As anyone can infer from the name itself, a food dehydrator is an appliance that somehow decreases the amount of moisture in the food that is placed in it. This process of dehydrating the food serves a variety of purposes. Also, there are several devices that may be called food dehydrators. Here are some things to know about them.
Removing moisture from food changes its nature. Why would anyone want that? While fresh food, whether raw or cooked is usually preferable, there are reasons for wanting to dehydrate some foods. The obvious reason for dehydrating the food is to help preserve it. Preserving food aids in budgeting scarce resources.
Removing excess moisture from food to preserve it is especially essential when the food is only obtainable during specific times of the year. It is also essential for individuals who are not very food secure. Dehydration helps in achieving this because it is very hard for the bacteria that spoils food to breed without water. Also, dehydration makes the food lighter and more able to fit in a smaller space, thus enabling easier storage of the food.
Another reason for wanting to remove water from food is to achieve a different taste. This is possibly done in the process of making a different product. For example, the dried mango from the Philippines is a sort of sweet candy made from processed fresh mangoes. Also, dried and salted reindeer meat is a favorite in some parts of Northern Europe.
At an industrial or mass scale, dryers come in specific types depending on the food they are supposed to dry. For home use however, a food dehydrator is comparatively smaller device that can dry a variety of foods, as long as they can fit into the trays. How a dehydrator is used depends on the moisture of what is being dried. Fruits usually contain around 80% to 90% of its mass as water while meats are at around 50% to 75%.
The step-by-step process changes with every dehydrator but its basics are the same. Food is placed on the tray and is then put inside the equipment. Afterwards, the temperature is set to whatever is needed to achieve the dehydration level of the food and once it starts, water comes out in the form of moisture. This moisture is blown out of the device by a fan. The duration of this process depends on the initial water content of the food and targeted dryness.
For these appliances to do their function well, it is essential that they give off stable heat and generate enough airflow. Too much heat may make the food too hard on the outside while still remaining moist on the inside. Also, prior to buying a dehydrator, think about what kinds of food you will dry more often. Also make sure that there is enough space for the appliance. After that, just look for the one that satisfies your needs at the most reasonable price.
To sum up, food dehydrators are useful household devices that help people accomplish several things. The food that is dehydrated is lighter and easier to store, will last longer, and may even acquire an entirely different taste from the original food. One must of course learn with experience, since foods dry best at certain temperatures and some need to be dried longer than others. In choosing a dehydrator, consider what food will be most often dehydrated, how much space can be taken up, and of course how much one is willing to pay for it.
Cathy White is a food lover and she owns a best food dehydrator blog. You can find reviews on Nesco food dehydrators, Excalibur food dehydrators, L’Equip food dehydrators and many more to come in her blog.
