Non-Recipe....Let's Talk Food Dehydrators! Money Saving Kitchen Appliance

This post is going to be a bit different than most, but I think very worthwhile as information, if you've not owned a food dehydrator.  I have posted a recipe here for Salmon Jerky and South African Biltong...and used the food dehydrator for both recipes.  Not really necessary for the Biltong, but does speed up the process a bit, if you use it for air flow and low temperatures.  However, I'll give many other suggestions here for foods and maybe something will appeal to you.  I can probably give you a recipe for something in particular, or some advice if you contact me for information or request a recipe for preparing with a food dehydrator.

I feel that one of the most important functions for the food dehydrator is the ability to save money.  That is essential for me, being retired and on a fixed income and I know it's important to many working people, as well.  Often, during the summer, people around here with big gardens will get way more produce than they can use.  They will call and ask if I want the extra and I never turn it down!  Or, I may find a great sale on some produce items and buy while the price is right.  As an example, the other day, I found a special at the grocery store....5 pounds of really nice Russet potatoes for .98 cents a bag.  No sense passing up a bargain like that!  And, the dehydrator is great when you find fruit in season and plentiful...and inexpensive, as you can dry it for later use.

The uses are limitless.  Fresh herbs?  You can dry them quickly and store them for later use.  You can make fruit roll ups, without the chemicals in store purchased ones.  There are even recipes for making great pet snacks using the dehydrator and you know your dog isn't getting dangerous ingredients in the snacks.  You can dry flowers for decoration, or make your own beef jerky for much less than buying it and always...without the chemicals and preservatives found in commercial products.

Disclaimer:  I do not endorse, sell nor advertise any particular food dehydrator.  There are many available on the market....I buy many of my household items through Amazon, since I live in a small, rural area where not much is available.  For illustration purposes, I'm going to show my food dehydrator I have in the kitchen.  I've had it for about two years, use it a lot and it serves me well.  It has many features I like and prefer, so that's why I use it.  The price range on dehydrators varies greatly and this is an excellent one at a reasonable price.  Also, I am able to easily get replacement parts and extra components if I want or need them.

This food dehydrator has 5 drying trays with it...you can use from a single tray, up to 10 trays, if you purchase additional drying trays.  It's very flexible to use.  The fan and heating element are in the top part of the unit.  There is a drip tray in the bottom, making clean up easy if you have any drips.

The temperature control allows for dehydrating a wide range of items at the right temperature.  If I could have one more control on the dehydrator, it would be a timer.  I usually just set a timer on my phone as a reminder to check drying progress.  Here is the temperature control for the dehydrator.  The slit in the front at the top allows for air flow.

Removing the top cover, you can see the dryer trays as they are stacked.  Load each tray and stack them back on the unit.

Here is a view of the individual dryer trays.  They are sturdy plastic and clean up easily.  I just soak them in warm soapy water in the sink, gently scrub them with a soft brush and rinse them off.  Nothing to it!

This particular unit comes with two fruit roll up screens.  Place your fruit roll ups on the screens and they will stay in place while drying.  The same goes for any soft fruits which may drip through the larger standard tray screen.  As with everything else, extra screens may be purchased, as well.

If you are going to work with fruit, I would also suggest you pick up a bottle of fresh fruit preserver.  Again, most grocery stores have a selection of brands and sizes.  If you've worked with fresh apples or avocados, you know how quickly they start to turn brown after being cut and exposed to air.  Fruit preserver prevents that browning, so is good not only for dehydrating, but even for fresh fruit you plan to serve.  It has no effect on the flavor of the fruit and you only need to soak the fruit for a few minutes in the preserver and water.  Preserver is quite natural, consisting of Vitamin C, sugar and Ascorbic Acid.  Here is what I use.

I like dried fruit, so often slice and dehydrate apple slices and bananas.  Naturally, you may do all sorts of fruit....apricots, cherries, citrus fruit, pineapple, strawberries, kiwi and melons, to mention a few.  Dehydrating generally takes something between 4 -12 hours, with very juicy fruit, such as melons, taking up to 16 hours.  Most fresh fruit should be soaked in fresh fruit preserver before dehydrating.

Vegetables are great to dehydrate, especially if you get more than you can use at one time and don't want to have them go bad.  One thing about vegetables, however....while they don't require a preserver bath, most do need to be "blanched" before drying.  Blanching softens the cell texture, allowing moisture to escape during the drying process and slows the enzyme action in the vegetables.  Blanching may be done one of two ways.  Use a large stock pot with water and a steaming rack, keeping the vegetables out of the water.  A tight lid on the pot...and the steam works it's action on the vegetables.  Steam the vegetables for about 1/3 the time it would normally take to cook them.  You may also microwave blanch.  Put the vegetables in a microwave safe dish, cover and place in the microwave for about half the time it would take for normal cooking.  No water needed.  About halfway through the blanching, stir the vegetables to make sure they are all blanched well.  As soon as the vegetables are blanched, put them on drying trays and into the dehydrator, as quickly as possible.

NOTE:  There is no need to blanch mushrooms, onions, garlic nor peppers.  Herbs need not be blanched, either.  Microwave blanching is best, as you will not lose any of the vitamins and minerals you lose with steam blanching.

You may thoroughly dry foods like onions, tomatoes and garlic, to name a few....then crush them to powder for adding to foods when you need those items.

If you grow fresh herbs, you may like to dry and preserve fresh herbs for later use.  The dehydrator is great for doing so.  Herbs dry quite quickly...just a few hours..until they are brittle and crumble.  Strip the seeds/leaves and store in airtight glass containers.

Your dried fruit and vegetables may be stored in zip lock plastic bags in the freezer.  Even better, if you have a vacuum sealer, store the food in those.  Kept in the freezer, most dehydrated food will keep well for up to a year!

The snacks you are able to prepare with the dehydrator are endless!  Make your own granola, energy bars, cup-of-vegetable soup and fruit roll ups.  There are many recipes where you can use your dried fruit and vegetables to make delicious soups and drinks, as well.

And, don't forget the pets!!!  How about Turkey and Sweet Potato treats for the dog?  Or tiny shrimp treats or crunchy salmon circles for the kitties?  And you know your pet isn't consuming dangerous Chinese pesticides and chemicals....only healthy food you have chosen!

I've really only scratched the surface as to what you can do with a food dehydrator.  You are only limited by your imagination!  I have several recipes for using dehydrated fruit, vegetables and herbs.  I'd be happy to reply, if you email and ask about anything specific you may think would be of interest.  Maybe I will try to post some of the recipes here in the blog, as well.

And before I forget, don't forget about the food dehydrator and craft projects!!  Dried flowers, Dried Apple Wreath and Potpourri, just to mention a few.  I've even seen where people made Christmas ornaments out of dough, dehydrated, then baked...food coloring added, of course!  Just let your imagination go!

If you have questions, please feel free to email me at: stan.kain@gmail.com  Likewise, you may consider subscribing to my Recipe Blog so you get the latest updates.  Thanks for your participation!