Drying Foods Drying Foods at Home at Home

Drying Foods Drying Foods at Home at Home

Resources for Resources for TodayToday

• So Easy to Preserve So Easy to Preserve (Univ of Georgia- 1999)(Univ of Georgia- 1999)

• Wisconsin’s Wild Wisconsin’s Wild Game: Enjoying the Game: Enjoying the Harvest Harvest (B3573)(B3573)

• How to Dry FoodsHow to Dry Foods

Drying Foods at Drying Foods at HomeHome

• Quick and easyQuick and easy• Adds diversity to Adds diversity to

snacking and mealssnacking and meals• Economical and Economical and

energy efficientenergy efficient

How Drying How Drying Preserves FoodPreserves Food

•Moisture is removed so Moisture is removed so bacteria, yeast and bacteria, yeast and mold can’t growmold can’t grow

•Enzyme action is slowedEnzyme action is slowed

3 Requirements 3 Requirements

1.1.Heat – 120° to 150°FHeat – 120° to 150°F

2.2.Low HumidityLow Humidity

3.3.Air movementAir movement

Drying Food Out-Drying Food Out-of-Doorsof-Doors

• Sun-dried fruits and vine-Sun-dried fruits and vine-dried beansdried beans

• Hot (86° F), dry, breezy Hot (86° F), dry, breezy days are bestdays are best

• Use appropriate Use appropriate materialsmaterials

• Pasteurize afterwardsPasteurize afterwards

Drying Food Drying Food IndoorsIndoors

• Oven dryingOven drying• Room dryingRoom drying• Food dehydrators Food dehydrators

Styles of food Styles of food dehydrators….dehydrators….

• Vertical air flow Vertical air flow e.g. e.g. GardenMasterGardenMaster

• Horizontal air Horizontal air flow e.g. flow e.g. ExcaliberExcaliber

Question time??Question time??

Drying FruitsDrying Fruits• Check suitabilityCheck suitability• Prepare uniform Prepare uniform

pieces or slicespieces or slices• Pre-treat fruitPre-treat fruit

Drying FruitsDrying Fruits• Dry at 150°F for 2 hrs, Dry at 150°F for 2 hrs,

then at 125°until donethen at 125°until done• Determining donenessDetermining doneness• Conditioning fruitsConditioning fruits

Fruit LeathersFruit Leathers• Select ripe fruitSelect ripe fruit• Blend or puree Blend or puree • Try fun combinationsTry fun combinations• Dry at 140°F Dry at 140°F

Drying VegetablesDrying Vegetables

• Check suitabilityCheck suitability• Prepare uniform Prepare uniform

piecespieces• Blanch, if necessaryBlanch, if necessary• Dry until brittleDry until brittle

Drying JerkyDrying Jerky• Choose lean meat for Choose lean meat for

dryingdrying• Handle raw meat carefullyHandle raw meat carefully• Partially freeze meat for Partially freeze meat for

easy slicingeasy slicing• Dry at 145°FDry at 145°F

What if……What if……• Dried vegetables fail to Dried vegetables fail to

rehydraterehydrate• There are black spots on There are black spots on

my sun-dried applesmy sun-dried apples• Air-dried herbs moldAir-dried herbs mold

Question time??Question time??

Next Time:Next Time:

Canning low acid vegetables Canning low acid vegetables – safe ways to can green – safe ways to can green beans, carrots and other beans, carrots and other vegetablesvegetables