Drying for grass. How to dry medicinal herbs correctly

Can buy ready dehydrator, without inventing anything of your own, but you can do simple design from scrap materials and get a version of a country dehydrator using solar energy. That is, make a simple dryer with your own hands

Many summer residents are faced with the question preservation of berries and fruits grown on their own plots. Fruits or berries can be dried for further storage. In a dehydrator or, simply put, in a dryer, you can dry almost anything. Apples, pears, plums, strawberries, herbs and tea leaves, any vegetables and root crops. Strawberries, roots or blooming Sally.

block 50*40 mm or 40*40 mm. Width and depth it is chosen at the discretion of the master. Usually this 500 - 600 mm.
the height with the roof ridge is approximately 2 - 2.2 m. It makes no sense to go higher, it will be inconvenient to maintain.
From the inside, slats for retractable mesh shelves are placed on the frame.
the outside of the dehydrator can be lined with clapboard or plywood. It is better not to use polymers and other NOT environmentally friendly materials
behind the dehydrator swing door
on the front side at the very bottom they make a cut for the solar panel

Roof

It is necessary to ensure the removal of hot air
Rain protection

Shelves

mesh shelves knocked together from a bar 20*30 mm, cover it with any mesh you have.

A solar panel

an ordinary box covered with glass, at the bottom of which there is black material(you can paint it, but you need to choose a paint that will not give off harmful fumes when the dehydrator is operating) with a good indicator solar energy storage on the surface (heats well, holds heat well, transfers heat well to the air)
The top and bottom ends of the box are drilled for air passage.
the sun heats the panel through the glass and the air from it begins to rise upward.
you can come up with various designs inside panels that accelerate air heating and improve its upward movement ( share your ideas in comments)

IN this option aluminum cans added to solar panel

I think painting the work area black is unnecessary.

Important:

Do not use materials that can produce harmful fumes and thereby spoil the air that passes through the working area of the dryer

Unresolved design issues(write suggestions in the comments):

Flow Uniformity warm air in the drying work area
Adjustable tilt angle solar panel
Adjusting the position relative to the sun
Dew in the evening and morning hours. Consequence - limiting drying time to daytime hours
Works only when dry sunny weather
Dimensions. Required lots of space for work and storage
Insects
Materials (which are best to use, which should not be used)
Adjusting the temperature in the work area (to maintain beneficial properties products must be dried at a temperature of 30-70 degrees Celsius depending on the product)

Drying vegetables and fruits is in a good way preserving their beneficial properties at a relatively long time. To quickly and efficiently dehydrate food, you can purchase a dehydrator suitable for its specifications at a hardware store. In addition to preparing vegetables and fruits for the winter, using such devices you can also dry meat, fish, and prepare homemade yoghurts. However, a store-bought dryer is a relatively expensive pleasure. If you wish, you can save money by making a similar unit from improvised materials with your own hands. The article discusses options for dryers that you can make yourself with a minimum of cost.

Homemade dehydrator from an old refrigerator

To make a dryer at home, the main factor is the availability suitable material for the unit body. Good for these purposes an unnecessary refrigerator will do.

Preparatory activities

Old refrigerator body a good option for a homemade electric dryer. Spacious and stable, it will get a second life as the external frame of home drying equipment.

To make a dehydrator, you first need to get rid of excess parts: freezer, compressor and radiator. Dismantling should be carried out very carefully so as not to spill the working substance of the refrigerator. For example, freon, ammonia, and SF6 gas can be used as a refrigerant. These substances are unsafe for the human body.

Important! It is also necessary to remove the casing and insulation from the refrigerator, which during heating will decompose and release substances harmful to health. The rubber backing on the refrigerator door is not removed.

Advice! During the preparatory work It is recommended to use a respirator, gloves and safety glasses.

Dryer assembly

After preparatory activities A fan of suitable size is installed in the place where the compressor was installed. Suitable device with a diameter of about 120-200 cm and a power of 18 W. It can be purchased specially or removed from an old one. exhaust system. A special feature of the installation is the fact that the fan must work to force air masses inside the dehydrator.

In the upper part of the refrigerator you need to cut a hole for a pipe with a diameter of 10 cm. This can be done using a tool available at home, for example, a crown or a jigsaw. This hole is designed as an outlet for moist air. On the roof of the refrigerator, a section is installed in it metal pipe(with the appropriate diameter) or aluminum corrugation. A sufficient pipe length is 2-3 m.

For faster drying, the upper end of the pipe can be install a small hood. The top of the duct should be protected from insects using a mosquito net or gauze folded in several layers.

To be able to load drying products into the future dehydrator on the sides of the body refrigeration chamber are attached wooden slats . Pallets will be placed on them. The distance between the slats is chosen to be 10-20 cm. This is enough to place various vegetables, fruits, mushrooms and herbs, both chopped and some as a whole. If there is a need to dry larger pieces, then simply remove the extra trays from the refrigerator.

Important! To increase the performance of a homemade unit, it is recommended to use a fan heater. There is also an option using electric heating elements. Installed on the back wall of the refrigerator, they will significantly speed up the drying process.

It should be noted that when using heating elements it will be necessary installation of an additional fan to speed up the extraction. If these methods of accelerating drying are not required, then you can get by with a simple fan.

If desired, a homemade dryer can be improved using temperature sensors. Also, with the proper skill, you can equip the equipment with a timer and other automated means for your convenience.

Pallet production

Trays for the dehydrator should be selected or made according to the size of the refrigerator, so that there is a gap of 2 cm between their edges and the door. The same gap should be provided between the trays and the rear wall of the case. This is necessary for complete airflow of products at all levels.

Advice! You can use oven trays, grill grates, metal sheets, and mesh shelves as drying trays for vegetables and fruits. Suitable designs easy to make from wire, plywood and other available materials.

DIY drying cabinet

When you are away from home unnecessary equipment with a suitable housing, drying cabinet you can make it yourself. For work you will need the following materials:

plywood sheets;
slats;
corners;
foil;
electric heating device;
regular and fan heater;
self-tapping screws

First thing cabinet frame is installed, then it is sheathed with plywood or other wood on all sides except the door. You can pre-drill holes in the back wall for mounting fans. The door is made separately from the same materials and is attached to the body using hinges. Previously, numerous holes with a diameter of 5-10 mm are drilled on the surface of the door.

Closet lined with aluminum foil on the inside and wooden slats for pallets are attached to its side walls.

Trays for fruits and vegetables are selected in the same way as when making a refrigerator dryer. Their dimensions should not interfere with the free circulation of air inside the dehydrator.

Both fans mounted on the back wall of the cabinet: fan heater in the lower part, and a regular fan in the upper part.

Allowed parallel connection of devices, thanks to which they will operate from one switch. You can also equip your drying cabinet with lights that will serve as visual indicators of its operation.

Assembly options for solar dehydrators

Solar dehydrators are dryers that are used to operate solar energy. They are good for drying herbs, fruits or vegetables, even fish. Such designs are more economical, however, they can be used effectively only in hot sunny weather.

You can make a very simple design in the form of an ordinary box, or you can make a more “advanced” device equipped with additional equipment.

Simple solar dryer To make a simple solar dryer for your summer cottage you will need a minimum of materials, tools and time. The assembly of the body is carried out using a method similar to the manufacture of a dehydrator in the form homemade wardrobe

. The exception is that there is no need to make holes for fans and in the dryer door. Small slots for ventilation are made in the upper and lower walls of the structure and are equipped. Another difference is that the bottom surface must be longer than the top, thus achieving an angular position for the door. The drying box must be placed on a stand made of wooden blocks, made like a stool.

Important! The back wall of a homemade dehydrator should be covered with a metal sheet. Its heating will ensure a temperature of 40-50 degrees inside the box. Also, the inside of the structure must be painted black to ensure greater temperature.

The box door must be made from transparent material : glass, plastic, polyethylene film. It is mounted to the top like a frame.

In a box slats are installed for baking sheets. Their number is determined by the size of the manufactured box. You should not leave a small distance between the pallets - this has a bad effect on the circulation of air masses.

In the end, all that remains is to select or make suitable size pallets. After which you can place your homemade dehydrator in a well-lit place.

Device with collector

A solar dryer with a collector is a more labor-intensive version of the product. The drying box is designed almost the same as a simple dryer. But there are a number of significant differences. This dehydrator consists of 2 parts: an air heating zone (collector) and a food drying zone. The front of both areas should be covered with transparent material.

At the bottom of the heating zone you should make holes for free air flow. An aluminum plate painted black should be installed on the inner wall of the collector. Air passing along this plate will heat up and flow through an additional hole into the lower part of the drying zone. As it rises, it picks up moisture and exits through the exhaust pipe to the outside.

For a dryer with a collector to work effectively, it must be moved so that the collector is constantly facing the sun. To avoid this, you can improve your dehydrator using additional collector devices from each side.

Modification with fan and thermostat

To make it sunny dryer with fan and thermostat, you should prepare the following materials:

glass or plastic;
plywood;
corners, bars, slats;
wheels with a diameter of 40-80 mm (for ease of moving the unit);
aluminum sheet;
small fan (diameter 120 mm, 12 V);
thermostat;
voltage stabilizer with KR142EN8B microcircuit;
12 V solar battery;
mosquito net.

For ease of assembly, you should follow the drawing indicating the dimensions of the product parts, which is presented below.

The first step is to assemble from beams and plywood product body and seal it. Then, wheels are mounted on the bottom of the dryer. With their help, the product will easily turn towards the sun. The back door of the dryer is made of transparent material (glass or plastic).

If you follow the dimensions suggested in the drawing, then this dryer will 7 pallets can be installed at a distance of 7 cm from each other. For this purpose, wooden slats are mounted in the body. It is appropriate to make pallets for such a design from mesh material and support slats.

A black painted aluminum sheet is installed on the manifold. A fan is mounted in the upper part of the box and in accordance with the diagram electrical circuit is assembled from the fan, solar battery, voltage stabilizer and thermostat.

When connecting elements electrical circuit You should be guided by the diagram below.

For increase productivity Once the assembled dehydrator is powered by a solar battery, it must be placed so that the collector and battery are facing the sun's rays.

Infrared dehydrator

good dryer for herbs, nuts, mushrooms and fruits can be made using an infrared light bulb. For work you need the following materials and tools:

wire with a diameter of 5-8 mm;
small cardboard box;
foil;
metal grid;
lamp holder with fasteners;
thermometer;
60 W infrared lamp;
screwdriver, knife and awl;
screws, tape.

Advice! Instead of a light bulb, a heating element used when installing heated floors is quite suitable. A piece like this will be enough films measuring 50 × 100 cm(you need to base it on the size of the box). Its power will be approximately 110 W.

The box from the inside covered with foil and mesh shelves are prepared according to its size. A hole is made on one of the walls below for the wire and a socket with an infrared lamp is fixed there. A thermometer is attached to one of the inner walls of the box.

Made from pieces of wire mesh tray holders. To do this, you need to pierce the walls of the box, thread pieces of wire and secure their ends with tape.

You can use a thermometer to monitor the temperature inside the device. It is recommended to dry plant products at a temperature of 40-50 degrees. If the temperature inside the dryer exceeds the norm, you can turn off the light bulb for a while or leave the drawer lid ajar. This product can be made more convenient to use by installing temperature sensors. Which will automatically turn off the lamp when it overheats.

Drying chamber for meat and fish products

Protein products can also be dried in the dryer. This process is called drying. A dehydrator for meat and fish can be made from plastic box with a suitable size lid. For manufacturing you need a fan, a piece of pipe or coupling, threaded rods, washers and nuts. There are a number of videos on how to make your own cabinet for drying meat products. A very simple assembly option is presented in the video below.

Making your own food dryer if you have the necessary components is relatively easy process. There may be many more assembly options than discussed. It all depends on imagination and possibilities. Also any homemade model can be automated so that the drying process causes as little trouble as possible and requires virtually no personal intervention.

Confusion - away

There are plants, especially forest and field plants, that after drying change their “appearance” beyond recognition. Sometimes you get confused - what kind of plant is this and what is it intended for?

To prevent this from happening, I decided to make a hanger board, the front part of which was turned into a slate one.

Here, of course, the experience of working as a teacher for a long time had an impact.

What did the chest of drawers turn into?

I bought the black one acrylic paint. I mixed it with cement (without water), adding it a little at a time so as not to thicken the paint too much. Then she immediately began to apply it with a brush to the surface in layers: first in one direction, then in the opposite direction. While the board was drying, I washed my brush thoroughly.

The surface of the board became a little rough, which is convenient for writing with chalk. What is written can then be erased with a damp cloth, just like on a chalkboard.

In advance, at the Do It Yourself store, I purchased a decorative, deliberately rough cord, some twine, a set of colored crayons, and a box of rubber bands.

My husband drilled two holes in the board, through which I pulled the cord and tied two tight knots so that the suspended board would hang tightly and well. Then I marked the surface and screwed it into checkerboard pattern Vintage handles left over from the chest of drawers. But there may be a more democratic option: nails, hooks, screws. I got 4 handles in one row, and 3 handles in the bottom row. I planned to hang herbs from them.

Preparing medicinal herbs for drying

From the collected medicinal raw materials, I tried to make bundles of equal thickness and length. Each of them had their “leg” pulled tightly together with an elastic band. I did this because when drying, the stems tied with thread (many people do this) can relax and begin to fall out.

Then I took twine (you can use ribbon, braid, fishing line, thick thread, matching the color of the cord) and began to wind it widely, having first made a loop over the elastic. When finished, I tied a tight knot. I tried to make the loops the same on all the bundles. For them, I hung the plants from the handles and signed the name of each of them with chalk.

I placed my product on the shady side of the outbuilding. It turned out to be both convenient for drying plants and quite decorative.

To be continued

This idea will soon have a continuation. This year I want to give new life cups - some are tired, others have some kind of flaw. I plan to take a board, paint its front part and screw on the hooks - maybe in a row, or maybe in a checkerboard pattern.

I will hang cups on hooks, into which, after pouring a little expanded clay for drainage, and then soil, I will sow flowers or plant seedlings. I mulch the surface with moss on top to retain moisture. This is important because the containers will be small. For planting I will use plants with thin small roots - alyssum, ageratum, lobelia, periwinkle, etc. I think it will turn out beautifully.

When planting this way, it is necessary that the moss does not peek out, but is hidden deeper until the plants sprout or grow.

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A self-assembled dryer for vegetables and fruits will become an indispensable assistant summer resident during the season of harvesting and processing. Global network and the experience of folk craftsmen offer many such projects, a small part of which can be found here.

With the help of a drying machine, you can stock up on tasty and healthy preparations from meat, fish, mushrooms, herbs, vegetables and, of course, fruits for the winter.

Drying or drying fresh food is one of the ancient and still popular methods of canning. Since people first thought about preparing food for future use, many drying methods have been accumulated.

The first and earliest version of such preparation is the use of solar energy. Its main advantage is considered to be the minimum cost. You will need inexpensive baking sheet material and occasional stirring to prevent the product from sticking together.

But there is a minus that largely devalues all the advantages of this method. Requires smooth, sunny weather, and there are not many such days in our conditions.

A more recent, but also ancient method is the use of a Russian stove. Several bricks are laid inside, on which a baking tray with herbs, fruits, berries, mushrooms, and other fruits is placed. Alternatively, the same products are hung in bunches near the stove. However, in current conditions, not every home has a stove.

With the advent gas stoves A similar principle of conservation began to be used in city apartments. A baking tray or wire rack is placed in the oven; the process takes place over low heat with the door open. Despite all the advantages, you have to pay for gas, it’s not too expensive, but still a minus for the family budget.

More effective option homemade dryer, collected from available funds according to one of the proven schemes. With this method, a number of nuances are observed, without which it is impossible to preserve the nutritional properties of any product. In this case:

optimal temperature regime which removes moisture from fruits, meat or fish;
conditions are created for the necessary circulation air flow, which eliminate excess humidity inside the drying chamber;
occurs rational organization its internal space, which makes it possible to correctly place maximum amount products;
everything that is inside the structure is reliably protected from insects, dust, and other external factors that can negatively affect the contents.

Wherein Most of the vitamins and nutrients are retained, the danger of botulism, the bacteria of which multiply in a humid environment, is minimized, and the risk of mold development is reduced.

Features of drying devices

To ensure the above conditions and the desired result, a homemade drying unit must meet certain technical requirements:

the temperature inside it should be maintained at no more than 70°C, this will ensure maximum dehydration, but will not allow overdrying;
The volume of the chamber should be calculated not only from the number of products intended for harvesting, it is necessary to take into account part of the space for free air circulation;
the design of the device should allow you to adjust the drying time, with self-assembly This can be achieved by simply moving the trays closer to the source of heat or air currents.

If necessary and if possible, the device can be equipped with heaters and thermostats, electric fans, and other equipment that will make its use more efficient and comfortable.

Types of drying chambers

Do-it-yourself dryers are classified in the same way as their factory-made counterparts. First of all, they need to be divided into devices that use solar energy and electrical devices equipped with shades and fans. The first ones are different

simplicity of design;
require a minimum of special knowledge and experience during assembly;
economical in terms of materials required for assembly and subsequent operation.

Despite the variety of such devices, their design is generally the same. This is a closet different sizes, usually made of wood, with ventilation holes, glass walls around the perimeter or on one side to allow heat to enter. Their counterparts using electricity have a more complex device. According to the principle of operation, they are divided into conventional electric dryers using convective or infrared heating methods and dehydrators, which provide a function for precise temperature adjustment, which leads to complete dehydration of the product.

Convective

In this option, drying occurs with a directed flow of heated air. The design provides a shadow that can be located above, below or in a horizontal plane.

The easiest way to make such a device is to assemble a chamber, install a heater and a fan heater in it. However, the quality of processing becomes a victim of design simplicity. The fruits are dried from the outside, retaining moisture in the core. They are not suitable for long-term storage because they quickly become moldy and pose a risk of botulism infection. This disadvantage can be minimized by longer drying times, but this leads to the loss of a significant part of the beneficial properties and increases energy consumption.

Infrared

These devices use infrared radiation, the effect of which is as close as possible to that of the sun. The effect occurs more evenly, vitamins and microelements are better preserved. Drying results are better suited for long shelf life.

A serious advantage in favor of this variety is low energy consumption. But here there is a higher risk of making mistakes, drying out the products and losing their beneficial properties.

It is more difficult to assemble such a device; you will have to choose a suitable one infrared emitter and choose the scheme for its correct placement.

Translated into human language This type of installation is called a dehydrator. The design of these devices is designed for maximum moisture removal. Despite the fact that the same term is often used to refer to conventional dryers, the difference between them lies in the presence of a thermostat that controls the temperature.

Thanks to such design improvements, drying occurs in optimal conditions in acceptable short time. Such a device best suited for curing beef, pork or fish. Result: maximum free from moisture, evenly dried, able to preserve consumer properties until the next harvest and longer. But to assemble a dehydrator with your own hands, you cannot do it with improvised means; you will need additional equipment.

Necessary materials

You need to start making your own drying unit with a drawing and preparation necessary tools. For the simplest designs it is enough approximate diagram, more complex ones will require detailed study of individual elements of the device. The set of tools also depends on the complexity of the project, but most likely the required items on the list will be:

hacksaw and plane;
different types of screwdrivers and hammer;
drill and pliers;
soldering iron;
level;
brush for painting.

Materials are also selected based on the project and the selected type of device. For the convective model you will need:

bars for the frame and sheets of plywood for sheathing;
the same materials are suitable for assembling trays;
fine mesh;
canopies for sashes and screws for fastening;
electric fans with shades or 150 W incandescent lamps;
wire with plug for connecting to the network.

The same materials are suitable for the body of the infrared device, but instead of shadows or lamps with fans you will need to purchase:

film, which is used to heat floors;
terminals, clamps and grommets;
insulation in bitumen and PVC versions.

The simplest designs are assembled from a minimal set of components. It's all the same wooden materials for the body, in addition to which glass or polycarbonate will be required.

Step-by-step construction of a drying cabinet

Since the solar and electric varieties of the dryer have quite a few design nuances, the assembly sequence of each of them needs to be considered separately.

Solar

The simplest version of such a structure consists of a plywood body with glass doors and shelves inside. It installs with sunny side at an angle so that the heat has maximum effect on the inner chamber.

First you need to cut the plywood sheets according to required sizes. Ventilation holes are cut out in the sheets that will be located at the top and bottom.
Next, the cabinet is assembled, fixing the joints with self-tapping screws, which are screwed into bars. Racks are attached to the outside of the side walls, calculating the angle of inclination of the cabinet so that the sun covers the interior cavity as much as possible at midday.
The back side is sewn up with a metal sheet, which will enhance the thermal effect. Ventilation holes The top and bottom are covered with a mosquito net.
On the side walls, with inside screw the supports under the shelves with self-tapping screws. They must be attached at a pre-calculated angle, in accordance with the position of the cabinet.
When this stage of work is completed, the cabinet can be painted. Interior must be painted black, which accumulates heat. The outer one is white, which is highly reflective.
While the paint dries, you can start assembling the trays. Their frame is assembled from bars with a mandatory crossbar in the middle, which will strengthen the structure. The bottom of each tray is sewn with mesh, which will ensure free flow of heated air.
A frame is made for the front side, the dimensions of which must correspond to the perimeter of the cabinet. A polycarbonate sheet or glass is fixed on top of it.
When the outer frame is ready and fixed in working position, the dryer for fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and herbs is ready for use.

Electric

To assemble the electric version, you do not have to assemble the cabinet from scratch. An old cabinet or small cabinet of sufficient size will do just fine. Some craftsmen adapt old refrigerators for these purposes. Let's consider the option from a cabinet, as the simplest in terms of labor costs.

Depending on the location of the fan, the upper or lower plane of the bedside table must be equipped with holes; the more such holes, the better the circulation of air flows. If its fixation is provided on the back side, ventilation holes are made in the door.
In the next step, we line the walls with material that will maintain the temperature regime.
Then, on the inside, we attach the guides on which the trays will be located. We assemble the latter from slats and sew them up with mosquito netting.
On the back side we cut out a hole with a diameter for a fan heater or a couple of holes for incandescent lamps. If an infrared heat source is expected, we cover the back wall with a film prepared in advance. We bring the cord for power supply outside.
To turn a regular dryer into a dehydrator, add a thermostat to the circuit and take the control elements outside.
You can close an improvised dryer with an old door; if it doesn’t exist or it doesn’t fit, we assemble a simple frame and cover it with plywood with big amount holes. Don't forget to install a latch or hook to prevent the door from opening during operation.
After this, all that remains is to place the assembled trays inside the chamber and the apparatus can be considered ready for testing.

As you can see, in order to build a dryer with your own hands you don’t need to make any special efforts, and there are many benefits from this device. You can make a dryer yourself from scrap materials without spending large quantity funds. Use our tips and instructions and enjoy your vitamins at any time of the year.

For a long time, people stocked up on mushrooms, berries, fruits and herbs for the winter. One of the most simple ways the workpiece is drying. But if earlier it was necessary to lay everything out in the sun, manage the weather, hide the plants from the rain and take them out again when it clears up, now the situation has changed a lot. In order to make vitamin, tasty and healthy supplies, it is enough to buy a fruit dryer.

The reason for the popularity of dryers

Each type of workpiece has its own positive aspects. Jams and marinades, of course, have an exquisite and piquant taste, but dried fruits, herbs, vegetables and mushrooms also have their own advantages, and quite numerous ones.

Advantages of drying:

The product retains the maximum amount of microelements and vitamins.
When added to prepared dishes, the taste of fresh herbs and vegetables, fruits and mushrooms is preserved.
Dried foods at the right conditions several can be stored
seasons.
Storage does not require a lot of space or special containers.
The procurement process takes a minimum of time.
When using modern dryers, the workpiece is minimally troublesome.

Supporters traditional methods Often they appeal to the fact that the equipment cannot provide the same drying as in the sun. But this is not so, innovative methods are so progressive that they give identical and even best result. No need to pick perfect place with low humidity, you don’t have to deal with annoying insects, you don’t need to lay out plant products every day, and collect and hide them in the evening. What previously took several days can now be done in a few hours, and in some situations, minutes.

For urban and rural residents who care about tasty and healthy food, prefer natural products, but do not have their own land and sufficient sunny areas for drying, purchasing an electric dryer is the most convenient option.

There are quite a lot of options for this technique, let's look at the most common varieties.

Types of dryers for fruits and vegetables

All existing species dryers for herbs, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables can be divided into two large categories according to the principle of operation:

Convective.
Infrared.

Each variety has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, which are worth considering separately.

Convection dryers: operating principle and nuances

Convective devices were the first to appear. The operating principle of such household appliances based on hot air circulation. This leaves its mark on the finished product. Dried fruits or vegetables are covered with a dry crust, a kind of film, since the moisture first evaporates from the surface, and only after that the pulp begins to dry. Thus, the dehydration process is quite lengthy.

If you compare fruits dried in the sun with fruits dried in a convection dryer, the differences are noticeable with the naked eye; the color and taste characteristics are different. What deserves special mention is that hot steam “kills” vitamins, and accordingly, only part of the beneficial substances are preserved.

Electronics experts also note that convection requires significant energy costs.

Infrared dryers: operating features

Infrared dryers appeared later, but almost immediately became the most promising option for working with fruits, vegetables, herbs and mushrooms. The principle of operation is similar to the work of the sun. The impact is carried out exclusively on the water component of the products. Infrared radiation treats plants in a gentle manner, usually the temperature does not exceed 60 degrees, which is incomparable with hot steam.

The biggest advantage of IR drying is that the finished product retains most of the nutrients, including vitamins, which are destroyed at high temperatures.

Specialists in household appliances focus on the low energy consumption of such devices.

Key parameters of dryers for vegetables and fruits

Whatever the type of household dryer for products of plant origin, its feature invariably remains its fairly compact size. Equipment that is suitable for drying 3-5 kg of vegetables or fruits takes less space than a microwave oven. To dry under natural conditions, that is, in the sun, it would take several square meters flat surface.