Tips for Dehydrating Food

Learning to dehydrate your own food can be a simple way to eat healthier and save on the cost of your overall food storage program. Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind when dehydrating your own food. These tips will help you get started in the right direction.

1.) Always use fresh food items of good quality.

2.) Always examine the food to make sure it is clean and free of any damage.

3.) Pre-treating your food by blanching or dipping in a coating solution can help eliminate the formation of bacteria, help to preserve the color and work to maintain the flavors of your food.

4.) Foods may be marinated, salted or sweetened prior to dehydrating to further enhance their flavor.

5.) Always slice your food uniformly and thinly so that you can maintain a uniform rate of dehydration of your food.

6.) Most food dehydrators allow you to dry different foods at the same time. Different foods take different amounts of time to dry. Remember to remove the food that will dry first in a timely manner.

7.) Remember that smaller, thinner pieces of food will dehydrate faster than large thick pieces.

8.) Always test each batch of food after dehydrating to ensure the drying process is complete.

9.) Thoroughly cool all dehydrated food before placing it in storage. Use airtight containers that will keep out moisture.

10.) Follow all manufacturers’ guidelines for your dehydrating equipment. Time and temperature guidelines are important, as well as the safe and proper operation of your food dehydrator.


Dehydrating your own food items can be a quick and easy process. By learning a few simple and basic techniques you can have a successful food storage program using your own dehydrated food.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker