Rehydrating Dehydrated Foods

 

Now that it’s dehydrated, what are you going to do with it?  Remember, dehydrated food is concentrated, it doesn’t take as much as it would of the fresh ingredients.

The simplest way to rehydrate vegetables is to add them directly to soups and stews.

Mushroom Buttons

 Some foods don’t need rehydration and can be eaten as-is.

·         fruits

·         leafy veggies such as cabbage, mushrooms, and tomatoes 

Rehydrating Pork in Water

You can rehydrate most foods in cold water. However, for an interesting variation, you might rehydrate them in other liquids. 

• Bullion
• Meat stock
• Vegetable juice
• Fruit juice

Most foods usually rehydrate in one or two hours. If you need to soak them more than two hours or overnight, they should be refrigerated.

 

Cottage Cheese took 5 Hours

 

Rehydrating Dried Foods Chart

University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service

 Below is a chart put together by the University of Florida Extension Service.  Use this as a guideline.  Depending on the size and dryness of your food, actual rehydrating times may vary. 

Fruit 

1 cup dried:	Water	Minimum Soaking Hours
Apples	1 ½ c	1/2
Pears	1 ¾ c	1 ¼
Peaches	2 c	1 ¼

 

Veggies

1 cup Dried:	Water	Minimum Soaking Hours
Asparagus	2 ¼ c	1 ½
Beans, Lima	2 ½  c	1 ½
Beans, green snap	2 ½ c	1
Beets	2 ¾ c	1 ½
Carrots	2 ¼ c	1
Cabbage	3 c	1
Corn	2 ¼ c	½
Okra	3 c	½
Onions	2 c	¾
Peas	2 ½ c	½
Pumpkin	3 c	1
Squash	1 ¾ c	1
Spinach	1 c	½
Sweet Potatoes	1 ½ c	½
Turnip & other greens	1c	¾