If you’re looking to preserve your garden’s bounty, a food dehydrator can become one of your most valuable kitchen tools. Whether it’s drying tomatoes, peppers, apples, or herbs, dehydrating is one of the easiest and most effective ways to store food long-term without relying on freezing or canning. I use mine almost daily, whether it’s adding dried vegetables to soups and stews or making a pie with rehydrated apples. Here’s everything you need to know about food dehydrators and how they can benefit you.
How Food Dehydrators Work
A food dehydrator is a simple but powerful appliance that can dry a wide variety of foods. It consists of a heating element and a small fan that circulates warm, dry air across the food on trays. The thermostat controls the temperature to ensure the food dries evenly, and any moisture that evaporates escapes through vents. During hot weather, you can move the dehydrator outdoors to avoid heating up your kitchen.
Though many food dehydrators look similar, it’s important to know that different foods require different drying temperatures. For example, herbs need less heat, while fruits like apples and berries benefit from a higher temperature to prevent spoilage. Most dehydrators come with a temperature guide, so you can easily find the right setting for each type of food.
Preparing Foods for Drying
The preparation for dehydrating is relatively simple. For most vegetables, you just need to wash and cut them into uniform pieces. For tomatoes, you can leave the skins on, which helps the slices maintain their shape. Cherry tomatoes should be halved and placed with the cut side up. Keep in mind that dried foods will shrink significantly as moisture is removed—tomato slices will shrink to about the thickness of a penny!
In addition to vegetables, you can dehydrate fruits like apples and pears. I particularly enjoy making fruit leather by blending applesauce with pureed berries. For cherries or strawberries, I recommend freezing them with a sprinkle of sugar before thawing, draining, and drying for the best results.
Benefits of Drying
One of the greatest advantages of dehydrating is that the process is minimal and retains most of the food’s original nutrients. Because dried produce isn’t exposed to moisture or high heat, it remains close to its raw form, which helps preserve the flavor, color, and nutritional content.
Rehydrating dried foods is just as simple—cover them with warm water for about 30 minutes, and they’ll be ready to use. Dried herbs, for example, retain much of their flavor, and I store them in glass jars to keep them fresh and protected from light.
Storing Dried Foods
Proper storage is crucial to maintaining the quality of your dried food. Store dried vegetables and fruits in airtight containers in a cool, dark place to prevent exposure to light and moisture. Dried items like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs can be stored at room temperature, while fruits like apples, raisins, and pears—especially those dried to a leathery texture—should be kept in the freezer for long-term storage. Freezing dried foods helps preserve their quality for years, and it’s especially helpful for fruits that may not dry as thoroughly without the use of sulfur.
Creative Uses for Dried Foods
Once you’ve started dehydrating, you’ll discover just how versatile it can be. I’ve used dried celery, tomatoes, peppers, and even cooked potatoes to add flavor and convenience to meals. For instance, dried cooked potatoes can be quickly rehydrated to make hash browns, while larger pieces are perfect for adding to soups.
As you experiment, you may even come up with new ideas—like pumpkin jerky or beet raisins! It’s amazing how drying can turn ordinary produce into exciting new snacks and meals.
Conclusion: Should You Get a Food Dehydrator?
If you’re looking for a simple, efficient way to preserve your garden produce, a food dehydrator is definitely worth considering. Not only does it allow you to store fruits, vegetables, and herbs with minimal effort, but it also opens up a world of creative possibilities. Whether you’re making your own dried snacks, creating unique dishes, or just extending the life of your harvest, a dehydrator can be a fun and practical investment for anyone who loves fresh, homegrown food.