How Long to Dehydrate Garlic?

The garlic dehydration time will affect the quality and shelf life of subsequent products, such as garlic powder and garlic slices. So, how long to dehydrate garlic? The answer is not fixed because it is affected by many factors.

How long to dehydrate garlic?

Generally speaking, it takes about 6 to 12 hours to dry garlic in industrial drying equipment, depending on the process settings and the condition of the raw materials.

Main factors affecting drying time

Drying time is not fixed, but is affected by many factors:

1. Initial moisture content of garlic

The moisture content of fresh garlic is about 65%. The wetter the garlic is, the longer it takes to dehydrate. If it is not pre-treated by drying after harvesting, direct drying will significantly extend the time.

2. Slice thickness or whole clove processing method

Whole clove garlic: large volume, water is not easy to evaporate, and the drying time is longer;

Sliced garlic: After the garlic cloves are cut into 1~3mm slices, the evaporation area is increased, which can usually significantly shorten the drying time.

3. Setting the drying temperature

The higher the drying temperature, the faster the speed in theory. But it should be controlled within the appropriate range:

The drying temperature is usually set at 50°C~70°C;

If the temperature is too high, it is easy to cause the garlic to change color or lose its flavor;

Stage temperature control (high first and then low) can take into account both efficiency and quality.

4. Air circulation and humidity control

The efficient air circulation system and humidity exhaust system can accelerate the evaporation of water and shorten the drying time. If the air humidity accumulates, the moisture is not easy to be removed, which will significantly prolong the drying process.

5. Equipment type and drying process

Continuous mesh belt dryer: can be layered, constant temperature, automatic humidity control, high efficiency.

Hot air circulation oven: batch operation, suitable for small and medium production, but poor heat uniformity.

The time for drying garlic is not fixed, but a combination of multiple variables such as raw materials, moisture, slicing method, drying equipment, process parameters, etc. In order to produce garlic products with good color, strong aroma and stable storage, it is key to properly master the balance of "time-temperature-equipment".