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Anyone here a regular user of a dehydrator?

cookingmylife

cookingmylife

Pizza would be my last meal, except ...
Joined
Aug 1, 2012
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After visiting Eastern Europe, I was enamored by all the garlands of dried orange and lemon slices. So a friend gave me her old dehydrator and I found another free one on Freecycle. Neither one had any setting other than on/off and I tried a couple things without much success. Pineapple took days to dehydrate and immediately sucked up our humid air. A waste of time.

So, I am considering getting a 'real' one sometime again and probably sharing with a friend who is a serious boater. Any users here and any hints?
 
Me! Me! But I've only used it to dry my herbs that I grow in my garden.

Once I tried to make raisins, but after several days I still had grapes! Lol
 
I used to WAY back when, we would make our own beef jerky. Maybe I should try and get into that again...
 
Just saw this, we dehydrate lots of fruit when it is on sale (strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, tomatoes, etc). My dehydrator has a temperature control dial on it, but it can still take a few days, especially if you are in a humid area. I do have to rotate my trays during the drying process as the top ones (nearest the heating element and fan) tend to dry faster. After they are done I vacuum seal them in bags or canning jars and then put them in the pantry. My kids/husband like to snack on the dried fruit. I have done jerky in the past....although it is fantastic, it really is not economical when you have to purchase the meat.
 
Phew! glad to hear there are some who dehydrate. With all the scrappers in the Mormon community I knew there had to be people who did this. @djp332 maybe it's easier to make wine than raisins! (I made wine in England and I know it's not that easy or at least quick! I did elderberry.)

Any brands to suggest?
 
@cookingmylife, I just picked one up at Aldi for $20. The box said Ambiano. Looks like their own brand. Very simple design. 5 trays, adjustable vents on the lid. Plug it in and it turns on. Unplug it and it's off. And, boy does my house smell good when I'm drying my herbs.
 
Huh...we have just one Aldi about 25miles away (near Costco) so I'm not apt to get there often. It's hit or miss as to what they have except for the basic food but I may check them closer to late August. Harvest time?
 
Mine is a Nesco. I have had it for a decade and it is great. I do like that I have some control of the temperature.
 
Thanks Teri. I did want some control rather than just on and off. Who knows if I need it; it just seems like something I'd use.
 
I'm had two. I don't remember the brands, but they both just had on off switches. I got rid of both. They both just took too long - days and days of electricity! And the fruit seemed to pick up moisture as soon as I turned the dehydrator off. Sh was just talking about wanting to dehydrate again, so I may be looking with you!
 
cookingmylife said:
Thanks Teri. I did want some control rather than just on and off. Who knows if I need it; it just seems like something I'd use.
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I found mine on craigslist. It looked like they had only taken it out of the box, but never used it. You can also purchase additional trays for it, but I find that I am fine with what it has. It came with fruit leather trays as well, which we always do at least one when dehydrating fruit...not to put in storage, because the kids never let it get much further than the dehydrator when it is done.
 
thats it!! Yall have inspired me to get one!! So----kid #3 has started a company that sends out herbs etc - - sounds like a perfect time to me!
 
We've got a Nesco one too that hubby got from bass pro Shops. He makes his own jerky, I've never used it for fruit, but think I might try!!!
 
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