Fruit, herbs, vegetables, and meat, there are lot of foods that are easy to dehydrate in the oven. When it comes to removing water content to preserve food, the oven needs to be set at the proper temperature.
If you don’t own a dehydrator, an oven makes a great alternative method. Dehydrators do not require supervision, whereas the oven requires specific guidance to achieve better results.
The key to properly dehydrate food in the oven is the temperature because each food has a different water content, the temperature may vary. A temperature too hot will scorch or burn the food, and a temperature too low will extend the time and may lead to the growth of harmful bacteria.
What is the best temperature to dehydrate food in the oven? When using the oven to dehydrate food, the oven needs to preheat and set the temperature depending on the specific item.
The optimum temperature for drying food is 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius. However, the range of oven temperature to dehydrate is between 95 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 to 74 degrees Celsius.
Depending on the food type, the oven temperature varies for dehydrating:
- Herbs: 95-115℉ or 35-46℃
- Vegetables: 125-135℉ or 52-57℃
- Beans or lentils: 125℉ or 52℃
- Fruit: 135℉ or 57℃
- Grains: 145℉ or 63℃
- Pre-cooked meals: 155℉ or 68℃
- Fish: 130-140℉ or 54-60℃
- Meat: 160℉ or 71℃
The characteristics, preparation method and water content are variables that affect oven temperatures to dry specific foods. Answered below are frequently asked questions about the correct temperature to use when dehydrating food in the oven so it doesn’t burn or scorch.
Can you dehydrate food at 180 degrees?
No, you should not dehydrate food at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, this temperature is too hot and will cook the food instead of dehydrating.
Most foods dehydrate at temperature ranging between 95 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 to 71 degrees Celsius.
Always start by preheating the oven at the optimal temperature per food. The oven’s warm setting is often times between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 49 to 60 degrees Celsius.
Some older ovens face a challenge to stay below 180 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore leaving the oven door open an inch or two while dehydrating may work.
If uncertain about the exact temperature, use an oven thermometer to get an accurate reading to ensure you dehydrate each food item for best results.
How do you dehydrate in the oven?
When using the oven to dehydrate food, it is simple and straightforward.
Depending on the food type, prepare and slice into thin pieces that are easy to remove moisture when heating.
Marinate or soak in lemon juice to prevent from browning, or blanch to help dehydrate better without scorching or burning. The technique used will depend not he type of food and dehydration technique being followed.
Preheat the oven to the specific temperature needed for the food. Oftentimes oven dehydrating temperatures are between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 49 degrees to 60 degrees Celsius depending on the ingredient.
Follow the dehydrating recipe for time and temperature to achieve the best results.
Many ovens have hotspots that affect the results and may dry faster than others. Rotate the pan and flip over the pieces dehydrate uniformly without scorching or burning.
Flipping the pieces over several times throughout the drying process will help to get all sides heat evenly by giving the necessary airflow all around.
Whether placing items directly on the pan or hanging on racks, space 1.5 inches or 2.5 cm apart to improve air circulation.
Generally, it takes about 4 to 10 hours depending on the food. A good rule of thumb is the juicier food, the longer it takes.
Periodically check the doneness, when the food is sticky or moist, it is not done dehydrating. The pieces should not break when bent, and a slight malleability is good.
What is the best temperature to dehydrate food?
The temperature of oven is key for a proper dehydration. Too hot can make food cook or burn, and too low may result in softness instead of a crisp texture.
In addition, lack of withdrawn moisture will increase the chance of bacteria growth when stored.
It is important to keep the oven temperature well below 200 degrees Fahrenheit or 93.3 degree Celsius. However, this can be challenging depending on the age of oven, available settings and accuracy of the oven temperature.
Some oven have inaccurate internal temperature. Therefore, always use a calibrated thermometer to record the optimal temperature for each food.
Here is a list of temperatures to dehydrate specific foods in the oven:
- Herbs: 95-115°F or 35-46°C
- Vegetables: 125-135°F or 52-57°C
- Beans or lentils: 125°F or 52°C
- Fruit: 135°F or 57°C
- Grains: 145°F or 63°C
- Pre-cooked meals: 155°F or 68°C
- Fish: 130-140°F or 54-60°C
- Meat: 160°F or 71°C
Should I leave the oven open when dehydrating?
Yes, you should leave the oven open when dehydrating. This will help to release some of the excessive moisture and air circulation that aids in dehydrating.
There is no need to leave the oven door open if your range has a convection or fan setting. The fan will circulate plenty of air around the food and you only need to vent the moisture from the oven every 20 to 30 minutes.
Furthermore, some ovens have an automatic shutoff when the oven door is slightly open.
In addition, leaving oven door open is not as energy efficient. Placing an electric fan next to the open gap of the oven door is highly recommended.
This will assist with air circulation back towards the oven to maintain the internal temperature.
Oven Temperature for Dehydrating: Conclusion
Compared to a dehydrator, oven requires managing the temperature accordingly based on the type of food and oven capabilities. With the right temperature, the results end up perfect to store and preserve for meal prep at anytime.
Typically, food dehydrates around 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius. No matter what, it is best to stay under 180 degrees Fahrenheit since most food start cooking around that temperature.
Some ovens have an internal fan or convection mode that really helps to move air around the chamber. If not, then leaving the oven door open about 1 to 2 inches with an electric fan facing toward the oven door can keep air circulation and remove moisture away.
Each food requires a precise temperature to dehydrate in the oven. Follow the temperature and technique recommendations to dry and preserve your food the right way using an oven.