Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

kiwifruit_2

food dehydrators at Westfalia for £26.99 plus about a fiver for postage....down from £45 i think it was.....anyway ive just got one finally lol

paddy's_mum

Finally succumbed today and have just ordered a £200 five shelf Excalibur food dehydrator. I've been thinking about one for months and having recently been promised free rein on an elderly neighbour's neglected quarter acre orchard, decided that I couldn't bear to see all that good fruit going to waste. Her trees are already loaded with pears and both cooking and eating apples and that's without the millions of blackberries happily ripening beneath. Additionally, we are in the heart of the vegetable growing area and often allowed to glean the leftover veg in the fields after harvest.

Now though I'm half wondering whether I might have wasted my money but perhaps that's just me being too tight-fisted and/or scared. Has anyone any real experience of this machine and any tips? Most of our winter meals are of the slow cooker or casserole type and I had hoped to use dried stuff in them.

I researched long and had about a bread maker and finally took the plunge based on mse'ers experiences. I wouldn't now be without my Panasonic and guess I'm just seeking reassurance that I haven't been an idiot with what little spare money I have. Many thanks, and I will let you know how I get on with it in due course.

Pink.

Hi paddy's mum,

There's an earlier thread with lots of information and advice on food dehydrators and food drying that may help:

Food drying - Dehydrators

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the replies together.

Pink

moanymoany

You haven't been a fool! It is a good way to preserve food. I am thinking of getting one when we move to our new home.

miffyhugmuffin

Hi,

I haven't got one myself but I've been reading about them lately and the brand you've bought is defo the best on the market. Sure it will be great!

elona

Maybe if you cost up things like apple rings then you will find that it pays for itself within six months or so, depending on what you make.

Apart from saving money on dried fruit and veg it will also save freezer and cupboard space.

Where did you get it from?

shykins

my husband just made me one .. ok its very VERY basic but i just wanted to give it a go and didnt fancy paying out for one i might not use

i should add hes very handy but as far it seems to me he built a box with airholes and some bits to sit a wire shelf on and wired up an electric bulb... dried some strawberries in couple weeks ago and it worked quite well

if anyone wants more info on how he built it let me know and i will get him to write an explanation
x

GiJo

"if anyone wants more info on how he built it let me know and i will get him to write an explanation"

Oooh, yes please. My hubby is also handy and I like the idea of drying food rather than shoving in the freezer.

Thanks in advance

Hawthorn

I have an excalibur dehydrator. Fabulous bit of kit. I had a cheaper one, and it was nowhere near as good or efficient.

Kickstart_2

Hi Ladies
I bought a brilliant food hydrator from ebay, £45 with two free knives. I have used it and its brilliant.