Canning vs. dehydrating is what we start to think about when we think about wintertime. Or even garden time, during the summer. How should I preserve all my good food from my garden? Or even just getting ready for wintertime.
Winter time is when we don’t make it to the store as much as we would like. But would still love the comforts of fresh vegetables and fruit. I know I love my fresh tomatoes in the winter. So I have lots of tomatoes canned in quart jars. Just for spaghetti sauce, chilli, or hamburger soup.
Canning Is Good
Canning is usually what I would do first. Because it has the liquid in the jars from when you process the jars. Through the canning process, it would create some liquid in the jars. I also have alot of canning jars. So when I think about canning vs. dehydrating, canning is my first choice.
I usually start canning red plums first, mainly cause I have a tree in my yard. I also would dehydrate a few trays of it too, freeze some also. Freeze some just for my smoothies. Freezing is another one that I would also do. But eventually it takes alot of space in your freezer. Unless you have lots of freezer space.
Next one I end up doing is my tomatoes, and pressure canned beans also. Still new to the pressure canning, doing all the research for it.
It is good to research what you are planning to do. Whether it be canning, dehydrating, or even freezing. When you go through doing all the work to get it done. It is good to do it right, so all your work does not go to waste. Waste of money and your time. So think of that when you wonder if- canning vs. dehydrating.
Homemade pear sauce is pretty easy to make. If you know how to make applesauce, then you have it made. Same process, just that you’re using pears instead.
Dehydrating Your Food Is Good!!!
Dehydrating your food is good if you have a dehydrator. Or you can dry it in your oven. Not sure if it is at 200 deg. in the oven. You have to watch it and make sure your food doesn’t over dry.
Best to invest in a dehydrator, one with a fan is good. But whatever one you have will be good. As long as you know how to use it. They are pretty easy to operate.
MY FIRST DEHYDRATOR
I have a Big 1. Harvester Savior Dehydrator, which I found at a yard sale. I was so happy when I found this. I was just thinking about starting to dehydrate my apples and pears. Which I had lots of them at that time. So was a blessing when I found it. I started to dehydrate alot of my fruit. Of course, I researched it to make sure I was doing it right.
There really isn’t a time for how long on each fruit. Because it all depends on your thickness of each slice of fruit. How much water each fruit has inside them. So you would watch your fruit closely, and you will learn along the way. How much time is needed for each item of food you put in your dehydrator.
Once you get the hang of it, it is a great thing to own. You will want to dehydrate everything you can get your hands on.
Canning VS. Dehydrating
So when you think about canning and dehydrating, it is all up to you. What do you think you want to do. Do you have jars for canning. Or do you prefer canning over dehydrating your food. Lots of questions to think about when you want to preserve your food.
Do you know how to water bath can food? Do you own a dehydrator. Which one would you actually eat? Canned goods, or dried goods?
Which Ones I like
I like my zucchini in the freezer, but I am dehydrating this year. Which is way different. All four big zucchini in one large ziploc bag, and still have room. So I may prefer drying it instead. Will find out when I use them this winter.
So I did dehydrate tomatoes this year also. Will find out if I like it or not this winter also. They do taste good though. Needed seasoning on them though, before I added to the dehydrator.
I have been canning for years. But dehydrating is still a little new yet. Only been doing that for 2 years. It all depends on what I will use, and remember that I have them. Because I usually just put it into a ziplock bag, which gets hidden in the cupboard. So I will need to put them somewhere that I can see them. I do now put them all in mason jars, so I can see them and I add labels too. I know when I do alot of dehydrating or canning, I sure do need to take my snap in the morning. Keeps my going for the long haul of the day.