Some Things To Be Aware Of About A Food Dehydrator
Date: Thursday September 30, 2010Posted in: Home & Garden
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.
One more effect of removing water from the food is a change in its taste. Some people prefer the aftertaste of dried products which, in most instances, is a bit better than the original taste. One good example would be dried mangoes made in the Philippines which are considered sweeter version of fresh mangoes. Another is the dried and salted reindeer meat that can be found in some parts of Northern Europe.
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%.
Although the process may differ from model to model, a typical food dehydrator usually works in this manner. The food to be dried is placed into trays that go inside the device. The heating element of the devices raises the temperature of the food and draws the water out. A fan then blows the moisture out of the trays and outside the device. This process can take several hours, depending on the initial hydration of the food and the desired 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.
With all those things mentioned above, it is apparent that food dehydrators are useful to have around in the kitchen. They do not only prolong the shelf life of the food and make it easier to store food but it also adds some exquisite taste to it that can be entirely different from its original state. Remember that the duration of dehydration and level of temperature depend on the water content of the food and desired dryness which means it varies from one food to another. Also, take into account the ease of drying a certain food group more over others, the available space, and the allotted budget.
Cathy White owns a best food dehydrator blog. You can find many food dehydrator reviews such as Nesco food dehydrator reviews, Excalibur food dehydrator reviews, L’Equip food dehydrators reviews and many more in her blog.
