Learning to Preserve Fruits and Vegetables at Home by Dehydrating Them

Preserving fruits and vegetables at home is a rewarding and practical skill, allowing you to enjoy the bounty of your garden or local farmers' market year-round. 

One of the most effective and simplest methods of preservation is dehydrating. 

Dehydration removes moisture from food, inhibiting the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mould, while concentrating the flavours and nutrients. 

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of dehydrating, the equipment needed, and step-by-step instructions for dehydrating fruits and vegetables at home.

Benefits of Dehydrating

1. Prolonged Shelf Life

Dehydrated fruits and vegetables can last for months or even years when stored properly, reducing food waste and ensuring you have nutritious options available even in the off-season.

2. Nutrient Retention

Dehydration retains most of the vitamins and minerals found in fresh produce. Unlike canning, which can lead to nutrient loss due to high temperatures, dehydrating preserves the nutritional content.

3. Space Saving

Dehydrated foods take up significantly less space than their fresh or canned counterparts. This makes them ideal for small kitchens or for those who need to stock up on food without the luxury of ample storage space.

4. Portability

Dried fruits and vegetables are lightweight and compact, making them perfect for hiking, camping, and packed lunches.

Equipment Needed

1. Dehydrator

A dedicated food dehydrator is the most efficient way to dry fruits and vegetables. It allows you to control temperature and airflow, ensuring even drying. There are various models available, ranging from basic to advanced with programmable settings.

2. Oven

If you don’t have a dehydrator, an oven can be used. However, it can be less efficient and may require more attention to prevent over-drying or burning.

3. Sharp Knife or Mandoline

A sharp knife or mandoline is essential for slicing fruits and vegetables uniformly. Even slices ensure consistent drying times and quality.

4. Lemon Juice or Ascorbic Acid

These are optional but recommended to prevent browning of fruits like apples and bananas. They also help retain vitamins and enhance flavour.

5. Airtight Containers

Once dried, fruits and vegetables should be stored in airtight containers to maintain their dryness and prevent spoilage.

Step-by-Step Guide to Dehydrating

Preparing the Produce

Wash and Dry: Thoroughly wash your fruits and vegetables under cold water. Pat them dry with a clean towel.

Peel and Core: Depending on the type of produce, peel and core them as needed. For example, apples should be cored, and tomatoes peeled if desired.

Slice Evenly: Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice the produce evenly. The thickness will affect drying time – thinner slices dry faster.

Pre-Treatment: To prevent browning and enhance flavour, dip fruit slices in lemon juice or an ascorbic acid solution for a few minutes. Drain and pat dry.

Dehydrating

Using a Dehydrator

Arrange Slices: Place the slices in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Ensure they are not overlapping.

Set Temperature: For fruits, set the dehydrator to 57-63°C (135-145°F). For vegetables, set it to 52-57°C (125-135°F).

Drying Time: Drying times vary depending on the type of produce and thickness of slices. Generally, fruits take 6-12 hours and vegetables 4-8 hours. Check periodically for desired dryness.

Using an Oven

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to its lowest setting, ideally around 60°C (140°F).

Arrange Slices: Place the slices on baking trays lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Drying Process: Keep the oven door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape. This can be achieved by propping it open with a wooden spoon. Rotate the trays every hour to ensure even drying.

Check for Doneness: Check the slices periodically. Fruits should be pliable and leathery, while vegetables should be brittle.

Storing Dehydrated Produce

Conditioning: After drying, let the produce cool completely. Place them in a large jar for a week, shaking daily to distribute any remaining moisture evenly. If condensation forms, return the produce to the dehydrator or oven for further drying.

Storage: Store the dehydrated produce in airtight containers in a cool, dark place. Vacuum-sealed bags or jars with oxygen absorbers are ideal for long-term storage.

Enjoying Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables

Dehydrated fruits and vegetables can be enjoyed in various ways. They make excellent snacks on their own or can be rehydrated for use in soups, stews, and baking. Dried fruit can be added to cereals, trail mixes, or used in desserts, while dried vegetables can enhance the flavour and nutrition of your meals.

By mastering the art of dehydrating, you can reduce food waste, save money, and ensure you always have a supply of delicious, nutritious produce at your fingertips. Happy dehydrating!

Are You Taking the Phizz?

Phizz are taking on Berocca as the UK's fastest growing effervescent brand; the young, science-led team works with a PhD neuroscientist to develop innovative all-in-one health supplements, formulated to support daily wellbeing, exercise, travel, and nights out. This month, September, sees the rollout of Phizz's first Out of Home Campaign, which will run until the 24th of this month.

What is the objective of the campaign? It's simply to drive brand awareness across London and to support the launch of Phizz Caffeine Boost in Tesco Express. Bringing the brand to life across a variety of touchpoints and platforms to maximise brand awareness, impact and campaign longevity.

With an expected reach in excess of 7 million, taking advantage of the return to office working and September's back to school season, the campaign includes advertising across three high impact mega screens including Canary Wharf, Westfield Shepherds Bush and Westfield Stratford; advertising across 50 food delivery bikes in Zone 1, Central London; 32 further mega screens will run for the full two weeks across zones 1 and 2.

Phizz have also created 500 magnetic clings, pavement stencils and sampling bins, the team will be distributing sample product across London for the next couple of weeks. Lastly, Phizz has partnered with Gymfluencers to create 100 bespoke Phizz Caffeine fitness influencer boxes, to enhance social media awareness in tandem with the campaign.

Phizz Founder Dan Cray says, "In 2023, Phizz has soared to third place within the effervescent category, and with our recent debut in Tesco Express, we decided the time was ripe to take our visibility to even new heights.  

"With distribution now spanning over 4,500 national locations, we're embarking on an ambitious journey. Expect impactful ATL campaigns and exciting activations with renowned brands like Gymshark. This marks just the beginning of our significant growth.

"Our launch to Tesco Express is our first time in this convenience store format. The launch has been driven from the strong rate of sale nationwide in superstores. Tesco now sees a strong fit for Phizz to support non-stop city lifestyles.”

Phizz are also launching Orange, Mixed Berry, Apple & Blackcurrant Effervescent tabs to Morrisons. The brand will launch with a £6 promo running until 17th October, before retailing at £8.00 per tube of 20 tablets. 

Founder Dan Cray went on to say: “Morrison's decision to include Phizz in their range reinforces our position as the fastest-growing brand in the category. We're obviously pleased and utterly thrilled to introduce our unparalleled benefits in an array of delicious flavours, aiming to elevate lives across the nation.”

Here are some details about the range:-

The new Cherry Caffeine Boost, a triple-action energy boosting effervescent, aims to combat the major cause of fatigue: dehydration. Available now from Amazon and Tesco. The ground-breaking formula, a global first, aims to optimise natural energy levels, combat fatigue and drowsiness, and deliver a daily dose of invigorating wellness. 

We wake up every day with two basic health goals, to eat a well-rounded diet that achieves all our nutritional requirements and to drink enough water; busy modern lifestyles, travel and high-performance sport all get in the way of achieving these goals, and without optimal nutrients and hydration, you're not your best self. 94% of the UK is dehydrated, on average, consumers drink just 850ml of water per day – less than half of the recommended daily intake. A 2% drop in hydration leads to mental and physical fatigue.

With 75mg of caffeine, equivalent to a cup of coffee, and fortified with natural guarana, it heightens alertness and invigorates the mind and body. By adding Guarana to their tried-and-true formula, Phizz harnesses the Amazonian berry's energy boosting properties that can help to increase attention and alertness; it has more caffeine per berry than any other plant (even coffee beans) and it's also packed full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Guarana gives a slower releasing and longer lasting caffeine effect than caffeine from tea and coffee, providing a smoother energy release. 

Further enhanced by a potent blend of essential B-vitamins, it unlocks the body's natural energy resource by helping convert food into energy. The low calorie (10kcal) tablet's energy proposition is complemented by a range of 17 essential nutrients for optimal health. Phizz Caffeine Boost can be incorporated into your daily routine, before a sports game or gym session, as a replacement for your morning coffee or energy drink, as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or when feeling jetlagged after a flight, making Phizz your new best friend.

“At Phizz, we provide comprehensive solutions with unmatched science to beat any other single product in the market. This product has a fresh perspective on the energy category while ensuring optimal hydration and health. And at only 40p per drink, we offer solid science at great value,” explains Daniel Cray, CEO and founder of Phizz. 

The London-based start-up creates everyday life armour with their trio of 3-in-1effervescent tablets that combine a hydration formula, electrolytes, and a comprehensive multivitamin. The young, science-led team works with a PhD neuroscientist to develop innovative all-in-one health supplements that are formulated to support daily wellbeing, exercise, travel, and nights out. Unlike other effervescent brands, Phizz is both a multivitamin and a rehydration remedy, helping you thrive every day across three main lifestyle pillars:

Hydration

Dehydration and vitamin deficiencies are two common, daily challenges that can negatively affect our physical and mental performance. Just 1-2% dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps and concentration loss. (EDITOR: It certainly does! And it's very, very painful!)

Electrolyte Replenishment 

Phizz contains a range of key electrolytes to support heart, brain, nerve, and immune system function. These include four of the main electrolytes lost through sweat which helps prevent cramping and muscle fatigue.

High Dose Multivitamin 

Phizz offers eighteen essential vitamins and minerals for natural energy, reduction in fatigue, normal functioning of the immune system, mental performance, and antioxidants to prevent cellular damage.

We wake up every day with two basic health goals, to eat a well-rounded diet that achieves all our nutritional requirements and to drink enough water; busy modern lifestyles, travel and high-performance sport all get in the way of achieving these goals, and without optimal nutrients and hydration, you're not your best self. Phizz 3-in-1 is a small but mighty tablet (available in Orange, Apple & Blackcurrant and Mixed Berry), that helps you get one step ahead of your immune, energy, focus and hydration goals. 

Phizz's science-backed formula helps you hydrate three times faster (compared with drinking water alone), delivers natural energy, and supports your immune system. Just dissolve one tablet in a glass or bottle of water (best served chilled!).

Phizz is perfectly balanced with 18 quality and high-dose vitamins and minerals designed to boost your natural energy (thanks to a B-12 and B-6 vitamin hit, 375% of your daily dose of immune-boosting vitamin C (the equivalent of three oranges) and electrolytes, often lost through sweat. Phizz also packs a self-care punch with zinc (more than in three cups of spinach), potassium (more than in one banana) as well as other powerful antioxidants . 

Phizz is ideal as part of your everyday routine. It's diverse range of uses also support more targeted needs, including combating tiredness and fatigue, supporting an active lifestyle – such as marathon training – rapid rehydration after a big night, beating jetlag and supporting your body in hot climates.

Dehydration can have significant effects on physical performance, particularly during endurance events where large volumes of water can be lost through sweat. Phizz helps the body hydrate faster while also replacing key electrolytes to support muscle function. Drinking Phizz during, or prior to, exercise can therefore reduce fatigue, cramps, and thirst, while increasing energy and stamina. But don't just take our word for it! Phizz is rigorously vetted by medical departments and players and is chosen as their preferred hydration solution due to the superior formula. Damian Roden (High-Performance Consultant and former Premier League Head of Performance) says, “Phizz gives players a head start on the competition with the vitamins and electrolytes our players need to perform at their peak.” Phizz has supplied over 50 professional sports teams across rugby, football and cricket including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Saracens. Notable fans also include Olympic Champion Peter Reed OBE, TV personality Vicky Pattison and television presenter Andi Peters. 

Although a premium option, with quality at its core, Phizz offers value against a typical energy drink at just 40p per serving. Your plastic usage is also cut down to one recyclable tube, compared with 20 one-time-use drinks containers, helping you to minimise your impact and maximise your health. Phizz has partnered with Plastic Bank, for each Phizz product purchased 1.3x its weight in plastic waste is collected, recycled and prevented from entering our oceans; collectors are paid a premium, empowering local communities across some of the world's most vulnerable coastal environments. Phizz is proud to be leading the way as the only plastic-positive effervescent tablet in the category. 

Using the power of science, Phizz make all-in-one health supplements that help you thrive every day; find Phizz at Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Amazon, or buy direct from www.phizz.co.