Is dried food safe to eat?
Yes, properly dehydrated food can be stored in air tight containers and used and consumed for up to one year. Food dehydrating is the process of removing a food’s water content and moisture. Moisture is the enemy of preserved, shelf stable food. Removing moisture from food inhibits various bacteria, yeasts and molds from growing and spoiling the food, thus, food dehydrating is an ideal process for the preservation, storing and consuming of dried food. As it relates to dried meat or jerky, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) currently recommends that before making jerky (dehydrating meat at temperatures of 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 54 to 60 degrees Celsius), the meat’s internal temperature be raised to 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 71 degrees Celsius. The USDA recommends this step to safely ensure that any harmful microorganisms (E. coli, etc.), that may be present in meat, be destroyed prior to the dehydrating process.
