How to Use a Food Dehydrator

A food dehydrator is an excellent tool to have in your kitchen to preserve food. You can preserve a variety of foods, including apples, zucchini, cherries and other fruits, vegetables and meats. The dehydrator draws the moisture out of the food, which enables you to store it in its dried form for months to come. Most dehydrators are quite simple to use, which makes dehydration an easy way to preserve your harvest.

1. First: Prepare your food

   Peel fruits or vegetables if you do not like the texture of the skins, and slice your food as thinly and evenly as possible prior to placing it into the dehydrator, which ensures that each piece dries out quickly. If you are dehydrating small fruits like cherries or grapes, then you do not need to slice them first, although you can halve them. When preparing meats for making jerky, do not slice the meat more than a quarter of an inch thick. Some fruits, such as apples and pears, turn brown when they go through the drying process. This does not harm the fruit, but it can make them look less appealing. You can spray the slices with some lemon juice prior to turning on the dehydrator to ensure they stay pretty. Meats should marinate in a salty, seasoned mixture for several hours prior to dehydrating, which aids in curing and flavoring the jerky.

2. Second: Arrange the food

   Most food dehydrators come with several layered, stackable trays. The trays allow for air circulation, which helps dry out the food. Place your food in single, even layers on each tray, making sure not to overlap any pieces. This helps dry the food evenly and quickly.

3. Third: Dehydrate and check the results

   Once your food is prepped, turn on the dehydrator and, if your dehydrator has a thermostat, set the temperature according to the manufacturer's directions. Remember, only dehydrators that are capable of holding at 145 - 155 degrees are appropriate for drying meat. Keep the dehydrator running until your food reaches the desired texture and consistency, which may take anywhere from 4 to 20 hours. Most vegetables are done when they are crisp, and fruits are finished when they reach a leathery consistency. Jerky should still have some flexibility.

4. Fourth: Pack dried foods

   You can loosely pack dried foods in jars, zippered bags, vacuum-sealed pouches or other airtight containers, and store them in a dry, cool area like a pantry, fridge or freezer. Jerky is best stored in the refrigerator or the freezer.