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Help needed please with dehydrating food
taurusgb
Posts: 909 Forumite
Hello everyone
I've just bought a food dehydrator and the user booklet is OK as far as it goes - but it doesn't go very far
...so it would be greatly appreciated if anyone who has their own could answer a few questions please?....
1) Can I mix the things I dry in different trays - ie could I do a tray of onions and a tray of strawberries or would the flavours mingle and leave me with onion flavoured fruit?
2) My booklet says fruit should be dipped in syrup or pineapple juice or briefly blanched and that vegetables should be steamed or blanched for a short while - is this strictly necessary for everything and how long should I blanche/steam/dip for? (apparantly this is to stop enzyme activity and prolong life of the end product)
3) What sort of storage do you use for the finished product - glass jars? or plastic boxes?
4) Can anyone recommend a good book on this subject?
Many thanks for any help
I've just bought a food dehydrator and the user booklet is OK as far as it goes - but it doesn't go very far
...so it would be greatly appreciated if anyone who has their own could answer a few questions please?....1) Can I mix the things I dry in different trays - ie could I do a tray of onions and a tray of strawberries or would the flavours mingle and leave me with onion flavoured fruit?
2) My booklet says fruit should be dipped in syrup or pineapple juice or briefly blanched and that vegetables should be steamed or blanched for a short while - is this strictly necessary for everything and how long should I blanche/steam/dip for? (apparantly this is to stop enzyme activity and prolong life of the end product)
3) What sort of storage do you use for the finished product - glass jars? or plastic boxes?
4) Can anyone recommend a good book on this subject?
Many thanks for any help
People Say that life's the thing - but I prefer reading 
The difference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: If Gladstone fell jnto the Thames it would be a misfortune. But if someone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity - Benjamin Disreali
The difference between a misfortune and a calamity is this: If Gladstone fell jnto the Thames it would be a misfortune. But if someone dragged him out again, that would be a calamity - Benjamin Disreali
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Comments
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Sorry I can only answer number 3. I use anything that is air tight.
There are a few people on here who have experimented more, I'm sure they will be along to help you out soon.Organised people are just too lazy to look for things
F U Fund currently at £2500 -
1.I've mixed stuff with no problem.
2.It isn't necessary for everything but it depends what it is.
3.You can use either.I have seen blogs where people seal their dried stuff in plastic bags vacuum sealed.
4.yes ! Mary Bell's complete dehydrator cookbook is fantastic. They have it on Amazon.0 -
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0688130240/026-4456256-0405203?v=glance&n=266239
Maybe this better?0 -
out of curiosity, what is a food dehydrator and why would one use one?Debt: a bloomin big mortgage
all posts are made for entertainment value only, nothing I say should be taken as making any sense and should really be ignored0 -
Dead_Eye_Jones wrote:out of curiosity, what is a food dehydrator and why would one use one?
I use my food dehydrator on grains. For instance, if i'm making a breakfast cereal, i'll soak all my grains (oat groats, wheat, quinoa, spelt etc) overnight and then dehydrate them so they are dry again. This boosts their vitamin content by up to 400% and also removes any phytic acid issue.
I'm going to try dehydrating a medley of veg and then making a seasoning for potato wedges... as mentioned on here, thank you for the tip whoever it was!
You can also make healthy crisps, loads of different uses!0 -
Dead_Eye_Jones wrote:out of curiosity, what is a food dehydrator and why would one use one?
I've just received one this morning that I bought on Ebay from the states.....about a third of the price of one here!!
Just need a transformer now and away I go!!
Anyway..to answer your question, it is a machine that dries out fruit and vegetables.
It has trays that stack on top of each other and warm air circulates through them to dehydrate the food.
Makes yummy dried fruits...apples, bananas etc.
Also great for sun dried tomatoes and anything you have a glut of, really.
Hope this helps...and I cannot wait to use mine.When life throws you lemons...put them in a gin and tonic !!0 -
betterbargains4u wrote:I've just received one this morning that I bought on Ebay from the states.....about a third of the price of one here!!
Just need a transformer now and away I go!!
Anyway..to answer your question, it is a machine that dries out fruit and vegetables.
It has trays that stack on top of each other and warm air circulates through them to dehydrate the food.
Makes yummy dried fruits...apples, bananas etc.
Also great for sun dried tomatoes and anything you have a glut of, really.
Hope this helps...and I cannot wait to use mine.
How are you getting on with your dehydrator?? :j
Do you mind me asking what model you got? I'd love an excalibur one but they are so expensive in England. However if its worth getting one shipped, im jumping on your bandwagon! :beer:0 -
Do you know how this works? How does adding water, then taking it away again, quadruple the vitamin content? Fascinating stuff!leonie wrote:I use my food dehydrator on grains. For instance, if i'm making a breakfast cereal, i'll soak all my grains (oat groats, wheat, quinoa, spelt etc) overnight and then dehydrate them so they are dry again. This boosts their vitamin content by up to 400% and also removes any phytic acid issue.
!May all your dots fall silently to the ground.0 -
Well if you imagine the grains are little seeds all dry and waiting to germinate, once you add water, they spark into life to begin growing. The water starts the process and the seed does the rest by hydrating and making all the vitamins etc available to the emerging plant.
Some vitamins, including vit c or e (cant remember) are boosted by 400% when the seed is hydrated. They are just little powerhouses lying dormant until conditions become right for them to germinate!0
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