Beets are a common root vegetable that can be sliced and dried in order to preserve them for a longer period. Fresh beets are a good source of many essential nutrients, and many of them are preserved if the beets are properly dehydrated. Certain vitamins or minerals will be preserved better than others. Dried beets can be rehydrated for use in soups and stews.
Dehydration
According to Colorado State University Extension, the key point of proper food dehydration is to remove the moisture from the foods as quickly as possible in order to create the least amount of damage to the flavor, texture and color of the food. Proper dehydration requires proper heat temperatures, air dryness, air circulation and the blanching of vegetables to stop enzyme action and enhance the destruction of microorganisms before they are dried. Too little heat at the beginning will make it more likely for microorganisms to grow, and too high a temperature at the beginning may cause the food to harden on the surface.
Calorie Content
The calorie content of dried foods remains the same as in fresh foods, only the calories are concentrated into a smaller area after dehydration. According to FitClick, 1/2 cup of sliced fresh beets has 37.4 calories, 1.4 of which come from fat. The calorie content of 1 cup of fresh sliced beets that have been dried will remain the same, although the overall mass will be lower.
Carbohydrate, Fiber and Protein
The dietary fiber content of 1/2 cup of sliced fresh beets is 1.7 grams. The total amount of sugars in 1/2 cup of beets is 6.77 grams, and the total protein content is 1.43 grams. The dietary fiber, sugar and protein content of dried beets remain the same as for fresh beets, although the overall amount will be less than 1/2 cup.
Vitamins and Minerals
One-half cup of fresh sliced beets has 29.75 international units of vitamin A, which is mostly retained during dehydration if the proper temperature is used when drying the beets. However, the vitamin C content of 1/2 cup of fresh sliced beets is almost entirely lost during the dehydration process as it is not well retained during drying. However, both calcium and iron are retained during the dehydration process, and 1/2 cup of fresh sliced beets that have been dried will have 13.6 milligrams of clacium and 0.67 milligrams of iron.
Member Comments