Foods can be dehydrated in more than one way. Each one of those methods has its advantages and disadvantages, so you'll have to weigh the pros and cons before choosing dehydrated food. The labels on the packaging should indicate how the food was dehydrated. For example, it should read freeze-dried or heat dehydrated. Dehydrated food offers many advantages, such as easy storage and low bulk, but also has some drawbacks.
Changes in Taste and Texture
Dehydrated food has a very distinctive feel and texture. These are usually very different to the feel and texture of the same food when fresh. Dehydrated food is also more likely to crumble easily and lose its texture. Freeze-dried food conserve more of its original flavor than heat-dehydrated food, because the freeze drying process is faster and seals in flavors better. According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, freeze-dried food loses its natural color, so companies need to pre-treat or add artificial coloring to the foods.
Limited Options
While you can dehydrate most fruits and vegetables, not all of them will come out edible. Some vegetables might end up being too tough or too leathery, while others will lose some of their natural flavors. This is why many dehydrated fruits are coated with sugar to provide some added flavoring. Full meals, such as beans and rice or chicken casseroles, are available in freeze-dried packs, but the price is usually prohibitive. It might only make sense to buy some if you go backpacking or camping. Heat-dehydrated foods, on the other hand, are limited to mostly fruits and vegetables.
Cost
Some dehydrated fruits and vegetables are cheap. These include common fruits like apples and pineapple. More exotic fruits, like mango and papaya, might be expensive. This is usually the case with berries as well. Dehydrated strawberries or blueberries are not as common, so prices tend to be higher. Food that is dehydrated with the freeze-dried method is usually more expensive.
