Backyard Pro BUTCHER Series - Reconstitution Guide; Just Add Water Methods; Time for Reconstitution; Other Reconstitution Hints

7
RECONSTITUTION
Dehydraon is the process of removing moisture from food. Reconstuon is the replacement of
that moisture to bring the food back to its natural states. Although some dried foods such as fruit are
excellent in their dehydrated state, you will oen want to reconstute other dried foods before eang
them. Here are some ps on reconstuon.
JUST ADD WATER
For chopped or shredded vegetables, and for fruits to be used in cookies, no reconstuon is usually
needed. If the pieces are quite crisp and dry you can try sprinkling with 1 Tbsp. water per cup of dried
food.
For vegetables and fruits to be used in soués, pies, quick breads, doughs or baer, use 2 parts water
to 3 parts (by volume) dried food.
For vegetables and fruits which will be cooked in the liquid such as vegetable side dishes, fruit
toppings, and compotes, use 1 to 1½ parts water to 1 part dried food. Extra liquid may be required for
proper cooking.
TIME FOR RECONSTITUTION
• Chopped and shredded foods reconstute quickly. Generally, 15 to 30 minutes is sucient.
• Larger vegetable or fruit slices, and meat cubes can be reconstuted overnight in water, le in the
refrigerator. Alternately, you can also choose to place in boiling water, remove from stove, and let
stand 2 to 3 hours.
• Whole pieces of fruit take longest to reconstute, and are best le to soak overnight.
OTHER RECONSTITUTION HINTS
• If you drain reconstuted foods, save the liquid. This liquid has great nutrional value. Freeze this
liquid for later use in soups, leathers, pies or compotes.
• There is no need to reconstute ahead of me when making soups. Dried vegetables can be added
directly to the soup about one hour before serving.
• Do not add spices, salt, bouillon cubes or tomato products unl vegetables are reconstuted and
cooked. These items considerably hinder rehydraon.
• Some foods take longer to reconstute than others. Carrots and beans require more me than
green peas or potatoes. A rule of thumb: those that take the longest to dehydrate will take the
longest to reconstute.
• Try not to use more liquid than necessary for reconstuon because nutrients will be drained away
with the excess water. Place dehydrated food in a container and use just enough water to cover the
food. Add more water later as needed to replace what the food absorbs.