Did it my self Dehydrated

1/26/14 | kartographer

[Kartographer]

I put mine in the garage for the same reason the noise, but I have the added plus of plenty of dry high desert air getting push through it.

[Vinnie]

Thanks
Guess I’ll have to get up in the attic and dig it out.

[leapfrog0202]

I’m in Abq Kart :-) and yes, it helps. In winter it’s not that cold, but the extra warmth in the garage is nice!

[leapfrog0202]

You’re welcome. Honestly there is nothing to it except checking to make sure stuff is dry enough. The sweet potatoes we parbake for around 20 minutes or they’re very tough to slice. We give our pups those as snacks and they love them.

You can save a lot of money when produce goes on sale and they keep forever. Good luck if you decide to do so!

[Kartographer]

On a sunny day my garage can get down right blammy once the sun heats up steel garage doors, which they face due south. I have work on projects out there many times in my shirt sleeves.

[3D-JOY]

I saw a friends dehydrator working once...It seemed to take forever and the volume was small.

There must be a better model...suggestion and approximate cost?

Can you make it pay to do this if you have to buy the food not grow it? Electric cost?

Thanks for help... anyone else?

[goodnesswins]

Excaliber dehydrators....I just got one and am loving it

[Kartographer]

I have a Nesco

Mine is very effienct, but then I do have the very dry high desert air to help. I often use frozen foods that I buy during bulk sales and the same buy during good produce sales. When you consider the cost amd shipping charges buying commercial canned dehydrated products you are bond to come off ahead. you will also have the advantage of knowing you are buying dehydrated food from China.

[count-your-change]

I dehydrated some ice for use next summer, when summer heat hits I’ll be ready.

[goodnesswins]

Interesting about parbaking sweet potatoes...I just tried sweet potatoes last week and was not happy with the results....at what temp do you bake them?

[leapfrog0202]

Interesting about parbaking sweet potatoes...I just tried sweet potatoes last week and was not happy with the results....at what temp do you bake them?

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We bake them at 400 for 20-30 minutes depending upon how big they are. We use the 1/16 setting on the mandoline to cut them so they are like sweet potato chips.

We use them in the dog food we make for our 2 Pommies and their treats. Also hubby has done the pre-bake and then we’ve cubed them and he throws them in stews after dehydrated.

[leapfrog0202]

I saw a friends dehydrator working once...It seemed to take forever and the volume was small.

There must be a better model...suggestion and approximate cost?

Can you make it pay to do this if you have to buy the food not grow it? Electric cost?

Thanks for help... anyone else?

---

Our dehydrator is American Harvest and we have 16 trays. Typically we fill all 16 if we can so that we get the most done when we’re using it. I think you can use up to 32 trays on this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-American-Harvest-FD-1018P-Dehydrator/dp/B001795P4O/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1390809218&sr=1-1&keywords=american+harvest+dehydrator

As Kartographer said, we’re in the high desert with the very dry air but I don’t notice much difference in the utility bill when we’ve used it a lot.

I do as he stated, dehydrate frozen stuff when it’s on huge sales or when we pick stuff up cheap at the farmer’s market near the end of the day or when stores are having big produce sales.

I think it saves money all in all, but it could be dependent upon where you live and how much electricity costs wherever you are. We do the plain Ziploc bags for our dog treats and then use the vacuum sealer thing for bulk veggies and fruits. Hope this helps!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

You can get kits to grow all sorts of mushrooms. I just pick the Morels in the Spring.

[piroque]

We dehydrate ,tomatoes, summer yellow squash,zucchini squash, and sweet potatoes [,sliced thin like chips great snatches] ,all the herbs parsley,oregano,garlic chives,onion chives,cilantro,basil,rosemary, green onions,celery,bell and Cayenne peppers on the fruit side apple,figs,bananas

. Be sure and be outside if you grind the cayenne peppers or have a gas mask handy ;)

We use two American Harvest with 5-6 trays one is 20+ years and the other is older,be sure and get a few of the solid trays and the smaller grate inserts

[3D-JOY]

Thanks I will check it out.

[3D-JOY]

Is that a small unit? Looks like it might fit in the kitchen.

I will check out this brand too.

[3D-JOY]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

I learn so much from Freepers!

Just to let you know I have finished my “bug-back” plans.

One of these threads mentioned being away from home when TSHTF and I realized I could be across the causeway and have a river to cross to get home. Well it has been an adventure planning for that trip in an inflatible (sp?) as well as personal and dog life jackets etc. If he were not with me all the more reason to get back! Planning a launch site and safe landing, considering the wind and water flow, has been informative too! Special pack for the car when leaving the island is complete!

Just thought you might be interested.

[Kartographer]

Yes its small comes with 5 trays and you can buy more if you need them.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

leapfrog0202 :"We bake them(sweet potatoes) at 400 for 20-30 minutes depending upon how big they are.
We use the 1/16 setting on the mandoline to cut them so they are like sweet potato chips."

The mandoline assures uniformity of drying , when used with larger fruit/vegetables (apples,bannana, citrus,etc.).
Therefore , almost all dehydrated product gets done at the same time.
Also, you can dehydrate in season , and cheap frozen vegetables and fruits, especially if they are of a uniform size.
Dehydrated product will be approximately reduced to about 1/3 their normal size, be lighter in weight.
Dehydrated peas ,carrots , onions, and other root crops are sweeter in flavor as sweetness is condensed; especially true with citrus fruits and berries.
Size for travel can be further reduced by using a grinder ,or mortar and pestle and made into a powder , and placed in plastic freezer bags.