CuiZen Dehydrator CFD-20 - Manual (Page 14)

14
General Food Storage Tips
• Wait until food is cooled off completely before storing.
• Heat and light will cause food to deteriorate. Keep food in a dry, cool, and dark place.
• Remove all the air you possibly can from the storage container and close tightly.
• Ideal storage temperature is 60°F or lower.
• Never store food directly in a metal container.
• Avoid containers that «breathe» or have a weak seal.
• Check the contents of your dehydrated food for moisture during the weeks following
dehydration. If there is moisture inside, you should dehydrate the contents for a longer
time.
• For best quality, dried fruits and vegetables should not be kept for more than 1 year.
• Dehydrate your produce in the summer when it is at optimum freshness and replace it
annually.
• Dried meats, game, poultry and fish should be stored for no more than 3 months if kept in
the refrigerator, and no more than 1 year if kept in the freezer.
• Vacuum sealing can help to extend storage life by several months, if food has been
properly and thoroughly dried.
Location
Cool dark and dry are the keys to maintaining the quality of dried food. Shelves near a
window may need to be covered to keep out light. Glass jars or plastic containers should be
placed in a paper bag or in a closed cabinet. Cement walls and floors are often damp and
cold. Therefore, dried food containers should not be placed directly on the floor, or touching
a basement or cellar wall as this can cause condensation in the container. Do not store dried
food near items with a strong odour, such as varnish, paint remover or kerosene.
Length of Storage
Dried fruits and vegetables should not be stored longer than one year. Plan to use all dried
meats, fish, poultry or jerky within a month or two. Label dried foods, and rotate on a first-
dried first-to-be-used basis. Check dried foods periodically. If the food seems more moist than
when packed, moisture is getting into the container. Spread food on drying trays and re-dry.
Then pack the food in an airtight container. Mould indicates the food was not properly dried
before being stored. Destroy mouldy food.