2006-08-10 08:12:29 · 2 answers · asked by fiddlesticks9 5 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
Herbs such as basil, lemon balm, all herbs with green leaves from the garden that need to be dried to be preserved. The box will be built with a 500w heater and built-in fan. The leaves MUST sit directly on the screen or mesh.
2006-08-10 08:15:49 · update #1
From a health standpoint, it is safe. You would be better off with stainless steel or aluminum, though.
Zinc dissolves in both base solutions as well as acidic solutions. The zinc is there as a sacrificial surface material to protect the mild steel mesh that has the necessary strength to keep the mesh together.
If you will use the mesh, then rinse the herbs and remove as much surface moisture as possible before placing them on the screen. If you start seeing rust, that means the zinc has dissolved from the surface of the steel, and the steel is rusting. Again, this isn't a health risk, but will discolor the herbs.
2006-08-11 11:16:19 · answer #1 · answered by odu83 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a home-built food dryer which uses Six (24" x 24") window screens. It also Uses six 100w bulbs on switches to control the heat.
2006-08-11 11:25:50 · answer #2 · answered by M1Lithium 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋