Top Mistakes that You Need to Avoid When Using a Food Dehydrator

Posted by entri in Uncategorized

Are you excited to dehydrate your first variety of foods? Before you get too pumped up, you should know the things you must avoid when dehydrating foods.

Dehydrating food is easy, especially when you are using a food dehydrator. However, not everyone who is using a food dehydrator can get good results the first time they have tried it. Some are burnt, while others aren’t dried exactly what and how they want it.

So, to avoid food waste on your first food dehydrating attempt, here is a list of the top mistakes that you need to avoid when using a food dehydrator.

Mistake #1: Not following the recommended dehydrator temperature

Not all foods can handle any levels of temperature when dehydrated inside the dehydrator. Each one has specifics when it comes to dehydrating temperature. Failure to follow the recommended temperature will cause the food to:

• Over-dry, causing ‘case hardening’ and spoilage during storage.
• Under-dry, which can cause bacterial growth.

Check the temperature guideline when dehydrating food:

• Herbs – 95 degrees F
• Vegetables, Beans, and Lentils – 125 degrees F
• Fruits – 135 degrees F
• Grains and Pre-cooked meats – 145 degrees F
• Meat and Seafood – 160 degrees F
• Poultry – 165 degrees F

Mistake #2: Not following the recommended dehydration time

Right timing in food dehydration is critical. Failure to dehydrate the food at the right dehydrating time length will cause food spoilage and food poisoning. So, make sure to follow the correct timing for dehydration. For instance:

• Drying fruits at a temperature of 104 – 110 degrees F:

1. Apples and Bananas – 7 -10 hours
2. Pears and Pineapples – 25 hours

• Drying herbs is usually at 1 – 4 hours while drying roots is at 5 – 11 hours.
• Making beef, chicken, and turkey jerky is recommended for 4 – 7 hours.

Take note, the length of dehydration time may vary depending on the thickness of the slices of the food you want to dehydrate, the food’s water content, and the temperature of the dehydration, and the type of electric food dehydrator that you own.

Mistake #3: Inadequate food preparation and placement

Proper slicing and placing of the food to be dehydrated are critical to the food dehydration process. Unequal slices or not near to equal slices of food can affect the result, where some are well-dehydrated, others are under-dried, while others are over-dried. Make sure to prepare your food well and cut the food into uniform pieces.

Providing enough space on the food you are to dehydrate is essential; unfortunately, this simple step is often neglected. Having enough spaces will provide an even distribution of hot air inside the dehydrator, resulting in a good outcome. However, if you over pile the food in each tray, it will cook the food unevenly.

Final Thoughts

Correct handling and food preparation for dehydration are critical to the entire process. You need to take note of the correct timing, temperature, and placement of the food inside the dehydrator. The process may be confusing at first, but over time, dehydrating food is fun.