Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

nuttybabe

Am well impressed with the bacon jerky, just been out and got more bacon and whilst in asda I got some whoopsie kale so sea salt and balsamic vinegar kale crisps are doing then I will do more bacon.

I was surprised at the egg, I only tried it as my friend was asking but it worked and I made an amelette out of it this morning and it looked and tasted like an omelette not sure what I was expecting :rotfl:

Living_proof

Tell me about the egg NB - I would like to have a supply of dried egg and haven't come across any notes about it as far as I can remember.

nuttybabe

This is the web site I used, I only did 2 just to test. http://www.offthegridnews.com/2013/08/20/how-to-safely-store-eggs-long-term/

Floss

I need to make space in my freezer for my allotment fruits, can I dehydrate last years leeks, French beans & "pancakes" of spinach from frozen?

Living_proof

Thank you for the link NB. I was hoping to be able to use the egg in an emergency bake but it sounds as though it is awfully stinky!

nuttybabe

Living_proof wrote: »

Thank you for the link NB. I was hoping to be able to use the egg in an emergency bake but it sounds as though it is awfully stinky!

Mine wasnt, I didnt notice any smell, unlike bacon, my house stinks of bacon now :rotfl:

Living_proof

Anyone like mango? I have seen (and bought!) a terrific offer from Morrison's of two huge tins of Mango pulp - 850g each- for £1 each. They are a good buy at their normal price of £1.49.

Mango appeals to me for adding to yogurt and as an extra ingredient in baking, chutney, etc. but buying fresh mango even at an offer price, is still quite expensive and labour-intensive. I did dry a few in the early days but thought it uneconomic and decided to buy ready-dried another time. Tins are too big for me to use in one cooking session.

But the tins look like a good buy as I can dry the contents like fruit leathers on the paraflex sheets and then break them up into usable pieces for rehydration. The mango is sweetened but most of the recipes I would use them in (sorbet, ice cream, chutney) would require sugar so it would just be a case of adjusting the quantity used.

The offer is limited to six per customer. I saw the reduced price online but at the store it was marked as £1.49 but went through the till as £1. A bargain.

I hope this helps someone get their five a day over the winter months!

[Deleted User]

potato dehydrating is well underway this week. My charlotte have produced a humungous clean crop and need to be preserved

I cut mandolin slices on the thickest setting and left in cold water while I got the conveyor belt started. Magimix metal steamer, 5 minutes +/_ 1 minute. Had to change the water almost every steaming as starch was making it bubble up second time around, when it bubbled then I gave less time as equivalent to boiling.

In the excalibur at 125 for 8-11 hours ish, it takes the longer time depending on humidity and how much is in there. I expect the longer time today. A few slices will have black blobs but this is just the denser bits and will be hidden in casseroles and soups

I am expecting blight to be around this year to am harvesting while I can, about 50+ lb from an 8 x 4 bed this year

Ken68

Lovely tater Kittie,,,,,, Charlotte, featured on Gardeners World last night.
My drier was doing bananas, free from Morrison/Sun voucher.

Ken68

On the last leg of drying own plums (Opal) and bought peaches £1 a punnet from Lidl and bananas.
Missed out on the cherries this year and now waiting for blackberries and elderberries.
It's all go.