Archives February 2018

dehydrated foods
Why You Should Have A Food Dehydrator

Why should you dehydrate your food? There are many reasons why dehydrating food is highly recommended. However, some people see it as a way of taking some nutrients away, which is never the case. In case there is anything lost, less than 1% of the nutritional value is often lost. However, things like the fiber content, magnesium, potassium, and other essential nutrients remain unaffected. Therefore, dehydrating your food does not affect the nutritional content of the food or even the taste.

Why you should dehydrate your food

You can store food for extended periods

Food dehydrators serve to remove moisture content from foodyour food. Ideally, it is this moisture that makes food go bad quickly. Most dehydrators can remove more than 75% of water content in food. This lengthens the “use by” date and preserves the nutritional composition of your food. By dehydrating, you can have food on your shelf for years without any worries. Investing in a dehydrator can be an economical move considering that you will be able to stock up your perishables as well.

It makes your garden bounty last

If you are a gardener or a subsistence farmer, having a dehydrator at home is a wise decision. With a dehydrator, you will be able to cut down on wastages or even preserve your harvest for as long as you feel like. This is quite remarkable considering that a harvest is normally preceded by hard work and hours of nurturing the plants.

dehydrated foodsUsing dehydrated foods

After your dry your food, time will come when you will have to eat them up. When this time comes, you should start by soaking the food. This water is what makes food to taste. Alternatively, you can steam your food.

Having a dehydrator at home is very convenient. It lets you enjoy foods that would have gone bad or expired years ago. Instead of throwing away food, you can always store it for future use. There are many types of dehydrators in the market today. The good thing is that these units are cheaper today than they were some years back. As such, find a decent model and start saving money.…

food dehydrator
Buying a food dehydrator

When it comes to purchasing a food dehydrator, it is everyone’s desire to get the most efficient brand for the money paid. Shopping for a food dehydrator can be a difficult process if you do not know what to look out for in an efficient food drying unit. Having a clue about the different food dehydrator models and how they vary in performance can go a long way in helping you to make a more informed shopping decision.

This article will disclose to you the essential tips for buying a food dehydrator.

Tips for buying a food dehydrator

The type of food dehydrator

Before purchasing a food dehydrator, it is important to familiarize yourself with food dehydratorthe different kinds available in the market. There are three types of food dehydrators including shelf tray/ horizontal food dehydrators, vertical/ stackable food dehydrators, and infrared food dehydrators.

  • Horizontal food dehydrators: Currently, shelf tray food dehydrators are the most efficient food dryers in the market thanks to their even airflow and heat distribution capabilities.
  • Infrared dehydrators: These food dehydrators use the conventional air drying technique and infrared waves to efficiently and quickly dry your food.
  • Vertical food dehydrators: They feature a heating element at the top or bottom to supply warm air vertically upwards or downwards.

Airflow and heat distribution

There is nothing as discouraging as having one part of your food drier than the other. Therefore, one of the most crucial things to consider before buying a food dehydrator is even air and heat distribution. Before you go shopping, ensure you research what the manufacturer has to say about the airflow and heat distribution abilities of each model.

Quality material

A good food dehydrator should be long lasting. As a guarantee of durability, the food dehydrator should be made from high-quality FDA approved material, for instance, stainless steel.

Ease of operation/ use

A good dehydrator should dry your food evenly without giving you the cumbersome task of switching around the shelves. Therefore, ensure the food dehydrator you purchase has an auto shutoff feature to give you the freedom of running other errands while your food dehydrates. Other functional features to look out for include a timer and a thermostat.

Capacity and size

Even though smaller food dehydrator models take less space, they have a small holding capacity. If you have a lot of food to dehydrate, consider acquiring large food dehydrator models.

Noise

Since most food dehydrators come with a fan, you should expect some level of noise. Nevertheless, it is critical to stick with a dehydrator that produces less or no noise at all. Check out user reviews to discover what different people have to say about the noise level of the dehydrator that has caught your attention.


Above all the factors discussed, ensure you also factor in the pricing and the reputation of the manufacturer of the food dehydrator you choose to go with. If you consider all the tips for buying a dehydrator as elaborated on this page, you are sure to purchase a perfect food dehydrator that not only suits your needs but also your preferences.…