dehydrate
dee-HY-drayt
/diːˈhaɪ.dreɪt/
To remove water or moisture from food, typically using heat or air flow, to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold.
Dehydrate is the standard term for removing water for preservation, leaving some moisture for chewiness, unlike 'desiccate' which implies absolute dryness.
The story behind the word. From the Greek prefix 'de-' (meaning away or down) and 'hydor' (water). It literally means to take the water away. It entered the English language in the 19th century as industrial food processing began to take off.
Word relationships
- dry: 'Dry' is a general term, while 'dehydrate' specifically implies a controlled process of removing water content.
- desiccate: 'Desiccate' is a much stronger, scientific term for removing all moisture, leaving a substance brittle.
- hydrate: 'Hydrate' means to add water or moisture, the direct opposite of dehydrate.
Commonly confused with
- evaporate: 'Evaporate' refers to the liquid turning into gas, while 'dehydrate' refers to the object losing its liquid content.
Word family
- dehydration (noun): The loss or removal of water.
- dehydrator (noun): An appliance used to dry food.
Collocations
- dehydrate food
- completely dehydrate
- dehydrated fruit
Example sentences
- "If you dehydrate thin slices of sweet potato, you can make crispy, nutritious chips without any oil." An instruction for making healthy snacks.
- "Hikers often dehydrate their own meals because removing the water weight makes the food much lighter to carry." A guide to backpacking preparation.
Memory hook
Think of 'hydration' (drinking water). Put 'de-' in front, and you are taking the water away. Dehydrate means water out of the gate.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to chemical drying agents; dehydrate usually implies evaporation through heat or air.
Fun facts
- NASA popularized freeze-dehydration (freeze-drying) in the 1960s to create lightweight, highly nutritious meals for astronauts on Apollo missions.
Related words
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