Food Dehydrators. Does anyone use them to great effect ?

balabooberlies

Hello

This summer past I could have picked pounds upon pounds of blackberries in my area.  I didn't because I have a small freezer so only picked for my household and elderly neighbour.  This coming year would like to dry them.

There are oodles of other things I would like to dry, mushrooms, treats for my dog etc

Has anyone had success using this method ?

many thanks

bala

[Deleted User]

Hi bala, I use mine all the time - although I've never tried blackberries as they normally get made into jam or wine! 😉 
I dehydrate any and all surplus fruit and veg! I like to make fruit and veg powders from some of my dehydrated stuff - fruit powders or chunks are lovely in porridge; veg stock powder from a variety of dehydrated veg which can be made to suit your own paticular preference and soup powders. 
 With the 'straight' fruit and veg I reccommend strawberries - they are fabulous sliced and dehydrated; sliced courgettes are lovely as snacks. Dried tomatoes are lovely and you can 'rehydrate' them in oil or water or make powder from them.  Winter casseroles become very simple when all you do is take a box of frozen cooked beans, a jar of mixed dehydrated veg, some hm stock powder and boiling water - mix it all together and pop in the oven (you can also put it together the night before).
I also make a lot of raw food so mine is rarely off!! 😂 

balabooberlies

Hello Smushesma

and thank you.  Trying to work out cost of machine versus uses.  And will I use it.

Not just for me but for my dog too.  Fed up of trying to find decent treats and foods.  Am assuming the raw foods are veg and not meat ?

More research to do but am grateful for your great response.

bala

villagelife

I used mine yesterday as had some oranges and apples that had seen better days so dehydrated them for Christmas decorations.
I used mine a lot over the summer for garden produce. 
Courgettes and tomatoes do well. I also do apples and pears which are lovely as snacks. I will do mushrooms too if I know I won't finish a pack I brought.
I'm pleased with mine and feel it was worth the money and it definitely saves on freezer space.

balabooberlies

Thanks VL

Looking for ways to reduce waste to a minimum.  And to change eating habits.  It's so easy to reach for a biscuit......

[Deleted User]

balabooberlies said:

Hello Smushesma

and thank you.  Trying to work out cost of machine versus uses.  And will I use it.

Not just for me but for my dog too.  Fed up of trying to find decent treats and foods.  Am assuming the raw foods are veg and not meat ?

More research to do but am grateful for your great response.

bala

Hi baba, yep, I'm vegan so no meat used in mine 😉 however, I know that you can make meat jerky in the dehydrator - I can't advise how though but I'm sure there'll be loads of info online 😊 

villagelife

I also forgot that it's a good way of drying herbs. I often out some mint in to dry in the summer and makes lovely mint tea. I do have loads of mint in the garden though which originally came from next door!

villagelife

I also forgot that it's a good way of drying herbs. I often out some mint in to dry in the summer and makes lovely mint tea. I do have loads of mint in the garden though which originally came from next door!

pamsdish

Strange this thread should pop up today, bought beef yesterday, widely available £5 a kilo, some will be frozen as joints, I sliced one into strips and it is currently marinating 24 hrs to dehydrate for jerky, lots of recipes available, I had a really nice one I can`t find, so worcester sauce, soy sauce, tomato sauce, onion powder, smoked paprika 6 crushed garlic cloves, or use paste,  s&p, taste it, add more of whatever to taste, put all in a ziplock and massage into the beef, do that every time you open the fridge for a minimum of 12 hrs, dehydrate at 80 degrees till you happy.
I love dehydrated sliced strawberries, they are hard work though, lemons I frequently do as I have in hot water every day.

Living_proof

I have had dehydrators for several years and they are great for many fruits and veg but I have to advise against blackberries. I use mine in smoothies but they are very pippy even when given a long rehydration period. I would advise you to freeze these but dehydrate apples. The only other thing I can think of which doesn't do well is runner beans. In winter a dehydrator can create a lot of condensation in the house, so be aware you may have to open a window to compensate. However, most dehydrating is done in the summer and autumn months. I am also Vegan, so haven't tried jerky.

thriftwizard

I've had one for many years & use it a lot. Excellent for drying gluts of herbs, fruit & veg, whether home-grown or shop-bought, but NOT sadly blackberries, which just taste of wood afterwards! When my kids were still at home, I used to make strips of fruit leather for their lunchboxes. We recently dried rose & jasmine petals to use as confetti for middle son's wedding, too, and I dry nettle tips from the fence around my allotment in Spring to use as a herb/mineral boost all year round. It's been a great investment; I'll buy a market pineapple for £1, use half in pineapple cake, fruit salad or the like, and dehydrate the rest for a delicious snack. Ditto mango & similar exotic fruits that don't keep well and are too big to eat or use up all at once.

it's not necessarily a cheap way of doing things, but the results keep nearly all of their nutrients & aren't dependent on a continual electricity supply. Perfect for preppers!