| Drying food is something that has been done, probably | | | | such as jerky and in the case of some dried fruits |
| almost as long as man had been around. It is probably | | | | which have sulphur added to retain colour. |
| one of the oldest ways of preserving foods of all | | | | Other advantages to dehydrating food yourself are: |
| types. | | | | - Cheaper food costs - Owning your own food |
| Back, before freezers were invented, foods were | | | | dehydrator means that you are able to buy foods |
| preserved by drying, smoking or salting and also in | | | | when they are at their cheapest and dry them for use |
| more recent times, bottling and pickling. In years gone | | | | in the future |
| by however there were no electric food dehydrators | | | | - Health benefits - Correctly dried food is raw. That |
| of course to dehydrate food, so the sun and air were | | | | means it still contains all of its enzymes as well as |
| used. | | | | vitamins and minerals as there has been no damage |
| This relied of course on having a climate that would | | | | done by heating. |
| allow food to be dried successfully. Most types of | | | | - Convenience - Being able to dry your own food |
| foods can be dehydrated, including fruits, vegetables, | | | | means that you always have a supply of food |
| herbs, seeds and even meat and fish. | | | | available. This is great in case of emergencies such as |
| Since the invention of the freezer, dried foods are not | | | | floods or other times when food and electricity may |
| relied on so much as they would have been in the | | | | not be available for a period of time restricting the |
| past, although many dried foods are still commonly | | | | ability to cook food and when frozen and fresh foods |
| consumed such as Jerky, many kinds of dried fruits | | | | become unusable or spoiled. |
| and fruit leathers and herbs. | | | | Dried foods are also very handy for those who go |
| One of the advantages of course to drying your own | | | | camping or hiking regularly as they are convenient, light |
| food is that you know there are none of the chemical | | | | and easily carried and stored. |
| additives that are so commonly added to commercially | | | | If you want real convenience food, dehydrate your |
| dried foods these days - particularly meat products | | | | own. It tastes great and it's good for you! |