How to make tasty dehydrated & pasteurized foods

Dehydrated and pasteurized foods are not only delicious, they last much longer than fresh produce. Here's how to make some seriously tasty dried foods.

• A number of commercial dehydrators are available or a simple dehydrator can be made at home.
• Dehydrators do the drying job more slowly than an oven but have the advantage of using less energy. Plus, they leave the oven free for routine cooking.
• Preheat the dehydrator before putting in trays of prepared food.

• Drying times vary according to the weather as well as the size and moisture content of the produce.
• As a rule, drying is complete when the pieces are so brittle and crisp that they rattle on the tray. Or when the pieces appear leathery and tough.
• A quick drying test is to press some of the pieces together. If they fall apart quickly, they're ready.
• Double-check by cutting and squeezing a sample. If droplets of moisture appear, the fruit isn't dry enough.
• More moisture can be left in fruit, as most fruits are high-acid foods that are not so likely to spoil. But fruit generally requires a longer drying time than vegetables.
• Check the weight of both fruit and vegetables. If the food has lost half its weight, it's two-thirds dry.

• After the food has been dried, it should be pasteurized in an oven to make sure no insect eggs or bacteria are present.
• Final pasteurization will also help ensure thorough drying of the produce.
• To pasteurize, preheat the oven to 80°C (176°F). Spread food 2.5 centimetres (one inch) deep on trays and put the trays in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

• Even though a batch of fruit may be meticulously dried and pasteurized, some small pockets of residual moisture will always remain trapped.
• To spread moisture evenly throughout the produce, place the cooled, dried food in open, wide-mouthed glass or ceramic containers.
• Put containers in a dry place and stir the contents thoroughly twice a day. If the food seems moist at the end of five days, return it to the drier. If it seems dry, it's ready for long-term storage.

Drying and pasteurization are excellent ways to preserve fruits, vegetables and more. To make sure your drying is a success, measure carefully and pay close attention to your finished products.