Food dehydrator?

[LoveBWVVBR]

Does anyone have a food dehydrator, and does it work well? DD and I eat those "Just Peaches," etc. foods from the health food store like they're going out of style. I like that they're just dehydrated fruit w/nothing added, but at $6-$7 a container, they're a real budget buster. I don't want dried fruit (like the chewy stuff). I want dehydrated fruit like the "Just Tomatos" company makes. What machine do I need to buy to make this myself, and how much should I expect to spend?

 

[meandtheguys2]

Are they crunchy? I've seen them, but am too cheap to buy them!

Alton Brown made a dehydrator using new furnace filters, and a fan...!

 

[grlpwrd]

Aren't they freeze dried?

I only dehydrate food, but I don't know about the freeze dry process at home. That is why the Just Tomatoes brand is pricey - not just because it is natural and some organic, but the process is costly.

Maybe you can find out how to do the freeze dry process at home? Scratch that... I remember looking online a while back and the freeze dryer machines are very costly.

 

[dianemb]

I've had a deyhydrator for about 15 years and I love it. Some things come out chewy and some don't. It's a lot of experimenting. I make beef jerky that is soooo much better than any you can buy (and much cheaper). I have an American Harvester (I think that's what it's called)> It's round and has 6 trays. I've done lots of fruit and I also have dried orange and lemon slices for Christmas decorations. They aren't really that expensive but do take up a bit of room. Hope that helps.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Aren't they freeze dried?

I only dehydrate food, but I don't know about the freeze dry process at home. That is why the Just Tomatoes brand is pricey - not just because it is natural and some organic, but the process is costly.

Maybe you can find out how to do the freeze dry process at home? Scratch that... I remember looking online a while back and the freeze dryer machines are very costly.

You know, I think that they are freeze dried. They are more crunchy than chewy. So there is no cost-effective way to do this at home? Too bad, because those "Just Tomatos" products cost a mint and we really love them. I guess I'll have to stock up if I ever see them on sale then

 

[tiggr33]

I've had a deyhydrator for about 15 years and I love it. Some things come out chewy and some don't. It's a lot of experimenting. I make beef jerky that is soooo much better than any you can buy (and much cheaper). I have an American Harvester (I think that's what it's called)> It's round and has 6 trays. I've done lots of fruit and I also have dried orange and lemon slices for Christmas decorations. They aren't really that expensive but do take up a bit of room. Hope that helps.

I have the american harvester too. I got it as an x-mas gift. I love it. I've done herbs, tomatoes, apples, mangos, strawberries, pineapple, and a few other items. This week I plan on doing onions and garlic to make a dried blend with some herbs and spices.

I have not done jerky yet. Do you do the "pressed" version or sliced? Do you use their spice/marinade kit or your own recipe. I think I'll tacke it this week as well.

The only down side iand it is a neccessary evil is the time it takes to dehydrate certain items.

For the pineapple, I use canned slices packed in their own juice with no added sugar. I can't keep it in the house when I make it.

 

[kate]

Does anyone have a food dehydrator, and does it work well? DD and I eat those "Just Peaches," etc. foods from the health food store like they're going out of style. I like that they're just dehydrated fruit w/nothing added, but at $6-$7 a container, they're a real budget buster. I don't want dried fruit (like the chewy stuff). I want dehydrated fruit like the "Just Tomatos" company makes. What machine do I need to buy to make this myself, and how much should I expect to spend?

We have a Nesco. Use it all the time. Love to take apples, slice them thin and shake in a bag with cinn and sugar. Takes about 8 hours to dry but the taste is awesome. We bought ours from Amazon for approx $40. approx 6 months ago. Also dry orange and lemon peel for cookies, cakes, etc. Actually, now that I think about it, I dry anything that does not get eaten quickly in our house. No longer do I toss "old" fruit. Well worth the money just to decrease the "compost" items.

 

[westcliffemom]

I have an American Harvest, I dehydrate apples, bananas, and peaches every week. They are crisp or chewy depending on how thin you slice them and how long you dry them. I got mine at a yardsale and have really used it. I was buying those Apple Crisps that are out now, and now I make my own!

 

[nealrap]

I have a ronco, and it works pretty decent, but I need to rotate the trays a few times during the drying process.
All my stuff ends up chewey though, not crunchy.

 

[bclydia]

Try the freeze dried fruit from Honeyville Grain. We've been ordering the strawberries, apples and peaches from here and my kids love them.
http://honeyvillegrain.com/
They have a flat rate for shipping and we've been really pleased with the quality.