Prepared, dehydrated food is commercially available, but tends
to be quite expensive. Many paddlers are finding that
dehydrating their own food is an economical and practical way to
obtain lightweight, nutritious and lightweight meals.
What can be dehydrated? In general, foods with relatively
high water contents and low fat contents are suitable for
dehydration.
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This
includes:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Lean meats and fish
- Sauces, purees and
stews
Dehydration offers
substantial savings in weight. Many fruits and vegetables
consist of between 80% and 90% water, and once this water is
removed by dehydration, the weight and space savings can be
nothing short of amazing.
For example, a ten pound bag of carrots, washed and sliced, will
fit into a large mason jar after dehydration.
A large container of spaghetti sauce will dehydrate to a
concentrated 'leather' which will fit into a small Ziploc bag
and weigh next to nothing.
A supply of dehydrated ingredients, supplemented by soup and
sauce bases available at most bulk food stores can form the
basis for a number of lightweight and delicious meals.
Another advantage of dehydrating food is the cost benefit.
You can buy fruit and vegetables in season when they are at
their lowest price and dry them for later use. If you know
anyone with a garden, chances are they're looking for people to
take those extra tomatoes and zucchinis anyway. If you've
priced commercially prepared dried foods, you already understand
how much money you can save by preparing your own.
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