Buying Sulfite Dips on Amazon (and How to Use Them to Prep Fruit for Drying)
Drying fruit in the oven or a food dehydrator is a great way to preserve fresh fruits when they are in plentiful supply and cheap. Before putting the sliced or diced fruit in the oven or a dehydrator, most experts recommend pre-treating the fruit in order to protect some of the nutrients they contain and to prevent the fruit from developing an unpleasant brown color. Sulfite dips are one of easiest and most popular pre-treatments used by people dehydrating small amounts of fruit at home. However, if you've ever tried to find sulfite dips on Amazon, the online shopping site that's credited with having pretty much everything and anything, your search with the keyword sulfite dip may have resulted in only a few hits, or no hits at all. But that doesn't mean Amazon doesn't sell sulfite dips! To learn how to find sulfite dips on Amazon, keep reading.
Where to Buy Sulfite Dips Online
Here's the secret: there are actually several types of sulfite dips, and each of them typically goes by the scientific name of the chemical compound it contains (e.g. sodium meta-bisulfite, rather than just sulfite dip). Plus, at the time of purchase, the product is not even a liquid, so "dip" isn't exactly the best way to describe it. What you typically buy is fine, white granules that you then mix with water at home to create a solution that you can dip the sliced fresh fruit in (for detailed instructions on how to make and use sulfite dips, check out the next section).
When selecting ingredients for your sulfite dip, make sure all the ingredients are food-grade. You can buy food-grade sodium meta-bisulfite, which can be used both in winemaking and to pre-treat fruit prior to drying, through Amazon's main online store or its UK store using the following affiliate links:
How to Use Sodium Metabisulfite to Pre-Treat Fruit Prior to Drying
- Prepare the sulfiting solution in a large glass bowl by dissolving food-grade sodium metabisulfite in filtered water. On its website, the University of Missouri Extension recommends using 1 to 2 tablespoons of sodium metabisulfite per 1 quart of water. (If using sodium bisulfate, use only ¾ to 1 ½ teaspoons of sodium bisulfate per quart of water). Do not exceed the recommended amounts.
- Cut the peeled fruit directly into the sulfite dip, and allow to soak 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the fruit pieces.
- Remove the fruit pieces with a large slotted spoon, drain well and dehydrate in an oven or a food dehydrator.
- This sulfite dip can be used only once, so discard the solution after use and make a new one for the next batch.
Alternatives to Sulfite Dips
Sulfite solutions are cheap, easy to use and readily available once you know how to look for them. However, they also have some disadvantages. Some people, particularly those with asthma or related conditions, may react adversely to sulfites, including sodium metabisulfite. Individuals who are sensitive to sulfites should not eat sulfite-treated foods or prepare soaking solutions with sulfites. Sulfite fumes will also be given off during the drying process, so you also want to avoid using sulfites if any of the people who live with you are sensitive to sulfites. If sulfite dips are not an option for you and your family, don't worry – there are plenty of other anti-oxidizing dips and methods that can be used to prevent discoloration and oxidation of fruits during the drying process, including:
- Pure ascorbic acid powder mixed with water — This is commonly used to pre-treat fruits like apples, apricots, bananas, nectarines, peaches and pears.
- Citric acid dips made by dissolving a small amount of food-grade citric in cold water — These dips are used much the same way as ascorbic acid dips.
- Lemon juice, either undiluted or diluted with water — Note that non-organic lemon juice typically contains sulfites, so if you are looking for a sulfite-free solution, go for USDA-certified organic lemon juice)
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