Preservation 101: Dehydrating Food

Preservation 101: Dehydrating Food

Author: Homesteading Family October 11, 2020 Duration: 41:14

Dehydration is another great option for getting food on your shelf, plus it’s also super convenient, lightweight, and really takes the bulk down on your food to help maximize your space. 

In this episode of the Pantry Chat, Josh and Carolyn continue their series on preservation methods with an introduction to dehydration. They cover the pros and cons of dehydration, what foods it really works best on, the different types of dehydration, and the basic steps you need to follow in order to get started. 

In this Episode: 

  • Grandma Jeanie is recovering after having to go to the ER for pelvic pain caused by pneumonia. 
  • Harvest season is still in full swing as Josh and Carolyn continue to make plans to prep for winter. 
  • Why would somebody dehydrate and what are the benefits of doing it over other preservation methods? 
  • What are the types of food you can dehydrate and what are the nutritional benefits? 
  • What foods should not be dehydrated at home and why?
  • What are the grades of different electric dehydrators and what features should you look for when buying one? 
  • Josh and Carolyn discuss the different types of dehydration methods (electric, solar, and oven). 
  • What are the basic steps you need to know before you start dehydrating food? 
  • Carolyn provides some tips on how to reconstitute tomatoes and use them to make a great sauce. 
  • Carolyn explains her technique for perfecting fruit leather that won’t overdry and is perfect for snacks. 
  • Question of the week: a new homesteader tried to water bath can some guava pineapple jam and some jars grew mold and popped open. What went wrong?   

Resources: 

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There’s a quiet revolution happening in backyards and on small plots of land, where people are choosing to grow and preserve their own food despite busy modern lives. Everyday Homesteading, from the Homesteading Family, speaks directly to that reality. It’s for anyone who feels the pull toward self-sufficiency but is short on time, sorting through the noise to find what’s genuinely practical. This podcast focuses on methods that are tried and true, saving you from wasting effort and resources on well-meaning but unproven advice. You’ll hear honest conversations about fitting homesteading tasks into a realistic schedule-think five to ten hours a week-transforming that dream of a full pantry into a manageable weekly rhythm. Episodes delve into the nitty-gritty of growing food, cooking from scratch, and preserving your harvest, all with an eye on efficiency. The tone is less about achieving perfection and more about building confidence through simple, actionable steps. Tune in for a sense of community and grounded wisdom that makes the homesteading journey feel possible, starting right where you are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 278

Everyday Homesteading
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