Most vegetables are made up of about 80-95% water. The water content in meat runs from about 50-75 %. Foods spoil because water forms a hospitable environment in which various strains of bacteria can grow and multiply, rendering food dangerous to eat if left out for over an hour. Food Dehydrators, through their use of constantly moving heated air, remove the water from food — making it safe to eat months after dehydrating it.

The benefits of using a food dehydrator are seemingly endless. Harvested fruit and vegetables not immediately sold or eaten can be dehydrated and enjoyed months later. Food can be dried and stored, making a readily accessible cache of food always on hand in case of an emergency or disaster. Dried fruit, vegetables, and meat (known as “jerky”) are delectable and healthy snacks that retain all of their nutritional value when dehydrated.

Dehydrating, as opposed to freezing or canning, is much more cost effective and faster. For example: a food dehydrator can dry meat and fish in about 4-6 hours and does not entail the additional material cost, hot water, and mechanical operation of canning. Once dried and stored, jerky can be enjoyed for months to come. A food dehydrator can be used to make yogurt, pasta, vegetable chips, and food adornments for well below the cost of buying the same item at a store.

Aside from their traditional use, food dehydrators serve as a multi-faceted appliance that performs a variety of household tasks. For example you can use a food dehydrator as a humidifier in the winter, an air freshener, a composting aid for organic and non-organic waste, a food re-crisper, as well as a great wearming cabinet for raising home made bread. With as much as a dehydrator does, you will wonder how you lived without one.