Fresh to dried weight for fruits, veggies, and herbs — with dehydrator time estimates.
Dried weight
9.6 oz finished
0.60 lb
Water removed
Fresh is ~85% water
4.40 lb
Dehydrator time
At 135-145°F with sliced uniform thickness
~8 hr
Most produce is 80-95% water. High-moisture items like tomato and zucchini lose 94-95% of their weight — a laundry basket of tomatoes turns into a single quart jar of sun-dried ribbons.
Slice uniformly and pre-treat high-sugar fruits in a lemon-water dip to prevent browning. Condition dried fruit for 7-10 days in a sealed jar before long-term storage.
dry_lb = fresh_lb × dry_yield_%
Jerky Yield
Fresh meat to finished jerky — yield by cut, trim loss, and dryness level.
Canning Processing Time
USDA boiling-water-bath times by recipe, jar size, and altitude — with safety guardrails for low-acid foods.
Fermentation Time
How long to wait for kraut, kimchi, hot sauce, or kombucha — adjusted for your room temperature.