L 'food dryingit is a process in whichthe food is dried at temperatures ranging from 30 to 50 degreesif you want to keep the enzymes intact (with the exception of meat, which must be dried at at least 70 degrees). Thanks touniform air flowof the dehydrator the moisture is slowly removed from the food through evaporation. Generally a food is considered “dehydrated” when 95% of the moisture is removed from the food: this greatly improves shelf life and prevents foods from spoiling.
Domestic or home dryers are divided into three main groups:
- new generation infrared dryers
- conventional steel dryers
- conventional plastic dryers
Infrared dryers
The biggest benefits of infrared dryers are:
- shorter drying times
- low energy consumption
- greater permanence of the intensity of flavors in foods
- greater permanence of the intensity of colors in foods
- greater permanence of the active ingredients in foods
- possibility of more demanding drying (for example halfprunesor halfapricots, while in many conventional dryers this is not possible and you have to cut thinner slices)
- silence
Heat transmission and infrared radiation
It is the closest form to cooking in the sun
. For example, Essene bread, or bread baked in the sun, has very ancient origins and recalls traditions and peoples of the past. It is a raw bread, made from sprouts, prepared by drying and used by the Essene people. The Essenes are a Jewish group of uncertain origin, who lived around the middle of the 2nd century BC and are also considered the precursors of raw foodism. For them, in fact, food could not be altered by cooking, which destroys the life of the food and alters its nutrients. They were strictly vegetarians, eating mainly bread, wild roots andfruit. With the dryer you practically obtain a similar result.
“Heat transmission” is the passage of thermal energy from one body to another thanks to a temperature difference. In other words, if two bodies are at different temperatures, there is a transfer of heat from the hotter body to the colder one.
Unlike transmission by conduction or convection, theheat transfer by radiationit does not require direct contact between the heat source and the part to be heated and does not require a medium to propagate. In fact, it occurs by radiation: the sun's heat propagates in the void and also reaches our planet. Physically, radiation consists of the emission of electromagnetic waves, while the heat exchanged depends mainly on the frequency of the radiation, the nature of the bodies involved in the heat exchange and some characteristics of their surface.
From a thermodynamic point of view, heat transmission can occur in three different ways:by conduction, by convection and by radiation. In particular, infrared radiation (IR) is electromagnetic radiation characterized by frequencies between those of visible light and those of radio waves and is often associated with the concepts of "heat" and "thermal radiation", since all objects at ambient or higher spontaneously emit radiation in this band. Infrared radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum: it is that with a wavelength between 700 nm and 1 mm, with a frequency lower than that of visible light but higher than that of radio waves. It is often associated with the concepts of "heat" or "thermal radiation": every object spontaneously emits infrared radiation, so sensors capable of capturing it are used for night vision or thermographic applications. Infrared is also used to transmit signals or data (remote controls, wireless mice and keyboards, etc.), or for infrared spectroscopy, very useful in the characterization of materials (including foods): NIR (near infra red) spectroscopy is a well-known example of this.
Then there is the use of infrared for cooking food: if compared to the use of conventional heat, typical of an oventraditional, there is the advantage of not requiring the heating of the air inside the oven as a means of transmitting heat to the food. This allows for a reduction in costs and a better qualitative result on the food, which does not tend to "dry out" like in a conventional oven. Furthermore, the sensorial result obtained with mid-infrared radiation is normally better.
Infrared can be applied to foods not only for cooking, but also for surface pasteurization treatments to be applied before packaging. The application of infrared has also proven effective in eradicating pathogenic microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes, specifically inoculated on the surface of meat preparations, without the need to reach temperatures that could cause qualitative damage to the product (as verified through colorimetric tests). Another example of a particular application of infrared consists in their combination with smoking processes (typically very long), to make them quicker and obtain healthier products: in this way smoking can also be carried out in a few minutes rather than several hours, and can be done online rather than inside traditional discontinuous smoking ovens.
Infrared cooking has become one of the most popular features of modern kitchens. Notably, some grills come with an infrared burner as an additional cooking feature. Infrared cooking allows you to cook atvapordelicate and simple. The appliance browns, grates and, on its own, could replace several kitchen appliances. Infrared rays respect the structure of cells and the good flavor of food. Radiations with shorter wavelengths (near and medium infrared) penetrate the surface of the food more efficiently, but are rapidly slowed down due to the evaporative effect which consumes a good part of the heat and the formation of a surface "crust" which hinders further heat penetration. Compared to normal ovens, infrared also has the advantage thatsummerdoes not heat the home environment.
Best infrared dryers
1Klarstein Florida Jerky – Dehydrator, Dryer, 500W, Infrared
2Klarstein Florida Jerky – Dehydrator, Dryer, 500W, Infrared
Conventional steel dryers
Just like the infrared dryer, those made of steel are more robust than conventional dryers made of plastic material. These are normally unwelcome to the health-conscious consumer, becauseheated plastic produces substances such as xenoestrogens both in heat environments and in cases of contact with fats. But dryers operate at low temperatures which should not cause problems of this type and fats are rarely used in dryers.
3 Best Steel Food Dehydrators
1 Excalibur 9 Tray Deluxe Dehydrator Black 3900B
Great car, one of the best even if at a high price.
Characteristics:
- Dimensions in cm: 48.26 x 43.18 x 31.75 cm;
- Weight: 9.98 kg
- Motor power: 600 Watts
- Voltage: 120
- Number of trays: 9
- Warranty: 2 years
- 9-tray dehydrator, square meters of drying space
- Built in on/off switch
- Ideal for large families and gardens
- Includes adjustable thermostat
- Easy to clean Polyscreen inserts tray
- Automatic shutdown: no
2 Excalibur RES10 10 tray dehydrator with digital controller
Characteristics:
- Dimensions in cm: 40.64 x 30.48 x 40.64 cm;
- Weight: 11.79 kg
- Motor power: 550 Watts
- Voltage: 110
- Number of trays: 10
- Material: Steel Alloy
- Large and drying capacity
- Dual Camera, two timer and temperature settings
- Smooth, front panel with touch controls and backlit LCD
- Transparent double opening door
- Hyper Wave Technology temperature oscillates for thorough drying
3 Vita5 Nobel Pro 7 Dehydrator – Automatic Stainless Steel Dehydrator with 7 Trays
5 Best plastic dryers
1Tauro Essiccatori, Domus B5 horizontal flow food dryer with 5 plastic baskets
For those looking for asmall domestic dryer, sufficiently efficient and convenient. Motor with 7 automatic programs and 5 temperature levels for good quality drying and silent and resistant aluminum fan on ball bearings for greater durability and which allows from 2 to 48 hours of processing and/or the maintenance function.
- drying tunnel in plastic material for food 100% MADE IN ITALY with non-slip handle and DrySet Pro motor block
- 5 baskets in BPA Free certified food grade plastic material, dimensions 24x36x4 cm, easily dishwasher safe
- maximum power 550W to allow perfect performance in the most extreme conditions, consumption control through specific programs and dedicated technology
- external dimensions 27x27x45 cm, rectangular shape optimized to make the most of the internal space
- motor with Dryset Pro electronic system with 12 automatic programs, timer, maintenance
- drying tunnel in plastic material
- motor with Dryset Pro electronic control
- indicative capacity 2/3 kg
2Food dehydrator，400W food dehydrators
Characteristics:
- Powerful Drying Capacity: Equipped with 400W drying power, Bellelife food dehydrator removes moisture and maintains the original flavors of your favorite foods. Excellent craftsmanship means excellent performance with a 97% vitamin and mineral retention rate. This is definitely the best way to store food.
- Adjustable Time and Temperature: Fruit and vegetable dryer has adjustable temperature and time functions; The drying temperature can be set between 35℃ -70℃, while the time can be set between 0-24 hours. Choose the optimal time and temperature with LCD Display, the heating element ensures constant 360° air circulation for even drying.
- Large Capacity with 6 Trays: This food dehydrator is designed with 6 large capacity drying racks, which are enough to hold most foods and create even drying; 6 trays offer maximum convenience for sorting different foods and increasing productivity.
- High Quality Material: Made of stainless steel base and food grade plastic trays, all materials are BPA free. The dehydrator can dry any variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms and even fish and meat. All trays are dishwasher safe for easier cleaning and storage.
- 365 Day Guarantee
3Melchioni Babele, Multipurpose food dehydrator, 5 stackable and removable shelves
- The Babele electric dehydrator is ideal for preparing delicious and healthy snacks based on meat, fish, fruit or vegetables, without the addition of fats and sugars
- The dehydrator shelves are adjustable in height and therefore allow you to dehydrate different foods on multiple levels, for uniform results
- The 5 trays can be used individually or stacked according to the quantity of food you want to dry, their perforation allows uniform distribution of heat and easy control of the drying process
- Easy to clean The individual components of the dryer can be easily removed and washed separately thanks to the separable structure
- The temperature is adjustable from 40-70℃, The dryer allows you to dehydrate not only fruit and vegetables but alsoherbs, bread, mushrooms, meat and fish
4Hopekings Fruit and vegetable dryer
Powerful Drying Capacity: Equipped with 400W drying power, Bellelife food dehydrator removes moisture and maintains the original flavors of your favorite foods. Excellent craftsmanship means excellent performance with a 97% vitamin and mineral retention rate. This is definitely the best way to store food.
- Adjustable Time and Temperature: Fruit and vegetable dryer has adjustable temperature and time functions; The drying temperature can be set between 35℃ -70℃, while the time can be set between 0-24 hours. Choose the optimal time and temperature with LCD Display, the heating element ensures constant 360° air circulation for even drying.
- Large Capacity with 6 Trays: This food dehydrator is designed with 6 large capacity drying racks, which are enough to hold most foods and create even drying; 6 trays offer maximum convenience for sorting different foods and increasing productivity.
- High Quality Material: Made of stainless steel base and food grade plastic trays, all materials are BPA free. The dehydrator can dry any variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms and even fish and meat. All trays are dishwasher safe for easier cleaning and storage.
- 365 Day Guarantee.
5Concept Elettrodomestici SO1020 Fruit Dryer
Concept Elettrodomestici SO1020 Fruit Dryer, 9 Compartments, 245 W, 46 Decibels, Plastic, White [Energy efficiency class A].
- Practical dryer with 9 transparent compartments of 32 cm surface area in a modern white design
- The temperature adjustment from 35°C to 70°C will allow you to dry any food just the way you like it
- Perfectly uniform drying – the integrated fan and the special shape of the grids ensure a perfect result
- Very quiet operation – only 46 dB (A), 245 W
- Product dimensions: 39 x 33 x 33 cm; 3.76 kg
- Noise: 46 dB
- Energy label efficiency class: A
- Wattage: 245 watts
- Material: plastic
- Diameter: 32cm
- Weight: 3.76 kg
