Sun Dried Food In Spring/Summer :-) :-)

[Olahh]

I have yet to own a food dehydrator. Was wondering if anyone has experience with sun drying foods in the spring and summer? I know that i may have to purchase a kit. I want to dry fruit, veggies, chips, crackers and breads. Am I limited to what I may sun dry. What is the proper way? Thank you all in advance for your input and im loving my raw journey.


*Note* I live in Georgia..

[klomasius]

Funny you should ask this!

I just spent the weekend at my friend's vegan permaculture farm and I've talked her into helping build a solar dehydrator there!

Such a dehydrator is really easy to assemble, especialy a temporary one created of disposable materials such as hard cardboard and light woods. These sorts of contraprions harness the power of sunshine and direct the flow of air using it.

Otherwise, if you just want to go really simple, you can dry things on a fine mesh screen out in the sun and leave them there till they are dry, using the naturally occuring sun and wind. Just place the mesh with food in a sunny, well aired area.

This method can be used to dry things like sliced tomatoes and fruits. Just make sure the slices aren't too thick at first to guage your local drying environment. Drying thicker things like crackers a little trickier but with practice can be done. :)

[Olahh]

Im a little dicouraged now. I just did a google on sun drying and the dont recommend it for humid states.

[klomasius]

Oh yes, sorry. :(

Descciation (drying) is an important part of the process of keeping microorganism growth to a minimum. Too long a drying process in high humidity will mean the food is more likely to go mouldy before it dries.

Oh well, you could always get a cheap circular food dehydrator! :)

[Olahh]

Yes that is what I will do.

[klomasius]

Try to get one with a temperature controller on it. It seems the ones without are usually set higher than the raw allowable temperature. Not that solar dehydrating is very controlled, lol! :dance:

[Olahh]

Okay I will check out Amazon or Ebay.

[wannabehealthy]

i'm getting a dehydrator. i live in Texas so it gets humid here a lot.