Drying Vegetables
Some vegetables are quite good dried. Others lose their appeal and are better frozen or fresh.
Vegetables have a low acid and sugar content that makes them more subject to spoilage, and
tend to have a far shorter shelf life than dried fruits. Packaging and ideal storage conditions are
key elements to producing dried vegetables which will taste as good in December as they did
in the summer from your garden!
Selection
Choose fresh, crisp vegetables for a high quality dehydrated product. Just like fruits,
vegetables should be picked ripe and dried as soon as possible to minimize nutritional loss.
Preparation
Wash vegetables thoroughly and remove any blemishes. Peel, trim, core, and/or
slice vegetables.
Blanching
Most vegetables must be blanched, either by steaming over boiling water or in the microwave
to slow the enzyme action which will continue during drying and storage. Water blanching is
not recommended because of the loss of water soluble vitamins and minerals.
Note: Blanching softens the cell structure, allowing the moisture to escape more easily and
also allows vegetables to rehydrate faster. There is no need to blanch onions, garlic, peppers,
and mushrooms. Herbs also are not blanched.
Steam Blanching
Use a commercial steamer or a pan with a tight fitting lid and a steaming rack. Bring about 1
inch of water to a brisk boil and drop in sliced vegetables. Cover and steam until vegetables
are heated completely through, but not cooked. This is usually about 1⁄3 of the time required
to cook the vegetable. Vegetables should still be crunchy. Drain in steamer rack and place
immediately on dryer trays.
Microwave Blanching
A microwave is ideal for blanching vegetables. Prepare them in the same manner as for
steam blanching. Place them in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and cook on high for about
1⁄2 of the time required to completely cook the fresh vegetable. Depending on the age and
design of your microwave, you may want to stop the cooking halfway through and stir the
vegetables to achieve a more even blanching.
www.nesco.com
13
Summary of Contents for WA17577H
Page 1: ......
