How to Dehydrate Quinoa
Here is our step-by-step guide on how to dehydrate quinoa. Dehydrated quinoa is an excellent food for long-term storage due to its high nutritional value and versatility in recipes. It is lightweight, shelf-stable, and easy to prepare, making it a staple ingredient for homemade camping meals. Properly dehydrated and stored, the dried quinoa should keep up to a year in your pantry.
Equipment
- Removable fruit roll sheet insert (one for each dehydrator tray)
- Common kitchen tools (including cutting boards, chef's knife, strainer, etc.)
- Canning jars with tight-fitting lids
- Desiccant packets for moisture control (optional)
Ingredients
- quinoa
- beef, chicken, or vegetable stock (optional, but no, or low-sodium is preferred)
Instructions
Process the Quinoa
- Using a wire mesh strainer, rinse off the quinoa.quinoa
- Inspect the quinoa as you rinse it, 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 quinoa according to package directions; omit any added oils or fats. Optionally, substitute an equal amount of broth or stock in place of water.
Prepare the Dehydrator
- Spread the cooked quinoa onto the removable fruit roll sheet inserts; one 16-ounce package will fill five to seven Nesco 13.5-inch round dehydrator trays. If it’s too crowded, prepare another tray.
Dehydrate the Quinoa
- Set the dehydrator thermostat temperature to 135 °F (57 °C). Dry for 18 to 24 hours until done.
- Check on the quinoa every few hours and break apart the bigger pieces into smaller fragments to help prevent case hardening.
When is the Dehydrated Quinoa Done
- When done, the quinoa should easily break apart into smaller pieces, and there should be no wet or mushy pieces.
Equalizing and Conditioning Dehydrated Quinoa
- After a short cooling period, loosely pack the dehydrated quinoa into a clean, dry canning jar with a tight-fitting lid, leaving some headspace.
- 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 Quinoa
- Use appropriate-sized canning jars for storage. Depending on how well you dehydrate them and your pantry storage conditions, the dehydrated quinoa should keep for at least 12 months.
- An optional food-safe desiccant packet will aid with moisture control.
- Attach or include a label 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.
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.
The product’s ingredient list may include added salt. It is assumed that some, but not all, of the sodium content would be drained away with the canning liquid, so the actual sodium may be less than shown above.
Nutrition
Serving: 45gCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 6gFat: 2.5gSodium: 68mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3g
Nutrition information is only an estimate and may differ depending on the ingredients you use.
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