You need 3 things for successful home food drying:

Heat - high enough to force out moisture but not hot enough to cook the food
Dry air - to absorb the released moisture
Air movement - to carry the moisture away

Natural drying, outdoors, requires warm days of 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) or more, low humidity, and control of insects. Oven drying or using a food dehydrator are alternatives for small quantities of food. The energy cost of operating an oven is high, however, compared to the cost of operating an electric food dehydrator.

• Many fruits and vegetables can be dried (Table 1). Only ripe foods should be used.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables under cold running water and cut away bruised and fibrous portions. Seeds, stems and /or pits should be removed.
• Most vegetables and some fruits benefit from a pretreatment like blanching or dipping. Blanching is used for most vegetables. Blanching shortens the drying time, prevents enzyme action, and kills many spoilage organisms.

Vegetables may be steam or water blanched as follows.

Steps for steam blanching

• Use a steamer or deep pot containing a wire basket that extends at least 5 inches from bottom of the pot.
• Add two inches of water to the steamer or pot.
• Place basket with vegetables into pot (Vegetables should not make contact with water).
• Cover steamer or pot and steam until vegetables are heated for recommended time (Table 2).
• Remove basket with vegetables and place in cold water to stop cooking.
• Drain and place vegetables on drying tray.

Steps for water blanching

• Use a blancher or deep pot with a tight-fitting lid.
• Add water to cover vegetables and bring to a boil.
• Boil (Blanch) for recommended time (Table 2).
• Remove vegetable and place in cold water to stop cooking.
• Drain and place vegetables on drying tray.

Dipping is an alternative to blanching used to prevent fruits such as apples, bananas, peaches, and pears from turning brown. Lemon juice, ascorbic acid, or commercial products containing ascorbic or citric acid may be used for dipping. For instance, dipping sliced fruit pieces in 1 teaspoon of ascorbic acid crystals per cup of water or directly in lemon juice for three to five minutes will prevent browning.

* Dried vegetables should be brittle or crisp.

Drying

• Dry in the sun by placing slices of food on a clean tray with sides and covering with cheesecloth or fine netting.
• If possible, place a small fan near the drying tray to promote air circulation.
• Drying times will vary (Tables 2 and 3).
• Turn food once a day. Dry until the food has lost most of its moisture (vegetables will be brittle; fruits will be chewy).

NOTE: Sun drying is not recommended in cloudy or humid weather. The temperature should reach 90 degrees F by noon and the humidity should be less than 60 percent.

Oven Drying

• Dry food in an oven that can be maintained at 140 degrees F or lowest setting. Leave door ajar 2 to 3 inches. Place a fan in front of the oven to blow air across the open door.
• Spread the food in a single layer on racks or cookie sheet. Check food often. Turn food over to dry more evenly.
• Drying time will vary (Tables 2 and 3). Do not leave oven on when no one is in the house.
• When food is dehydrated 80 to 95% of the moisture is removed, making the dried weight of foods much less than the fresh weight.

* Fruits may be dipped in ascorbic acid or citric acid in place of blanching.
** Test for dryness by cutting the fruit. There should be no moist areas in the center of the fruit.
*** A food dehydrator could be used in place of a range oven due to the extended drying times for most fruits.
+ Drying times for whole fruits. Drying time may be shortened by cutting fruit into slices.

Pasteurizing and Conditioning of Dried Foods

Dried fruits must be conditioned prior to storage. Conditioning is the process of evenly distributing moisture present in the dried fruit to prevent mold growth. Condition dried fruit by placing in a plastic or glass container, sealing and storing for 7 to 10 days. The dried fruit in the containers should be shaken daily to distribute moisture. If condensation occurs, place the fruit in the oven or dehydrator for more drying and repeat the conditioning process.

Storing the Food

Dried foods should be used within 3 to 6 months as they will lose their flavor and color to some extent during storage.

Reconstituting Dried Foods