Why Should I Dry?

Drying is an alternative form of preservation.  Because of the process of gentle drying with the EZIDRI, an extremely high percentage of nutrients is retained compared to other forms of preserving.  It is a natural process involving no additives, such as preservatives, sugars or salts. Stored in ideal conditions (i.e., in a cool, dark, dry place) or the freezer as the produce does not freeze-up as such, as there is less than 2% moisture. The produce  has a long shelf-life and has the advantage of reducing the produce by up to 90% of its original volume.  It should be remembered that if the dried food is stored in a refrigerator or freezer, there will be no detrimental effect if the electricity is turned off for any length of time.

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How do the Driers Work?

There is a fan in the base of the unit which both sucks and blows air.  It sucks the air in through the base and the air is then blown across the element which heats the air to the temperature you have selected.  The warm air is blown up the sides of the tray and is then forced across each tray (when the lid is on) before being blown up through the middle of the unit and out through the top.  The design is such that the air that goes across any one tray is clean air thus avoiding any tainting or cross-flavouring onto the other trays. All trays and sheets are made of ABS food-safe plastic which emits no harmful fumes.  Safety is a major consideration in the design. It is impossible to put fingers into any of the working parts in the base and the unit never gets hot enough to be untouchable.

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How Long Does Drying Take?

There are many factors involved with drying times that it is difficult to give anything but an estimate. It depends very much on the products that you are drying, the thickness of the slices, the moisture content of the food and the humidity of the air, but the majority of produce takes approximately 10 to 14 hours. Some products (e.g., apricot halves, grapes or blueberries) will require longer.

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How do I Know when Food is Dry?

Various products will have different characteristics in their feel and pliability.  The usual test is to bend the product in half and squeeze it at the facture.  Should beads of moisture appear, the product is not sufficiently dry.  However after only a few sessions of drying you will be able to judge the dryness quite easily.  Trays can be lifted apart during the cycle to monitor drying progress but do not turn the unit off during the cycle as the partly dried produce will begin to re-hydrate.

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What is the storage Life of Dried Goods?

This depends to a certain extent on the produce that you have dried.  However, experience has shown that normal shelf-life where it is not too warm or exposed to light is approximately 12 months, although under ideal conditions this time can be extended to two to three years.

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