Did you know that the process of dehydrating fruits, vegetables, and meats has been around for centuries? Drying food by the sun was very common in the centuries B.C.

At first thought, you may ask why. But then you quickly realize it was because people in past centuries could not freeze their food. The process of canning is also relatively new.

While canning food began in the 1790s, it wasn’t until 1810 that Peter Durand of England patented the use of tin-coated iron cans instead of bottles for preserving food. By 1820 he was supplying large quantities of canned food to the Royal Navy. Canned food traveled better than bottled food, which could break.

There have been other methods of preserving food, but dehydrating can decrease the bulk and space needed.

Are dehydrated foods safe?

The answer is, for the most part, yes. There have been occasions where bacteria have contaminated the food, but the dehydration process usually kills off bacteria.

The bacteria are killed due to their need for water—the very thing removed from food with dehydration.

What about dehydrated food nutrition?

During dehydration, water is the only ingredient removed from fruits, vegetables, and meats. That means the food contains the same calories, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, and sugar content as the fresh product.

The dehydrated food also retains the original food’s –

• Essential fatty acids
• Minerals
• Enzymes
• Most vitamins
• Antioxidants

Depending on the temperature used for dehydration, some foods may lose a little of their vitamins A and C, possibly some of their B vitamins, and occasionally some of their minerals. So, if you will only use dehydrated foods, you should use some supplements, like a multivitamin.

What are the benefits of using dehydrated foods?

• There are many general benefits of using dehydrated foods:
• They taste great due to the concentration of the flavor.
• They reduce food waste and extend shelf life.
• They are healthy and 100% natural.
• There is a substantial cost saving since you can buy products when they are in season.
• They save space—up to 6 times less space needed than the fresh product.
• They are portable.

Are dehydrated foods healthy?

Eating more fruits and vegetables has many health benefits, and having them more easily accessible makes it more likely that you will choose healthier options.

If you consider the fact that you will be getting more antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, you can expect the following benefits:

• Better overall nutrition
• Decreased risk of cancer – pancreatic, stomach, bladder, and prostate
• Improved digestion – you get the fiber you need
• Increased energy – you get more calories and sugar to keep you going without a lot of volume
• Lower risk of food poisoning

I mentioned the possible downside of losing some vitamins and minerals, although eating a variety of foods along with your dehydrated foods or using a multivitamin will cover that.

The other downside could be weight gain. Due to the same benefits of more concentrated calories in less volume of product, you may be tempted to eat more. We must be more aware of what we eat and not mindlessly fill our mouths.

A great way to avoid overeating is to make sure you replace the vital water your body needs with a liquid, preferably water, coffee, or tea, rather than a soda.

Are there any foods that can’t be dehydrated?

There are a variety of food products that don’t do well with dehydration.

Foods that are high in fat are known to get rancid before they can completely dehydrate. Dairy and egg products can’t be dehydrated due to an increased risk for food poisoning.

In both these cases, commercially prepared products that can get the dehydration done faster and at higher temperatures than home appliances are preferred. Another option is freezing them.

The list of foods that you should not attempt to dehydrate at home include:

Avocados

Olives

Fatty Meats

Dairy, such as milk, butter, cheese

Nuts

Peanut Butter

Sodas

Juices

How do I get dehydrated foods?

Commercially produced dehydrated food may add salt, fats, and sugar to increase the flavoring and as another layer of preservation. These added ingredients mean that you may want to limit their use as a major part of your diet but look for them when on the road instead of buying chips or candy bars.

If you are wondering if you can make your own dehydrated foods, it is easier than you think.

Air drying was the way people in ancient times dried their food. Many people will dry food in the air, but there is a risk of animals getting to them.

Other people use their oven to dehydrate food, especially drying meats like jerky. Of course, that requires the oven to be on for many hours at temperatures up to 160 degrees.

A more cost-efficient method to dehydrate food would be to use a dehydrator. Types of dehydrators vary based on how much you will be doing. Drying surfaces can range from 8 square feet to 30 square feet when all the layers are added together.

Here is a guide to help you learn about the choices.

Here are three dehydrators that I would consider purchasing when our current dehydrator breaks down:

• Excalibur 3926TB 9-Tray Black (timer)
• Brod and Taylor Sahara Folding Dehydrator
• Nesco FD-75PR Dehydrator

How do you prepare evenly cut produce?

As I mentioned earlier, for your food to dehydrate evenly, it is essential to cut them into equally sized pieces. Doing this by hand can make this more difficult unless you are a master chef.

You may be interested in getting a mandoline since it would assure you that you are cutting your pieces uniformly, which allows for consistent drying of your food.

One option would be the PL8 Professional Slicing Mandoline

I have one currently that is like the Mandoline Slicer, which is great for beginners, but if you are more into it, the PL8 will work better.

To recap, as you create a healthier life for yourself, look at ways to achieve the best nutritional value at the lowest cost.

You can rehydrate these foods when you are preparing meals, like in soups and stews. You can also rehydrate them to put in breads, salads, and other meals. 

You don’t have to go to the store at the last minute to get the produce at whatever price it costs at that moment.

Dehydrators are an excellent investment, allowing you to buy fresh products when they are the least expensive and then preserving them through dehydration to maximize nutrition while minimizing the need for extra freezer space or shelf space.

To learn more about how to use dehydrators to lower your grocery costs and improve your health check out the following books:

Complete Dehydrator Cookbook

Beginners Guide to Preserving

Dehydrators Bible: Including 400 recipes