Drying is a great way to preserve foods, but only if you do it right. Here are several tips to ensure safe storage of your home-dried foods:
- Do not package dried foods for storage until they are completely cool to the touch
- Dried fruits must be conditioned before they can be stored. Refer to How to Dry Fruits and Vegetables with a Dehydrator for complete instructions.
- Store dried foods in air-tight containers or freezer bags
- If using freezer bags, remove all air from the bag before sealing
- Store sulfured fruit in non-metal containers
- Store dried foods in small batches to maintain freshness, and to minimize the risk for contamination
- Store containers in a cool, dry and dark location. 60 degrees (or less) is best
- Dried fruits and herbs can be stored for up to a year
- Dried vegetables and meats can be stored for up to six months
- Store dried foods in the freezer, if you'd like to use them over a longer period of time
- To preserve freshness, store opened containers of dried foods in the refrigerator or freezer
- Inspect all dried foods before eating them, and discard anything with mold
- If condensation appears inside one of the containers of your home-dried food, it needs to be dried again
