It formed the main protein source for the slaves on the West Indian plantations, and was a major economic force within the triangular trade.
Dried meats include prosciutto (Parma ham), bresaola, biltong and beef jerky.
Home drying of vegetables, fruit and meat can be carried out with electrical dehydrators (household appliance) or by sun-drying or by wind.
However, dried products without these preservatives may require refrigeration or freezing to ensure safe storage for a long time.
In this case, food is flash frozen and put into a reduced-pressure system which causes the water to sublimate directly from the solid to the gaseous phase.
Although freeze-drying is more expensive than traditional dehydration techniques, it also mitigates the change in flavor, texture, and nutritional value.