Commercial Dehydration Flashcards
What are the three methods of commercial dehydration?
Fluidised bed drying
Accelerated freeze drying
Sun drying
Describe fluidised bed drying.
3 points
Food is subjected to a blast of hot air from underneath a perforated sheet
The hot air circulates around the food which dehydrates it
Food is continuously moved so it does not stick together
How long does it take for fluidised bed drying to dehydrate food?
20 to 40 minutes
What foods are suitable for fluidised bed drying?
Fruit
Vegetables
Flat pieces of meat
Describe accelerated freeze drying.
3 points
Food id initially frozen at very low temperatures to form small ice crystals
The ice crystals are then evaporated from food in a vacuum chamber by sublimation
This produces a dried, lightweight product
How long does it take for accelerated freeze drying to dehydrate food?
9-24 hours
What foods can be dehydrated by accelerated freeze drying?
Coffee Soup Meat Fruit Vegetables
Describe sun drying
Food is exposed to direct sunlight in hot climates which evaporates water from the food
What foods are suitable for sun drying?
Tomatoes
Figs
Peppers
