The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home: Everything You Need to Know about Preparing, Storing, and Consuming Dried Foods

by Paajanen, Terri

• ISBN13: 9781601386021
• ISBN10: 1601386028
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-12-31
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Group Inc.

Summary

Food dehydration is not just for prunes and raisins any more; A recent study in the United States revealed that the dried and dehydrated food industry made more than $6 billion in revenue in 2009 alone. Thanks to advances in technology, dehydrating foods at home has become easier than ever, allowing you to lock in food's nutritional value while eliminating the water content that causes foods to grow bacteria and mold. Drying foods also gives you a source of raw, nutrient-rich food that is easily available and requires no additional preparation. The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home provides you with all the information necessary for drying fruits, vegetables, meats, herbs, grains, and even dairy products. This book will provide you with instructions on how to dry foods using a food dehydrator and will also offer you simpler alternatives for how to dehydrate foods using an oven, microwave, or even the sun. You will learn what equipment you need to get started and how to properly store your food to ensure optimal freshness. This book also provides you with recipes for any meal of the day, whether you are looking for an easy breakfast alternative or a quick soup you can prepare for lunch. You will even learn how to prepare foods for young children and pets. Drying your foods will not only provide you with time-saving option for ways to prepare your meals, it will also allow you to reduce the amount of food you throw out each month. Researchers at the University of Arizona found that the average family wastes 14 percent of their food purchases; learning how to dehydrate and store dry foods can ensure the money you spend on groceries will not be thrown out with the trash. We have spent hundreds of hours interviewing dozens of experts who will provide you with all the information you need to start dehydrating your foods. We've spoken with nutritionists and busy parents who advocate drying foods as a way to save time and still prepare healthy meals. This book is filled with delicious recipes and practical tips to help you and your family enjoy the economic and health benefits that dehydrated foods offer. Whether you are looking for money-saving dinner options or a quick recipe for a high-protein trail mix, The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home offers you all the information you need to start cooking and eating smarter.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 11
Basics of Home Drying	p. 13
A Little History	p. 13
Dried Foods Today	p. 14
How Food Dehydration Works	p. 15
Why Home Dry?	p. 15
Basic Methods for Home Drying	p. 20
Storage Methods	p. 22
Safety with Dried Foods	p. 24
What Can Be Dried?	p. 25
Using Dehydrated Foods	p. 26
Methods for Drying Food at Home	p. 27
Sun Drying	p. 27
Air Drying	p. 30
Oven Drying	p. 31
Food Dehydrators	p. 33
Microwave Drying	p. 36
Electric Dehydrator Versus the Oven	p. 38
About Your Dehydrator	p. 39
Electric Dehydrators	p. 39
Solar Dehydrators	p. 46
Drying Herbs	p. 49
Preparing Herbs to Be Dried	p. 50
Methods for Drying Herbs	p. 51
Storing Dry Herbs	p. 54
Specific Drying Instructions for Herbs	p. 54
Recipes for Dried Herb Blends	p. 63
Growing Your Own Herbs	p. 66
Drying Fruit	p. 69
Preparing Fruit to Be Dried	p. 69
Methods for Drying Fruit	p. 73
Storing Dried Fruit	p. 74
Specific Instructions for Drying Fruits	p. 75
Recipes Using Dried Fruit	p. 89
Growing Your Own Fruit	p. HO
Drying Vegetables	p. 113
Preparing Vegetables to Be Dried	p. U3
Methods for Drying Vegetables	p. 117
Storing Dried Vegetables	p. H9
Specific Instructions for Drying Vegetables	p. 120
Recipes Using Dried Vegetables	p. 137
Growing Your Own Vegetables	p. 161
Leathers and Rolls	p. 163
What are Leathers?	p. 163
Making Leather	p. 164
Recipes for Making Leathers	p. 167
Drying Mushrooms	p. 173
Gathering Wild Mushrooms	p. 173
Preparing Mushrooms to Be Dried	p. 174
Methods for Drying Mushrooms	p. 176
Storing Dry Mushrooms	p. 178
Specific Drying Instructions for Mushrooms	p. 178
Recipes for Dried Mushrooms	p. 179
Growing Your Own Mushrooms	p. 184
Grains, Nuts, and Bread	p. 187
Dehydrating Grains	p. 187
Dehydrating Nuts and Seeds	p. 192
Dehydrating Breads	p. 199
Drying Pasta	p. 202
Drying Meat and Fish	p. 203
Special Health Considerations	p. 203
Preparing Meat and Fish to Be Dried	p. 204
Methods for Drying Meat and Fish	p. 207
Storing Dried Meat	p. 208
Instructions for Drying Meat and Fish	p. 208
Recipes using Dried Meat and Fish	p. 212
Instructions for Making Jerky	p. 216
Recipes for Jerky	p. 218
Drying Dairy Products	p. 225
Special Health Considerations	p. 226
Drying Yogurt	p. 226
Dehydrating Milk	p. 230
Dehydrating Cheese	p. 232
Drying Eggs	p. 235
Recipes for Dried Dairy	p. 237
Dried Food Recipes and Mixes	p. 241
Soup Mixes	p. 241
Trail Mixes	p. 247
Drink Mixes	p. 255
Baking Mixes	p. 257
Cooking Raw Food with a Dehydrator	p. 261
Recipes for Making Raw Food	p. 262
Crafts and Other Uses	p. 273
Making Pet Treats	p. 273
Drying Flowers	p. 276
Helping with Crafts	p. 277
Humidifying	p. 278
Conclusion	p. 279
Bibliography	p. 281
Author Biography	p. 283
Index	p. 285
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