Desiccation

[des-ih-kay-shun]

noun

1. dryness through removal or loss of moisture
2. the process of preserving food through dehydration

Examples of desiccate in a sentence:

• The archaeologists were surprised by the level of desiccation that had occurred thanks to the dryness in the caves. 
• His process of desiccation takes a few days, but it makes the perfect dried fruit for homemade granola.