food Dehydrator

[flying_babyb]

so what can I Dehydrate? How can I make another solid tray for really wet things (applesauce)? I like to make fruit lethers so I have lots of really liquid things.
Also any good ideas for recipies for a food Dehydrator? Can one Dehydrate yougart? I saw on a website that you can.

 

[donnabc]

do you like tomatoes? don't buy the dried tomatoes soaked in olive oil...dry your own!
make you own dried fruit...I slice bananas and dry them but any fruit would work...my dad sliced watermellon and dried it.
My dad makes his own beef jerky
My son has food allergies so I make him his own fruit roll up about once a month...(fruit leather...just strawberries and a little honey)

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I used to make my own beef jerky-it was great. Get a flank steak,slice it into desired sized 1/4 inch thick strips WITH the grain of the meat and marinate it in teriyaki sauce overnight. Pat dry and dehydrate for several hours until dried out. No preservatives so it doesn't keep on the shelf but in the fridge it's good for awhile. It never lasted long enough to figure out the spoilage date! Also good with just some garlic salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

 

[flying_babyb]

humm, So far all ive done is leathers and jerky. Might have to try drying other things. I got a whole garden this summer. Hoping to start watermellon soon

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Check out some raw food sites. I have been getting more and more into raw foods and they/we love the dehydrator! LOTS of recipes. I have a dehydrator on order and can't wait to try some kale chips.

 

[jax677]

Try kiwi its really tasty. Blueberries, bananas and fruit leather are so good.

 

[PaulaSue]

Any suggeestions on one to buy? What to look for?

We love banana chips but the not-sweetened one are so expensive and the presweetened ones are so fattening. Trust me I keep saying I should make my own.

 

[MomtoGKC]

We were just thinking about getting one. My kids LOVE the dehydrated strawberries & bananas, but they are so expensive at the grocery store. And they go through them in one sitting! Do they come out tasting the same as at the store?

 

[Luv2Scrap]

WE just bought a dehydrator this week! We're going to try beef jerky this weekend, and probably some fruit too, if we have enough time. I can't wait!

 

[flying_babyb]

any product by nesco. I love my nesco food dehyrator. I feel confortable leaving it on over night when Im making apple leathers (20 hours) or strawberry leathers (15 hours).

 

[magik]

I have one, but all I've tried in it are cherries to make dried cherries. In addition to drying fruits, you can also dry herbs.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Ok, how are you guys making the fruit leathers? is there a recipe?

 

[Luv2Scrap]

any product by nesco. I love my nesco food dehyrator. I feel confortable leaving it on over night when Im making apple leathers (20 hours) or strawberry leathers (15 hours).

Glad to hear this - Nesco is the brand I bought!

 

[etoiles]

Ok, how are you guys making the fruit leathers? is there a recipe?

I've done the fruit leathers really easy by using jars of baby food. Since it basically pureed fruit all the work is already done!

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I've done the fruit leathers really easy by using jars of baby food. Since it basically pureed fruit all the work is already done!

do you just pour it directly onto the tray?

 

[etoiles]

do you just pour it directly onto the tray?

Yes, I do. When it is done it just peels right off. Haven't had any problems with it so far.

 

[cndij]

I make fruit leather with apple sauce all the time. I buy the big jars from Costco. If I have any fruit getting over-ripe, I just dump it in the blender with some applesauce for different flavors (peaches, grapes etc.) I have also take unsweetened Koolaid, disolved it a little bit of apple juice and stirred it into the applesauce for variety.

I also make banana chips, apple slices, pretty much anything can be dehydrated. I bought the Mary Bell book on dehyrdrating when I first got started and it is an excellent guide for beginners.

My neices favorite is banana chips with a little chocolate syrup drizzled over them. We also sprinkle a little cinamon over the apple slices before drying.
You do need to briefly soak the apple or banana slices in some lemon water to keep them from turning brown while drying.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

Bad Budget Board. Bad.

Great, another gadget I need to go out and buy now because of this place.

So, what Nesco model. Like Walmart level or better?

I probably would snack on more fruit if it weren't messy while handling paper & the computer.

I currently take trail mix when we hike, but fruit would be better than nuts.

I need more fruit in my diet anyway. I'm nuts enough.

 

[cndij]

I have the American Harvest (made by nesco) snackmaster. You can usually get the starter model (6 trays) pretty inexpensive at Walmart or Amazon and add more trays if you find you use it a lot. I have expanded mine to 12 trays now so I can do more at a time. I think the one I got was $40-50. The people who are really pros at dehydrating swear by excalibur, but I think they are closer to $200.

 

[Chickysmom]

do you just pour it directly onto the tray?

I think my dehydrator says to put plastic wrap down to line the vented trays, then pour in mmixture...is this the way you guys are doing it?