Backyard Homesteading All-in-One For Dummies by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781119550778
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2019-04-30T00:00:00+00:00

Check your fruit daily for evidence of mold.

Test your food for doneness and then label and store it in an airtight container.

If one day is hot and sunny, yet the next is cloudy, you have a problem because mold can develop on partially dried foods before the weather turns back to hot and sunny again. In this situation, you need to use an alternative to sun-drying to finish the foods.

Protecting the Life of Your Dried Food

You’ll receive many months of rewarding flavor from your dried foods when they’re protected from air, moisture, light, and insects. Generally speaking, food dried and stored properly can be kept from six months to one year.

Cooler air provides a longer shelf life for your food. The best storage temperature is 60 degrees or colder. This will hold your food for at least one year. Temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees preserve the quality of your dried food for only about three to four months.

Check your unused dried food from time to time for any visible moisture or spoilage. If the food has signs of moisture, such as droplets of liquid in the containers, your food isn’t completely dried. Use it immediately or repeat the dehydrating process and repackage it.

Suitable storage containers include the following:

Glass: Home-canning jars with two-piece caps (see Chapter 1 of this minibook) are a perfect choice for storing dried food. Wash them with hot soapy water and rinse them well or wash them in a dishwasher. Dry and cool your jars completely before filling them and adding the two-piece caps. Reusing glass jars with lids also works well. Remove the cardboard liner that sometimes lines the underside of the plastic lid before washing and filling with herbs.

Plastic: Heavy-duty (freezer) plastic bags with locking zipper-style seals work well. After placing your dried food in the bag, roll the bag to remove any extra air and press the seal together, making the bag airtight.

Metal: If you buy coffee in cans, line the inside of a clean can with heavy plastic wrap, place your food inside, and add the tight-fitting lid.

Vacuum sealers: If you own one of these units, now’s the time to use it. Check your owner’s manual for operating instructions and start packaging your dried food.

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