What can I dry and how do I dry it?

The following table (below) lists food items we have dried, along with notes about how to do it and how to use the dried food afterwards. To date, this information is from using a direct dryer.

Some general notes to follow for all foods:

• Don't try to dry  produce that is damaged, spoiling, or overripe.  If in doubt, don't use that food for drying

• Maintain cleanliness when peeling and preparing the food.  Use clean water for washing and rinse well after using soap.

• Observe the weather and apply your knowledge of the local climate before preparing the food.  If it looks like it will be cloudy or rainy all day, it may be best to delay drying food until the conditions are better.  Even if it takes more than one day  to dry the food, getting even a half a day of good drying will make it more likely the food can sit in the dryer overnight without developing mold, so it is best to start early in the day.

• Food can be spread densely on the trays, but pieces should not overlap  each other.  In the Tanga experience, 1 to 1.5 kg of wet fruit, like mango can be put on one 36 cm x 79 cm tray.

• To the extent possible, keep the pieces of food to about the same thickness.  This will avoid having some pieces get over dry when other pieces are still too wet.

• See the "How Dry is Dry Enough" page for guidance on  how much to dry the food.  The general guideline from the UC Davis manual is that thicker fruits and vegetables should feel pliable like leather (leathery) and leaves should be brittle.  Seeds and. grains should be dry enough that they  shatter when crushed.  Leaves should be "crispy" but also make sure the stems are dry

• Wash the trays and materials in contact with the food before staring to dry another batch.

• If you do see some mold on food in the dryer remove and discard it.  Look for signs of mold on the rest of the food,also.

• "Shelf life", or how long the food can be stored, is not precisely determined.  The  UC Davis manual says food can be stored 6 months to a year.  The food should be kept dry in a sealed container or plastic bag.

The table is in a Google Doc, and depending on your browser and device it may  not scroll past the first page..  To see the whole document follow this link.