Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

Ken68

Probably Lakeland 1cherish. That apple peeler was featured as favourite gadget by Stephen Fry. Usually have yogurt in the morning with either ex frozen fruit or re-hydrated plums etc. Don't have all me own teeth so anything soft helps.
I won't be drying gooseberrries anymore, way too sour. Have a jar left though so will have to sweeten.
I think those oranges that are used for marmalade will soon be on the shelves. Usually cheap so might have a go at drying a few. Seville.

[Deleted User]

I have also had time to muse over my dehydrated produce and will be more selective next year, which leads on from the fact that I will grow less of certain veg as I dehydrated everything last season

I made a great big pot of winter soup yesterday, all the veg were dehydrated and just `chucked` into a very tall pressure cooker. Courgettes, onions, leeks, carrot, diced swede, green beans, celery, tomatoes Lots of them as I wanted a `concentrated` soup to dilute. Water, 2 dsps marigold (low salt one) pepper one tin of tomatoes and lentils. As the veg hadn`t been soaked, I brought to the boil and switched off for 20 minutes. Then I cooked under pressure for 20 and later whizzed. The soup is absolutely delicious and needed diluting as I hoped. Lots now in the fridge and some in the freezer

Re next year: some veg are invaluable like onions and mushrooms, other veg are valuable like courgettes, leeks green beans and so on. I don`t particularly like the taste of dehydrated carrots so will only do a minimal amount next year. Tomatoes are fine as in the soup or a mix with courgettes and onion. I have too many herbs and too much kale, too many turnips and too many parsnip and potatoes. Anyway I`ll make a list next year and stick with it. I got carried away this year as I had so much garden produce. I now have a small additional freezer in the garage, a beko which can take v cold temperatures and it will be grand for cherry tomatoes and all sorts of fruits like gooseberries, blackcurrants etc. I love the usefulness of dehydrated bananas and apples (made with the lakeland slicer) as they are great in a quick crumble or compote. The pineapple and fruit leathers are lovely snacks or could be soaked and whizzed in shakes

cestlavie

i want to make flaxseed crackers - can anyone report how well they can be made on cheapish lakeland type dehydrator - excalibur is outof my price range. tks for any advise. i have tried to cook them in a low oven, but they never worked!

countingthepennies

Hi everyone. I just have a question about storing dehydrated food. I was planning on just using ordinary glass jars - jam jars, pasta sauce jars, that kind of thing. Would that be ok for long term storage or will I need to buy jars especially made for this kind of food storage?

Pitlanepiglet

I just use ordinary jars, most of mine have metal closures with seals around them - a bit like cheap kilner jars BUT I also keep dehydrated veg in ziplock bags as I don't have a huge number of jars.

I haven't had any problems with any of them, I think so long as damp and moisture doesn't get in then it's fine. I read all sorts of things about needing sachets to dry the jars and stuff like that but I've never bothered.

countingthepennies

Thanks very much piglet :-)

1cherish

hi all,
not had any cheap fruit or veg lately, but....
just found some packs of 20 presentation bags with ribbons in poundland, a bit big so will chop them down a bit, but perfect for giving dehydrated gifts to friends? Thinking cinnamon apples and banannas.
Anybody got any new dehydrator favourites at the mo?

Rosemary_Jane

I think my favourite dehydrator book of all is:

"Food Drying with an Attitude" by Mary Bell

It's a bit lighter reading than her complete dehydrator cookbook.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Drying-Attitude-Fabulous-Creating/dp/160239220X

I want to try her rhubarb lace - apparently kids love it, it's sweetened with just a couple of strawberries, which changes the flavour.

R

D&DD

Bumpity bump

I finally got my excalibur and apart from now needing a kitchen extension I'm really pleased with it!

I ended up getting the 9 tray after much measuring,deliberating and faffing..but so pleased I did.

Must admit there is a HUGE difference in the finished product for example the courgettes and potatoes stay white,raspberries work brilliantly and peeling off tomatoes is a doddle from the flexi trays.

On the minus side its a bloo*y great beast lol I have to rearrange the kitchen when I put it on but hey ho if it means I can lose a freezer I will gain space eventually.

[Deleted User]

Is anyone still dehydrating? I am regularly but emphasis has changed at this time of year. I dehydrate soaked buckwheat groats on a regular basis and make granola which is absolutely superb and no oats just dehydrated soaked buckwheat and seeds etc really lovely and making me so healthy. At the moment I am dehydrating kale chips as the garden kale is starting to go over and they will be eaten as snacks

re dehydrated food from last autumn, well they have been an absolute godsend and so easy to throw together to make a yummy soup at this time of year, which is the `hungry gap` for garden veggies. I have lots of dried veggies left and continue to store in lock and locks under the stairs where it is cool and dark. There are a few veggies I will not dehydrate again ie carrots as I am not fussed on the taste but am using mine heavily disguised, beetroots as the pickled ones were very good, swede as I am now growing less and they keep in the ground, not so many herbs. The apples have been so good and actually get used chopped as I am making the granola. I agree D$DD that the courgettes are excellent, so much so that I am growing an extra two plants this year, good in soups, lasagne all sorts of ways

Dried bananas and various fruits in a crumble, goes down a treat with everyone, particularly when soaked in a bit of hm white wine