8
VEGETABLES
Preparation and Pretreatment
1) Choose vegetables that are fresh and crisp.
2) Wash thoroughly and dry. Remove any blemishes or spoiled spots.
3) Whenever possible slice vegetables into 6mm (1/4”) slices. For
other vegetables follow instructions in the drying chart.
4) As with fruits, pretreating of vegetables is optional. If you wish
you can pretreat vegetables to help retain colour, extend shelf life
and enhance nutritional value. Pretreat vegetables by blanching or
steam blanching as described below.
a) Blanching
Soak vegetables in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. Plunge into ice
cold water. Drain, place on paper towels and pat dry. Place on
Dehydrator Trays.
b) Steam Blanching
Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Place vegetables in a
colander above the saucepan and cover. See Vegetable Drying
Chart for cooking time. Plunge vegetables into ice cold water.
Drain, place vegetables on paper towels and pat dry. Place on
Dehydrator Trays.
c) Microwave Blanching
NOTE: Microwave blanching leaves the vegetables with a brighter
colour than steam blanched vegetables.
Place a small amount of water in a shallow, microwave-safe cooking
dish. Refer to your microwave instructions for cooking times. Use
only 1/4 of the time suggested. Plunge vegetables into ice cold
water. Drain, place vegetables on paper towels and pat dry.
Vegetable Drying Chart
Vegetables should be dried at 50-55°C (120-130°F). Greens such as
spinach and kale should be dried at 40°C (105°F). Exact dehydrating
time varies greatly depending on several factors: Type, size, quality of
food, quantity placed on trays and personal preference. Use the chart
below as a guideline. Use the last page of the booklet to write down
your notes on the type of food, weight before and after drying, total
drying time and fi nal results.
VEGETABLE PREPARATION
DRYNESS
TEST
TIME
(Hrs)
Artichokes
Cut hearts into 3mm (1/8”) strips. Boil 5-8
minutes in a mixture of 15ml (1 tbsp.) lemon
juice and 250ml (1 cup) water.
Brittle 4-12
DH1454_DehydratorBooklet_E.indd 8
DH1454_DehydratorBooklet_E.indd 8
14-02-11 2:45 PM
14-02-11 2:45 PM
