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Vegetable Dehydrating – How to Dry Vegetables for Storage

Vegetable dehydrating is an easy way to store vegetables for long term use. During harvest season, my dehydrators live on my kitchen counter. Herbs, greens, fruits, veggies – everything gets dried and neatly tucked away for use year round. This post covers basic instructions for vegetable dehydrating to help you dry vegetables safely at home.

Vegetable Dehydrating is a great way to store veggies in less space with minimal equipment. Post includes printable chart with prep steps & drying times.

Vegetable Dehydrating – Why Dry Veggies for Food Storage?

  1. Space Saving – Because vegetables have so much water, they shrink dramatically during dehydrating. If you're tight on storage space, dehydrating is a great fit.
  2. No electricity required for storage – Once processed, dehydrated vegetables require no refrigeration or freezing.
  3. Lightweight – Since most of the water is gone, dried vegetables are lightweight, making them handy for camping or emergency preps.
  4. Minimal equipment required – I like commercial dehydration machines, especially in our humid climate, but folks also dry successfully with solar dehydrators or homemade drying racks. This non-electric 3 tray covered drying rack can be hung near a wood stove or other well-ventilated area for dehydrating.

Note: If using solar or air drying, drying times will likely be longer than those specified below. Turn food daily, protect from bugs and maintain good air circulation until food tests dry. For guidelines on drying foods using an oven, see “Home Food Drying – 6 Things You Need to Know to Dehydrate Food at Home“.

Excalibur 9 Tray Dehydrator

Snackmaster Food Dehydrator

Solar Drying – The Sun Oven can be used as a food dehydrator as well as an oven.

See a more extensive list of kitchen tools for dehydrating in the post “Home Food Drying – 6 Things You Need to Know to Dehydrate Food at Home“.

For a full dehydrating course, please visit Traditional Cooking School. In this course you'll learn how to quickly and easily dehydrate your own traditional foods for long-term storage, summer-fresh flavors, good health and freedom from energy dependence whether you’re on the camping trail or in your own kitchen… The Dehydrating eBook & Video Package (retail $64 – sale $20) contains: the Dehydrating eBook, 5 Dehydrating Master Class Videos, Lacto-­Fermented Beverages eBooklet, and bonus printable worksheets!



Prepping Your Veggies for Drying

For dehydrating vegetables, set your electric dehydrator to 140°F (60°C). Remember, thinly sliced veggies will dry faster, and if you get all the pieces roughly the same size, they will dry in roughly the same amount of time.

Most vegetables should undergo a pretreatment, such as blanching or dipping, before dehydrating. Why? They dry faster and last longer. If I'm going to spend weeks growing beautiful veggies, I can take a few more minutes to dry them correctly.

Blanching
is briefly precooking food in boiling water or steam. It stops enzymatic reactions within the foods, which slows down decomposition. Blanching shortens drying time (skins are softer so water gets out easier) and kills many spoilage organisms.

Steps for steam blanching (fruit and vegetables):

Adapted from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

  • Use a steamer or a deep pot with a tight-fitting lid that contains a wire basket or could fit a colander or sieve so steam can circulate around the vegetables.
  • Add several inches of water to the steamer or pot and bring to a rolling boil.
  • Loosely place vegetables into the basket, no more than 2 inches deep.
  • Place basket into pot (vegetables should not make contact with water).
  • Cover and steam until vegetables for the recommended time (Table 2).
  • Remove basket or colander and place in cold water to stop cooking.
  • Drain and place vegetables on drying tray.

Steps for water blanching (vegetables only):

  • Use a blancher or a deep pot with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Fill the pot two-thirds full with water, cover, and bring to a rolling boil.
  • Place vegetables into a wire basket and submerge them into the boiling water for the recommended time (see table below).
  • Remove vegetables and place in cold water to stop cooking.
  • Drain and place vegetables on drying tray.
Blanching and Drying Times for Vegetables

Download the Printable PDF version of the chart here

Note: Although not listed in the chart, I do blanch all cabbage family crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, etc.) for 2 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Vegetable Dehydrating is a great way to store veggies in less space with minimal equipment. Post includes printable chart with prep steps & drying times.

How do I Know my Vegetables are Done Dehydrating?

Up to 90% or more of the moisture is removed from vegetables when they are fully dry. They should snap/break cleanly, and be brittle. This may take longer than listed times, depending on the humidity levels.

Quick dryness check: Put your dehydrated vegetables in a mason jar, put a lid on and wait for a day. There should be no condensation on the underside of the lid. If you see condensation, put them back in the dehydrator. You might also want to cut any thicker chunks into smaller pieces.

If you want to be extra sure, you can buy a hygrometer that fits on top of a mason jar like a lid, the Hygrolid. My preferred storage method for dehydrated vegetables is vacuum sealed in mason jars. You can also use plastic zipper bags for short term storage, or Mylar pouches with oxygen absorbers for longer storage. However you store your dehydrated vegetables, keep them away from moisture as much as possible.

Vegetable Dehydrating is a great way to store veggies in less space with minimal equipment. Post includes printable chart with prep steps & drying times.

You may also find useful:

Originally posted in 2014, updated in 2022.

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93 Comments

  1. My family says I suffer from OCD…OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DEHYDRATING LOLOL…I dehydrate almost everything….somethings I would not waste my time/electricity doing again….but all in all….I try everything…also have a vac sealer but love to store alot of my bounty in 1/2 gallon mason canning jars….they are pretty…I do however, dry about 50 pounds of onions every year….use them alot and give away some…..not alot…of my dehydrated foods…favorites: PEEPS after the holidays when they are cheap…drying them actually changes the “DNA” of the peep….as does marshmallows…mini ones of course…strangest favorite? SPAM…alot of different flavors…cut in thin sticks…grand kids beg for them!

  2. I would start with my most used dehydrated items that I currently buy: Onions, Carrots, Celery, chopped beef. This would save me tons of money each year!

  3. It would be a tremendous blessing to our household to win this dehydrator!
    It’s an item that we could never afford for ourselves and the harvest season is upon us.
    God bless

  4. Always wanted to try to dehydrate foods. This would be great for my huge garden to experiment on veg combinations with dried meats and fruits. Keeping my fingers crossed.

  5. I can make yogurt, sprouted grains, toast nuts, make jerky, fruit leather, and so many other wonderful things!

  6. I raise almost all of our own food, & a GOOD dehydrator would make my life so much easier than using the 2 cheapo, small ones we have, doing just a little at a time. 🙂

  7. I would use it to save my life. I am diabetic and meds aren’t working for me so I decided, after watching several movies like Vegucated, that I would go on a raw food diet in hopes of getting my diabetes under control.

  8. I would try drying tomatoes, I have a friend that dries even the cherry tomato cut in half, she says they are wonderful! But being that Monday the 18th is my 65 birthday and I’m recovering from a total knee transplant, I’ll end up with my 87 yr old mom and I having BLT’s made with a Cherokee Purple Heirloom tomato that I have been waiting to pick, the second of the year, but have at least 15 more on the vine and babies hiding under the leaves. My old Presto dehydrator bit the dust last year, I’ve been asking for a new one, this is way out of my budget, so I hope I’m lucky!!

  9. I want to stew some okra, strain it, dehydrate it, and powder it to use as thickener in cooking! I just learned about it and am dying to try it. Thanks for the opportunity!

  10. The first thing I always dry according to the beginning of our growing season is Garlic. I peel & slice the garlic cloves & once dried I store them in a canning jar. As needed I grind for recipes & the garlic powder is so much more potent than what you can buy. :~)

  11. If I would be able to win the dehydrator, I would first have to dry my tears. I have wanted and needed a dehydrator for years but unable to purchase one due to the cost of a good quality one. Then, I would dehydrate anything ripe in the garden. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

  12. I will start with all my home grown herbs! And then anything else I can get my hands on! Next year I will have a garden and start with all I can there! I am just so excited!

  13. I would probably dry some of the herbs we have growing in our garden, that way I could get the “knack” for this awesome product before venturing into bigger items like tomatoes, red beets, and any & all fruits!! Oh, can not forget jerky for hubby too! Thank you for this great opportunity!

  14. I would love to win the dehydrator. But in the meantime I need to check out pintrest. Seems everyone does this now. I am so far behind the times.

  15. I would start with herbs from my garden and then do some fruits and veggies! Would like to learn how to dehydrate meats to make jerky.

  16. I love kale chips, but probably would dry whatever I have because the garden fairies have been very generous this summer and my freezer is nearly full. Thank you for offering this give away.

  17. I would finish off my basil and then move on to learning how to do chicken stock – it would save so much space!

  18. If my name is chosen I would really like to make beef jerky. I won’t buy it for my husband because of all the junk in it, but he loves it, so it would be a great treat.

  19. I would do my herbs this time of year but when the peaches come next year I would do some of those. We had a really good harvest of peaches and blueberries. Yum!!

  20. I have herbs that I dry in the oven. I also do deer, elk and some bear jerky. Also my strawberries are too many this year and need to be dried. I would love to have one of these machines. Oven make it so hot in my tiny kitchen. Love your recipes

  21. I would dehydrate my herbs, tomatoes, #2 peaches and apples I get from local orchards. I love dehydrating foods! I would pass on my little 30.$ dehydrator to my daughter who is getting married soon.

  22. I’ve never tried this method of preserving, but I’d like to try it. Especially on things for making soupl

  23. I would love to add this to my preserving inventory of goodies. There are so many things that can be dehydrated.

  24. I growing plantain, lavender, lemon balm, peppermint and sage. I would like to dry all of these and some kale that will come up later.

  25. So far my stevia, french lavender, basil, and thyme would go in. I’d get more serious about the medicinal plants (elder, yarrow, calendula, etc.) that I’m looking for!

  26. I would dehydrate my turnip, mustard and kale greens! Then I would go after my elderberries, mulberries and then my all of my herbs too! I really need this one that can handle such a variety of items and thank you for the opportunity. I have about 20 herbs on my property and I hand dry them in small batches in the attic now. What a joy to have an Exclaibur!

  27. Dried tomatoes would be a must as would jerky from all types of meats and seafoods. I also dry ingredients for ethnic cuisines; asian, mexican, middle eastern etc. Another must would be herbage!! I would definitely put it to good use.

  28. I would dehydrate whatever I have in the garden ready to process. I want to try some cucumber chips and see if they are good. The peaches are ready and would be good dehydrate as well as cantaloupe.

  29. I would dehydrate mushrooms first…. have several winter soups recipes that assorted dried mushrooms would be perfect for… Last summer I dried plums and peaches for the first time and have been saving tips and “recipes” so I can start dehyrdating a bigger assortment of foods and the Excalibur Dehydrator will the perfect ticket!

  30. Elderberries and rosehips, they’re abundantly wild around our property! We’re new with continuous kombucha brewing and those elderberries and rosehips will surely add excellent boost in nutrients to our kombucha drink, not just flavor. Would love to dehydrate anything in abundance that otherwise wont have space in our freezer. So pick me, thanks a lot! 🙂

    1. Wonderful fruits, and you are so blessed to have them on your property.
      D remember with exceptionally therapeutic and delicious herbs that some will be toxic in their raw form, a protection from excessive predation. Elderberries must be thoroughly cooked before consumption or they may case notable digestive discomfort. I have never bought the dried commercial berries, but I suspect they include the same precaution Laurie published a superb article about prepping rose hips to avoid discomfort from the prickly hairs inside them. Honeyberries must be thoroughly cooked. Hawthorne berries must be pittted before or after cooking due to issues with toxicity (the pits are said to pass through chickens with no consequences, but a crushed pit will do harm. Herbs care often potent because the are on the wild side of Nature!!

  31. I would have to learn and play with the dehydrator because I have never had one!! This is absolutely awesome that you are offering this dehydrator!! I am new to your site and new to canning and dehydrating!!! I am absolutely excited about trying to eat healthy and preserve food. I am totally new to this but I am trying to include my husband and children (as much as they would like) in this process. It is expensive to try to buy everything at once though!! Thank you for the chance to win this dehydrator!!

    1. I invested in one (same size, without the timer) a couple of year ago, and it has been great during harvest season when large amounts of produce start coming in. I load it up before bedtime and empty it in the morning.

  32. I would make kale chips for my husband, they are one of the few healthy snacks he actually likes. I’m would also LOVE to make homemade fruit leather. We’ve been wanting one of these dehydrators for years, they are just a little too pricey for us. Thanks for the chance to win one 🙂

  33. I am drying calendula right now for soap, I’d use it for herbs, tomatoes, and whatever else tickled my fancy 🙂

  34. I would probably play with it first…. go buy bananas and berries and make snacks. Then I may get serious and dry some things for my food pantry.