Colanders, food processor, sauté pans, a blender... certainly all traditional items one would find in the everyday kitchen…but a food dehydrator? It wasn’t until recently that I became fully aware of not only the health value, but also the creative benefits of owning a food dehydrator. Adding a dehydrator to my culinary repertoire has proved to be both healthful and helpful.
A food dehydrator works essentially by lowering the moisture content of a food enough to inhibit the bacterial growth associated with spoilage. Proponents of a raw food or living foods diet often employ food dehydrators so the foods are conveniently available and won’t spoil quickly. When a raw food is heated to an internal temperature of over 120F, the majority of its nutritional value is lost. Food dehydration conversely does not subject raw foods to the higher temperatures associated with processes such as canning and/or other traditional cooking methods, so it preserves almost 100 percent of its nutrient value. Dehydrating also helps to retain the alkalinity of fresh produce, as well as conserve the water-soluble vitamins that are often lost through moist heat cooking methods.
Even if you’re not a “raw foodist” a dehydrator can help provide a myriad of foods rich with nutrients, concentrated flavors, tantalizing colors and unique textures. Dried vegetables and fruits can provide convenient and delicious additions to all types of meals and snacks including fresh summer salads, and can be mixed with your favorite nuts to create a handy trail mix. Powders made from dehydrated fruits and vegetables can be added to a healthy smoothie or sprinkled on top to provide a nutritional boost.
A food dehydrator can be economically advantageous as well since store-bought dehydrated food is typically expensive. Investing up front in a food dehydrator enables you to conveniently preserve fresh, nutritious foods at home at a fraction of the store-bought cost.
Whether your goals are health or gustatory in orientation (or a balance of both), a food dehydrator can be a fun and functional piece of equipment along your journey toward healthy eating.
