Drying nets: how to choose size, mesh, and material
Drying fruits, vegetables, berries, mushrooms, and fish on nets. Selection by purpose, setup, and guidelines.
5+ types
Designs
Various
Densities
10 min
Reading time
-40%
Losses
Net by product type
| Product | Mesh size | Recommended net size |
|---|---|---|
| Apples, pears, plums (slices) | 4×4 мм | 60×90 см (3-ярусна) |
| Apricots, cherries (halves) | 4×4 мм | 60×90 см (2-3 яруси) |
| Berries (raspberry, strawberry, currant) | 1×1 або 2×2 мм | 50×80 см (дрібна комірка)') }} |
| Mushrooms (button, porcini) | 3×3 мм | 50×70 см, одношарова |
| Herbs and greens | 1×1 мм | 40×60 см, кілька шарів |
| Fish, cured | 5×5 мм, підвіс') }} | Cylindrical, hanging |
| Tomatoes (dried) | 3×3 мм | 60×90 см |
Types of drying nets
- Flat single-layer: on a wood or metal frame. The simplest option, size 40×60 or 60×90 cm
- Multi-tier collapsible: 3–5 tiers, folds with zippers. Saves space, increases throughput
- Hanging cylindrical (fish, cured meat): a cylinder with a zipper, suspended. Protects against flies, good airflow
- Conveyor belt (commercial): stainless steel or PE, moves through a drying chamber
Drying net materials
- Food-grade polyethylene (HDPE): standard for home use. Withstands up to +60°C in a dehydrator
- Polypropylene: for electric dehydrators, withstands +100°C
- Nylon: durable, for commercial dehydrators
- Stainless steel: commercial dehydrators, compliant with FDA food safety standards
Important: For drying food products, use certified food-grade plastic labeled "food grade" or "BfR-compliant." Do not use regular mosquito netting for fruit — it is not food-safe.
Drying guidelines
- Shade drying (for herbs, medicinal plants): under a canopy with airflow, temperature 25–35°C, 5–10 days
- Sun drying (fruit, tomatoes): direct sunlight, 30–40°C, 3–7 days. Cover with cheesecloth to keep flies away
- Electric dehydrator: 55–70°C (apples), 45–55°C (berries), 35–45°C (herbs). Stir every 4–6 hours
- Moisture down to 12–15%: test — the product leaves no marks when squeezed but is not brittle
- Product layer: a single layer of 1–1.5 cm so air circulates on all sides. Overlapping leads to rot
Drying nets in the catalog
Our catalog offers drying nets in various sizes and for different purposes, with wholesale prices for farms.