Food drying - Dehydrators (merged)

milasavesmoney

I hope to learn about dehydrating this year. In the past I have over dried things and now I've decided I actually need to use my books as guides.

Floss

I haven't really used my dehydrator much, we bought a second tall freezer for the allotment produce and DH makes the apples, blackberries & any spare strawberries into wine

Am thinking of growing beetroot purely to dehydrate this year,they are so nice as crisps!

Living_proof

Cold thread alert! It's been a number of years since this was discussed and I have a specific question for all you MSE dehydraters. I am planning to dehydrate some of the really cheap seasonal veg this year and will probably grate the carrot and parsnip for speed of drying. How about Brussels sprouts? I am tempted to slice them and then use them in veggie casseroles, but do others have other means to dry and subsequently use please? I am Vegan so do eat a whole lot of veg!

pattypan4

I didn`t like dehydrated food. Chucked my excalibur out, waste of space

srn

My favourite, in fact the only, thing that I dehydrate is tomatoes. I dehydrate them until they are crisp then powder them and use in place of tomato puree in fact I add a bit to any gravy or casserole type dish. Makes everything taste wonderful and no heartburn which I get with other processed tomato products.

Ken68

My dehydrator heater broke, didn't know how to mend it and thought calling out an electrician would not be cost effective. Did think to put in a cheap rectangle type fan heater .
Freezing is a lot cheaper and quicker.

thriftwizard

Well, I love mine, a L'Equipe which I've had for a long time, and use it a lot. But I have to say, I've never even thought of dehydrating Brussels sprouts, so can't help. Carrot & parsnip, sliced finely, make lovely crispy snacks, as does courgette, but the last few things I've dried have been mushrooms (£3 for a whole tray, absolutely fresh) pineapple (2 for £1) and perfectly ripe mango (3 for £1) The mushrooms get used up in all sorts of savoury dishes, but the pineapple & mango get eaten up as snacks, along with our own HG apples.

I do freeze stuff too, but I like knowing that we have nice stuff in store to eat that doesn't depend on an uninterrupted electricity supply.

Living_proof

The great thing about dehydrated food is that it is very light and takes up hardly any space. I grow quite a bit of food and can't always guarantee to have the freezer space when the crop is ready, so drying is very convenient. Today I was lucky enough to get a £1.50 waste not box in Lidl and some of that will be dried and used later in a smoothie. I managed to dry and powder about five pumpkins this year and the result didn't even fill a kilner jar. I can then make a pumpkin pie if the mood takes me, or add extra nutrient to a veg curry or casserole.