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Post by olebama on Jun 4, 2019 18:28:32 GMT -7
I purchased a dehydrator at a yard sale a couple of years ago. I had dehydrated some apples, but that had been about it. My wife loves corn on the cob (fully mature, really kinda hard) baked in the oven. It occurred to me that what she seemed to be doing was dehydrating (drying) the corn. So I bought some frozen corn and put it in the dehydrator. It came out well and my wife LOVED it. She goes to the jar and eats a handful like candy.
So what else are you dehydrating? Of course could make jerky. I might get into that soon. I know that I could use frozen mixed veggies.
any ideas?
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Post by ColcordMama on Jun 4, 2019 19:55:08 GMT -7
You don't need to use frozen, just cut up and blanch and spread on the trays. Jerky is the best, but holy cow (get it?) it's expensive to make unless you own a ranch. Figure on 1/4 lb of jerky for every pound you dry. I store all the stuff I've dried in paper lunch bags with pencil labels, and those stored in paper grocery bags, grouped into types and labeled, up on a high shelf in a back room of the garage. Keeps the bugs out and no moisture in there ever, but of course this is central AZ, so yeah...
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Post by Cwi555 on Jun 4, 2019 20:40:08 GMT -7
I purchased a dehydrator at a yard sale a couple of years ago. I had dehydrated some apples, but that had been about it. My wife loves corn on the cob (fully mature, really kinda hard) baked in the oven. It occurred to me that what she seemed to be doing was dehydrating (drying) the corn. So I bought some frozen corn and put it in the dehydrator. It came out well and my wife LOVED it. She goes to the jar and eats a handful like candy. So what else are you dehydrating? Of course could make jerky. I might get into that soon. I know that I could use frozen mixed veggies. any ideas? We mostly freeze dry these days, but still make soup bases via dehydration. There isn't much you couldn't dehydrate so I think it comes down to personal taste.
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Post by solargeek1 on Jun 5, 2019 4:11:49 GMT -7
TOMATOES 🍅
You know those incredibly expensive "sun-dried tomatoes" You see in the store? Sometimes packed in olive oil? Well they cost you almost nothing if you make them yourself. Just dehydrate down to the level you would like to have them for pizza or to make into pesto to spread on French bread. You have to freeze this though. Lots of moisture left in them.
I mix the pesto by taking the sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, a little dried basil, and Parmesan cheese to taste. Mix it all in your food processor or by hand. And I give this as gifts at Christmas after having frozen it in the fall.
And for fun I dehydrate down to the crunchiness level and we eat that like candy. You can even freeze the crunchy ones in case you missed a tiny bit of moisture & They stay crunchy. Really Tastes like candy as all the sugars concentrate.
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Post by olebama on Jun 9, 2019 19:12:05 GMT -7
thank you for the ideas. I hadn't thought of tomatoes, since they are mostly water.
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Post by olebama on Jun 20, 2019 19:26:33 GMT -7
the sister in law wants me to try dehydrating blueberries. I saw on the internet that the best way is to freeze them first (to rupture the skin) and then dehydrate. So will try that within the next couple of days.
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Post by olebama on Jun 21, 2019 14:23:18 GMT -7
Well started dehydrating the blueberries and then it occurred to me that these were NOT blanched. We just put them unwashed into bags and freeze them. (I did wash these before I put them in the dehydrator) oh well, I will see how these do.
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Post by olebama on Jun 23, 2019 20:03:21 GMT -7
Got the blueberried dried, but took 24 hours. I don't think it is worth the effort with a dehydrator. Now, if you can do it using sunlight, it might be worthwhile.
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Post by woodyz on Jun 29, 2019 21:45:12 GMT -7
The twins, 11 year old girls are/have been here this summer so everything has to get/be tried
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Post by woodyz on Jun 29, 2019 21:51:01 GMT -7
Cantaloupe Chips, everything pepper, they started out cause it was neat to see from start to done, it was neat to watch, then they found some they like and want to repeat
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Post by cajunlady87 on Jul 6, 2019 8:40:43 GMT -7
Cantaloupe Chips, everything pepper, they started out cause it was neat to see from start to done, it was neat to watch, then they found some they like and want to repeat Their enthusiasm sounds like some of the "old Woodyz" rubbed off on them. Let's hope they keep on trying to see what works in the dehydrating world.
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Post by geron on Jul 7, 2019 16:00:11 GMT -7
One batch of yellow squash done and another in the dehydrator.
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Post by solargeek1 on Jul 7, 2019 18:27:26 GMT -7
What do you do with dehydrated squash?
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Post by olebama on Jul 8, 2019 9:34:58 GMT -7
we just dehydrated some apples and green beans. First time with green beans.
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Post by geron on Jul 9, 2019 14:17:52 GMT -7
One batch of yellow squash done and another in the dehydrator. They can be re-hydrated with boiling water soaking for 15 minutes and used as usual. Can use as thickener for soups and stews. Maybe a casserole when re-hydrated. Really quite good eaten like potato chips .
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