How to Store Dehydrated Food Correct And Keep it Fresh. 😋Comprehensive Guide😋

No matter how delicious any food tastes, if it’s spoiled or not fresh, there is no way it can be good to eat. Who would want to eat bad tasting food, right? However, there is also no reason to be sad about that for there a lot of methods to extend a longer life span for your precious foods.

A few guidelines

1. Follow the instruction of your dehydrator. It is vital that you read carefully the information printed on your dehydrator manual. Such temperature together with the time needed may vary from each and every type of food you will use so be careful.

2. Ensure 95% dehydration of food. Storing your food for a long or short term requires that you dry your food to up to 95% this means that they already lost all of its natural moisture and oil inside.

Also, if the product still feels sticky or soft, dehydration is not yet done so place them back again inside. Otherwise, if they already feel hard and crunchy, your product is good to go.

3. Take your time in dehydrating the food. Turning up the temperature of the food you want to store is not ideal for it will only dry the outside and not the inside where the moisture exists.

Over-drying food products are not as bad as it can even add to the longevity of the product. Unlike when you try to make things quicker, there is a higher chance for the food to spoil faster, too.

4. Prepare everything needed clean and purified. Just like what you do in ordinary cooking or food preparation, cleaning everything from the tools up to the food you will use, washing all of them and using anti-bacterial cleaners is also important.

You can also wear gloves, either latex or vinyl to make certain that no amount of skin oil will contaminate your food. 10 minutes of steaming is required for all vegetables with low-acid before the dehydration process.

Dry them using a clean cloth and then put them now in the food dehydrator. Fruits like apples and bananas need to be sprayed with lemon juice if you don’t want them to become brown.

5. It is effective to turn on the dehydrator even before the dehydration process so it will be ready with the right temperature during the process. (this is of course more for horizontal dehydrators with a door) Likewise, the process will be faster if the fruits and products are sliced equally into thick enough sizes.

For those who do not have any dehydrators at home, you can get some cheap dehydrators like this one. But using an oven is also applicable with a few limitations.

Can you use an oven for Dehydration

In theory, yes, but ovens are mechanically made for higher temperatures which may go over the allowed temperature for the foods that you have. There will be times when you need to keep the door of your oven open just to be able to monitor the heat inside.

An oven with a thermometer is better. It will show an accurate measure of the temperature inside which thus help in the monitoring of it. The airflow is also very important when dehydrating your food and which requires, again, keeping the door open most of the time.

Proper airflow is needed inside an oven allows for the excess moisture in the food to be removed, most ovens aren’t capable of doing this.

Tips for Dehydrating In The Oven

To get a desirable result, here are some basic steps also to perform to safely use your oven for dehydration.

• Slice the foods to be dried into strips within 6mm or 1/2 inch thin.
• Place them in a single layer on a cake rack for good airflow.
• Put the trays containing the foods inside the oven and wait between 6 to 12 hours to completely dehydrate based on their moisture content.
• Get the trays from the oven and leave them open to cool down within 24 hours before storing them in containers.

Dehydrating foods is both practical and healthy as well. It keeps food fresh and intact with all its nutrients and vitamins such as vitamins A, B, and C. So to stay good even after a very long period of being stored if not for this long-existing process.

Does dehydrated food need to be refrigerated?

Dehydrated foods are greatly affected by the temperature in the storage area where they are kept. Not knowing the right temperature can shorten the life span of the food and spoil earlier than expected. Keeping dehydrated food longer is possible if stored at a cooler temperature, But avoid high humidity and warm areas.

When the food is kept in a cool area, there is little to no chance that it will get moist which eventually leads to the molds and other elements that speed up the spoiling. Moisture is a major factor that influences and affects the shelf life of most dried foods.

Dehydrated foods, originally, are prepared in such a way that consumers can consume them either because they wanted to preserve it or just simply because they like the taste of dehydrated foods.

Moisture also increases the chance of microorganisms to be present in the food and to reproduce more quickly. To avoid moisture, though, the best places to put your dehydrated food are those with good airflow and where there is little or no presence of moisture as well.

what temperature should I store my dehydrated food at?

Shelf Storage Temperature.	Fahrenheit	Celsius
Temperature	65-72°	18-22°

For a longer shelf life of dehydrated foods for up to 20 years (depends on the food), a temperature of 65° to 72° Fahrenheit is recommended. Other than refrigerators, you may also keep your dehydrated food in the basement of your house, cellar, lower level of your house, closet space or in the kitchen cabinets.

On the other hand, the worst places to put them in are the attic where the direct warmth of the sun is felt, the upper floor of a house with more than one level, and in a vehicle. These are just not advisable also even to people to stay in or you’ll sweat hard after a few minutes.

This is especially ideal for large numbers of dried or dehydrated foods that you’d still like to eat after a few days. The same taste and smell are to be kept intact if you do this.

The refrigerator is just the best place for any kind of food but especially the dried ones. It feels good to know that your food is safe and is ready for your indulgence anytime you feel hungry.

How long can you keep dehydrated food?

It varies from food to food but it is important to know the different techniques on how to store dehydrated foods so you can choose properly which one is perfect for the length of time you’d like to keep them.

Knowing the shelf life involves knowing the type of food as well. So, check out the list below to see which types of dehydrated foods that last longer or shorter when stored.

Type of Food	Shelf Life*
Dried Vegetables	8-10 years
Dairy Products	Max 15 years
Beans	8-10 years
Soft Grains	Max 8 years
Hard Grains	8-10 years
Cracked seed/flours	6-9 Months or upto 5 years (Read details below)
Pasta	8-10 years
Dried Fruits	Depends on the fruits, but the shortest of all
Sugar, salt	Indefinite, if kept away from moist
Honey	(Read details below)
Brown Rice	Max 6 months
White Rice	8-10 years

* This is only if the food has been prepared correctly and stored correctly the entire time. Remember don’t take any chances if it smells, tastes or looks wrong do NOT consume it.

· Dried Vegetables – this kind of dehydrated foods can last for eight to ten years of life shelf if placed in an area within a stable temperature of not higher than seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s going to live longer with lower temperatures than that if you desire. Seal them inside a vacuum or oxygen-free jars and your veggies are safe! The best-dehydrated vegetables for storage are carrots, cabbages, and potatoes, among others.

· Dairy Products – up to fifteen years of life shelf can be reached by dairy products which are also stored and sealed in the right temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit. All kinds of dairy products such as powder milk, butter or margarine powder, whey powder, as well as cheese powder. Morning Moo, on the other hand, even if it’s a dairy product, is newly released in the market which is thus not yet tested further for more details.

· Beans – similarly, beans are to stay edible and fresh if kept in an airtight container with seventy degrees Fahrenheit for eight to ten years. This kind of product include lentils, kidney beans, soybeans, and others. Likewise, it is possible to be stored using nitrogen and lower temperatures for longer life.

· Soft Grains – having very soft outer covers of a shell, soft grains are expected to last shorter and cannot keep its cores protected for a very long period. Within eight years at most, you must already have disposed of or consumed your stock of soft grains. Its shelf life lasts for such length of time if the temperature stays within the seventy degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Soft grains may be rolled oats, barley, rye, groats, and others.

· Hard Grains – unlike the soft grains, this product has a tougher outer shell that allows it to live longer between eight to ten years in the storage. Similar conditions of being stored and sealed in vacuum containers inside an area with seventy degrees Fahrenheit applies to this product. Hard grains are wheat, hard red wheat, flux, special bake wheat, millet, and others.

· Cracked seed/flours – the outer shells of seeds, whether soft or hard, are their protection from being spoiled or rotten. Thus, it follows that unprocessed products of this kind cannot be expected to live the same length of time as others but only for five years even if kept in the same conditions.

OBS: On the other hand, those seeds that contain more oil, it is harder to keep it last long because its taste changes and becomes worse over time. Seeds with more oil content such as Granola, Germade, gluten, and wheat flakes can only be stored for six to nine months.

· Pasta – this product beats the shelf life of flours as long as they are kept within the storage of 0% oxygen and other factors. It can be enjoyed fresh and still tasty as before for eight to ten years. With lower temperatures, such a life span can be extended as well.

· Dried Fruit – fruits are naturally born with more moisture content than other foods, therefore, entails shorter shelf span. even if you keep them in vacuum-sealed containers within seventy degrees Fahrenheit, it stays just up to five temperature. Otherwise, to try extending it a little bit longer, it may be fine to have lower temperatures, too.

· Sugar, salt, and honey – as simple as keeping it away from moisture, storing these products is possible and easy. With honey, on the other hand, it must be the pure mixture with nothing else added before it can be stored successfully for a long period. Storing these products means keeping them inside oxygen-free containers and with seventy degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

· Rice – the case differs between the brown and white rice. With brown rice, shelf life is only a maximum of six months because they have an outer shell that contains fats or oil that speeds up the spoiling. After such time, brown rice’s taste starts to become bad and unwanted.

However, white rice offers a longer period of storage given the same conditions of seventy degrees Fahrenheit and kept inside an airtight jar.

This type of rice stays for up to eight to ten years still to be enjoyed and consumed. If in case you’d still want to keep brown rice and let it live for one to two years, it is possible by lowering the temperature in the storage place up to ten degrees.

Do you have to refrigerate dehydrated fruit?

Dehydrated fruit can be an alternative to your sweet tooth without actually gaining much weight and going beyond the right amount of sugar in your body.

Fruits are good sources of sugar that are healthy for the body unlike the sugar from glucose. They are perfect for snacks, breakfast, and even desserts.

A refrigerator is really a great appliance to have inside your house for it does not only serve you with cold drinks and food, but it also aids in keeping them fresh and still edible. Any kind of food can be stored inside a refrigerator including dehydrated ones.

But keeping food within 70 degrees Fahrenheit on shelf temperature is the most effective way as long as you remember to keep it in airtight containers. It keeps away moisture that causes the growth of mold and other microorganisms that may live in the food that you store.

In such a simple way that, this electronic appliance becomes a very helpful tool that you can count on times of storing food for later consumption.

Dehydrated fruits’ shelf life may be shorter than other kinds of food, but it can surely be extended. Dried fruit products are sold with an expiration date from the time it was released for purchase.

However, it has been proven scientifically that dried fruits can still be eaten even after such taste wherein refrigeration plays a vital role. While storing them inside your refrigerator also involves putting them inside an airtight container to further avoid the presence of moisture and other contaminants. (airtight containers like these)

In terms of a longer period of storing your dehydrated foods, a freezer can help well enough to fulfill that. In fact, Freezing foods is an indefinite, major form of storage that helps you enjoy your food with the benefit of eating healthier, less cost for food, and avoiding waste for a better environment.

How to Check if Dried fruit is bad

To check if the dried fruit you’ve been keeping is still perfect for you to consume, and not yet rotten or spoiled, there are certain things you need to know about, and those are:

· Smell – use your sense of smell to detect if the dehydrated fruit inside your refrigerator. That rotten smell is a great indicator of whether it is still okay for consumption.

· Color – observe the color of the food if there is any discoloration, usually in a darker tone, to be seen.

· Hardness – feel the skin or cover of the fruit if it’s already hard which may be fine for some people.

· Flavor or taste – check also the taste if there is still flavor left in it. If it is already stale or flavorless, then that’s a sign of rotting as well.

Always being able to check the condition of your dried fruit is essential because eating spoiled or rotten food has some health risks on the side which can be prevented through proper hygiene and food safety techniques.

One piece of good news is that dried fruits are far less prone to mold formation than other fresh fruits from the tree. These fruits’ being dried is 100% assurance of moisture-free food, as well as mold-free.

Can dehydrated food spoil?

Yes, but there are four factors that influence the chance of food getting spoiled even after they have been dehydrated. The storage technique that you will apply makes the big difference in that in which these factors interfere and counteract. I will go more into detail here below.

The first factor is the temperature within the area of the storage. The ideal temperature is, of course, seventy degrees Fahrenheit for all kinds of food, both dehydrated and fresh.

This must be maintained and monitored during the whole period of storing the food. A certain drop in the temperature will mean longer life, too.

The same thing goes if there is an increase in the temperature which causes the opposite effect to occur.

The second factor is the product’s moisture content. The more oil that the dried product has, the more chance for it to spoil faster than others. Such is the case of grains, beans, and flours for having 10% moisture inside.

Thus, if your dried products contain those ingredients, you must make sure to keep them at a little lower temperature than usual to make them last longer.

Otherwise, if you cannot adjust the temperature, the next thing to do is to ensure a container that is as dry as possible to prevent the moisture from existing in your food.

The third factor is the atmosphere in the place of the storage. There are cases when some people preserve their dried foods with air. Such a technique is not that effective and advisable, knowing that air has oxygen also which has the ability to oxidize several compounds found in your dehydrated foods.

However, while it is not a perfect way, some companies still dare to perform this with the help of some processes to remove the oxygen. It can be done either by displacing the oxygen or by absorbing it. In displacing the oxygen,

I advise you to store in some mason jars and then use one of these vacuum sealers and attach it to this Vacuum Sealer. Depending on how long you want to save it. Also if you are going to go and snack of it then do not vacuum seal it.

The fourth and last factor is the container for storing itself. This could be the most important of all which, even though you get all the others done right, if you fail on this one, still, everything becomes a flop. The containers of your dehydrated products that are to be stored for a long period are responsible for maintaining the other three factors included above to work well during the storage period.

To get a clear idea of which types of containers are perfect for your dehydrated foods, here are some reminders and details that you can consider.

· Sealed food storage buckets and sealable food quality metal or plastic drums are the best. They keep the food oxygen-free all those times that they are kept in storage.

· Make sure that they are food-grade, applicable for food storage because the materials of non-food grade containers may contaminate your dehydrated foods.

· Plastic sacks and paper sacks are the worst. They are not good tools for preventing the entrance of air and oxygen to your food because of its thinness and the small holes that they contain.

If all those factors and tips had been observed well, then you are sure to preserve your food perfectly. There is no way for you to be wasting any dehydrated food you have at home for your family’s consumption or for business.

How long will vacuum sealed dehydrated food last?

Based on what had been mentioned above, the containers are one big factor in the success of your food storing agenda. Dehydrated and ordinary food products are to be kept safe and fresher when placed inside a vacuum-sealed container. There can be a lot of products to choose from which are available both online and in the market.

All of those products offer great sealing and an air-blocking ability that delivers essential functions for food storing. They offer unique and valuable ways of how they can help you in maintaining your dehydrated foods’ freshness. You can find these products available in amazon just by clicking on em above. Just be certain of the specific qualities to look for for your personal use.

Zipped plastic bags are no better than these jars despite their flexibility. Although they are big enough to accommodate larger amounts of foods inside for drying, it is still essential to consider also the air that it may contain which allows the presence of molds.

The air causes the water to evaporate from the inside, leading to the formation of such bacteria and other contaminants. Therefore, use only jars with tight lids for the storage of any dehydrated foods, unless you plan on eating em very quickly.

How do you store dehydrated food long term?

A few things need to be done for a nice and successful storing of dehydrated food. The idea of the long term has been attached to dehydrating food nowadays because it turns out to be one of the most effective methods in preserving food.

It is easy and simple if only you know how to go about it the right way. Here’s a quick look at the vital factors in performing the process.

1. Moisture content – the food you should dehydrate must be close to totally free of all moisture and oil that can possibly be a reason for molds, bacteria, and other contaminants to thrive in them. It does not only keep them fresh and healthy but also to lengthen their shelf life.

2. The best dehydrator to be used – sometimes what matters is not how you do it but how your equipment does it. In order to succeed in dehydrating your food, it is essential to pick the perfect dehydrator which will dictate also if it’s going to last long term or not. The traits that your dehydrator should have are the following:

· with solid trays sliding in and out for a most convenient dehydration process

· for optimal results, one that has an adjustable thermostat is ideal

· with auto shut off, digital timer and fans

Here is a list of good Dehydrators in a few price ranges.

3. Follow the right steps in dehydrating food for long term processes which are listed below.

Remember this is only if you are going for very long term dehydration like a prepper pantry.

· Wash the fruits or vegetables to be dehydrated. The right combination of water and vinegar solution must be prepared where they will be soaked. By doing so, the dehydrated food will be free of wax and other chemicals before they are sliced into smaller portions.

· Clean the fruits and vegetables before slicing them. Also, it is necessary for you to use vinyl or latex gloves or just simply wash your hands thoroughly while also applying disinfectants to ensure that there are no germs in it anymore.

· Slicing fruits and vegetables require some caution. Very juicy fruits are recommended to be refrigerated first before slicing them so it will be easier for you. You just remove the peel of the products including the cores, seeds, and stems for better results.

The best size for slicing fruits is 3mm thick with a length of one inch. Also, you may notice a change in color such as browning due to oxidation which can be prevented through soaking it in acid dip or spray them with lemon juice.

· Blanching means heating the fruits and vegetables in water for a few minutes and then transferring them in icy water. This process guarantees that the enzymes in the food will already be stopped from degrading the food after a certain period.

After applying such steps and observing the abovementioned factors, what is left to be done is the actual dehydration of the products. See the list below for the appropriate steps to perform.

· Dedicate ample time for the kind of food products to be dehydrated. A common example of this is apples which take 6 to 8 hours, and bananas 8 to 10 hours during the entire dehydration. On the other hand, the time needed for vegetables and meat products requires also a different length.

Vegetables such as potatoes and tomatoes need 14 to 16 hours of drying while ordinary ones only take 1 to 12 hours. Of course, you must expect a longer period for meat items to dry, too, but easy especially when done under 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

· Control and maintain the appropriate temperature for the type of food that you dry. 135 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit is suitable for fruits and vegetables. Heat does not help in speeding up the dehydration but instead makes the skin of fruits dry and hard while also producing moisture inside and lessening the nutritions of the product.

· Check the moisture content of the product by observing whether it is already leathery and that does not break despite being bent. You can do this by putting it inside a zipped bag for one night to further disseminate the moisture contained inside the product evenly.

Does dehydrated meat need to be refrigerated?

Meat is the number one product for dehydration and may be stored in many various ways. Dehydrating meat is useful for preserving the product whether with refrigerating it or not.

The water inside the meat is what will cause it to produce molds later on. They need to be refrigerated, though, for better preservation. The right low temperature and the process itself of dehydration work together in fulfilling the goal.

Other Ways of Preserving Meat

Other than refrigerating meat products, there are other ways to do it like canning, curing aka salting, freeze-drying, and smoking. These are just five of the alternative ways that best work for meat preservation.

Firstly, canning can make your food last for a minimum of two to three years for it is done through keeping the meat in a hermetically sealed container. This is a well-known process of preservation, however, not that easy to do especially if you are not an expert. 100% caution is required so as not to have botulism as a result.

Secondly, curing or salting originates way back in the eras of ancient Rome and which continues to be performed by most people nowadays. It is the oldest, yet a well-practiced method for almost all kinds of meat like fish, pork, and poultry.

To perform this process, taking out the fat from the meat before rubbing it with salt as well as other spices that must cover the entire meat. After that, you may put it inside your refrigerator without actually freezing it, or just exposing it outside in cold weather.

After at least seven days, collect the meat and rinse out all the salts and other spices using water. The meat has to be wrapped with cheesecloth and be stored in a dry, cool place so that after three months, it will be ready for consumption.

Thirdly, freeze-drying your meat items is possible using a piece of equipment for such a process. Since those are very expensive, Thus, even if you choose to conduct this process, this cannot be the best method for you.

Lastly, smoking, just like salting or curing is also a traditional and most commonly applied technique in preserving meat. This method is most especially popular in areas where high humidity is present and dehydrating or air-drying meat is impossible.

All these processes are other choices for storing food that will be consumed in any later period. However, dehydrating is just simple and effective, convenient, and safe way. It also takes up way less space.

How to store dehydrated food in mason jars?

Mason jars are a favorite type of container among people who love to store dehydrated foods. Other than the usual fruit and vegetables that you store, other dried foods can also be kept inside a mason jar like rice, pasta, dried corn, dehydrated soups, nuts, and others. It is very easy to do because of the jar’s airtight characteristic.

The reason that a lot of people like to use mason jars is that it is also used for canning so you can buy I bulk and get it cheaper.

Mason jars require also dehydrated foods that go well with oxygen absorbers which depends on the size of the jar and the product to be placed inside. Jars cannot be expanded like other containers such as Myler bags. Also, because they are not expandable or flexible, enough absorption is necessary too to deoxygenate the jar.

When using jars for long term storage, here are the specific steps that need to be followed for complete effectivity.

1. Prepare the tools and materials to be used: a clean working area, purified or disinfected jars, oxygen absorbers, funnel, small pitcher, permanent markers or masking tapes and/or scoop.

2. Fill the jars with the product to be stored using a scoop or a small pitcher and make marks as well as important notes in the jar using the permanent markers. Also, do not forget to press the products inside to remove the air in between each layer.

3. Once the jar is completely filled, put the oxygen absorbers on top of each jar filled with the product to remove the remaining air inside if there is any. Afterward, seal the jar tightly and notice whether the lid is sucked inward or not which is a distinct trait of mason jars that tell whether there is a 21% decrease in the oxygen as absorbed by the vacuum.

4. After 6 to 12 hours of oxygen absorption, you may check the jars if they have been totally free of any air inside. You must make sure to keep them in a cool, dark, and dry area for better results.

Other Food Products Perfect for Dehydration

Fruits and vegetables are the common contents of refrigerators especially when you have kids around, too. Thus, they become common products also for dehydration and storage. Below is a list of those fruits and veggies fit for the process and a few things about them.

Top 10 Fruits for Dehydration

1. Apricot – this fruit tastes even more delicious when dried. It is a great packed snack inside your bag particularly when they are already dehydrated, crunchy and hard.

2. Strawberries – despite its sweetness when ripe and unprocessed, strawberries taste even better when dried which can be used as smoothies or trail mixes.

3. Tomatoes – aside from being an ingredient to daily delicacies and salads, tomatoes also taste really good when removed from all the moisture inside. Making powdered versions of it and preparing ketchup at home are the best!

4. Peaches – no difference can be observed with dehydrated peaches than when it was first bought. Simply, add water and put some cinnamon in it to get it back to its real state, then enjoy the rest of it.

5. Apples – apples make a perfect snack especially when dipped in peanut butter when dried. Dehydrating apples give you a supply of sweet and juicy fruit for one whole year ore longer.

6. Bananas – a dose of unbelievable energy can be achieved by munching a bunch of crunchy dried bananas. Thinly sliced bananas are better enjoyed than thick ones. This is going to provide you with delicious banana chips within the whole day.

7. Raspberry – almost all kinds of berries have the same appeal of sweetness and tastiness. Raspberries are not an exception. In fact, it may become one of your favorites if you try it once. You’ll go crazy over it especially if you try baking your own Three Kings Cake where it is included.

8. Blueberries – another best thing about blueberries next to its oozing antioxidant content is that they can be the perfect top to your morning cereals, yogurts, and other meals when they are dehydrated. This fruit stays sweet apart from its crunchiness.

9. Cherries – cherries can be your all-around fruit for your favorite drinks and even to scones if you like to taste something crunchy after sipping. Cherries make a nice topping, too even when dehydrated so you can just drop some on your drink every time you will thirsty.

10. Dates – Vegan desserts are not the only ways to use dates. You can try other recipes with its dehydrated version as mixing it with other sweet stuff such as caramel, raw apples, almond butter, quinoa date nut truffles, and chocolate tarts. Just looking at that set of tasty ingredients can make your mouth water!

Top 10 Vegetables for Dehydration

1. Green Beans – dehydrating it looks just closely similar to its canned version. The taste is like that as well. You’ll never regret using dried green beans instead to your green bean casserole or other dishes.

2. Broccoli – unlike with other veggies that can still be eaten from root to tips, broccoli has ‘just the tops’ to offer for your indulgence. Only two minutes of boiling it in water is necessary to cook dried broccolis which is hardly the same as its freshly cooked counterpart. Everything seems to stay the same.

3. Cabbage – the military and most of the US food industry have been enjoying this delicacy in dehydrated form. They admire cabbage’s taste that remains delicious and fresh even after going through the drying process as well after some time of being stored. It is amazing and unbelievable, but true!

4. Carrots – your usual bowl of soup and stews will be extra special this time with the added flavor and crunchiness of dehydrated carrots. Despite being a little different from its original taste, dried carrots are still delicious.

5. Celery – this strong-tasting ingredient that you put in almost all kinds of delicacy is also appropriate for dehydration as it is still able to keep its flavor especially when added to stews, poultry stuffing, and soups. There is no harm in using dehydrated celeries to your dishes that needs fresh celery, too. They’re just the same actually so go on and try it.

6. Sweet Corn – dehydrated corns show a darker color than the fresh and canned ones. The taste as well as its softness changes after being boiled and then dried. However, adding them to your other dishes is also still fine for it will give your food some flavor and nice texture.

7. Mushrooms – they don’t like to change that much like other vegetables. The taste, texture, and appearance remain similar to that of fresh ones, except for its slight crispiness. No doubt your dishes will be the best with this addition.

8. Onions – Feel free and confident to use dehydrated onions to your recipe such as in potato salad because it just serves you with that familiar taste and texture as fresh onions. Imagine a long term supply of great-tasting onions when you learn to dehydrate!

9. Sweet Garden Peas – the secret to making your peas taste fresh than canned is to add some salt, pepper, as well as a little bit of butter to it and presto! You got yourself a bowl of dried peas tasting like fresh ones. Dried peas look darker in color than canned peas, too.

10. Mixed Peppers – it may be lacking the crispiness of fresh bell peppers, but it surely is still very delicious that makes it not appropriate for green salads. Other than the crispiness, both fresh and dehydrated peppers are the same in many ways.

Other Times to Use Dehydrated Foods

Outside of your home, you can also carry some dehydrated products for you to eat along the way to the office or school or anywhere you desire. There is no limit to where and how you wanted to enjoy your pack of dried goodies.

By simply tossing your dehydrated foods in a cookpot while being soaked with water that they need to absorb then simmer, they will transform into a mouthful of crunchy, tasty meals.

Also, Use Dehydrated Food When Camping

Camping could be considered as the perfect timing for dehydrated foods to be well-appreciated. It is hassle-free and easy to perform even with very few or just one tool around for its preparation.

Just one pack of any dehydrated food in a combination of meat, vegetables, staples, and herbs, you are good to go and survive within a few days out in camping.

Some of the best ideas for enjoying dehydrated foods for camping purposes are in the form of yogurt tarts, veggie chips, trail mix, and fruit leathers. Yogurt tarts are going to give you such a memorable camping experience for its cold yet very sweet taste.

Also, this food will not further lessen your worries about spoiling because of its high acid content which makes up for safe and effective home dehydration.

On the other hand, veggie chips are equally tasty as yogurt tarts. They make a perfect companion for the cold days that you’ll have outside during your camping. An example of this is the dehydrated zucchini in tamari or even in tomato rounds which also contains dried basil leaves. They are healthy as usual so don’t forget to include them in your list of packed foods.

Specially made for camping is this trail mix recipe where you only need to add any dried sweet fruit of your choice in chunks. It may seem very simple and easy to prepare but it certainly is a complete source of energy while on the trail.

Last but not least is the fruit leathers. This may take a little longer to prepare than the others but it is absolutely worth it. This recipe blends the taste of different fruits such as apple, cranberries, oranges, watermelon, berry, peach mango in its flavor.

Added to that are a handful of almonds and nutmeg. Wouldn’t you like to stay longer for a camping activity soon?

Conclusion and Final Words

In times like this when food becomes scarce and too expensive for families to afford every time their stomachs cram of hunger, learning about ways such as dehydration to preserve anything in excess that they have is very important. It is not right to eat extravagantly in one sitting for dinner or lunch, neither is it proper to throw away food because they have rotten or have become spoiled just because you have excesses in one day.

Who knows when would be the time you’ll run out of food stocked in your fridge to eat and feed to your family? Or rather, who can tell when food will become scarce as well as the money you use to buy them? No one can tell or predict. It is just as easy as preparing your food for the hard days by taking action. So, start dehydrating and storing some goodies today.