Why You Should Dry Your Food Instead Of Canning It

Being prepared for hard times is a vital part of homesteading. One way to store food for later use is to can it, but many of us are now turning to an alternative method: food drying. But why you should dry your food instead of canning it?

Food drying has been used for centuries to preserve food, offering several advantages over traditional canning. This article will discuss why drying food is better than canning it.

Why You Should Dry Your Food? It’s Easy!

The basic principle of drying food is simple: you remove moisture from food to extend its shelf life.

Dehydration removes the water content, making the food less hospitable for bacteria. Without moisture, bacteria cannot survive, which helps dehydrated food last longer than canned food.

Drying food also simplifies storage since it takes up less space than canned goods. Additionally, dehydrated food is light and portable, which makes it an excellent choice for preppers and homesteaders who frequently need to move.

Canning Isn’t All Bad, But…

Canning is a more labor-intensive process than food drying. It involves several steps to prepare the food for canning, including washing, blanching, and peeling.

In addition, the cans and lids must be sterilized, and special equipment is often needed to can food. The process also takes a lot of energy, as the cans must be boiled in hot water or pressure-cooked to seal the food.

Overall, canning food is an energy-intensive, time-consuming option requiring much work.

The Benefits Of Canning Food:

Canned food is shelf-stable and easy to store
Canning can help preserve the flavor and texture of food
Canned food is ready to eat, requiring no further preparation
Canning can help maintain the nutritional value of food

The Disadvantages Of Canning Food:

This is an energy-intensive process that requires a lot of work
It requires special equipment, including jars, lids, and a canner
Canning requires a lot of time and effort
It can be expensive, as it requires special tools and jars
Carrying canned food can be difficult, as it is heavy and bulky to carry and store

Reasons Why You Should Dry Your Food Instead Of Canning It:

Drying food is a more straightforward process than canning
Dehydrated food takes up less space than canned food
Dehydrated food is light and portable, making it easy to carry
Dried food maintains its flavor, texture, and nutritional value
Dehydrated food has as long a shelf-life as canned food

Simplicity

Overall, food drying is a more straightforward and accessible option than canning. It requires less equipment and doesn’t take as much time or energy.

In addition, dehydrated foods take up less space than canned foods, and they are light and portable, making them easy to carry.

Never Enough Space? This is Why You Should Dry Your Food!

Drying food offers another advantage over canning: it takes up less space.

The drying process removes the moisture content of food, which often makes up a large percentage of its volume. This makes dehydrated food lighter, more compact, and easier to store and transport. Additionally, dried foods can last longer than canned foods because bacteria cannot survive without moisture.

More Calories And Protein Per Weight Carried

Dehydrated food offers more calories and protein than canned food per unit of weight carried.

In addition, it can be efficiently rehydrated using water from nature, making it an excellent option. Dehydrated food can also be used in cooking, making it a versatile choice for storing food for hard times.

Very Long Shelf Life

Typically, dried meats can last up to two years, and dried vegetables can last up to one year, making them an excellent option for homesteaders looking to store food for long-term use.

Storage

Dried food should be stored in a cool, dry place like a closet or pantry for optimal shelf-life. It should also be protected from rodents and other pests wanting to eat it. Vacuum-sealing dried food in mylar bags can further extend its shelf life and preserve its nutritional value.

Additionally, oxygen absorbers can be used to remove any residual oxygen from the pack, helping to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.

All in all, proper storage is essential for ensuring that dried food lasts as long as possible.

Why You Should Dry Your Food: The Basics

I primarily dry food by cutting it into thin slices and then drying it. The most common methods for drying food involve drying it in the sun or the oven.

I use sun-drying as a traditional method, and some homesteaders still rely on it.

Also, I opt for oven-drying when I don’t have access to direct sunlight, as it is a more modern method.

I can also use specialized food dehydrators to speed up the drying process and ensure even drying.

Related: DIY Solar Dehydrator

Why You Should Dry Your Food? Extra Protection!

I vacuum seal dried food in mylar bags to extend its shelf life and protect its nutritional value. To do this, I fill the bag with the dried food and seal it with a vacuum sealer. Once I close the bag, I store it in a cool, dry place to ensure the food lasts as long as possible.

I also add oxygen absorbers to the bag to remove any residual oxygen and further extend the shelf life of the food.

Add Some Flavor

Smoking is another way to dry food and extend its shelf-life. For example, you can smoke-dried meats and vegetables to add flavor, which further helps preserve the food.

In addition, smoke-dried foods have a unique flavor ensuring some taste variety in your diet.

Better, More Straightforward, Faster

Drying and canning are excellent methods for storing food during hard times. Canning is a tried and true method that helps preserve the flavor and texture of food.

However, drying food offers a more straightforward and less labor-intensive option, with several advantages over canning.

In the long run, after an SHTF incident, dried food will be the best option since people will struggle to find canning equipment. For these reasons, many people should learn to dry food as an effective way to store it for hard times.

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