Drying food, also known as dehydrating is a method of food preservation that is carried out by eliminating water from the foodstuff thus hindering bacterial growth. Drying of food goes back in time and was still used for preservation. Then it was a very popular way of keeping food edible for very long periods of times. Though it was not always efficient it very much served the needed purpose.
In this modern day, a lot of food is used in its dehydrated state to lengthen its shelf life and make it easier to handle. Some of the most common dried foods include:
• Instant coffee
• Powdered milk
• Freeze-dried ice-cream
• Oatmeal
• Instant noodles etc
Fruits and vegetables may also be dehydrated and eaten in the dry state or soaked in water or alcohol to reconstitute them. Food may be dried for purposes such as camping or going on long road trips or even for emergencies.
Methods of drying food
There are modern and traditional methods of food preservation some of which are still being used. The most common techniques include, but are not limited to:
I. Drying- water is removed via evaporation by being exposed to sunlight or wind. It is a traditional method hence takes time before the desired result is achieved.
II. Smoking- this is mostly done on meat hung over a fire place. It was used by hunters to preserve meat.
III. Salting- salt has a dehydrating effect and sprinkling it over meat or vegetables essentially removes the moisture and conserves it.
IV. Spray drying-it is a modern method of producing a powder from a liquid such as milk by use of very hot air.
V. Household oven- this is a thermal furnace that can cook as well as dry food.
VI. Food dehydrators- they basically eradicate moisture from food by blowing warm air over the food.
VII. Freeze drying- it is a method of drying food by exposing it to extreme cold conditions then sublimating the frozen water to gas immediately.
VARIOUS RECIPES THAT CAN RESULT FROM DRIED FOOD
• Tuna fish soup
• Vegetable soup
• Dry onion soup
• Hamburger rocks
• Cooked beans etc
Here is an interesting fact- you may cook a whole meal and dry it the all you have to do is boil it in some water to rehydrate it. How convenient.
An example of a great dried food recipe is:
Chicken noodle soup
Ingredients; (all dehydrated)
• A slice of well ground garlic
• 3 cups Egg noodles
• 3 tablespoons Olive oil
• Half a cup of Carrots
• 1 lb Previously cooked dehydrated chicken
• 5 cups Chicken stock
• A quarter a cup of Onions
• Seasonings and salt and pepper to taste
METHOD
i. Rehydrate all the items above by dipping in cold or boiling water until
ii. Adequately succulent.
iii. Add olive oil to a medium heated pan.
iv. Add onions and cook till golden brown.
v. Add the chicken stock, the garlic, carrots, egg noodles and the chicken and cook
Posted By Carrie R. Butler
In this modern day, a lot of food is used in its dehydrated state to lengthen its shelf life and make it easier to handle. Some of the most common dried foods include:
• Instant coffee
• Powdered milk
• Freeze-dried ice-cream
• Oatmeal
• Instant noodles etc
Fruits and vegetables may also be dehydrated and eaten in the dry state or soaked in water or alcohol to reconstitute them. Food may be dried for purposes such as camping or going on long road trips or even for emergencies.
Methods of drying food
There are modern and traditional methods of food preservation some of which are still being used. The most common techniques include, but are not limited to:
I. Drying- water is removed via evaporation by being exposed to sunlight or wind. It is a traditional method hence takes time before the desired result is achieved.
II. Smoking- this is mostly done on meat hung over a fire place. It was used by hunters to preserve meat.
III. Salting- salt has a dehydrating effect and sprinkling it over meat or vegetables essentially removes the moisture and conserves it.
IV. Spray drying-it is a modern method of producing a powder from a liquid such as milk by use of very hot air.
V. Household oven- this is a thermal furnace that can cook as well as dry food.
VI. Food dehydrators- they basically eradicate moisture from food by blowing warm air over the food.
VII. Freeze drying- it is a method of drying food by exposing it to extreme cold conditions then sublimating the frozen water to gas immediately.
VARIOUS RECIPES THAT CAN RESULT FROM DRIED FOOD
• Tuna fish soup
• Vegetable soup
• Dry onion soup
• Hamburger rocks
• Cooked beans etc
Here is an interesting fact- you may cook a whole meal and dry it the all you have to do is boil it in some water to rehydrate it. How convenient.
An example of a great dried food recipe is:
Chicken noodle soup
Ingredients; (all dehydrated)
• A slice of well ground garlic
• 3 cups Egg noodles
• 3 tablespoons Olive oil
• Half a cup of Carrots
• 1 lb Previously cooked dehydrated chicken
• 5 cups Chicken stock
• A quarter a cup of Onions
• Seasonings and salt and pepper to taste
METHOD
i. Rehydrate all the items above by dipping in cold or boiling water until
ii. Adequately succulent.
iii. Add olive oil to a medium heated pan.
iv. Add onions and cook till golden brown.
v. Add the chicken stock, the garlic, carrots, egg noodles and the chicken and cook
Posted By Carrie R. Butler
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