Jack Fairey | Dehydrated Cookbook

For dehydrating potatoes at home, you need to first chop your potatoes into the desired shape (sliced, diced, or shredded). Par cook the potatoes and then spread them evenly onto a dehydrating tray. Dehydrate the potatoes for 6-8 hours at 125°F until brittle, and then store them in an airtight container. How to Dehydrate Potatoes Before you set out to make dried potatoes, think about what you are going to be using them for, as this will determine how you prepare your vegetables. A simple type of potato au gratin is scalloped potatoes and it works best if you have dehydrated potato slices. Casseroles, stews, and soups work best with potato cubes, so it’s best if your vegetables are diced before drying. If you’re planning to make hash browns (my favorite), shredded potatoes are the go-to. It is also possible to dehydrate whole potatoes, but it takes much longer and is harder to get a good product; I recommend chopping it first. It is possible to dehydrate raw, fresh potatoes; you can also use fully cooked or blanched potatoes. Experiment with a few different options and see what you like best. We’ve found that partially cooking them in boiling water with some salt works well. Make sure you rinse the potatoes in cold water before starting the dehydration process - otherwise, they might continue to cook! Dehydrating Potatoes In a Food Dehydrator Place your partially cooked, chopped, diced, or sliced potatoes on dehydrator trays and set the temperature to 125°F in your food dehydrator. Leave them for 6-8 hours until completely dry. Dehydrating Potatoes in an Oven To dehydrate potatoes in an oven, set your oven to its lowest temperature (around 140°F) and arrange your par-cooked and cut potatoes in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Many people find it helpful to keep the oven door cracked to allow water vapor to escape while dehydrating. Allow the potatoes to dry slowly until they are thoroughly dehydrated - roughly 16-24 hours. You should flip large potato pieces over every 3 to 4 hours to ensure even drying. You will also want to monitor them towards the end of the drying time to prevent burning. You will know they are dry once they are completely brittle. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool before storing them in airtight containers. Useful Tools for Dehydrating Potatoes These tools will make dehydrating potatoes much easier. Consider having them on hand before drying your first batch. Airtight Container A key part of making dehydrated food is storing it correctly. You want to ensure you have a tight container to keep the air out - mason jars are a good option for food storage, mixing style with functionality. You can also experiment with vacuum sealing for long-term storage. Citric acid Citric acid or other vitamin C products are used to protect fruits and vegetables against turning brown when exposed to the air. If desired, after slicing potatoes, toss them in citric acid or if blanching potatoes, you can add them to the blanching liquid. Food Dehydrator A food dehydrator works similarly to an oven, circulating air at a specific temperature. However, unlike an oven, a dehydrator aims to draw out moisture rather than cook the food. Food dehydrators come with trays or shelves for spreading food on and are a handy tool for food preservation. A good example is the Excalibur Dehydrator, which can be found on Amazon. Food Processor If you’re planning to make mashed potatoes, having a good food processor is essential to break down any lumps and ensure a smooth consistency. Large Pot When partially cooking potatoes before dehydrating them, you want to give them space. So make sure you’ve got a sizeable pot filled with hot water. Seasonings When cooking with dehydrated potatoes, you need to bring a lot of the flavor yourself. Salt and pepper are great, but try experimenting with other herbs and spices: garlic powder, cumin, rosemary, and paprika all work brilliantly with potato dishes. Sharp Knife This sounds overly simple, but if you’re doing any kind of cooking, invest in a decent knife. You can also use a mandolin for slicing potatoes. Vegetable Peeler A crucial tool for making potatoes is a good peeler to remove tough skin from potatoes. What is the Shelf-Life of Dehydrated Potatoes? Dehydrated potatoes can last for up to twenty years if stored correctly. However, it’s best to use potatoes within five years of drying. How Long Does it Take to Dehydrate Potatoes? Including prep time, it takes between six and eight hours to make dehydrated potatoes. Do You Need to Add Salt to Dehydrated Potatoes? It isn’t necessary to add salt before dehydrating, though you can do so for flavor. If you’re partially cooking your potatoes before drying, salting the water can help speed up the process. Best Types of Potatoes to Use for Dehydrating Potatoes Waxy varieties of potatoes tend to hold their shape better and are easier to work with when dehydrating. The best potatoes to use for dehydrating are Yukon Gold potatoes, red potatoes, and sweet potatoes because they hold their shape better. Many people make the mistake of using russet potatoes because of their wide availability but russet potatoes tend to disintegrate. Do You Have to Peel Potatoes to Dehydrate Them? It is optional to peel your potatoes before dehydrating them. This is up to your personal preference and what you intend to use them for. How to Store Dehydrated Potatoes Store your dehydrated potatoes in a dark place in an airtight container or vacuum-sealed bag. It is a good idea to label any dehydrated potatoes with the date so you know when they were put into storage. Vacuum-sealing potatoes Do Dehydrated Potatoes Need to be Cooked Before Eating? Raw potatoes can cause sickness and should not be consumed before they have been cooked, which is also the case for dehydrated potatoes that have not been cooked before drying. If you cook your potatoes thoroughly before the dehydration process, they can be eaten without recooking - however, it is strongly recommended to cook dehydrated potatoes before consumption. The Nutritional Value of Dehydrated Potatoes Potatoes are rich in vitamin C and potassium, both of which are crucial for body health. These are retained in dehydrated potatoes, making them an excellent and healthy ingredient to be added to your potato recipes.