Pure Ascorbic Acid Powder (for Pre-Treating Fruit Prior to Drying, Etc.)
Dehydrating fruit is a great way to preserve food, use up extra produce, and create healthier snacks. But before drying fruit, you should consider pre-treating the fruit in order to prevent discoloration and oxidation during the drying process. Using a sulfite dip is one of most efficient pre-treatment methods you can use at home, but some people, particularly those with asthma, are sensitive to sulfites and may have to look for an alternative method. That's where ascorbic acid powders and tablets come in. Better known as vitamin C, ascorbic acid is a strong antioxidant that not only protects your skin and inner organs against cellular oxidation caused by free radicals, but that also helps prevent cut fruit from oxidizing, making sure the fruit doesn't develop an unpleasant brown color during the drying process. Read on for tips on where to get pure ascorbic acid powder and how to use it to pre-treat fruits prior to drying.
Where to Get Pure Vitamin C Powder Made in the USA or the UK
Most of raw ascorbic acid is produced China, and for all we know, is made from genetically modified (GMO) corn crops. At the same time, more and more consumers are looking for locally produced alternatives to products that are typically made in China. If you are looking to buy vitamin C powder or tablets that are not produced in China, take heart: pure ascorbic acid powder made in the USA or UK does exist (see below)!
GMO-Free Vitamins LLC's 100% pure ascorbic acid contains no additives or fillers, and it is USP (pharmaceutical) grade. What's more, it has been produced in the UK, and unlike most ascorbic acid powders and tablets you can buy in the stores and online, this one has not been made from GMO corn crops. As of the writing of this article, GMO-Free Vitamin LLC's pure ascorbic acid is also one of the best-rated ascorbic acid powders on Amazon. You can buy it both through Amazon's global site and through its UK site:
How to Treat Fruit with Synthetic Vitamin C Before Drying
- Step 1: First, make an ascorbic acid dip by mixing pure ascorbic acid powder with filtered water. In The Beginner's Guide to Preserving Food at Home, food preservation expert Janet Chadwick recommends dissolving 2 tablespoons of ascorbic acid powder or crystals in 1 quart of water. One quart of solution treats about 10 quarts of cut fruit. If you are preparing a smaller batch, halve the amounts recommended above.
- Step 2: Cut the fruit directly into the ascorbic acid dip and let the fruit pieces soak for about 10 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon. Alternatively, pour the vitamin C solution into a clean spray bottle suitable for food preparation, and spray the sliced or cut fruit with the solution.
- Step 3: Drain the treated fruit pieces, and blot off any excess moisture with clean paper towels. Now your fruit pieces are ready to be dehydrated in an oven or a food dehydrator.
Are There More Natural Alternatives?
Pre-treating fruit with ascorbic acid prior to drying is one of the easiest methods of preparing fruit for the dehydrator. However, ascorbic acid is a synthetic (man-made) vitamin, and some people may prefer to use a more natural alternative. Regular lemon juice helps prevent fruit from browning and is therefore a great natural alternative to ascorbic acid solutions and sprays, provided that you don't mind the fruit absorbing some of the flavor of the juice. Also honey dips and syrup blanching make great natural alternatives, though the latter does not work if you're on strict raw food diet. In addition to allowing you to make chemical-free dehydrated snacks, all of these methods are typically also much cheaper than using high-quality ascorbic acid made in the USA or the UK.
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