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Farm Kitchen:  Solar food drying??  |
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 16 2015 : 10:36:46 AM
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Has anyone here done any of this? Do you have some hints or recipes?
I have used an electric dehydrator, for fruit in the past, but want to go solar this year. Overwhelmed with the current heirloom tomato seed varieties, bought too many, and hoping to have lots of tomatoes to dry, can and freeze.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
7483 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
7483 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2015 : 11:15:32 AM
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The only solar drying I have done is herbs dried outside under a fine screen. The temperature was a little over 100. Harvested in the morning - dried by late evening. Someday I would like to try sun-dried tomatoes.
A friend dried tomatoes on the top of her shed under a screen. Tomatoes were placed on large trays covered with parchment paper. Don't know time or temperature.
Sara
Walk in Peace - Live with Joy
FarmGirl Sister #6034 Aug 25, 2014 |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2015 : 1:56:11 PM
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I've done what Sara explained.
For drying outside, I've built a stand with several trays. It's kind of like a huge version of the square countertop dehydrators that have trays. The screened trays are actually screen doors turned on their sides. For herbs and leafy foods, I stack the trays in my stand with a few inches of space between them for air flow. If the day is windy, then I stick them on top of each other to prevent the items from blowing away.
For foods with water content, like tomatoes or bell peppers, I lay the foods on one tray and cover with another tray to keep bugs from getting on the food. I do not put any food on the top tray so that it gets air flow.
You're not that far away from where I am. So, you have the same weather as I do. I think you'll enjoy sun drying and be successful at it.
Note: for the leafy items, any kind of screen will do whether it's metal or nylon. But, for things like tomatoes, I find the nylon works better because the acids don't react with it.
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
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Farm Kitchen: Solar food drying?? |
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Solar food drying??
