The food dehydrator market is booming along with an estimated 119 percent growth in the next seven years. From a taste perspective, it makes perfect sense.
Dehydrated foods feel more substantive without losing any of the flavors, making them great snacks or even entire meals. In the following article, we’re going to be discussing the 10 incredible health benefits of drying foods using a food dehydrator.
We’ll also be discussing the best foods to dehydrate. Let’s begin!
1. Extended Shelf Life
Is dehydrated food good for you if it sits for a week or two? You bet. At least, it’s a lot better for you than if the non-dehydrated version of that food was sitting in your refrigerator for the same length of time.
The “magic” of preserving food by dehydration is that, if done at the proper temperature and storage conditions, it can make fruits, vegetables, and proteins last for years. That’s particularly appealing when you consider the alternative.
2. Less Waste
The alternative, of course, is that a food dehydrator limits the amount of waste that you have to dispose of from your fridge. We all go through moments where we buy more food than we actually need.
Nothing is more disheartening than watching those bananas go black when you’re only halfway through the bundle! With the benefits of a food dehydrator, you can turn those sure-to-rot-otherwise foods into delicious snacks that are capable of lasting for years to come.
3. Preserved Nutrients
Perhaps the biggest of the benefits of dehydrating food is that you don’t experience any degradation in the quality of the nutrients. Not if properly prepared anyway.
Many of the ways that we cook and prepare foods outside of food dehydration can downgrade the nutritional value of what we’re eating. Food dehydrators, however, preserve the flavor and the nutritional impact.
4. Less Expensive
Expense is another good answer to the question, why dehydrate food? The scaleback on waste from not having to throw out food leads to you having to replace fewer unused groceries.
This way, you ensure that everything bought gets eaten and you can stretch out the time between grocery visits. Plus, food dehydrators and prepping materials are relatively inexpensive.
5. Easy Storage
Once you’ve run foods through your own personal food dryer, all you have to do is store them away in conditions of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can last for many years after that. Just how many, we’ll cover in the final section on the best foods for dehydration.
If you’re wondering how to ace the storage game and ensure your dehydrated foods enjoy an extended shelf life, don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Start by investing in proper storage containers. Glass jars with airtight lids, vacuum-sealed bags, or containers are your best bet here. They offer the optimum environment where your food can sit, patiently waiting to be enjoyed without succumbing to spoilage or losing its nutritional value.
Now you’ve got your containers, let’s talk about prime storage conditions. Remember, the enemies of dehydrated food are moisture, heat, and light. So, where do we go? The answer is somewhere cool, dark, and dry. Your pantry, perhaps? It’s a great start!
Load your containers, seal them tight, and stash them away. No need to rush to finish them before they go bad, these dried delights are going to be around for a while. And remember: before enjoying your deliciously dehydrated foods, make sure to inspect them! If they seem moist, smell odd, or have visible mold, it’s better to be safe than sorry and toss them out.
6. Flexibility
How does a food dehydrator give you more flexibility? It gives you the opportunity to dehydrate pretty much anything. Tomatoes, meats, dairy products, favorite fruits.
Again, we’ll talk more at length in the best foods section. For now, it’s just pleasing to know that you can choose to turn your favorite foods into favorite healthy snacks.
7. Mobility
Dehydrated foods are easy to slide into a plastic bag and take with you to work. You can keep them in a desk drawer for whenever the hunger pangs start and lunch is just too far off.
They also store nicely in backpacks. This is a huge plus if you’re a college student on the go who struggles to get across campus when there’s little time in between classes.
8. Low Bacterial Risk
Because you’re removing the juices from the food and leaving the nutrients, you are able to enjoy the best of both worlds. On one hand, you get all the nutritional value of a non-dehydrated food.
On the other, you don’t have to worry as much about that food becoming contaminated with gut-terrorizing bacteria. That really helps when you realize you can dehydrate many of the foods the CDC names as the likeliest food poison culprits.
9. Good Flavor
The minerals and other nutrients in dehydrated foods are not the only things preserved for your enjoyment. The process bakes in the flavor so nothing is lost from the time the dehydration takes place to the point when you finally get around to enjoying it.
There’s a reason you have to pay through the nose for certain foods, like beef jerky. They’re delicious!
10. Easy to Do
The food dehydration process is about as simple as it gets once you’ve selected the right dehydrator for your needs, although you don’t technically need one. Read through your setup instructions.
Pay particularly close attention to the fan placement. From there, choose the food type you plan on dehydrating (more on that below), insert it into the dehydrator, and crank it on. Vary times and temperatures are based on the nature of the food.
11. Prepare for Emergencies.
Have you ever thought about what you’d eat if the next natural disaster hits or in case of an unexpected hard lockdown? Preparing for emergencies doesn’t have to be daunting – not when you have a dehydrator! There’s an unparalleled peace of mind that comes with knowing you have food supplies that won’t spoil, keeping you nourished no matter what happens.
Dehydrated foods are incredibly lightweight, and compact, and require minimal storage space. Plus, they retain most of their nutritional content, and flavor, and even retain some of their original color once rehydrated. With your dehydrator, you can prepare ready-to-eat meals, snacks, or ingredients, suitable for camping or emergency food kits. Isn’t that just fantastic?
- Candied fruits: Usually, during emergencies, you’d want a little morale boost. Preparing batches of delicious candied fruits and storing them away for a rainy day offers a great balance – comfort food that’s rich in vital nutrients!
- Vegetable chips: Imagine having a stash of veggie chips to snack on when all roads to the grocery store are blocked! These dehydrated treat provides natural sugars and fiber, perfect for immediate energy and promoting digestion.
- Jerky: Protein is crucial in times when physical activity might be necessary to survive. Preparing your own salted or flavored jerky ensures you always have protein-packed rations.
Remember, the primary role of any emergency food supply is to keep you nourished and maintain your energy levels. Having a dehydrator gives you a hands-on approach to customizing that food supply. In the end, we are what we eat, so let’s make sure we eat well, even in emergencies!
Best Foods for Dehydrating
Now that we’ve covered the incredible health benefits of food dehydration, it’s time to look at your options. Truthfully, a whole article could focus on these alone. We’re keeping it simple by breaking it down into the three main groups and offering some of our favorite suggestions.
Proteins
By “protein,” we mean meat. Our favorites in the dehydrated form are beef strips, turkey, and chicken. In all cases, the spicier the better!
Proteins can last around five years if cooked properly stored and dehydrated correctly. They also make great snacks “at the moment” and leave you with a nice, low-calorie way of getting satiated between meals.
Fruits
Fruits have many natural sugars that add a lot of boldness in flavor. The dehydration process locks that in and better facilitates savoring the taste rather than speeding right through it.
Some of our favorites include apples and bananas. Dehydrating bananas is particularly good because these fruits are high in fiber, low in calories, easy to dehydrate, and they’ll last much longer that way than in their natural form.
So, beyond apples and bananas, there’s a cornucopia of fruit you can dehydrate to reap incredible health benefits! Let’s unearth some more:
- Peaches: Who can resist a good, juicy peach? When these beauties are dehydrated, their natural sugars are concentrated, making for a sweet, nutritious snack. Plus, they retain their high vitamin A content, fantastic for healthy vision and skin.
- Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries – oh my! Dehydrated berries are snack-sized powerhouses, chock-full of antioxidants. They’re wonderful in cereals, granola or eaten as is for a tart, enjoyable bite.
- Grapes: Fancy a raisin? That’s simply a dehydrated grape, and they’re packed with iron, important for your red blood cells. They’re cavity-friendly too, reducing oral bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Sweet!
- Mangoes: The tropical glory of mangoes can be enjoyed off-season by dehydrating them. Rich in vitamins A and C, dried mango is a cheerful, healthful treat that you can snack on guilt-free!
- Pineapples: Dehydrated pineapple slices make for an indulgent yet nutritious treat. They’re high in vitamin C and manganese, essential for strong bones and healthy connective tissue. Plus, their mouthwatering sweet and tangy flavor is unforgettable!
Vegetables
Vegetables are another food with a low shelf life in their native form. At the same time, it’s nice having plenty of veggies to choose from when you need a snack. This can lead to overbuying.
Dehydrating options like tomatoes or green peppers means getting to still enjoy them if they’ve outlived their shelf life. Veggies can also go a much longer shelf life a decade or longer without having to be thrown out.
Trust Your Health With a Dehydrator
A dehydrator is a kitchen essential if you value preserving your food, getting the most out of it, and saving a little money and quality-of-life years as well. Are you convinced?
Consider heading over to our best dehydrators page to begin scouting your selection. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are food dehydrators worth it?
Dehydrating can help you keep your fruits and vegetables fresh. This method is more expensive to produce than canned foods. Dehydrated foods retain their nutrients long after they’ve cooled.
Isn’t it amazing how much we can accomplish with seemingly simple tools? That’s exactly the case with food dehydrators! Who would think that such a compact device could unlock a treasure trove of healthy options for our lifestyle? Not only that, but dehydrating foods is an eco-friendly option that helps us reduce waste, conserve resources, and contribute to sustainability. So, let’s dive right in and see how using a dehydrator can impact your health and lifestyle in a big way!
Imagine the Flavors!
First things first, surely you love flavorsome food, just like we do! With a dehydrator, you get the same goodness of your favorite foods, yet amplified. Because when you remove moisture from fruits and vegetables, what’s left? Pure, concentrated flavor that’s absolutely delicious! The sweetness of the fruits turns into a tangy treat, and the savory taste of the veggies just gets richer. So next time your taste buds crave something, why not reach for dehydrated fruits or vegetables?
Boost Your Nutrient Intake
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is super healthy, that we all know. But can you guess what’s even healthier? Yes, you got it right – dehydrated fruits and vegetables! Shocking, isn’t it? The dehydration process effectively preserves essential nutrients that are often lost through cooking or even steaming. That means when you munch on that dehydrated apple or chew on those dehydrated kale chips, you’re fueling your body with more than just flavor – you’re also packing in a nutrient punch!
Beat the Weight Loss Battle
Are you struggling to lose weight or maintain your current weight? Then dehydrated foods could be your new best friend. How so? Well, the absence of water means dehydrated foods are light and easy to carry around. Plus, they make a perfect low-calorie snack for when you’re feeling peckish. Opting for dried fruits and vegetables over salty, fatty snacks can help you control your calorie intake and promote weight loss. Plus, due to their high fiber content, they’ll leave you feeling satisfied and less likely to overeat.
Make Your Kitchen Greener
Have you ever thought about how much food we waste on a daily basis? With a dehydrator, you won’t have leftover fruits and vegetables going to waste. You can simply dehydrate what you don’t use up and Voila! Your food waste is now your next snack. That’s reducing waste, saving money, and promoting a healthy lifestyle, all with one device – a dehydrator!
What is the point of a food dehydrator?
Well, the point of a food dehydrator is quite remarkable! It’s all about helping you extend the life of your food, reduce waste, and retain those all-important nutrients. When you lock in the healthful goodness with food dehydrating, the whole game of meal planning and snacking amps up to a new level. Think less grocery shopping and more easy, nutrient-packed meals on tap! Dehydrators are all about making your life simpler, healthier, and more eco-friendly. Plus, they’re pretty fun to use too! Can it get better than that?
What is a food dehydrator good for?
You’ll undoubtedly find a food dehydrator incredibly handy – think of it as your ticket to a world of healthier, cleaner eating. For one, it’s a formidable tool for preserving seasonal fruits and vegetables. This means you’d be able to enjoy your favorite produce all year round without losing any of its nutritional goodness. But the power of the food dehydrator goes beyond preserving summer’s ripest berries; it’s also a fantastic solution for making your own dried herbs, dehydrated soup mixes, granola, fruit leather, and so much more!
And that’s not all! It’s a game-changer for outdoor enthusiasts as it allows you to take your homemade nutritious and delicious snacks, like jerky, apple chips, or other dried fruits, along on camping trips, hikes, and picnics. Plus, if you’re mindful about reducing food waste, you’d be amazed at how the dehydrator helps you save those overly ripe bananas or surplus tomatoes from turning into compost.
Is it worth buying a food dehydrator?
Absolutely, it’s worth buying a food dehydrator! Let’s think about it. How many times have we tossed out fruit, veggies, or meat because it went bad before we could use it? A dehydrator can save all these perishables from being wasted by extending their shelf life. Plus, it’s a one-time investment that will pay for itself in no time, considering the money you’ll save on groceries and snacks. What’s more? Dehydrated food is compact, lightweight, and perfect for on-the-go snacking, camping trips, long drives, and more. Imagine having delicious, nutritious food at your fingertips, anytime, anywhere. Sounds like a deal, doesn’t it?
Is using a dehydrator healthy?
Indeed it is! Using a dehydrator is not only healthy but beneficial in many ways. This kitchen appliance retains the nutritional goodness of fruits, veggies, and meats while removing water content, which can enable bacterial growth. Dehydrated foods are packed with intense natural flavors without artificial additives and sugars. You’re left with nutrient-dense, low-calorie treats that contribute to a balanced diet. Plus, by controlling what goes into your food, you’re on track for healthier eating habits. Isn’t it thrilling to discover that one appliance can be so beneficial for your health?
