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Dried Foods: The Science Behind Making Lightweight Snacks

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Summary

Areas of Science
Difficulty
 
Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Very Low (under $20)
Safety
This project may require the use of a sharp knife and the oven. Adult supervision is required.
*Note: For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.

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Abstract

If you've ever been on a long hike, you probably already know how hungry all that walking can make you. But if you're going a long distance, the last thing you want is a heavy pack of snacks on your back. So what can you bring along for a healthy, hunger-satisfying, lightweight snack? How about dried foods, like banana chips or beef jerky? Many foods have high water content. The drying process removes much of the water from the food, leaving behind a lighter, but equally nutritious snack. Just how much water is removed during drying? Find out for yourself by making your own supply of dried banana chips (or another fruit of your choice). You'll need to research different drying techniques and remember to weigh the bananas before and after drying to calculate how much water was lost. For a more advanced science fair project, you can try comparing the results of different drying techniques, or comparing the amount of water lost from different types of foods during drying. Happy snacking!
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MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Dried Foods: The Science Behind Making Lightweight Snacks." Science Buddies, 20 Nov. 2020, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/FoodSci_p015/cooking-food-science/dried-foods?class=9WHmVWEvKjQzKP6vV-TD1qEQX8Am7K47UZKiSqE4LHgQwCRLzqKVbqDkKZKrXyIsrkLMZpw-qy4. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2020, November 20). Dried Foods: The Science Behind Making Lightweight Snacks. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/FoodSci_p015/cooking-food-science/dried-foods?class=9WHmVWEvKjQzKP6vV-TD1qEQX8Am7K47UZKiSqE4LHgQwCRLzqKVbqDkKZKrXyIsrkLMZpw-qy4


Last edit date: 2020-11-20
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