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How to Dehydrate Vegetables

Thanks for wanting to learn how to dehydrate vegetables. Listed below are our top choices.

Click an image and read all about that individual vegetable and how to dehydrate it properly.

Whether the vegetables are fresh from the grocery store or straight from your garden—it's an easy and convenient way to preserve your harvest, or simply to have healthy snacks on hand—all year round.

What Is Dehydrating For?

Dehydration is a method of food preservation that removes water from the food, thereby inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Dehydration has been used for centuries to preserve food.

Fruits and vegetables are naturally dehydrated when they are dried in the sun or air. Commercially dehydrated foods are often freeze-dried or dried in electric dehydrators.

It's a simple process that can be done with or without a dehydrator. If you plan to store your dried foods for any length of time, I highly recommend the Excalibur dehydrator and the Nesco brand, too. Air circulation is important and both these brands do an excellent job of drying food.

They will remove more moisture from the food than simple air-drying and help to preserve it for a longer period. My Excalibur dehydrator is square and the Nesco is round. Both work equally well, whatever shape they are.

How to Dehydrate Vegetables - 3 Ways

Three methods can be used to dehydrate vegetables: air drying, solar drying, and using a dehydrator.

Air Drying: This is the oldest and most traditional method of drying foods. They can be air-dried indoors or outdoors, depending on the climate and time of year.

Solar Drying: Solar drying is a great way to dehydrate food if you live in a warm, dry climate. Solar dryers can be purchased or made at home.

Dehydrator: These are electric appliances that are specifically designed for drying foods. They come in a variety of sizes and types, so it is important to choose one that will fit your needs.

Can You Dehydrate Frozen Vegetables,
like Green Beans?

Yes! Green beans are a great choice! It is often easier to dehydrate the frozen variety than fresh ones.

Frozen vegetables are already blanched (a process of scalding in boiling water or steam to kill enzymes. More about blanching later on), so they do not need to be blanched before dehydrating.

Simply place them on the trays and dehydrate them according to the vegetable's individual dehydrating steps listed inside my 16 top vegetables (click on an image below to learn about that particular vegetable).

Frozen veggies will take less time to dehydrate than fresh ones. Start checking for doneness after about 6 hours for most vegetables.

What Are the Best Vegetables to Dehydrate?

Just about all varieties can be dehydrated. When learning how to dehydrate vegetables, you'll see that some have more prep steps than others. Our sixteen most popular veggies are shown above. Visit their specific instructions by simply clicking on any of the links.

How Long do Dehydrated Vegetables Last?

It's interesting to note that dried vegetables won't last as long as dried fruits. Why is that?

Fruits naturally contain more sugar and acids, which act as preservatives inside them.

However, when you learn to dehydrate vegetables properly and also store them the right way after dehydrating, they can last months, if not years, if you dry them the right way. Follow our Six Simple Steps.

Used by Permission / Camtasia 2022 License

watch this fun time-lapse video
of fruits and vegetables dehydrating!

How to Dehydrate Vegetables

Now we're ready to learn how to dehydrate vegetables. Coming up are instructions for blanching various veggies. Remember, not all vegetables need blanching. See their individual "how to's" at the top of the page.

How to Blanch Vegetables Ready for Dehydrating

Wash the produce and cut it into evenly-sized pieces. Dip small quantities of them into rapidly boiling water for a few minutes.

Transfer to a big bowl of iced water for a few seconds to stop the cooking process. Now you're ready to place them on your trays. Blanching is an important step.

Leafy greens and cabbage do not need to be blanched before dehydrating. However, most other vegetables should be blanched to inactivate enzymes that can cause the food to spoil. Blanching also helps to retain the color and flavor of the vegetables.

Prep Now, Save Time Later!

When you bring your fresh veggies indoors, you can attend to them right away. Get them washed and dehydrated. Trust me, this saves you valuable prep time in the kitchen at mealtimes later on!

You can easily cook up a very satisfying vegetable soup in less than ten minutes tops!

Now is the time to learn how to dehydrate vegetables—before rampant food price increases completely take over.

How Many Fresh Veggies Should I Buy to Fill 4 Trays?

Click here for a general guide on how many fresh (or frozen) veggies to buy to fill 4 dehydrator trays.

What's the Ideal Temperature when
Learning How to Dehydrate Vegetables?

Most veggies are best dehydrated between 125°F and 135°F—any hotter than that and you may cause them to get a hard crust—known as 'case hardening' as mentioned earlier, and we need to prevent that from occurring.

When dehydrating vegetables, please be aware that case hardening prevents the inside of the vegetable from drying properly, so don't be tempted to turn the machine on high to speed up the process!

Mushrooms are the one vegetable that needs special attention. Read more about mushrooms here.

Some veg are simply washed, sliced, and dried with no further preparation necessary, such as onions, peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini, for example.

Used by Permission / Camtasia 2022 License

Using Frozen Veggies? Great!

Simply place any frozen vegetable of your choice on your Nesco or Excalibur trays with no further preparation.

Got Frozen Clumps?

Before opening your bag of frozen veggies, throw the bag onto your kitchen countertop a few times to loosen any frozen clumps.

If you have a few persistent clumps, run the clump under cold water for a few seconds and that will make it easy to break apart.

Or even easier than that? Leave the bag of frozen vegetables unopened in your kitchen sink for about an hour and they'll be good for slicing, if necessary.

Using Lemon Juice (or Ascorbic Acid)

When dehydrating vegetables, like fresh carrots, need a generous spraying of lemon juice. We use lemon juice as an acceptable substitute for ascorbic acid, which is used by professional dehydrating plants. Lemon juice works wonderfully!

Two main reasons for spraying with lemon juice are to prevent them from browning. This is known as 'oxidation.'

The second reason for spraying with lemon juice is it helps prevent bacterial growth during drying.

Dehydrated Veggies are Dry When...

... they don't stick together! While you are dehydrating veggies—and you think they are dry enough—place the veggies in airtight bags (such as Ziploc bags).

Let them hang around your kitchen for a day or overnight.

People often miss this important step when learning how to dehydrate vegetables. This step is known as conditioning and this enables the air and any moisture in the bag to distribute evenly—so that the dehydrated vegetables will be ready for vacuum sealing! This is step four of the Six Steps.

Learn the Six Simple Steps by opting into our free special seven-part mini-series.

The shelf life of dried food varies on your method of storing. To learn more about how to safely store your goodies, read all about Safe Food Storage here.

You'll learn about vacuum-sealer bags, Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and more. Using oxygen absorbers greatly increases the shelf life.

For long-term storage, follow our guide at the above link (Safe Food Storage).

Used by Permission / Camtasia 2022 License

Are Dehydrated Vegetables Good for Dogs?

Dried vegetables are a great way to add nutrition and variety to your dog's diet. Dogs love the taste, and dried veggies are a healthy and nutritious treat.

ONE CAVEAT: NO ONIONS, ever. They're poisonous to dogs.

Dehydrated vegetables are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are also low in calories and fat, and they are a healthy snack for dogs.

You can dehydrate your own vegetables at home, or you can purchase dehydrated vegetables from a pet store.

When beginning to learn how to dehydrate vegetables, it is important to use a dehydrator that is designed for dehydrating food. You can dry vegetables by placing them in the dehydrator on a low setting for 12-24 hours.

Once the vegetables are dehydrated, you can add them to your dog's food or give them as a treat. Personally, I would re-hydrate them first. Dehydrated vegetables are a healthy and delicious way to add nutrition and variety to your dog's diet.

If you are more "hands-on," you may want to try making your own dog food by reading how to Make Your Own Dog Food here.

Here is the easiest way you can incorporate dehydrated veggies into your dog's diet. Simply add them to your dog's regular food.

This is a great way to add some extra nutrients and fiber to your dog's diet. Simply mix the dehydrated vegetables into their dry (or wet) dog food. Voila!

Are Dehydrated Vegetables Keto Friendly?

When it comes to the keto diet, one of the most important things to keep in mind is your net carb intake. Net carbs are the total carbs in a food minus the fiber content. On a keto diet, you want to keep your net carbs as low as possible. Check out FinallyKeto.com.

Dried vegetables are a great way to reduce your net carb intake while still getting the nutrients your body needs. Plus, they are easy to store and can be used in a variety of recipes.

You can check the carbohydrate value of vegetables (and fruits) by consulting the Glycemic Index.

The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100. It's based on how quickly and how much the foods you eat raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods with a high glycemic index, like white bread, are digested quickly and cause substantial fluctuations in blood sugar.

What Do Dehydrated Vegetables Taste Like?

Dried vegetables have a distinctive taste that is different from fresh or frozen vegetables. Some people say that they have a sweetness that intensifies when they are cooked.

Dehydrated vegetables are a great way to add nutrition, flavor, and texture to your meals. They can be used as toppings or added to sauces, dips, and other dishes.

Dehydrating Vegetables for Soup

While soup is a delicious and satisfying meal, it can also be time-consuming to make. One way to speed up the soup-making process is to dehydrate vegetables beforehand.

When we dry vegetables, it removes the water content, leaving behind only the nutrients and flavor. This means that they can be rehydrated quickly and easily, without having to go through the lengthy cooking process.

In addition, they take up much less space than their fresh counterparts, making them ideal for storing in small spaces.

To dehydrate vegetables for soup, simply wash them and slice them into thin pieces. Then, spread them out on a dehydrator tray and set the temperature to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Drying times will vary depending on the vegetable, but most will be ready within 10-12 hours. Once they are dried out completely, simply store them in an airtight container until you're ready to use them.

With a supply of dehydrated vegetables on hand, you can enjoy a bowl of soup any time you like - without all the hassle!

Dehydrating Vegetables for Backpacking

When you learn how to dehydrate vegetables, you'll see that it is a fun and easy way to add healthy snacks to your backpacking menu. Not only are dried vegetables lightweight and easy to store, but they also pack a powerful punch of nutrients.

When selecting vegetables for dehydration, look for firm, ripe produce that is free from blemishes or damage. Wash the vegetables thoroughly, then slice them into thin pieces that will dry evenly.

For best results, dehydrate the vegetables in a food dehydrator or oven set to a low temperature. Once dried, the vegetables can be stored properly in an airtight container and enjoyed as needed.

Dried veggies make a great backpacking snack that is both nutritious and delicious.

Are You A Visual Learner?

Click Pic to see our 3-hr Udemy Course!

The Easy Way to
Learn How to
Dehydrate Food - Safely!

Consider taking our Food Dehydrating Made Easy course over on Udemy.

Susan Gast began Easy Food Dehydrating in December 2010. Read Susan's story of what sparked her interest in all things related to "food dehydrating."

She is featured on Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It (SBI) who host this site. Read her first SBI interview, and her second SBI interview.

Since 1980, Susan's involvement in publishing - in one form or another - led her to create a "review site" of products related to the publishing industry. Visit ePubTechReviews today, also hosted by Solo Build It. Susan also runs her namesake site SusanGast.com on Solo Build It that showcases the books she has written since 2010.

Do you want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!

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