oven and let cool on top of stove.
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Place food in glass containers or freezer bags. Store food in dry cool place or in freezer until ready to use.
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Tips & Warnings
It is probably best not to use oven drying if small children are present.
References
Resources
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