What types of dryers are there for fruits and vegetables?
An electric dryer is relevant not only in a city apartment, where it is difficult to select a corner suitable for preparing dried fruits. In rural areas, where there are no problems with this, it is also needed. After all, products drying in natural conditions are covered with ubiquitous dust, and insects are happy to taste future preparations. But when it comes time to purchase a dryer, the selection becomes an obstacle. Only knowing your needs will help you make the right choice.
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Types of dryers for vegetables and fruits according to operating principle
The task of this household appliance is to dehydrate food with minimal loss of nutrients. Dehydration in the dryer can occur using air circulation:
- natural, when the hot stream rises without additional devices;
- forced - flows are regulated using a fan.
Models of the first type are cheaper. But they take longer to dry food and require regular rearrangement of trays in order to heat the food evenly. Household appliances with a fan are a little more expensive, but they cope with the task much faster and without user intervention in the dehydration process.
Convection
Heating in such a dryer is carried out using a conventional heating element. According to the principle of operation, the technique is more similar to an oven. The result of dehydration of products in such a device will be hard fruits with a dense outer layer that have lost some of their aroma and color. The speed of operation depends on the fan: if there is one, then one load dries twice as fast.
Infrared
In this case, the heating elements are built directly into the trays. Graphite rods emit infrared rays when exposed to electric current. The result of the device’s operation is close to ideal: the fruits are soft, retain their color and aroma, and dry much faster than in convection drying. The cost of such devices is much higher. But relatively low operating temperatures and, accordingly, lower power consumption make up for the difference quite quickly.
Differences in other criteria
The cost of drying vegetables and fruits is also reflected in its power, based on which devices can be divided into three categories.
- Low-power - up to 250 W, well suited for those who do not prepare anything other than herbs. The devices can handle vegetables and fruits, but the dehydration process will take a long time.
- Average power is 300-800 W, an ideal solution for seasonal preparation of dried fruits. Works fast. The only limitation is the maximum load, which for such models averages 3-5 kg of fresh food.
- Semi-industrial - power over 1000 W. Such dryers are capable of processing large volumes of raw materials in relatively short periods of time. Good for land owners who annually enjoy a good harvest.
For those who dry very few fruits or herbs, manufacturers offer a tablecloth dryer.It won’t fit much, but the device is inexpensive and compact.
By material type
Plastic models are lightweight and relatively low cost. Options are available with both transparent trays, which allow you to control the stage of readiness without opening the dryer, and with light-proof ones.
The quality of the plastic plays a key role: the trays should be made of food grade, and the body should be made of fire-resistant material.
Steel has only one drawback - you can get burned on it. But those who are looking for a durable device with unbreakable components can choose this material. Such dryers are more expensive, but most often come in models designed for heavy loads.
By capacity
The cutlery trays can hold from 0.5 to 2 kg of fresh food. More often, dryers are equipped with trays without the ability to adjust the height of the sides, which slightly limits their capabilities.
If you plan to dehydrate a lot of different products, then it is advisable to choose adjustable or deep components.
Overall capacity is directly proportional to performance. It can range from 1-2 kg of raw materials for low-power models to 15 kg for high-power equipment. The number of trays also depends on the power:
- 3-4 for low-power;
- 5-8 for medium category devices;
- up to 20 for powerful ones.
When buying a dryer for vegetables and fruits, it is important to evaluate the ratio of the number of trays and power.
By type of control
Mechanical control is typical for simple and reliable devices. The buttons and rotary levers are easy to use. The only negative is the limited number of operating modes and the inability to accurately regulate the temperature.
Electronics wins in this regard.Whether it is a touch or electromechanical control panel, it allows you to control your equipment more precisely. This makes it possible to select the temperature regime depending on the load of the dryer and the type of raw material. Disadvantages: high cost and service life inferior to the mechanical type of control.
By type of arrangement of contents for drying
The heating element can be located above, below or to the side of the trays with raw materials. Based on this, dryers can be divided into:
- vertical - heating from below or from above;
- horizontal - heating from the side.
The first option is more compact. The effect is enhanced by the round shape of the trays, which ensure uniform heating of the raw materials. Devices with a side-mounted heater are larger than their analogues. But they are often equipped with more spacious square trays.
Availability of additional functions
The cost of dryers for vegetables and fruits depends on the number of additional functions. Usually, in order to save money, it is recommended to abandon most add-ons, but in this device there are practically no unnecessary ones.
Attention should be paid to protection against overheating. If there is no information about its availability, it is better to refuse to purchase the device - it is dangerous.
Trays for meat and fish differ in the size of the cells - holes for air flow. If they are not included in the kit, but you plan to dry these products, then you should inquire about the availability of products suitable for the chosen technique.
No less useful is the “cold air” function, which allows you to bring food to readiness without heating. A temperature controller is needed for precise adjustments. And the timer will give you the opportunity to set the operating time and go about your business: after the time has elapsed, the dryer will turn off itself.
