Dehydrating – A frugal & zero waste pantry

Did you know that dehydrating is the oldest method of food preservation? Dried fruits, spices, herbs, teas, vegetable chips, jerky and soup mixes are all made using this age-old technique, and can easily be made at home for a fraction of the store-bought price (especially if you grow your own!).

Maybe you have too much basil, were gifted some lemons that you don’t have time to use, or know a fussy eater who doesn’t like veggies. Dehydrating can be used to solve all of these problems by preserving goods for seasons to come, producing foods that add a new dimension to meals, and by creating products that add hidden goodness to dishes. Homegrown and homemade treats also make great, personal gifts, that are also zero waste.

But don’t worry if you don’t own a dehydrator, all of the techniques discussed can be replicated using an oven.