DIY vegetable and fruit dryer

In the garden there is a whole storehouse of products rich in various minerals that are beneficial to humans. But unfortunately, they can only be consumed in the fresh variety in the summer and autumn seasons. And the fruits will require processing so that they do not lose their beneficial properties and maintain a presentable appearance. And, in view of the above, many consumers are interested in the question: “How to preserve fruit for a long time?” Some people recommend canning. But in the process, the fruits will lose a lot of beneficial properties. This is why many people recommend purchasing a dryer. You can also make these devices yourself at home. And that’s exactly what we’ll talk about in today’s article.

Types of fruit dryers

Currently, the consumer can independently manufacture three types of dryers:

• electrical;
• infrared;
• devices “powered” by the sun.

In the first device moisture from the fruit will evaporate by exposure to hot air, which will be forcibly heated by the built-in fan. Such devices delight with efficiency, reliability and long service life.

Infrared models The drying method resembles a process involving sunlight. Only the role of the source will be performed by a special heater that transfers thermal energy to the products. Moisture will be removed from the fruits, and they will retain their color and presentable appearance.

Solar dryers - these are devices in which fruits are dried using a natural method under the influence of sunlight.

How to make an electric fruit dryer with your own hands

A device operating from an electrical network has a number of characteristic features. The operating mode is as follows: moisture is removed by means of heated air masses penetrating 1 cm inside the fruit. At the same time, the fruit retains all its qualities and vitamins, which is why it will be stored for a long time. But before manufacturing such a unit, you will need to prepare tools and understand its structure.

Electric dryer device

Structurally presented devices have a body where shelves for fruits are located. Each shelf holds approximately 1 kg of food. In addition, the unit has a heating element. The top of the device is covered with a lid with slots. It ensures unhindered air movement inside the device.

What you need for work

Electric apparatus for drying fruits consist of the following parts:

• body (plywood sheets measuring 60 by 80 cm or an old refrigerator);
• mesh made of metal;
• shelves for arranging vegetables and fruits;
• a fan with a motor or two incandescent lamps with a power rating of 150 W;
• screws for fastening.

Accordingly, to make our own drying unit we will need the presented parts.

Making a Dryer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1. When using sheets of plywood, the first step will be to connect them. And when preference is given to the refrigerator, you need to remove the compressor, freezer and remove the glass wool.

Important! To remove glass wool, you must wear gloves and a thick, long-sleeve sweater.

Step 2. It is necessary to make holes at the top and bottom of the dryer for unhindered air movement.

Step 3. Make the bottom. The role of the bottom can be assigned to a grid with small cells. A grill grate can also fulfill this role.

Step 4. The interior of the dryer should be lined with insulating materials.

Step 5. Then slats are attached inside to arrange the pallets. They can be made from wooden beams or mosquito net edging.

Step 6. At the last stage, we install the fan on the case and check the functionality of the device.

Attention! If you don’t have a fan at hand, you can replace it with incandescent lamps.

How to make an infrared fruit dryer yourself

An infrared dryer is an alternative to electrical devices. They are quite similar in their method of operation. And fortunately, any consumer can make the presented device with his own hands at home. This does not require any special knowledge or skills. All you need to do is follow the instructions below.

What does an infrared dryer consist of?

The design of these devices includes a cable with a switch and plug, a 100 by 50 cm film intended for heated floors, as well as 2 terminals, a similar number of eyelets and clamps. Everything is extremely simple.

Required tools and materials

The materials described in the previous paragraph will definitely be needed to make your own dryer. But besides them, we need to prepare several tools to successfully complete the work, namely:

• soldering iron;
• bitumen and PVC insulation;
• metal block.

Step-by-step production of an infrared dryer

The process will not take much time and you will only need to follow a few simple steps.

Step 1. Support corners and walls must be trimmed to prevent contact with the heater.

Step 2. Three bases for IR element holders should be cut out of cardboard.

Step 3. To direct the radiation to vegetables and fruits, you will need to use foil, which will act as a reflector.

Step 4. At this stage, we cover the inside of the housing with foil and connect the heaters to the transformer.

Attention! At the time of connection, 4 connectors must be made on the transformer for all polarities. In view of the above, it is recommended to use different colored wires.

Step 5. Afterwards, you should assemble the entire system and check the device for functionality.

How to make a solar fruit dryer

In this case, solar energy is used to dry fruits, and the manufacturing process of the drying machine is as follows.

1. A frame is formed from beams knocked down into three parts.
2. Then the shelves are installed, which should be at right angles to the sun.
3. In the back we place a metal sheet, which will act as a heater.
4. The interior (sheet metal and shelves) should be painted black.
5. At the last step, the dryer is covered with glass.

Safety rules for making a homemade dryer

When making a dryer, all frames should be fastened with self-tapping screws, and the joints of the frames should be filled with sealant. In addition, it is necessary to carefully insulate the wires when making electric dryers without using soldering.

And when using drying cabinets, it is strictly forbidden to allow insects to get inside the device. Also, before connecting the equipment to the network, you must check its housing and electrical cable for integrity!