Food dehydrator to prepare healthy dehydrated plant-based food

I am looking into the possibilityof buying a food dehydrator to prepare healthy dehydrated plant-based food to add variety to my diet and get my family members to eat healthy snacks made of fruits.

Source of the following information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_dehydrator

A food dehydrator is an appliance that removes moisture from food to aid in its preservation. A food dehydrator uses heat and air flow to reduce the water content of foods.

The water content of food is usually very high, typically 80% to 95% for various fruits and vegetables and 50% to 75% for various meats. Removing moisture from food restrains various bacteria from growing and spoiling food.

Further, removing moisture from food dramatically reduces the weight of the food.

Thus, food dehydrators are used to preserve and extend the shelf life of various foods.

A food dehydrator's basic parts usually consist of a heating element, a fan, air vents allowing for air circulation and food trays to lay food upon.

A dehydrator's heating element, fans and vents simultaneously work to remove moisture from food.

A dehydrator's heating element warms the food causing its moisture to be released from its interior.

The appliance's fan then blows the warm, moist air out of the appliance via the air vents. This process continues for hours until the food is dried to a substantially lower water content, usually fifteen to twenty percent or less.

Most foods are dehydrated at temperatures of 130 °F, or 54 °C, although meats being made into jerky should be dehydrated at a higher temperature of 155 °F, or 68 °C, or preheated to those temperature levels, to guard against pathogens that may be in the meat.

The key to successful food dehydration is the application of a constant temperature and adequate air flow.

Too high of a temperature can cause case hardened foods; food that is hard and dry on the outside but moist on the inside.

The first food dehydrator was sold in 1920.

Solar dryers use solar energy to create a flow of warm air through the tray.