What is a dried fruit machine and how can it benefit you?

December 22, 2023

Dried fruit machines can make everything from dried fruits to herbs and vegetable chips. They're the latest health food trend, but are they really a must-have in the kitchen?

At first glance, a dried fruit machine looks quite bulky, which means they can dry a lot of ingredients at once. They consist of layers of trays and work by gently pumping warm air upwards, drying the food on the trays.

This device is versatile and ideal for drying a variety of fruits. But what exactly is a dried fruit machine and how can it have a beneficial impact on your kitchen?

What is a dried fruit machine and how does it work?

A dehydrator dries food. However, there are a few other things that happen during the food dehydration process that are worth noting. First and foremost, by removing moisture from food, a dehydrator also aids in preservation to increase the shelf life of dehydrated ingredients, which extends the shelf life of perishables. The removal of moisture also softens the ingredients, making dehydrated foods a popular snack.

A dehydrator operates by circulating air between 40°C and 75°C for a long period of time. This heat range is high enough to remove moisture from your food, while low enough to minimize nutrient and mineral loss. Dehydrators are equipped with fans that remove moisture from the unit to completely dry out your ingredients. Some dehydrators also have glass doors so you can keep an eye on your food.

How long does it take to dry?

As mentioned earlier, food dehydrators work by circulating air for a long time. However, this largely depends on the type and size of the food you plan to dry. Most foods will take between four and twelve hours to fully dehydrate.

The good news is that food can't be over-dehydrated, so you don't have to worry if you leave things out longer than you expected.

However, you can lose some nutrients if you dry them at too high a temperature. Just like the length of time it takes to dehydrate food, the temperature at which you set your food dehydrator depends on the type of food.

Foods with a high water content, such as fruit, can be dehydrated at higher temperatures, around 57 to 58°C, while more delicate and less water-rich ingredients, such as herbs and some vegetables, dry better at around 40°C.

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