The Vegetable Garden: Guidelines for Drying Veggies
The times in this chart should be used as guidelines only. Actual Drying time depends on numerous factors including the type of drying method used, the quantity of food being dried, etc. For Reference sake only, the times listed below are based on a Food dehydrator running at 120·-140·F
Vegetable | Preparation | Blanching method | Blanching time minutes | Drying method | Drying time in Hours | Indication of dryness |
Asparagus* | Cut into ½” pieces | steam water | 4-5 3½-4½ | Dehydrator or Oven | 10 | Brittle |
Beans, green | Cut in short pieces or lengthwise | steam water | 2-2½ 2 | Dehydrator or Oven | 14 | Brittle |
beets | Cook as usual; cool; peel, cut in ¼” slices. | No blanching required | No blanching required | Dehydrator or Oven | 12 | Tough; leathery |
Broccoli* | Trim; slice stalks lengthwise no more than ½” thick | steam water | 3-3½ 2 | Dehydrator or Oven | 10 | Brittle |
Brussel Sprouts | Cut in half lengthwise | steam water | 6-7 4-5 | Dehydrator or Oven | 24 | Hard to Brittle |
Cabbage | Remove outer leaves; quarter and core. Cut in 1/8″ slices. | steam water | 2 | Dehydrator or Oven | 10 | Tough to Brittle |
Carrots | Cut off roots and tops. Peel; cut in 1/8″ slices. | steam water | 3½ | Dehydrator or Oven | 18 | Tough to Brittle |
Cauliflower* | Break into small floweret’s. | steam water | 4 | Dehydrator or Oven | 16 | Tough to Brittle |
Celery | Trim stalks and cut in ¼” slices. | steam water | 2 | Dehydrator or Oven | 18 | Crisp; Brittle |
Corn | Cut kernels from cob after blanching | steam water | 2 | Dehydrator solar oven | 12 3 days | Brittle; crunchy |
Eggplant | Trim and cut into ¼” slices | steam water | 3 | Dehydrator or Oven | 24 | Brittle |
Mushrooms | Remove any tough and woody stems. Trim 1/8″ off stems. Slice. | No blanching required | No blanching required | Dehydrator or Oven | 16 | Tough; leathery |
Okra | Trim and slice crosswise in 1/8″ to ¼” slices. | No blanching required | No blanching required | Dehydrator or Oven | 11 | Tough to brittle |
Onions | Remove outer skin, top, and root end. in 1/8″ to ¼” slices. | No blanching required | No blanching required | Dehydrator or Oven | 20 | Brittle and papery |
Peas | Shell | steam water | 3 | Dehydrator Solar Oven | 17 3 days | Wrinkled and hard |
Peppers, green or red | Stem and core. Cut crosswise into in ¼” circles or ¼” strips. | No blanching required | No blanching required | Dehydrator or Oven | 12 | Flexible; dry to the touch |
Parsnips (see carrots) | (see carrots) | (see carrots) | (see carrots) | (see carrots) | (see carrots) | (see carrots) |
Potatoes | Peel. Cut in 1/8″ slices or ¼” strips | steam water | 7 | Dehydrator or Oven | 12 | Brittle |
Spinach and collard greens | Trim | steam water | 2 | Dehydrator or Oven | 15 | Brittle |
Summer squash | Trim and cut into ¼” slices | steam water | 2 | Dehydrator or Oven | 12 | Brittle |
winter squash | Peel and cut into 2 to 4-inch pieces ¼” thick | steam water | 2 | Dehydrator or Oven | 18 | Crisp; hard |
Tomatoes Roma or other small pear-shaped | Cut in ¼” slices Cut in half lengthwise | No blanching required | No blanching required | Dehydrator or Oven Dehydrator or Oven | 26 30 | Tough; leathery |
*These vegetables do not re-hydrate well.
Source: https://www.logicsouth.com/%7Elcoble/jg/dehydra/dryveg.html
This is so great, I bought fresh celery today and wanted to dry it. I can’t wait to give it a go!!!