Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

Living_proof

Nuttybabe you will have a great time snapping up the bargains and preparing the food when you have the time to do it so that rustling up a spag bog or a stew is just so easy because all the veg is already prepared and just needs rehydrating or simply bunged in. Be aware it can cause a lot of condensation and some can be a bit noisy. Nothing need ever be wasted and even peelings can be dried and mixed into powder for stock or fruit drinks or whatever. Today I have dried a big punnet of mushrooms, six assorted bell peppers and four bramley apples. All Aldi's best buys. They take up no space at all!

nuttybabe

I do like the idea of just putting a bag of veg in slow cooker for the day rather than prepping etc. Hopefully will save loads if time. it was meant to be my birthday present but couldnt wait that long lol

Ken68

Did a slow cook the other day, Nutty.
Dried mushrooms, onions, courgettes and a few veg from the freezer plus taters plus seasoning, plus boiling water on most of the day.
Talking of condensation, LP ,I did a drying session last month, so much condensation I had to put on the de-humidifier as well.
Like Devils Kitchen. Expensive
Thinking now of a moving drying to the garage or shed which will also suit for wine making smells.
Checking for humidity levels also each time is a must.

[Deleted User]

I love the usefulness of dehydrated veg at this time of year. I found a big box of potato slices from 2012 and got a piece of lamb out of the freezer, looked like fillet and was longish, no bone and marbled and sliced it. So cooked the potato slices for 5 minutes and left to soak for 20 with dehydrated onions. All in a casserole plus fresh carrots and celery and mushrooms, oxo and worcestershire sauce and oven cooked slow about 2 hours. Was utterly awesome with last years pickled red cabbage

I decided I am doing sliced potatoes again this year as I have a decent crop growing. I mandolin sliced and steamed a few minutes then straight into the dehydrator. So so easy for casserole toppings

Btw I am finding dehydrated celery also very useful and nice and intense

I also have dehydrated kefir grains and sourdough just in case, 2 years old now but should come alive if needed

[Deleted User]

Ken68 wrote: »

Did a slow cook the other day, Nutty.
Dried mushrooms, onions, courgettes and a few veg from the freezer plus taters plus seasoning, plus boiling water on most of the day.
Talking of condensation, LP ,I did a drying session last month, so much condensation I had to put on the de-humidifier as well.
Like Devils Kitchen. Expensive
Thinking now of a moving drying to the garage or shed which will also suit for wine making smells.
Checking for humidity levels also each time is a must.

Yes Ken I agree, I do it all in a utility room with a humidity sensor on the ceiling outlet, we have mechanical ventilation in our (eco) house and the vent opens more depending on humidity. I am thinking solar extractor fan for anyone who can dehydrate in a shed or outbuilding

Living_proof

I was really surprised when I first used my dehydrator. The amount of condensation was remarkable and I can only imagine using mine in summer months because I couldn't stand the clamminess of it during the winter. My windows are quite big and either open or closed which would be really drafty, and it's the one drawback which is never mentioned in the literature or on you tube. I certainly try and pick my days for running the unit (a) to use free solar power and (b) for it to be warm enough to leave a window wide open in the kitchen.

nuttybabe

Yay its here, its here, its here

I will be doing apples overnight and apple leathers tomorrow. Cant wait

nuttybabe

Apples are on and I am making apple scrap vinegar with the cores isnit sad I am really excited lol

Ken68

Hi Nutty..how did it go?

Living_proof

I had the first failure appear today. The rhubarb I dried about a week ago has gone mouldy and I obviously wasn't as thorough in checking it out as I should have been. Can you over dry fruits do you think? It's a shame as I was looking forward to date and rhubarb yogurt.