Michigan State University Extension
Preserving Food Safely - 01600531
10/13/97

### TIMING DRYING FOODS

     Temperature  plays a key role in the drying  process.   If

    the
    temperature is too high,  food may case harden;  that is

    cook
     and  harden on the outside while trapping moisture  on

    the
    inside.

     Other  variables  to  consider  when  timing  foods  in  a

    dehydrator
    include:  the amount  of  natural  water  in  the

    food,
    the  size  and  thickness  of the  food, the  relative

    humidity
    of the air   and the efficiency of  the dehydrator.

    Vegetables
    may take as little as 3 to 4 hours or up to about

    14
     hours to  dry, depending  on the above  variables.   For

    example,
    sliced mushrooms will probably dry in an average of

    4
    hours, while  beets may  take as long as 12 to 14 hours to

    dry.

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