What You Need to Know
Osmotic dehydration involves the transfer of water from the food to a hypertonic solution, typically a sugar or salt solution, through osmosis. The process typically occurs at room temperature or slightly elevated temperatures, and the duration can range from a few minutes to several hours.
Steps
- 1.
Turkish Delight (Ottoman Empire): Creates the characteristic chewy texture by osmotic sugar absorption
- 2.
Chinese Preserved Plums (Southern China): Concentrates flavors while maintaining chewy texture through salt-sugar osmosis
- 3.
Italian Mostarda (Northern Italy): Uses osmotic dehydration to infuse fruits with mustard oil while preserving structure
The Science
Primary Reaction
osmosis