What are you dehydrating?

[Brambles]

Mango was very successful BUT boy is it sweet! Too sweet for me. If I had kids, I think I'd be dehydrating for England as it would be a great way of getting fruit down them. Chopped up it really would be like sweeties. (Lil, you need to try this!! )

[Decaff]

Dehydrated fruit = sweeties strawberries are just the most amazing and my favourite so far, kiwi fruit are also little green slices of deliciousness

Add a few chopped up into muffins or banana bread for an extra treat.

[Deeps]

Got a mix of mushrooms and leeks in at the moment, just using up things that were getting old. back to more onions next. I've not done jerky in a long while either, hmmm, at this rate I'll have to get another dehydrator.

[junmist]

Can you dehydrate carrots if you can a tip is to go down to the local feed merchant and by a bag of horse carrot's for £2.

[Deeps]

Can you dehydrate carrots if you can a tip is to go down to the local feed merchant and by a bag of horse carrot's for £2.

I've done carrots before, peel them or they go black and manky, I halved the carrots lengthways then chopped into small bits then blanche for 3 mins hot/3 mins cold. They take a while to rehydrate when getting used too, so if you're putting them in something quick like noodles give them a head start.

[gunner7]

I've finished off my apples from last year, got to start thinking about what to do this year now.

[jansman]

I have been flicking through this thread, and up until now I have not really been interested in the subject. However, I am intrigued! I grow a lot of stuff and it takes up far too much freezer space. My wife freezes bananas for later use for instance, and reading here, they are a good candidate for the dehydrator. Two questions for you veterans;

1. As a dehydrator is on for long periods, are they 'thirsty' on the electricity?

2. Can you recommend any particular models?

Be gentle to someone asking dopey questions!

[PrepperPete]

I have bit the bullet and bought this beast.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201187259389? ... EBIDX%3AIT

I have been hesitating for ages, but my little one doesn't really cut it for the things I want to do.
I thought do I have enough to spare, but no point having money in the bank and not enough preps, should the time come.

I found out you can dehydrate ready ( home made) cooked meals and then just vacuum seal, them or vacuum can them.
So will be experimenting with chicken stew and see how it hydrates.

Will let you all know how I get on.

Hi Kizzie,

I've just stumbled onto this thread and interested in how you are getting on with the dehydrator you invested in? I'm pretty keen to give this preserving method a try but don't want to buy something that isn't recommended by a member of the forum so your experience so far is what I'm interested in!

Thanks,

PrepperPete

[Decaff]

I have been flicking through this thread, and up until now I have not really been interested in the subject. However, I am intrigued! I grow a lot of stuff and it takes up far too much freezer space. My wife freezes bananas for later use for instance, and reading here, they are a good candidate for the dehydrator. Two questions for you veterans;

1. As a dehydrator is on for long periods, are they 'thirsty' on the electricity?

2. Can you recommend any particular models?

Be gentle to someone asking dopey questions!

It would depend on the make model re how thirsty they are, I have an Andrew James square model and costs around 3 pence an hour to run. That's 6 full trays of food and each food will differ in the dehydrating times. It also depends on the thickness of said fruit and veg as to the drying times.

The best you can get are the Excalibur models, they have the fan at the back of the machine rather than the top or the bottom which gives a quicker and more even drying time, but they are very expensive.

Having said that I've not had any problems with mine but I think I would get a round rather than square model as you can get the trays to make fruit roll ups and its easier to dehydrate stock.

Hope this helps! No such thing as a dopey question Jansman

[jansman]

Now that is what I was hoping for! Many many thanks Decaff.