BENEFITS OF A FOOD DEHYDRATOR

Food dehydrators have been on the market for many years, however recently these formerly niche products are becoming a standard appliance in both professional and domestic kitchens. With a selection of electric dehydrators available for both domestic and commercial use, it is important to know how these machines can be applied to your food and the benefits that they bring with them.

1: FOOD LASTS LONGER

Whilst simple in design, dehydrators can be very versatile in their application – from the production of jerky to the creation of garnishes. The first and most obvious benefit of using a dehydrator is that it can greatly extend the shelf life of your food due to the majority of moisture being removed, discouraging the growth of bacteria.

2: PROVIDES A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE

Dehydrated food can also be very healthy, with fruit as an example retaining all its natural fibre without the unwanted addition of sugar, salt and preservatives. This is partially responsible for the dehydrator’s recent boom in popularity amongst the more health-conscious audience, as dehydrated fruit can easily be used to create raw granola bars and pureed fruit rolls.

3: A WORTHY LONG TERM INVESTMENT

If expanding your menu or simply building upon original recipes to include more dried fruit, vegetables, meat or fish then a dehydrator is a cost effective method of guaranteeing a steady supply of dried foodstuffs. Dried foods can be stored for up to a year, with the added benefit of cutting down on unnecessary food waste in the process. Even high-end dehydrators are not too expensive compared to other commercial kitchen equipment, so it is definitely worth considering investing if dried foods are becoming a frequent feature of your menu.

4: THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO TRY

A dehydrator is not simply restricted to the drying of food alone, with popularity steadily rising and recipes ever expanding to include new and interesting applications for these machines. Herbs and spices can be easily dried and stored for future use as seasonings. Even flowers can be dehydrated to provide table decorations for your business.

5: YOU CAN PREPARE IN ADVANCE

If you know you’ll be receiving orders for dried food the following day or if you’re preparing for guests later in the week, you can use the dehydrator at any time in the knowledge your food will not go off in the time between. Using heated air circulation for several hours in a single sitting, these machines operate with minimal running costs so you need not worry about excessive use draining your finances.

6: YOU CAN DRY, THEN REHYDRATE LATER

Many foods that you dry can be equally rehydrated to produce unique items for cooking. There are a variety of ways in which rehydrated food can be applied to cooking, examples being purees for pizza sauces or fruits for scones. With a little research you can see all sorts of recipes that have incorporated this method and it is definitely an area worth experimenting with if you’re thinking of modifying your menu.

TO CONCLUDE

With this in mind there are plenty of ways you could use a dehydrator, depending on the style and extent of your menu. With healthy and alternative ways to making meals rising in popularity over the past few years, there is certainly space in the professional kitchen for a machine that extends the life of your dishes, cuts down on food waste and is used with minimal maintenance and running costs. As an inexpensive short term investment a food dehydrator saves money and time in the long run as well as being a versatile piece of equipment which constantly bears new and ingenious methods to add variety and value to your menu.