Are There Any Special Treatments Before And After Drying Fruits And Vegetables In A Food Dehydrator?
Steam blanching is a safe pre-treatment that can prevent spoilage, especially with low acid foods such as vegetables. Important post-drying treatments for conditioning are to leave in open air for long periods to equalize moisture content. For pasteurizing you should expose the dried foods to high heat to eliminate harmful organisms. You should rely on appearance and feel to judge the dryness. Consider fruit dry when no wetness can be squeezed from a piece that has been cut, it should be rather tough and pliable. Consider vegetables dry when they are brittle. In order to store foods that have been processed in a food dehydrator you should first ensure that the food is thoroughly cool before storing. You should only store in small quantities in a glass or food grade plastic. Be sure to check your foods frequently for contamination or dampness. Most importantly, keep food in a dry, cool place, between 40 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
