How to Dehydrate Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice – Dehydrating Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice, A Step-by-Step Guide

 
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This is our step-by-step guide on how to dehydrate Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice. 

Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice is a preseasoned mix of rice and spices with a Creole or Cajun flair.

By cooking and dehydrating this jambalaya rice mix, we now have a major ingredient to whip up any variety of Cajun recipes. Additionally, the dehydrated rice becomes more like instant rice. It rehydrates and cooks much faster and requires significantly less fuel when cooking in the field or at the campsite.

Here is our dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice mix, a tasty addition to homemade dehydrated backpacking or dehydrated camping meals. It’s lightweight, shelf-stable, and one of the best foods to dehydrate for long-term storage because it can be used in many recipes. It will last up to a year or more when stored properly in your pantry. Add Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice to your list of foods that can be dehydrated, making for some extra good eats.
Here is our dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice mix, a tasty addition to homemade dehydrated backpacking or dehydrated camping meals. It’s lightweight, shelf-stable, and one of the best foods to dehydrate for long-term storage because it can be used in many recipes. It will last up to a year or more when stored properly in your pantry. Add Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice to your list of foods that can be dehydrated, making for some extra good eats.

Even if you’ve never dehydrated anything before, don’t worry; dehydrating Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice is a simple process that anyone can do with just a few basic tools that we will discuss here.

So, let’s get started dehydrating a box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice.

Table of Contents

How to Dehydrate Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice

All you need to dehydrate these foods is a good quality food dehydrator. We use the Nesco food dehydrators. You can check out our food dehydrator guide to learn why we think Nesco offers the best bang for the buck. We believe this is the best food dehydrator for our long-term food storage needs.

The Nesco FD-75A is a popular home food dehydrator that is easy to use and can handle a wide variety of foods, including the Zatarian’s Jambalaya Rice that we are drying today. It features a top-mounted fan and 600 watts of drying power. The adjustable thermostat has a range between 95 °F (35 °C) and 160 °F (71 °C), so you can set the temperature to the type of food you are dehydrating. It comes with five drying trays and is expandable to 12 trays, so you can dry large quantities at once. Each tray offers 0.8 sq ft. of drying area. Accessories include additional trays, fruit roll sheets, and clean-a-screen mesh inserts. Nesco offers a 1-year limited warranty.
The Nesco FD-75A is a popular home food dehydrator that is easy to use and can handle a wide variety of foods, including the Zatarian’s Jambalaya Rice that we are drying today. It features a top-mounted fan and 600 watts of drying power. The adjustable thermostat has a range between 95 °F (35 °C) and 160 °F (71 °C), so you can set the temperature to the type of food you are dehydrating. It comes with five drying trays and is expandable to 12 trays, so you can dry large quantities at once. Each tray offers 0.8 sq ft. of drying area. Accessories include additional trays, fruit roll sheets, and clean-a-screen mesh inserts. Nesco offers a 1-year limited warranty.

Supplies Needed for Dehydrating Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice

  • A box or two of Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice
  • Food dehydrator with removable fruit roll sheet inserts, one for each tray
  • Standard kitchen tools, including cutting boards, chef’s knife, spatula, etc.
  • Clear canning jars with tight-fitting lids
  • Wide-mouth canning jar funnel for easy transfer
  • Desiccant packets for moisture control (optional)

For planning purposes, one 8-ounce box of cooked Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice will fill four Nesco 13.5-inch round dehydrator trays.  

Step 1. Process the Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice for Dehydrating

We will start by cooking the rice according to the stovetop directions printed on the box with a few tweaks. We’re not going to add any meats or any oils.

We are at Step 1, cooking the Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice dry mix according to the package directions. However, we did not add the vegetable or olive oil as instructed.
We are at Step 1, cooking the Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice dry mix according to the package directions. However, we did not add the vegetable or olive oil as instructed.

First, we’re inspecting the rice mix for anything that doesn’t look like it belongs there.  

Generally, the modified cooking process is to mix the measured amount of water and the jambalaya rice mix in a 3-quart saucepan until well blended. Then, bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan. Simmer for 25 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Step 2. Preparing the Dehydrator for Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice

We cooked the entire 8-ounce box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice as described above in Step 1.

We will use these removable Nesco fruit roll sheet inserts on our food dehydrator for today’s project.  They have over 3000 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, which is evidence of a great product. Check out other Nesco food dehydrator products here.

We are preparing to dehydrate Zatarain's Jambalaya rice mix. We have filled four dehydrator trays with cooked rice, spreading it out in a thin layer. The next step is to plug in the dehydrator and set the thermostat to the appropriate drying temperature.
We are preparing to dehydrate Zatarain’s Jambalaya rice mix. We have filled four dehydrator trays with cooked rice, spreading it out in a thin layer. The next step is to plug in the dehydrator and set the thermostat to the appropriate drying temperature.

One cup of cooked Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice will fill one of the Nesco 13.5-inch round dehydrator trays with the removable fruit roll sheet insert.

The Nesco 13.5-inch round dehydrator tray has close to 119 square inches or .8 square feet of surface area for drying.

A close-up of the cooked Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice. The rice tends to stick together, making it difficult to create a thin layer. In a few hours, we will check progress and break apart the rice clumps into smaller pieces.
A close-up of the cooked Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice. The rice tends to stick together, making it difficult to create a thin layer. In a few hours, we will check progress and break apart the rice clumps into smaller pieces.

Spread the cooked jambalaya rice into a thin layer to promote even drying. A spatula works well here. The cooked rice will most likely stick together in clumps as you layer it on the fruit roll sheets. We can fix the clumping problem later.

Step 3. Dehydrating the Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice

Set the dehydrator thermostat temperature to 135 °F / 57 °C. I find that 18 to 24 hours is about the right amount of time for dehydrating rice. Drying times are variable and dependent on your food dehydrator, the ambient temperature and humidity, the number of dehydrator trays, the size of food items, and how crowded you fill your dehydrator trays.  

We have set the dehydrator temperature control to 135 °F (57 °C) to dehydrate the Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice mix.
We have set the dehydrator temperature control to 135 °F (57 °C) to dehydrate the Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice mix.

Case hardening is a phenomenon that can occur during the drying process of certain foods, including rice. It refers to the development of a hard outer crust or surface layer on the food, which can prevent the escape of moisture from the interior. This can lead to uneven drying and potentially result in moisture retention within the rice grains.

The outer layer of the jambalaya rice clumps may dry quickly and prevent the inside moisture from escaping, otherwise known as case hardening. About mid-way through the drying process, break apart any rice clumps into smaller pieces to prevent case hardening.  

Step 4. When is the Dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice Done

The dehydrating jambalaya rice will tend to shrink and break apart into sections. Pick up and examine both the top and bottom, looking for any sign of moisture or areas of undried rice. If seen, just let it dehydrate for another few hours and check again.

The Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice has finished dehydrating. We're letting it cool down to room temperature for a few minutes. The next step is to transfer the dried rice into canning jars for the equalizing and conditioning phase, which is Step 5.
The Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice has finished dehydrating. We’re letting it cool down to room temperature for a few minutes. The next step is to transfer the dried rice into canning jars for the equalizing and conditioning phase, which is Step 5.

Drying times depend on your food dehydrator, the ambient temperature and humidity, the number of dehydrator trays, the size of food items, and how crowded you fill your dehydrator trays. Refer to your dehydrator owner’s manual for recommended temperatures and times for dehydrating specific foods. Remember to use drying times as a guide.

Dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice is done when it easily breaks apart into smaller pieces. Any clumps have been broken down and checked for dryness and case hardening.

A close-up of the dehydrated Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice. The large rice clumps we started with were inspected several times as they dehydrated, and each time, we broke the larger pieces into smaller fragments to prevent case hardening.
A close-up of the dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice. The large rice clumps we started with were inspected several times as they dehydrated, and each time, we broke the larger pieces into smaller fragments to prevent case hardening.

With experience, you’ll develop an eye for this, but until it develops, just check it all for dryness.

Step 5. Equalizing and Conditioning Dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice

When the dehydrated rice pieces are removed from the dehydrator, the remaining moisture may not be distributed equally among the pieces because of their location and position in the dehydrator. Equalizing and conditioning is a procedure for freshly dehydrated foods that ensures any residual moisture remaining in any piece is spread or equalized among all the other pieces in the batch. Let the dried jambalaya rice equalize and condition in the storage container for 7 to 10 days.

The dehydrated Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice is now in the equalizing and conditioning phase. Equalizing and conditioning is a procedure for freshly dehydrated foods that ensures any residual moisture remaining in any piece is spread or equalized among all the other pieces in the batch.
The dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice is now in the equalizing and conditioning phase. Equalizing and conditioning is a procedure for freshly dehydrated foods that ensures any residual moisture remaining in any piece is spread or equalized among all the other pieces in the batch.

We always recommend letting food items cool completely after they have finished dehydrating and before packing them into an airtight storage container for equalizing and conditioning. Warm food may cause sweating, which could provide enough moisture for mold to grow.

Dehydrated food items do not take long to start hydrating from naturally occurring household humidity. Do not leave dehydrated food items exposed to the elements any longer than necessary because of the increased risk of mold growth.  

After a short cooling period, loosely pack the dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice into a clean, dry, insect-proof, and airtight storage container. We use the larger quart-size canning jars for conditioning. 

Since the canning jars are clear, it’s easy to see what’s inside. Fill the jars at most 2/3 to 3/4 full, leaving some headspace.

Headspace is the distance between the food surface and the lid’s underside. Its purpose is to provide ample space for the dehydrated food product to slide and tumble when shaken and rotated to expose any evidence of clumping or sticking.

A quality stainless steel or plastic canning jar funnel makes the messy job of getting dehydrated foods off the dehydrator tray removable inserts and into the canning jars an easy task. Take a minute or two and check them out on Amazon.

Every day, check the jar for moisture. Roll the jar contents around and note any clumping or sticking. If seen, put the contents back on the dehydrator for several more hours. Since canning jars are clear, it’s easy to see what’s inside.

Lastly, if you notice any mold, even the tiniest bit, throw it all out. The mold spores you see are blooming enough to make them visible. But there are more, even smaller mold spores in the rest of your jar that make your dehydrated food inedible. Toss it all out and start another batch.

Step 6. Storing Dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice

Use an appropriately sized canning jar for storage. The dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice might keep up to 12 months or longer. Exactly how long depends on how well you dehydrate the jambalaya rice mix and your dried-food pantry storage conditions.

This is our dehydrated Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice mix, which includes a desiccant packet inside the canning jar to control moisture. The desiccant packet helps to absorb ambient humidity, extending the shelf life of our dehydrated camping food.
This is our dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice mix, which includes a desiccant packet inside the canning jar to control moisture. The desiccant packet helps to absorb ambient humidity, extending the shelf life of our dehydrated camping food.

We’ll use a food-safe desiccant packet for moisture control because we live in a fairly humid area. For our pint-size or quart-size mason jars, we’ll use a single food-safe 5-gram desiccant packet. The desiccant packets will absorb any moisture and extend the shelf life of the dehydrated jambalaya rice.

We use these inexpensive food-safe desiccant packets, which are available from Amazon. These 5-gram packets have over 5000 of mostly 4- and 5-star customer reviews, with an average of 4.7 stars out of 5.  Our bag of 60 desiccant packets will last quite a while because they can be recharged and reused multiple times. Other food-safe sizes are available.

These food-safe 5-gram desiccant packets will absorb moisture from small enclosed spaces, such as our canning jars. We want our dehydrated Zatarian’s Jambalaya Rice to have a long shelf life. Use one packet for a pint, quart, or half-gallon size canning jar with a tight-fitting lid. They come sealed in a heavy-duty reusable zip-top bag to protect the desiccant packs from moisture before use. The orange indicators will turn dark green when they need to be recharged or replaced. They can be easily recharged either in a microwave or oven.
These food-safe 5-gram desiccant packets will absorb moisture from small enclosed spaces, such as our canning jars. We want our dehydrated Zatarian’s Jambalaya Rice to have a long shelf life. Use one packet for a pint, quart, or half-gallon size canning jar with a tight-fitting lid. They come sealed in a heavy-duty reusable zip-top bag to protect the desiccant packs from moisture before use. The orange indicators will turn dark green when they need to be recharged or replaced. They can be easily recharged either in a microwave or oven.

I don’t use a desiccant packet for moisture control during the equalizing and conditioning phase in Step 5. Doing so might mask moisture issues should the food items not be adequately dried.

Lastly, attach or include a short note describing the jar contents and the date the product was dehydrated. The label identifies the canning jar contents, and the date helps with the rotation schedule.  A first-in, first-out rotation helps us to use items that have been on the shelf the longest, so we’re using the oldest food first. This method helps us maintain the integrity of dehydrated products.  The note also lets me know where to go in my dehydrator logbook if I want to make another note or two.

Hydration

Hydrate the dried Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice using roughly a 1-to-1 ratio of dehydrated rice mix to boiled water. Plan on at least 15 to 20 minutes to fully hydrate.

Weights, Measures, and Serving Sizes

This information is summarized from our notes in a logbook on most of our food dehydration efforts.

One 8-ounce box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice mix, about five servings, cooked without added fats, dehydrated to approximately 220 grams.  So that comes to about 45 grams per serving.

Dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 45 grams | Calories: 160kcal | Total Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 500mg | Carbohydrate: 33g | Dietary Fiber:  1g | Sugar: 0g | Protein: 4g

Insider Tips

Besides the homemade dehydrated meal recipes on this website, try adding the dried jambalaya rice mix to any of your favorite freeze-dried food pouches for a bit more flavor, bulk, and calories. I don’t know about you, but with some of those store-bought freeze-dried meals, I am still hungry. I need a bit more to fill me up.

Practice these Dehydrator Chef homemade dehydrated camping meal recipes at home several times with the very same outdoor kitchen gear used in the field or at the campsite. This approach lets you practice your skills to know what to expect and where to adapt.

Here is our dehydrated Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice mix, a tasty addition to homemade dehydrated backpacking or dehydrated camping meals. It’s lightweight, shelf-stable, and one of the best foods to dehydrate for long-term storage because it can be used in many recipes. It will last up to a year or more when stored properly in your pantry. Add Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice to your list of foods that can be dehydrated, making for some extra good eats.

How to Dehydrate Zatarains Jambalaya Rice

Dehydrator Chef
This is our step-by-step guide on how to dehydrate Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice. Dehydrating Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice is really easy to do.  Many of our dehydrated camping meal recipes use rice in one way or another, and the jambalaya spices in the rice add a bit of cajun flair. So it just makes good sense to dehydrate what you use day-to-day and have it on hand in your pantry for when it’s needed.
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Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Dehydrating Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 30 minutes
Course Dehydrated Food Ingredient
Cuisine Backpacking, Camping, Dehydrated Food, Hiking
Servings 5 from 1 (8-ounce) box
Calories 160 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice
  • stock or broth (optional)

Instructions
 

Process the Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice

  • Inspect the rice, removing anything that shouldn't be there. Despite the use of modern cleaning equipment, it is not always possible to remove all foreign materials.
  • Cook the rice according to package directions; omit any added oils or fats. Optionally, substitute an equal amount of broth or stock in place of water.
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Prepare the Dehydrator

  • Spread and layer the processed cooked jambalaya rice on the fruit roll sheet inserts; one cup of rice will fill one 13.5-inch round dehydrator tray. If it’s too crowded, prepare another tray.
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Dehydrate the Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice

  • Set the dehydrator thermostat temperature to 135 °F (57 °C). Dry for 18 to 24 hours until done.
    The dehydrator temperature control is set to 135 °F / 57 °C
  • Inspect the rice every few hours as it dehydrates and break apart the bigger pieces into smaller fragments to help prevent case hardening.

When is the Dehydrated Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice Done

  • When done, the rice fragments should easily separate into individual rice kernels. There should be no wet or mushy areas.
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Equalizing and Conditioning the Dehydrated Jambalaya Rice

  • After a short cooling period, loosely pack the dried jambalaya rice into a clean, dry canning jar with a tight-fitting lid, leaving some headspace.
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  • Every day, for 7 to 10 days, check the jar for moisture. Roll the jar contents around and note any clumping or sticking. If seen, put it all back on the dehydrator for several more hours.
  • If you notice any mold at all, even the slightest bit, throw it all out.

Storing the Dehydrated Zatarain's Jambalaya Rice

  • Use appropriate-sized canning jars for storage. Depending on how well you dehydrate it and your pantry storage conditions, the dehydrated jambalaya rice should keep for at least 12 months.
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  • An optional food-safe desiccant packet will aid with moisture control and enable a longer shelf life.
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  • Attach or include a label describing the jar contents and the date the rice was dehydrated. The label identifies the canning jar contents, and the date helps with the rotation schedule.  A first-in, first-out rotation helps us to use items that have been on the shelf the longest, so we're using the oldest food first.

Notes

Drying times will vary depending on your dehydrator and environmental conditions. Refer to your dehydrator owner’s manual for recommended temperatures and times for dehydrating specific foods. Remember to use drying times as a guide.

Nutrition

Serving: 45gCalories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 4gFat: 0.5gSodium: 500mgFiber: 1g

Nutrition information is only an estimate and may differ depending on the ingredients you use.

Keywords dehydrated jambalaya rice, dehydrating food for long term storage, how to dehydrate Zatarain’s Jambalaya Rice
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