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FOOD SAFETY TIPS
Marinating meats helps with the flavor and texture of jerky. Do not marinate meat
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longer than recipe or package directions call for.
TIP: Post treatment of meat after dehydrating may result in a more desirable jerky texture.
Try each treatment to determine which jerky you like best.
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Visit www.usda.gov for any questions on meat and food safety.
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Never dehydrate meats with fruits and vegetables, due to cross-contamination of foods.
Meats dry at a different temperature from fruits or vegetables.
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All dehydrated foods must be cooled completely before storing.
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For food safety, complete the food drying process. Do not start and stop the process
for longer than 5 minutes. You may pause the process to check on the food's dryness
or to remove dehydrated pieces.
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Label and date all containers of dried foods.
DEHYDRATING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
A. Food Preparation
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Always wash hands before starting food preparation.
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Wash all fruits and vegetables before preparation.
Choose fruits and vegetables that are in season for the best flavor.
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Discard any fruits and vegetables that have bruises or mold.
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Cut foods the same thickness, size, or shape before drying to ensure even drying.
Some foods, like garlic, onions, cauliflower, and broccoli, have a strong smell when
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drying.
B. Pretreatment
Some fruits and vegetables require pretreatment before drying. Blanch or add color
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protectors to preserve natural color.
How to Blanch
Blanching is recommended for some vegetables to help prevent color and flavor
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loss during drying and storage. Blanching is used to break the skins on some fruits
to help shorten the drying process.
Bring a large stockpot filled with cold water to a rolling boil.
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Place cleaned fruits or vegetables in a strainer with a handle.
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Dip strainer into the boiling water for the recommended time.
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Make sure that all the fruits or vegetables are covered with water for even
blanching.
After blanching is complete, plunge into a large bowl filled with ice water to stop
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the blanching process.
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Drain and completely pat dry the fruits or vegetables before dehydrating.
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