Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

Seakay

Savvy - could you give us some advice as to the best dehydrator to get?

savvy

Well in the UK raw food world everyone tends to go for the Excaliber (9 or 4 tray) which is what I have (never tried any others as went for this model straight away), mainly because it's more practical to fit more/larger items in as it's square and not the round shape with a hole in the middle.

It really depends on what you think you will use it for, if it's smallish things and just slices of fruit/veg etc then the round ones will be okay. If you want to get more creative as in onion breads, flax crackers, nut burgers, large scale fruit leathers, veg wraps and ice cream cones then you really will benefit from a square type.

Obviously budget comes into it and I'd suggest looking around for a secondhand one or borrow one from someone who has one sat about not doing anything to see how you get on with it, how much you'll use it and for what.

Seakay

Thanks for the advice - I'm off to do a trawl for a second hand one!

savvy

Seakay wrote: »

Thanks for the advice - I'm off to do a trawl for a second hand one!

No worries and good luck, they are really good when you get into it, but obviously you have to be patient for your results

demented_2

Does anyone have a My kitchen food dehydrator sold by Lakeland?
I have just got one and have been using it for Apples, tomatoes, onions and have now just put some leeks in to dry. I thing i would like to know is has anyone ever tried to make the round sheet that you could make liquids on, like sauces and fruit rolls. I have seen the instructions somewhere but now can't find them. what sort of material could i use. I was thinking of grease proof paper or cling film. Can any one help please. Thank you.:)

rhosynbach

hi i use greaseproof paper to make my fruit rolls i have tried clingfilm but find it rucks up and does not seem to dry as well. when it is practically dry i turn them over and then peel the paper of to let the bottom dry properly hope this helps

Sunnyday

I got my excalibur a few days ago, i`m currently working my way through the peppers and chillies from the greenhouse that i have no room for in the freezer.

Tried apple slices with cinnamon sprinkled on and they are lovely, done bananas too but not eaten any yet, got to say that i`m impressed with it.

All i need now is Dsis to ring and tell me her apples are ready and it will be working overtime

SD

rhosynbach

hi sunnyday the apples in cinnamon are lovely arent they my kids love them we are eating them now i only got my dehydrator few weeks ago and am so pleased the other favourite with apples is dipping them in blackberrys cooked with tiny bit of sugar then put through a seive they taste brilliant my 10 year old said they were better than sweets and they look good to did you do the chillis whole or sliced as i have some to use, thanks

demented_2

rhosynbach wrote: »

hi i use greaseproof paper to make my fruit rolls i have tried clingfilm but find it rucks up and does not seem to dry as well. when it is practically dry i turn them over and then peel the paper of to let the bottom dry properly hope this helps

Thank you so much rhosynbach. I will give it a go with greaseproof paper. Have you ever made any sauces and then dried it on greaseproof paper? I have got a round dehydrator, what make is yours if you don't mind me asking? And thanks for your help :A

Sunnyday

Hi Rosynbach,

i sliced the chillies and peppers quite thinly before i popped them in to dry.

The blackberry and apple slices sound yum, i shall have to make some soon as i`ve some blackberries left in the freezer from our last foraging session thanks for sharing.

SD