Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

kippers

I have been thinking about getting one too, but wasn't sure if i'd use it enough. I'd be really interested in what you use it for so pls keep us posted. Thanks

Beccatje

congrats!

I use my dehydrator a lot.

Bananas are a family favorite. also apples, tomatoes and plums.

Also veggies like leeks and onions work well. I also use it for drying bread after which I make them into breadcrumbs.

Herbs I have not tried yet but I don't see why they wouldn't work.
Just read the instructions that came with the machine on temps and times and you'll do fine. Just try stuff out and you'll figure out soon enough what you like and what you don't.


Store in dry, closed containers so no moisture can get back in and it keeps for ever.

Becca

suzybloo

HI I have just got one too so will watch this thread with interest. I am even looking at making dried lemons. oranges etc to put on my chriistmas wreaths! I bought kilner jars to store things in, and will start drying things off tomorrow. Onions and leeks are the first targets!

babs2008

Kiwi is great (if you like kiwi that is) and you don't seem to get dried kiwi in shops.

Also tomatoes and chillies dry well.

meanmarie

Bought a dehydrator from Westphalia, it is currently waiting for my daughter to pick it up in London....they don't do deliveries to ROI, want to dry some of the mountain of apples we have....did some in the oven a coupleof years ago, they worked fine but left me with no oven most of the time...my processor has conveniently died to leave cupboard space for it!

Will be looking for tips when it arrives

Marie

dogstarheaven

I've always wanted one too for yrs as seeing so much foragable fruit out in public spaces, it seems such a waste. I've noticed that the Americans seem v. big on dehydrating foodstuffs, but recently watched on the Food Network Channel, 'Good Eats' programme on dehydrating food, they say these machines are that effective with maintaining a consistent low temp. whilst drying out the food. It recommended a DIY version in buying in mesh trays normally used for ventilation (yes, I thought it was weird too!) and placing them in the oven and have on the v. lowest temp. setting. overnight like 6-8hrs and last 2hrs, to leave the oven door ajar. well, something to that effect anyway. sorry it's a bit vague. the programme was on about 2 or so weeks ago on Sky.

Has anyone thought of doing this DIY method? I'm sure there's a better explanation on the net that what i've briefly described.

For convenience sake, if there is a brilliant machine out there (UK delivery) then which one can you recommend? Thanks!

Pink.

Hi rhosynbach,

As your thread has dropped down the Old Style board I've added it to the main thread on dehydrators which has lots of tips and advice that should help.

Pink

JayJay14

If you have a dehydrator don't do what I did and walk past the cranberry whoopsies at Christmas - I could have been useing them all year but it just didn't cross my mind at the time.

Asda were selling off huge bags at 10p each!!!!

rhosynbach

thanks Pink for adding this on to the main thread and for everyones help tried dried apple yesterday the kids did not like it so today after soaking the apple in lemon and water i tossed it in cinamon with a little sugar before drying and they love it everyone time one of them goes into the kitchen i hear the jar undoing am going to make lots more for lunch boxes in winter as we have hundreds of apples on the trees.

savvy

In the raw food world we use dehydrators a lot because not only is it a way of preserving but also of retaining the enzymes and vitamins that are lost through cooking (if dehydrated not over 42C). Dehyrdrating also gives us a huge range of dried or chewy foods as variation, so much so you can let your imagination run wild especially with autumn here and Christmas round the corner

Some of the fare that we enjoy are kale and ricotta crispies (kale tossed in a seed cheese, a friend just Worcester sauce which was yum), nuts and seeds marinated in agave/cinnamon/nutmeg, sunflower seeds coated in chilli topping, fruit leathers, flax crackers, massive range of raw cookies (no dairy/sugar), vegetable wraps, marinated mushrooms and onions for use in other dishes, onion bread, falafel and even ice cream cones (which I haven't tried doing yet!).

And don't forget it can be used to dry flowers from your garden, I used a ton of rose petals as a biodegradeable confetti for a friends wedding at the weekend - but you can also eat a lot of flowers and use them to decorate dishes. You can also dehydrate thin slices of beetroot and then grind them down a vibrant pink powder that can be used as decoration (but you are also getting the goodness too!) like in the picture below (not mine, made by Parsnip Ship);