How to Dehydrate Food

Dried foods have fresh color, aroma, taste, shape and quality, and are easy to store. In the peak season of foods, foods in surplus areas are processed into dehydrated foods and sold to areas where foods are lacking, so that not only can you eat what you want in every season. The taste and quality of the food do not change, so how to deyhdrate foods? Next I will share with you dehydrate foods process.

The first step: raw material selection

Choose meaty foods. Before dehydration, you should choose your food strictly and pick out the bad parts. 80% ripeness of vegetables and fruits is suitable, and overripe or underripe should also be selected. Wash food with water and dry it in a cool place, but it should not be exposed to sunlight.

The second step: cutting, blanching

The cleaned raw materials are cut into slices, lines, strips and other shapes according to product requirements. If the food is vegetables it needs to be blanching, depending on the ingredients. The general blanching time is 2 to 4 minutes. Leafy vegetables cannot be blanched.

The third step: cooling, draining

Precooked vegetables should be cooled immediately (usually with cold water) to quickly reduce to room temperature. After cooling, in order to shorten the dehydration time, a centrifuge can be used to shake off the water, or a simple manual method can be used to squeeze it.

The fouth step: food dehydration

Put the processed foods on a clean tray, and then place them in a ventilated place under the sun. During the dehydration process, we have to turn the foods over from time to time to ensure that the foods can be better dehydrated.
However, sun dehydration is susceptible to weather, and dried foods are susceptible to contamination. Long dehydration times usually take a week. The moisture content of dried foods cannot be controlled, and the dehydration of various parts of the foods is uneven. Therefore, if we need to dry a large number of foods, the method of dehydration in the sun is too time-consuming, so I recommend using a professional food dehydrator. Using a professional dehydrator is easy.

Dehydration high-yield foods

Put the foods into the material tray, insert the material tray into the material cart and push it into the dehydration room, and close the sealing door to start dehydration production. The dehydration temperature range is 65 ℃ - 85 ℃, and the dehydration temperature is divided into different temperatures, and the temperature is gradually lowered. Generally, the dehydration time is about 8-10 hours to complete a batch.
Next, I will introduce you to some food dehydrators. We determine the different temperature, time, color and moisture content in the dehydration process according to different varieties. I bring you 4 food dehydrators - mesh belt food dehydrator, food dehydrator chamber microwave food dehydrator and all-in-one food dehydrator.

1. heat pump dehydrator food machine

The heat pump dehydrator food machine is equipped with a trolley with trays and tray racks. When we dry the foods, we put the food in the tray, on the tray rack of the cart, and push it into the dehydrator food chamber to dehydrate. Foods are putted on the shelf car and enter the closed cycle dehydrator room for dehydrator without any pollution in the process. The heat source of the heat pump dehydrator food machine is air. The heat in the air is absorbed by the heat pump compressor. After being compressed and released, a large amount of high-temperature hot air can be obtained, so as to achieve uniform drying and processing of foods.

Components of heat pump dehydrator food machine

One set heat pump dehydrator food machine contains: heat pump dehydrator host, dehydrator chamber, fan frame with fan, trolley with tray. The dehydrator chamber is used 100mm polyurethane insulation board, supporting 304 stainless steel trolleys and trays. Put the foods into the material tray, insert the food tray into the vegetable cart and push it into the dehydrator room, and close the sealing door to start drying production. The dehydrator temperature range is 65 ℃ - 85 ℃, and the dehydrator temperature is divided into different temperatures, and the temperature is gradually lowered. Generally, the drying time is about 8-10 hours to complete a batch.

The working principle of heat pump dehydrator food machine

The heat pump food dehydrator room uses the reverse Carnot principle to let the hot air circulating blower dehydrator food. Compressor and other equipment make up the refrigerant circulation system. The fan impeller rotates, the outside air enters the oven, passes through the heater, forms hot air, and then enters the studio through the gap of the air distribution plate, and a large amount of hot air in the circulating flow continues to enter the new air inlet for supplementation. The moisture discharged after recovery is discharged from the exhaust port. The whole cycle makes the food heated evenly and achieves the purpose of dehydartion.

Technical parameters of heat pump dehydrator food machine

heat pump dehydration room list
type	machine size(MM)	Capacity (KG)	power	Qty of fan	fan power	total power（kw）	Qty of cart	Qty of tray	cart size(MM)	tray size(MM)
3P A	3500×2200×2200	200-400	2.25	6	0.25/pc	3.75	6	78	670×810	600×800
8P A	5300×2200×2800	450-750	6	12	0.37/pc	10.44	6	156	1210×870	600×800
15P	7500×3000×2800	900-1500	11.25	12	0.55/pc	17.85	12	312	1210×870	600×800
1P D	1180×680×1800	50-80	1	—	—	1	—	15	—	600×800
3P D	2100×930×2100	120-300	3.5	—	—	3.5	—	40/60	—	600×800
8P D	4000×1960×2050	650-1000	8	—	—	8	8	232	600×800	600×800
The drying machine can be equipped according to the user's requirement and the production demands.

Advantages of heat pump dehydrator food machine

1 Wide application. Suitable for vegetable, fruit, seafood, spice etc different kinds of material.
2 High drying capacity. Each hour can drying 3-4kg water.
3 Better drying effect. Can better keep material shape , color , nutrition etc.
4 Simple operating. PLC touch screen control panel , can set up temperature, humidity in advance 
5 Low energy consumption. Heat pump system, can save 70% energy.

Other application areas of heat pump dehydrator food machine

Heat pumps can be used in many applications, in addition to drying vegetables can also be used in agriculture, industry, seafood, grain, herbal medicine, construction, paper products, condiments, mineral industry, etc.
1. Dried vegetables such as radish, lettuce, pumpkin, carrot, spinach, cassava, etc.
2. Fruits such as apples, lemons, mango slices, dried longan, dried longan, etc.
3. Dried meat such as sausage, beef, duck, ham, etc.
4. Others it can dry noodles/wooden/incense/herbs/floss etc.

2. continuous mesh belt food dehydrator machine

Mesh belt food dehydrator machines have a wide range of heat sources such as coal heating, gas heating, steam heating, biomass pellet heating or electric heating. It is a multi-layer continuous drying structure. When drying foods, just put the foods in the feeding port, and the foods will enter the dehydrator with the feeding conveyor for drying. Foods are dried and dehydrator layer by layer from top to bottom. The drying speed is fast and the production efficiency is high, which is very suitable for the drying and processing of large quantities of foods.

Components of continuous mesh belt food dehydrator machine

One set continuous mesh belt food dehydrator machine contains: homogenizer, feeding conveyor,dehydrator host, output conveyor, observation door, heat source, air intake system, control panel. The food dehydrator machine consists of 4 parts, namely the feed conveyor, the main machine of the mesh belt dehydrator, the heat source and the discharge conveyor. The reformer provides heat, and the through-flow mesh belt food dehydrator machien is the main body of the drying equipment, which consists of a cabinet and multi-layer conveyor belts; the electrical control system controls the start, operation and stop of the entire equipment. With the cooperation of other auxiliary components, the drying equipment completes the drying and discharging process of food, and realizes the drying process of food drying. 

The working principle of continuous mesh belt food dehydrator machine

Baixin food continuous mesh belt dehydrator machine is a continuous production drying equipment. The main heating methods are electric heating, steam heating and hot air heating. Its main working principle is to distribute the material evenly in the network. Through the operation of the machine, the food moves in the dehydrator machine, and the hot air extracts the water vapor of the food. So as to achieve the purpose of drying. The working temperature is 40-120 degrees Celsius. The drying cycle is 1-5 hours. Mainly used for agricultural and sideline products such as fruits and vegetables, Chinese herbal medicines, etc. The equipment is easy to operate, saves time, has a healthy drying process, and protects the environment.

Technical parameters of mesh belt food dehydrator machine

continuous mesh belt dehydration machine list
Model	operation temperature	drying time	thickness of the material	the size of motor	capacity	heat source	total power
BX-2*6M	40-120℃	0.5-5h	50-200mm	6*2*2.5	200-400kg/h	electricity	66.5kw
						natural gas/propane	12.22kw
						coal/wood chips	13.72kw
						steam	11.22kw
BX-2*9M				9*2*2.5	500-800kg/h	electricity	79.76kw
						natural gas/propane	20.12kw
						coal/wood chips	23.12kw
						steam	16.62kw
BX-2*12M				12*2*2.5	1000-1500kg/h	electricity	153.12kw
						natural gas/propane	33.12kw
						coal/wood chips	36.12kw
						steam	25.62kw
door in Color steel,baffle in Galvanized,the main frame in Carbon steel.

Other application areas of mesh belt food dehydrator machine

The mesh belt food dehydrator machine is of good quality, the inner and outer dehydrator machines are made of stainless steel or paint material. High temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, high strength, no rust, suitable for drying vegetables, but also suitable for large-scale continuous dehydrator and drying of food series, fruit series, pharmaceutical series, agricultural and sideline products.

3. microwave food dehydrator machine 

Components of food microwave dehydrator machine

A complete food microwave dehydrator machine includes: microwave chamber， water tower, PLC control panel, feeding part, conveyor, monitoring window.

Working principle of food microwave dehydrator machine

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves at a frequency of 300 MHz to 300 GHz.The material in the heating medium in the molecules of water is a polar molecule. It is the rapidly changing under high-frequency magnetic field, its polarity orientation will be with the change of external electric field changes, resulting in molecular motion and friction between the effect, this field of the microwave field can be transformed into thermal energy within the medium, the temperature of the food increased, heating and puffing a series of physical and chemical processes, to achieve the purpose of microwave heating and drying.
During the equipment is working the microwave generator produces the microwave. The material enter into the heating chamber by conveyor. At this time, moisture and bacteria inside the material evaporate under the action of microwave energy to achieve unfreeze sterilization ripening fixing drying purpose.

Technical parameters of food microwave dehydrator machine

Size	Power	Dewater	Cabinet	Feeding mesh width	Temperature	Controll
6300mm*665mm*1800mm	10KW	10kg/h	2	500mm	0~400℃	PLC
6300mm*950mm*1800mm	15KW	15kg/h	2	750mm	0~400℃	PLC
8500mm*1200mm*1800mm	20KW	20kg/h	4	500mm	0~400℃	PLC
8500mm*1500mm*1800mm	30KW	30kg/h	4	750mm	0~400℃	PLC
10500mm*1500mm*1800mm	40KW	40kg/h	6	750mm	0~400℃	PLC
10500mm*2000mm*1800mm	50KW	50kg/h	6	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
10500mm*2000mm*1800mm	60KW	60kg/h	6	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
12500mm*2000mm*1800mm	70KW	70kg/h	8	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
12500mm*2000mm*1800mm	80KW	80kg/h	8	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
14500mm*2000mm*1800mm	90KW	90kg/h	10	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
14500mm*2000mm*1800mm	100KW	100kg/h	10	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
16500mm*2000mm*1800mm	120KW	120kg/h	12	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
20000mm*2000mm*1800mm	150KW	150kg/h	16	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
20000mm*2000mm*1800mm	160KW	160kg/h	16	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
22000mm*2000mm*1800mm	180KW	180kg/h	18	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC
23400mm*2000mm*1800mm	200KW	200kg/h	20	1200mm	0~400℃	PLC

Advantages of microwave food dehydrator machine

1:Fast processing efficiency: 
It takes about a few minutes to complete the process from feeding to discharging. The processing efficiency is fast and the effect is good。
2:Uniform drying effect。
The microwave dryer can make all parts of the food have the same effect.
3:Drying and sterilizing simultaneously, tunnel type design, cover small area, continuous production，
4:Clean and sanitary: it will not pollute the food, nor change the color, fragrance, and nutritional content of the material.
Microwave dryers are used to dry food, medicinal materials, wood, building materials, cardboard or other materials.

Application of microwave food dehydrated machine

1.Food：vegetables，pickles,  jam，seafood and fruits.
2.Spices:chili powder, ginger powder, garlic powder, aniseed, cinnamon, angelica, cassia bark, fennel etc.
3.Grain and nuts:filbert ,peanut ,nut,almond ,pine nut ,pistachio nut ,melon seeds,grain
4.Worm:black soldier fly larva
5.Drying and sterilizing powder, granular, flakes or colloidal form foods.
6.A variety of small packaging and pet food mildew sterilization preservation.

4. All-in-one food dehydrator machine

The last food dehydrator machine is the all-in-one food dehydrator machine with the smallest yield.
The drying principle is the same as that of the food dehydrator room. The all-in-one food dehydrator machine is equipped with a cart with trays and tray racks. When drying foods, we put them in trays, put them on the tray racks of the cart, and then push them into the food drying chamber for drying.
The heat source of the food all-in-one dehydrator machien is air energy. The heat in the air is absorbed by the heat pump compressor. After compression and release, a large amount of high-temperature hot air can be obtained, so as to achieve continuous and uniform drying and processing of foods. The operation of this all-in-one drying unit is relatively simple, simply plug in and dry.

Components of all-in-one food dehydrator machine

One set all-in-one food dehydrator machine contains: power jack, water outlet,exhaust air outlet, supporting wheels, PLC controller pancl, door lock, observation window,circulating air inlet, outlet for hot and dry air, PP tray, stainless steel tray, supporting racks for trys. The food all-in-one dehydrator machine has compact structure, good energy-saving effect, wide application range, high drying quality, convenient operation, simple installation and disassembly. It is the best drying equipment for small businesses, drying experiments and scientific research. 

Technical parameters of all-in-one food dehydrator machine

All-in-one food dehydrator machine list
type	machine size(MM)	Capacity (KG)	power	total power（kw）	Qty of cart	Qty of tray	cart size(MM)	tray size(MM)
1P	1180×680×1800	50-80	1	1	—	15	—	600×800
3P	2100×930×2100	120-300	3.5	3.5	—	40/60	—	600×800
8P	4000×1960×2050	650-1000	8	8	8	232	600×800	600×800
The drying machine can be equipped according to the user's requirement and the production demands.

Advantages of all-in-one food dehydrator machine

1. Stainless steel 304 material. The whole machine uses stainless steel material, can work a long time, and keep better heat preservation, bottom have wheeler, can move easily.
2. Great energy saving. Heat pump system design, low energy consumption, can save 75% energy than traditional electricity element heating.
3. Wide application easy operation. Fit for wide application, seafood, fruit, food, spice, herbs, etc all can use it to dry.
4. Gentle drying. Temperature range 40-80°C, low temperature dehydrate processing can better keep material nutrition, during drying, no need to move the machine.

The above is a brief introduction and technical parameters of the four commercial food dehydrator machines of Baixin dehydrator machine company. The commercial dehydrator food machines produced by our company support customization. If you are interested in our dehydrator or want to know more about the commercial food dehydrator machines and its price. Please feel free to contact us, and we will get you a satisfactory answer and solution according to your requirements.

Food dehydrate process video：