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Drying Foods at Home. Resources for Today. So Easy to Preserve (Univ of Georgia- 1999) Wisconsin’s Wild Game: Enjoying the Harvest (B3573) How to Dry Foods. Drying Foods at Home. Quick and easy Adds diversity to snacking and meals Economical and energy efficient.
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Resources for Today • So Easy to Preserve (Univ of Georgia- 1999) • Wisconsin’s Wild Game: Enjoying the Harvest (B3573) • How to Dry Foods
Drying Foods at Home • Quick and easy • Adds diversity to snacking and meals • Economical and energy efficient
How Drying Preserves Food • Moisture is removed so bacteria, yeast and mold can’t grow • Enzyme action is slowed
3 Requirements • Heat – 120° to 150°F • Low Humidity • Air movement
Drying Food Out-of-Doors • Sun-dried fruits and vine-dried beans • Hot (86° F), dry, breezy days are best • Use appropriate materials • Pasteurize afterwards
Drying Food Indoors • Oven drying • Room drying • Food dehydrators
Styles of food dehydrators…. • Vertical air flow e.g. GardenMaster • Horizontal air flow e.g. Excaliber
Drying Fruits • Check suitability • Prepare uniform pieces or slices • Pre-treat fruit
Drying Fruits • Dry at 150°F for 2 hrs, then at 125°until done • Determining doneness • Conditioning fruits
Fruit Leathers • Select ripe fruit • Blend or puree • Try fun combinations • Dry at 140°F
Drying Vegetables • Check suitability • Prepare uniform pieces • Blanch, if necessary • Dry until brittle
Drying Jerky • Choose lean meat for drying • Handle raw meat carefully • Partially freeze meat for easy slicing • Dry at 145°F
What if…… • Dried vegetables fail to rehydrate • There are black spots on my sun-dried apples • Air-dried herbs mold
Next Time: Canning low acid vegetables – safe ways to can green beans, carrots and other vegetables