# Food drying > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Food_drying > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Food_drying.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_drying > Source revision: 1348483796 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Method of food preservation This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Food drying" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Flattened [fish](/source/Fish) drying in the Sun in [Madagascar](/source/Madagascar). Fish are [preserved](/source/Food_preservation) through such traditional methods as drying, [smoking](/source/Smoking_(cooking)), and [salting](/source/Salting_(food)).[1] A whole potato, sliced pieces (right), and dried sliced pieces (left), 1943 **Food drying** is a method of [food preservation](/source/Food_preservation) in which food is [dried](/source/Drying) (dehydrated or [desiccated](/source/Desiccation)). Drying inhibits the growth of [bacteria](/source/Bacteria), [yeasts](/source/Yeast), and [mold](/source/Mold) through the removal of [water](/source/Water). Dehydration has been used widely for this purpose since ancient times; the earliest known practice is 12,000 B.C. by inhabitants of the modern Asian and Middle Eastern regions.[2] Water is traditionally removed through [evaporation](/source/Evaporation) by using methods such as air drying, sun drying, smoking or wind drying, although today electric [food dehydrators](/source/Food_dehydrator) or [freeze-drying](/source/Freeze-drying) can be used to speed the drying process and ensure more consistent results.[3] 1890 newspaper advertisement showing tin of dried coconut ## Food types A collection of dried mushrooms Sun-drying [octopus](/source/Octopus) Many different foods can be prepared by dehydration. Meat has held a historically significant role. For centuries, much of the European diet depended on dried [cod](/source/Cod)—known as [salt cod](/source/Dried_and_salted_cod), [bacalhau](/source/Bacalhau) (with salt), or [stockfish](/source/Stockfish) (without). It formed the main protein source for the [slaves](/source/Slavery) on the [West Indian](/source/West_Indies) plantations, and was a major economic force within the [triangular trade](/source/Triangular_trade). [Dried fish](/source/Dried_fish) most commonly cod or haddock, known as [Harðfiskur](/source/Har%C3%B0fiskur), is a delicacy in [Iceland](/source/Iceland), while dried [reindeer](/source/Reindeer) meat is a traditional [Sámi](/source/S%C3%A1mi_people) [food](/source/Food). Dried meats include [prosciutto](/source/Prosciutto) ([Parma ham](/source/Parma_ham)), [bresaola](/source/Bresaola), [biltong](/source/Biltong) and [beef jerky](/source/Beef_jerky). Dried fruits have been consumed historically due to their high sugar content and sweet taste, and a longer [shelf-life](/source/Shelf-life) from drying.[4] [Fruits](/source/Fruit) may be used and named differently when dried. The plum becomes a [prune](/source/Prune_(fruit)), the grape a [raisin](/source/Raisin). [Figs](/source/Ficus) and [dates](/source/Date_palm) may be transformed into different products that can either be eaten as they are, used in recipes, or rehydrated. Freeze-dried vegetables are often found in food for backpackers, hunters, and the military. [Garlic](/source/Garlic) and [onion](/source/Onion) are often dried and stored with their stalks [braided](/source/Braid#Onion_and_garlic). Edible mushrooms are sometimes dried for preservation or to be used as seasonings. ## Preparation Home drying of vegetables, fruit and meat can be carried out with electrical dehydrators (household appliance) or by sun-drying or by wind.[5] Preservatives such as [potassium metabisulfite](/source/Potassium_metabisulfite), [BHA](/source/Butylated_hydroxyanisole), or [BHT](/source/Butylated_hydroxytoluene) may be used, but are not required. However, dried products without these preservatives may require refrigeration or freezing to ensure safe storage for a long time. Industrial food dehydration is often accomplished by [freeze-drying](/source/Freeze-drying). In this case, food is [flash frozen](/source/Flash_freezing) and put into a reduced-pressure system which causes the water to [sublimate](/source/Sublimation_(chemistry)) directly from the solid to the gaseous phase. Although freeze-drying is more expensive than traditional dehydration techniques, it also mitigates the change in flavor, texture, and [nutritional value](/source/Nutritional_rating_systems). In addition, another widely used industrial method of drying of food is convective hot air drying. Industrial hot air dryers are simple and easy to design, construct and maintain. More so, it is very affordable and has been reported to retain most of the nutritional properties of food if dried using appropriate drying conditions.[6] [Hurdle technology](/source/Hurdle_technology) is the combination of multiple food preservation methods. Hurdle technology uses low doses of multiple food preservation techniques in order to ensure food is not only safe but is desirable visually and texturally. ## Packaging Packaging ensures effective food preservation. Some methods of packaging that are beneficial to dehydrated food are vacuum sealed, inert gases, or gases that help regulate respiration, biological organisms, and growth of [microorganisms](/source/Microorganism).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Other methods This electric [food dehydrator](/source/Food_dehydrator), shown drying mango and papaya slices, has a hot air blower that blows air through food-laden trays. There are many different methods for drying,[7] each with its own advantages for particular applications. These include: - [Convection drying](/source/Convection) - [Bed dryers](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bed_dryer&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Drum drying](/source/Drum_drying) - [Freeze drying](/source/Freeze_drying) - [Microwave-vacuum drying](/source/Microwave_vacuum_drying)[7] - [Refractance window drying](/source/Refractance_window_drying) - [Shelf dryers](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shelf_dryer&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Spray drying](/source/Spray_drying) - [Infrared radiation drying](/source/Infrared)[7] - [Combined thermal hybrid drying](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combined_thermal_hybrid_drying&action=edit&redlink=1)[8] - [Sunlight](/source/Sunlight) - Commercial [food dehydrators](/source/Food_dehydrator) - Household [oven](/source/Oven) ## See also - [Food portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Food) - [Bouillon cube](/source/Bouillon_cube) - [Curing](/source/Curing_(food_preservation)) - [Dried fruit](/source/Dried_fruit) - [Instant noodles](/source/Instant_noodles) - [Instant soup](/source/Instant_soup) - [List of dried foods](/source/List_of_dried_foods) - [List of smoked foods](/source/List_of_smoked_foods) - [Meat extract](/source/Meat_extract) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-smoke_1-0)** Grandidier (1899), p. 521 1. **[^](#cite_ref-uog_2-0)** ["Historical Origins of Food Preservation".](http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets/food_pres_hist.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111015194629/http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets/food_pres_hist.html) 2011-10-15 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Accessed June 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Rahman, M. Shafiur, ed. (2007). *Handbook of Food Preservation* (2nd ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781420017373](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781420017373). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Trager, James (1997). *The Food Chronology: A Food Lover's Compendium of Events and Anecdotes from Prehistory to the Present*. Henry Holt. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0805052473](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0805052473). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Food Dehydrator reviews"](http://dehydratorjudge.com/). www.dehydratorjudge.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Onwude, Daniel I.; Hashim, Norhashila; Janius, Rimfiel B.; Nawi, Nazmi Mat; Abdan, Khalina (2016-02-04). ["Modeling the thin-layer drying of fruits and vegetables: A review"](http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15197/1/Modeling%20the%20thin%E2%80%90layer%20drying%20of%20fruits%20and%20vegetables%20a%20review.pdf) (PDF). *Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety*. **15** (3): 599–618. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/1541-4337.12196](https://doi.org/10.1111%2F1541-4337.12196). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [33401820](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33401820). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-si_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-si_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-si_7-2) Si X, Chen Q, Bi J, Wu X, Yi J, Zhou L, Li Z (2016). "Comparison of different drying methods on the physical properties, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of raspberry powders". *J Sci Food Agric*. **96** (6): 2055–62. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2016JSFA...96.2055S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016JSFA...96.2055S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/jsfa.7317](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fjsfa.7317). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [26108354](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26108354). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Onwude, Daniel I.; Hashim, Norhashila; Chen, Guangnan (2016-10-30). ["Recent advances of novel thermal combined hot air drying of agricultural crops"](https://zenodo.org/record/895601). *Trends in Food Science & Technology*. **57** (A): 132–145. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.tifs.2016.09.012](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.tifs.2016.09.012). Retrieved 2017-03-25. - Mendonca, Aubrey F., and Norman N. Potter. "Food Preservation." AccessScience, McGraw-Hill Education, 2016. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Food drying](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Food_drying). - [National Center for Home Food Preservation, drying section](http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry.html) v t e Food preservation Biopreservation Burying in ground Canning Cold chain Curing Drying Fermentation Freeze-drying Freezing Hurdle technology Irradiation Jamming Jellying Jugging Modified atmosphere Pascalization Pickling Potting Confit Potjevleesch Rillettes Salting Smoking Sugaring Tyndallization Vacuum packing Food portal Category: Food preservation Authority control databases National United States Japan Czech Republic Israel Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Food drying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_drying) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_drying?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.