Question about Using a Dehumidifier

Hello All,

I have begun picking the hops that are growing at my house. I don't know what kind, as they were growing there when we moved in. I started drying them in the basement on screens that are resting on chairs with a box fan on low near them. For the first few screens, I turned off the dehumidifier in the basement because I thought it may damage the hops in the drying process. So, I'm wondering, is it a good or bad idea to keep the dehumidifier on?

I'd keep it on, otherwise you're likely just recirculating whatever moisture is pulled out of the cones. The dehydrator won't over-dry the hops...

Cheers!

thanks. i figured it was a good idea and may speed up the drying.

Dehumidifing the hops is the goal of drying them. If you do it without heat you'll keep oils that usually are lost. The oast I am working on has no heat source and only uses a dehumidifier to bring the hops to the right moisture content.