Sun Drying or Dehydrating to Preserve Foods

Another good way to preserve foods if they are not going to be used immediately, is to sun dry or dehydrate them . Use just the trays of the dehydrator, not the heater. One can be purchased cheaply at a yard sale. Use solar rays to heat and the wind to dry whenever possible.

Many dehydrated foods have a shelf life of several years, about 5-10 years. They can be vacuum sealed, labeled and date for future use. This makes for easy storage. They can also be stored in jars or tins. They should be stored in a cool dry place.

Dried fruits have the least shelf life of 2-5 years depending on the environment it is stored. Always check the food for spoilage and the package for leaks before using it to be sure it is okay.