38 replies to this topic

[sandy*]

Thank you violet!!

[Violet]

Oh, perhaps you will like this booklet online. We sell the same one here.
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/Resources/PDFs/PNW0397.pdf

[Granny]

Back to the top. Great tips for those new to dehydrating. I did the zuchinni chips last summer. Good stuff, low fat replacement for store bought potato chips (unless you don't like taste of zuchinni).

[Josephine]

Wash potatoes well, peel if desired. Cut as desired; french-fry style in 1/4 “ pieces, or 1/4-1/8” slices, or grate.

Steam blanch 4-6 minutes, then rinse well in cool water (may turn black during drying if not properly pretreated).

I've decided I really don't like processing potatoes. I decided to dehydrate some, and my dehydrator's booklet said 3/8ths of an inch thick. My mandolin only went to 7mm (1/4th) so I used that, but they seemed rather thick for dehydrating. Then the booklet said to steam blanch 5 min or until transparent. After 5 min they were nowhere near transparent, so I blanched and blanched and blanched some more until they were. The Husband said I should have stopped at 5 min, as he thought it was one or the other; I thought it was at least 5 min, more if that's what it takes to get them transparent. Which was it? And I realized I didn't cool them down before putting them in the dehydrator.

I put them in a lemon juice water bathe as I sliced them, but some are still turning dark.

Add this to my potato peeling disaster for canning, and I don't want to do potatoes anymore! :*(

[Amishway Homesteaders]

anybody hoping Santa will bring them a new one for Christmas?
Here are a 'few' things to know before you start.

[dogmom4]

Bumping up again. I have a bunch of apples and bananas I need to do something with. Time to break out the dehydrator.

[Philbe]

You can store in sealed tightly in the cupboard, or you can freeze the bags for longer storage.
I have not used O2 absorbers in my dried things yet. Maybe someone else will post about that part.

I use my canning & hose attachment to my food saver machine...so don't need oxygen absorbers. But...when I put something in one of my food saver bags for preservation, I use the absorbers. I even store my pastas in a 1/2 gallon jar that has been sealed with my food saver. I just don't can. If it needs canning...I buy it canned (smile).

[Cat]

**Stealing something from FaceBook (from a long-ago Mrs S member, no less! )**

Two interesting facts about the latest batch of fruit leather I made:
1. It's strawberry-banana-coconut, and tart and sweet at the same time. Strangely addictive. It's tart from the citric acid I added to preserve the color. Really good. Can't keep from thinking about going back for another little piece.

2. I made it in my minivan, on cookie sheets covered with the bags cereal comes in inside cereal boxes. Those bags make the perfect fruit leather sheets. Just cut off the bottom and up the seam and flatten them open. Food grade, heavy duty, easy to peel the finished leather off. A closed up car makes a good dehydrator if you leave it parked in full sun in the summer. Worked like a charm in two days, and that's with monsoon humidity here, too.

[Philbe]

Bumping up again. I have a bunch of apples and bananas I need to do something with. Time to break out the dehydrator.

Finished my last batch of dehydrated apples and then I vacume seal them in jars with my food sealer jar attachment. No need to oxygen absorbers. Be sure to spray them with a 1 to 4 mix of lemon juice/waterbefore you place them on your trays to keep them pretty!

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[Jeepers]

I seem to use my Food Saver jar attachment more than I use it for sealing bags. I don't use oxygen absorbers with it either.

[Philbe]

I hadn't heard of the True Lemon and True Lime stuff - I'm going to have to look for them at the store, I love having a bit of lemon or lime in my water, but hate having to carry around the little bottle at work!

I'm not allowed to buy anything else until after I move, else I'd be buying this.

Lemons, Limes and Oranges too!!! They make wonderful Lemonaide, Limeade and Orangeaide out of water bottles, water jugs or pitchers full of water. Add a bit of green tea now and then and WALAH!

[Philbe]

Frozen vegetable medley's are wonderful on your dehydrators! Cheap and already prepped, and great for those of us who don't have the "thumb" for growing cauliflower and broccoli (smile)

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[TheCG]

If I have issues with citric acid, are there alternatives I can use to keep things from changing colors on me? Would ascorbic acid work?

[Philbe]

No to absorbic acid...YES to lemon juice. Just mix it 1 part lemon juice with 3 parts water, put in a spray bottle, and give your stuff a good misting on both sides. I've used the lemon juice for a long time and it's much more economical. I've even used lemon/lime soda when in a pinch!

[TheCG]

Lemon juice I can probably handle in moderation.

Thanks!

[Violet]

Yes, you do use ascorbic acid... that is what Fruit Fresh is.
Citric acid raises the acid level, ascorbic acid preserves color.

[Philbe]

Just finished 5 trays (5 packages) vegetable medley mix; 1 jar has 3 packages in it, 1 jar has 2 packages in it, 1 jar I put together for a meal in a jar (1 package of medley) and then kept the teeny-tiny bits of broccoli in a small jar so I can make some broccoli soup.

 

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[Jeepers]

Looks good Philbe!

[Philbe]

Just put 6 trays of lemons on one dehydrator and 2 trays (plus 2 empty) of lemons & oranges on another, thank you Lord for the food other's don't want.  Saved all the "ends" and put in a baggie in the freezer for our camper friends.  She's still working so I often share with her.