Food drying facts for kids

A collection of dried mushrooms

Food drying is a super old way to keep food from spoiling. It works by taking all the water out of the food. When food is dry, tiny living things like bacteria and fungi can't grow on it. These tiny creatures need water to live and make food go bad. So, removing water helps food stay fresh for a long time!

This method of saving food has been used for thousands of years. People in the Middle East and Asia were drying food as early as 12,000 BC. That's even before writing was invented!

Water is usually removed by letting the food dry in the air or sun. Sometimes, smoke is also used. Today, there are many different ways to dry food.

Lots of different foods can be kept fresh by drying. Things like meat and fish are often dried. Other old ways to preserve them include smoking and salting.

How Food Drying Works

Drying food is a simple but clever process. It removes the water that tiny organisms need to grow. These organisms, like bacteria and fungi, cause food to spoil. Without water, they can't multiply or make the food go bad.

Traditional Drying Methods

For thousands of years, people used natural ways to dry food.

• Sun Drying: Food is spread out in the sun. The sun's heat and the moving air slowly remove the water. This method is still popular in many warm, sunny places.
• Air Drying: Food can be hung up in a dry, airy place. The air takes away the moisture over time.
• Smoke Drying: Food is placed near a fire, where the smoke helps dry it. The smoke also adds flavor and can help keep pests away.

Modern Drying Methods

Today, we have more advanced ways to dry food.

• Food Dehydrators: These are electric machines that blow warm, dry air over food. They have trays where you can place slices of fruit, vegetables, or meat.
• Freeze-Drying: This is a special method where food is frozen first. Then, it's placed in a vacuum chamber. The ice turns directly into vapor, leaving the food dry and light. This method keeps a lot of the food's original taste and nutrients.
• Oven Drying: You can also dry some foods in a regular oven set to a very low temperature.

Foods You Can Dry

Many different types of food can be dried.

• Fruits: Popular dried fruits include raisins (dried grapes), apricots, apples, mangoes, and cranberries. They make great snacks.
• Vegetables: Onions, carrots, potatoes, and herbs can be dried. Dried vegetables are often used in soups or stews.
• Meats: Jerky is a common dried meat snack. Fish is also often dried, especially in coastal areas.
• Mushrooms: Dried mushrooms are popular in many cuisines. They regain their texture and flavor when soaked in water.

Drying food is a great way to store food for a long time. It helps reduce food waste and makes it easier to carry food on trips.

Images for kids

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  Flattened fish drying in the sun in Madagascar. Fish are preserved through such traditional methods as drying, smoking and salting.

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  A whole potato, sliced pieces (right), and dried sliced pieces (left), 1943.

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  1890 newspaper advertisement showing tin of dried coconut

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  Sun-drying octopus

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  This electric food dehydrator has a hot air blower that blows air through trays with foods on them. Pictured are mango and papaya slices being dried.