Drying bananas

Primrose

I recall as a small child during the war, somebody from the Canada sent us a food parcel containing dried bananas. As they're often on special offer and they don't keep well I was wondering if anybody had tried drying them with any success. The dried bananas we had during the war were dried whole and looked very brown and unappetising (like dog ***) but were sweet and sticky and tasted delicious.

D&DD

Hi Primrose I dry bananas in my dehydrator if you drop them in one part lemon juice to 3 parts water it stops the browning process quite a bit Works for apples and pears too.
Not tried doing them in the oven or airing cupboard I'm afraid but I'm sure someone on here must have

Primrose

D&DD - how often do you use your dedydrator and do you consider it was worth the cost? I saw one at an Agricultural Fair a couple of years ago and was sorely tempted but even though I grow tomatoes and a little soft fruit, couldn't justify the number of occasions I might use it compared to how else I might process the fruit & vegetables. . I suspect if you have a lot of fruit trees it could come into its own as drying does seem to reduce the space (& freezing electricity) needed for preserving fruit & veg.

D&DD

I think mine was well worth the 20 quid it cost from Tchibo I've only got a tiny garden but pack stuff in so theres always fresh to eat and 'spares' for processing.
I do apples,pears,kiwi,strawberries,bananas in mine as well as blitzing the fruit with a little sugar then drying on a sheet of lakelands easyleave for fruit leathers.I cut this up with cookie cutters when almost set for the kids
Veg wise I've done courgettes,beans,spinach,onions,tomatoes, off the top of my head
I grow tumblers and slice into 4 dry and freeze then chuck them into soups etc in the slowcooker it really brings out the taste.
You can dry dollops of yoghurt too which are gorgeous!
I think if mine broke and I could get one at the same sort of price I would but I couldn't justify a 'posh' one

edit ooh and pineapple and cherries both were absolutely lovely but gone in one sitting!!!

PasturesNew

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A963461

wigglebeena

http://www.ehow.com/how_2310039_build-dehydrator.html

?

champys

Primrose wrote: »

I recall as a small child during the war, somebody from the Canada sent us a food parcel containing dried bananas. As they're often on special offer and they don't keep well I was wondering if anybody had tried drying them with any success. The dried bananas we had during the war were dried whole and looked very brown and unappetising (like dog ***) but were sweet and sticky and tasted delicious.

I know the ones you mean - we buy them here in France very regularly, they are easy to find. They are exceptional as a quick energy boost when you are doing long-distance running or cycling. If you don't find a way to dry them yourself, maybe you can buy them on-line from a French website?

purpleivy

I'm a bit scared of the dehydrator I think. I have had it a year and only done one batch of peppers. they are in a jar and I haven't used them for anything.

vichka

Primrose wrote: »

I recall as a small child during the war, somebody from the Canada sent us a food parcel containing dried bananas. As they're often on special offer and they don't keep well I was wondering if anybody had tried drying them with any success. The dried bananas we had during the war were dried whole and looked very brown and unappetising (like dog ***) but were sweet and sticky and tasted delicious.

I bought them in health food shops, they were about £1 a pack.

AlwaysHappy

I am the same as purpleivy, only used my dehydrator the once - though everything came out perfectly ok from it. Must get it out again!