Dehydrate Vegetable & Fruits

Dehydrate Vegetable & Fruits

 

How to Dehydrate Fruits and Vegetables 

Dehydrated vegetables and fruit aren't just for backpacking hikers and making oatmeal-raisin cookies. Take a spin through the healthy snacks section of any grocery store, and, clearly, veggie chips and fruit leathers are on shelves and here to stay. And they're not just for snacking! Serve zucchini chips with grilled sausage for a crunchy veggie side dish even picky eaters will love. Use dried peppers to turn up the heat on your winter soup. Snip up dried tomatoes into bite-size pieces to top off your homemade pizza.

Learning how to dehydrate fruits and vegetables couldn't be simpler (we're talking single ingredients). So if you're obsessed with store-bought sweet potato chips or addicted to apple strips, it might be time to invest in a dehydrator. It's an affordable, easy and delicious way to preserve seasonal produce for long-term storage and stash snacks for a rainy day. And it's especially helpful if you have a CSA box or backyard garden that's bumping right now.

How to Prep Fruits & Vegetables for Drying.

Step 1: Pick peak-season produce.

Some people think dehydrating is a way to use up anything that's bruised, battered or has seen better days. But in fact, drying concentrates flavor, so start with prime produce you're excited to bite into.

Step 2: Rinse, scrub and peel.

Buy organic, if your budget allows, and give fruits and veggies a quick rinse or scrub. Whether to peel or not is up to you, but keep in mind, skins will only get tougher in texture.

Step 3: Thinly slice with a sharp knife  

Go for consistently sized pieces, about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick, which will dry at the same rate. Slices will shrink as they dry, so go a touch thicker than you want for the end result.

How to Dry Fruits & Vegetables Using a Dehydrator

Using a dehydrator is push-button easy: just plug it in, turn the dial and vroom. The best models circulate hot air evenly throughout, so you don't have to worry about dehydrator trays. All of the following recipes were testing using an Excalibur 9-Tray 48-Hour Timer Digital Dehydrator. Excalibur generally recommends dehydrating fruit at 135°F, and vegetables at 125°F. Drying times vary widely, and they're usually provided as ranges, because it totally depends on the type of produce, how ripe and juicy it is, how thinly you sliced it, and what the humidity is like that day. Check the manufacturer's instructions, Google the weather, and give it your best estimate.

How to Store Dried Produce

Dehydrated foods are done when totally dry to the touch and anywhere from leathery and pliable to crisp and brittle. (The National Center for Home Food Preservation is a good reference for more in-depth guidance on packaging and storing dried foods.) Cool completely and transfer to airtight containers, such as plastic snap-tops, mason jars or freezer bags. Store in a cool, dark place. After a few days, shake one of the containers. If you notice any moisture, transfer the contents back to the dehydrator for another stint. Dried and stored properly, fruits and vegetables can last for several months.

1- Mango

Mango strips taste like sunshine. Peel mango, cut the flesh away from the flat core, and slice ¼ inch thick. Dehydrate according to the manufacturer's instructions, at 135°F for 7-15 hours, or in the oven at 200°F for 6-8 hours.

2-  Pineapple

Dried pineapple wins the pretty prize. Cut off the top and bottom, trim away the

tough exterior, and slice ¼ to ½ inch thick, removing the core. Dehydrate according

to the manufacturer's instructions, at 135°F for 10-18 hours, or in the oven at

200°F for 8-10 hours.

3- TomatoesDon't call it a comeback–dried tomatoes are still sexy for pasta night. Top tomatoes,

remove the cores, if necessary, and slice ¼ inch thick, or cut cherry tomatoes in half

. Dehydrate according to the manufacturer's instructions, at 155°F for 5-9 hours,

or in the oven at 200°F for 4-6 hours.

4- Sweet Potato

They'll never be as crispy as deep-fried chips, but dried sweet potatoes are still

crave-worthy. Peel sweet potatoes, slice ¼ inch thick, blanch in boiling water for

several minutes, and shock in an ice bath. Dehydrate according to the

manufacturer's instructions, at 125°F for 7-11 hours, or in the oven at 200°F for

6-8 hours.

5- Banana

Make cute dried banana coins for a healthy snack kids love. Peel bananas, slice into

⅛ to ¼ inch thick disks and soak in citrus water for 10 minutes to avoid browning.

Dehydrate according to the manufacturer's instructions, at 135°F for 6-10 hours, or

in the oven at 200°F for 5-7 hours.