Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

[Deleted User]

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=216368

culpepper

I've got a l'equip too.
I bought it to deal with the crop in the veg patch as it was cheaper than buying a second freezer and we didn't have the space anyway.
We are still eating the dried tomatoes and onions.
That has saved us about £2.20 just for those 2 so about £48.
We've also got courgettes dried in slices ,garlic and turnips which help to bulk out stews etc.
You do need to find things to use for storage .Jars with tight fitting lids are good.

Zziggi

I'm thinking of getting one of these beslow, can any of you with a dehydrator give me your views on it please? (BTW i noticed it didn;t have a temperature guage on it - is that necessary?)

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukgasp/frameset.asp?nest=/ukgscripts/detail.dll?item=823860&ref=fgl

thanks

Zziggi

I'm thinking of getting one of these below, can any of you with a dehydrator give me your views on it please? (BTW i noticed it didn't have a temperature guage on it - is that necessary?).

I want to make HM crisp-type snack for kids & DH. What else can i use them for? Is the one below worth bothering with for £30ish or is it better to either not bother or go the whole hog with an expensive l'equip one?

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukgasp/frameset.asp?nest=/ukgscripts/detail.dll?item=823860&ref=fgl

thanks

Queenie

Couple of other threads on dehydrators might help, but you'll have to read through them ...

Food Drying

Are dehydrators worth it?

Smiley_Mum

Zziggi wrote:

I'm thinking of getting one of these beslow, can any of you with a dehydrator give me your views on it please? (BTW i noticed it didn;t have a temperature guage on it - is that necessary?)

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukgasp/frameset.asp?nest=/ukgscripts/detail.dll?item=823860&ref=fgl

thanks

I've just received mine and have yet to use it. Hopefully make some vegetable crisps, tonight or tomorrow. Anyone else buy one?

Would anyone be able to post up a pic of the Tchibo food dryer, just want to see what it's like, where it is made etc. Just curious, want to compare to the QVC one. TIA.

UPDATE

Got it running just now doing vegetable crisps. Uses 285 watts continuously. Re doing crisps etc, how thin do people make them? I used a potato peeler to do them but perhaps that a tad too thin. Any info, favourite recipes appreciated. Cheers.

Zziggi

I have decided to get a dehydrator:j Just hope i get my money's worth out of it.

Can i ask you all about making fruit leathers? I have read the mary bell book and am i right in thinking that you get a special sheet with the dehydrator and you spread the mixture out about 1/4 inch thick? When it dries how thick is it? Can you cut it once it is dry? how do you store the leathers that you make? Are the HM leathers like anything you buy - if so what (i'm having difficulty picturing them).

Smiley_Mum

If you ordered the QVC one, then you just get the bare bones dehydrator, no special sheets or anything, you could use parchment/baking paper to make your fruit leathers on I think. I've yet to make any, just been doing veggie crisps for the kids. It works fine, I don't leave it though and go out, I frequently rotate the trays (every two hours or so depending on what you do) for even drying.

Zziggi

Smiley_Mum wrote:

If you ordered the QVC one, then you just get the bare bones dehydrator, no special sheets or anything, you could use parchment/baking paper to make your fruit leathers on I think. I've yet to make any, just been doing veggie crisps for the kids. It works fine, I don't leave it though and go out, I frequently rotate the trays (every two hours or so depending on what you do) for even drying.

Do kids willing swap walkers crips for crispy vegs? Should i season the vegs i put in the dehydrator?

Any tip greatly received!

Smiley_Mum

I just put my vegetables through the slicer on the food processor. Then spread evenly over the trays. I don't season mainly because my kids don't have a lot of stimulants etc, salt, sugar due to allergies etc. By all means season the crisps but I find that carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips etc have a natural sweetness so don't really need any extra flavouring.

My kids love the vegetable crisps, change from regular potato ones and healthier as no fats, salt etc etc. The other kids in the playground regularly ask what they have for snack and hijack their bags, especially carrot ones.