The Numerous Dried Food Benefits

Long before refrigerators came to be in existence, people still preserved food for consumption at a later date. You will be surprised how creative people were during the olden days. Some would salt the food, others would preserve it in fat- smoking was also an option. However, one very popular way of preserving food, which is still in use today is drying. The dried food benefits are innumerable. For starters, the fact that you can dry virtually any kind of food is a plus on its own.

How dried foods are prepared

Generally people do not talk of dried food anymore but rather prefer to use the word dehydrated. It is pretty much the same thing. Nowadays when you go shopping at your local store, you will find aisles upon aisles of dried foods. Sellers have discovered that these go quite fast. You will be surprised that practically all foods are dried and made available for you to purchase.

You can make your own dehydrated foods if you have a dehydrator. Dehydrators are available for purchase online and even at your local supermarket you are likely to find them. The thing about dehydrators is that you can dry a variety of foods at the same time and you do not have to stay around to look after the food till it dries. It is like some oven of a kind only that foods do not burn. One of the dried food benefits is that it very easy to prepare your own.

Greater taste and many more merits

Have you ever tasted dried pineapples? Well, you have to try because it would be a total injustice trying to describe the amazing taste. A common misconception most people hold is that dried foods are tasteless. Totally on the contrary, dehydrated foods have an amazingly great taste which is retained through the drying process. It is not only for pineapples, nearly all fruits, meats and vegetables can be dried and the taste remains excellent- if it does not get better. Nowadays sellers cannot keep enough stock as these foods keep flying off the shelves thanks to the amazing taste.

Another one of the dried food benefits is the fact that food never goes bad at all- of course this is if it is dried properly. Picture this scenario- you have decided to stock fruits and vegetables in your house, because they are cheap. What will happen after a few days? Well they start going bad if you do not refrigerate them fast. When dehydrated, they not only last for a long time but they taste pretty much the same when a little bit of moisture is added.

Sellers are probably the main beneficiaries when it comes to dehydrated food. The food does not have to be replaced every now and then as is the case with other foods. Dried foods are also great emergency foods-very convenient to both seller and consumer. Have you been looking for foods that you can stock up in your pantry for those 'rainy' days to come? Well, you will find dried foods to be quite opportune for this endeavor.

Research has shown that dehydrated foods are healthier snack options than those other snacks you carry to school or work. Therefore, instead of baking cookies and those nice and sugary snacks, why not dry some pears or peaches? You think the kids will not love it? You are in for a shock, once you taste there is no going back. 

Posted by <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/113472606118778464088/?rel=author">Emily B. Goodwin</a>

The Basics What You Should Know About Dried Food

The method of dehydrating food begun with the ancient man drying meat on sticks lay out in the sun or over fire. Among all methods of food preservation drying foods is the most popular. Dried foods are generally food free of water. These foods undergo a process called food drying. Drying food is a preservation process that was originally used many years ago. It is the oldest type of food preservation. This type of preservation may not replace freezing or canning of food but it works just as well as the other types of preservation. However, food drying has advantages over freezing and canning. There are various types or methods of drying food. These are:

• Sun drying
• Oven and
• Electric dehydrators

In the early years, when the method came to be, salting and sun drying were the most popular methods used.

Benefits Of Dried Food

After water is eliminated from food, bacteria and molds cannot survive in the dehydrated environment. This eliminates the possibility of food spoiling due to microorganisms that grow on food. Apart from adding the shelf life of food, dried food also has nutritional values. Dried fruits or foods are a very good source of energy. This is because they have concentrated fruit glucose. Fruits contain large amounts of vitamins and also minerals. The drying process may lead to the destruction of some vitamins in the fruit especially vitamins A and C. Fruit and other foods that can be dried are first exposed to sulfur before the drying process begins. Doing this helps retain vitamins A and C in the fruit. The fruits and other foods are exposed to sulfur because it destroys thiamine which is one of the vitamin B. fruit is not a crucial source of thiamine. Many of the dried fruits are rich in iron and riboflavin.

Vegetables are a very good source of minerals and the B vitamins. Both fruits and vegetables are a source of useful fiber or bulk we need. Water used to cook or soak dried food should not be discarded. The water is rich in nutrients from the dried food. The water can also be used in the preparation of recipes to make gravy and sauces.

The best and widely accepted way of retaining the nutritional value of dried foods is by controlling the drying process with out most care. Low heat therefore, should be used when drying food. When storing the dried food low humidity should be observed.

Dried food requires less cooking time than fresh foods. This saves time when cooking. When food is dried, it often decreases in mass and volume. This eases movement and storage of the dehydrated food.

Another advantage of dehydrated vegetables is that you are able to measure small amounts of it from a package of the same. You can also form soups or stews without opening a full package. Small amounts can also be eaten for single meals instead of purchasing expensive cans at the grocery stores.

Dehydrated foods also comes in handy for scouts and army men. They provide a quick meal that can be fixed fast.

Posted by <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/113472606118778464088/?rel=author">Emily B. Goodwin</a>