Why buy a food dehydrator? A food dehydrator is an electrical appliance that uses air and heat to remove moisture or water content from food. Water is what causes food to spoil or deteriorate and without water, bacteria and mold cannot grow. Bacteria, yeasts and molds need the water in food to grow, and drying effectively prevents them from surviving in food. Typically, a fan and heater are used to create a suitable dehydration environment.
It is known that the use of sun and wind drying of foods to prevent spoilage has been practiced since ancient times. Also, it was the first form of food preservation – it helped our ancestors during droughts and famines. Fortunately, today’s technology has made this process much easier and more effective, with modern dehydrators that regulate temperature for even and consistent drying.
Read on to discover the top 5 reasons why so many people use a food dehydrator to dry their food today! And check this for Best large Food Dehydrator.
1. Dehydrated foods taste great
Using a food dehydrator to remove moisture from foods such as fruits, vegetables, and meats creates naturally concentrated, rich, and delicious foods.
And not only that, but when preparing the food, you will see the quality and freshness of the products that you will be using if we compare them with the already dehydrated food bought in the supermarket.
2. Reduce food waste and extend shelf life
Thanks to the use of a food dehydrator , you will never waste food again. You can finally use the leftovers to dehydrate them and extend their shelf life up to 2 years! Yes, you read that right, 2 years!
Here are some ways to reduce food waste when preserving food by using a food dehydrator . This way you can keep the pantry stocked throughout the year while saving a little in the process;
You can now have a larger vegetable garden or urban garden without the worry of food going to waste: simply use the food dehydrator to dry your herbs or make vegetable chips. Some good vegetables for a dehydrator are kale, beets, turnip greens, carrots, and even green beans.
Be sure to buy seasonal foods in bulk to save money. For example; buy a tray of mangoes in the middle of summer, dehydrate them, and enjoy mango smoothies in the dead of winter!
Store and preserve foods in a way that they won’t spoil, like forgotten fruit at the bottom of the fridge, and turn them into delicious treats like fruit skins.
Dehydrated foods can also be “rehydrated” simply with water or by adding them to soups, stews, or pasta sauces.
3. Create healthy and 100% natural foods.
Food dehydration requires only one ingredient, that is, only the food you are drying, so it is not only 100% natural, but you will benefit from all the minerals and fiber of the whole fruit, and unlike cooking or steam cooking does not lose its nutritional content.
Dehydration will change the way you look at food. Simple fruits and vegetables can be transformed into delicious healthy snacks and treats. Healthy alternatives to junk food can be made in a food dehydrator and the possibilities are literally endless! You will probably be surprised at how many dehydrated foods you consume that you could actually make yourself: dried herbs, dates, etc.
When we think of dried fruit, we usually associate it with “healthy snacks” and many times when we go on a diet we consume large amounts of dried fruit thinking that it is a healthy alternative to sweets. However, this is not the case when it comes to store-bought dried fruit. Many of them contain added sugars, sulfur dioxide, and trans fats, which can be bad for you and your family!
Sulfur dioxide is sometimes added to store-bought dried fruit to prevent discoloration. Sulfur dioxide can cause asthma, skin rashes, and stomach pains. It’s also particularly present in dried apricots, which is what gives them that bright orange color.
But this will not happen when making your own dried fruit. There will be no additives or preservatives: you will be in control of what goes into your food! If you are tired of not being able to give your children and family healthy snacks, a food dehydrator is the solution.
4. Money saving
Store-bought and processed snacks and dehydrated foods are often very expensive. You can save a lot of money by using your own food dehydrator and buying fresh foods in bulk during the season, or by harvesting your own produce.
Plus, food dehydrators really pay off. For example, the BioChef Arizona 6-tray dehydrator costs just $0.52 over an 8-hour period – the average drying time needed to make vegan or fruit chips.
Therefore, we advise you to take advantage of the offers in the supermarket or the weekly market to dehydrate your own food and store it for later consumption.
5. Efficient storage
Dry foods take up less than one-sixth of their original storage space and don’t require continuous electrical draining from a fridge or freezer. Simply pack clean, dry foods into canning jars, plastic freezer containers with tight-fitting lids, plastic freezer bags, or vacuum-seal bags (in individual portions) and store in the pantry for the perfect snack.
This significant reduction in size means you can pack a lot of preserves into a small space, making it ideal for camping, hiking, and large families.