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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