Looking for information on how to dry fruit and veggies that you’ve grown? This book is a comprehensive guide on how to dry almost anything.
How to Dry Foods by Deanna DeLong
- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: HP Books; Revised ed. Edition (September 5, 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1557884978
- ISBN-13: 978-1557884978
This book is a great guide to drying all kinds of foods. Of course likely you’re main goal is to dry your veggies, fruit and herbs that you’ve grown at home.
The author first goes over what equipment you need, including not only electric dehydrators but also vacuum packaging your dried food to extend its storage life.
There is a full chapter on drying fruit and fruit leather (made from pureed fruit spread out very thin). The author also lists the most common fruits: what varieties are best for drying, how to prepare and how long to dry and test for water content.
The next chapter covers veggies in a similar way to fruit. And there is a section on drying herbs and spices.
The next chapter covers drying meat and fish.
The end of the book also includes ways to use your dried food in various recipes. While not directly related to drying food, it gives you some ideas and motivation to dry food so you can use it in these recipes (and some recipes honestly could be made with fresh fruit and veggies).
A great purchase if you’re looking for a good way to preserve your homegrown food.
NOTE: For full transparency I have the 1992 edition of the book, originally published in 1979. The newest edition I’ve linked to on Amazon is the 2006 reprint and some readers who have both editions say the older ones are better. You may be able to find used versions of the old edition.
