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Does anyone dehydrate food for food storage and everyday eating? I am new to dehydrating, I started a few months ago when I bought a dehydrator. Since then I have found several things my family loves. I dehydrated strawberries to put in cereal or bake in muffins. We made apple chips, just sliced the apples and sprinkled cinnamon on them before I stuck in them in the dehydrator. My kids can't get enough of those. My sister and I made onion powder, cilantro powder, and few other things for dip and soup mixes.
I found these videos on youtube and the lady has really inspired me. I think my garden will be put to better use this year, fewer things wasted.
I have used a dehydrator to make beef jerky. marinated a lean piece of meat like a london broil, then slice it real thin and let it go all day, it is so good. My brother has also used his to dehydrate fruit like apple slices, real good for that too.
I started with jerky - major major savings
When on to fruits - again, some major savings, and got more fruit into our diet
On to vegs - a great instant soup, easier storage than canning jars
I've now done my own boulion, eggs, spices, rasins, etc.
I've also dried some greens (the vines from the garden, crab apples, and other other things) that are in plenty during the season,for our livestock in the winter.
I think my dehydrator has more than paid for itself, and was an investment that really produced "snowball" savings.
I have, quite a bit. I've done it several different ways. When I had a gas stove with a pilot light in the oven that works for some things. When I had an oil cook stove, I had a rack hanging over it primarily for drying mushrooms, we gathered a LOT of oyster mushrooms. I also have had several electric dehydrators. When I moved from AK, I gave away the smaller ones and kept the big one. The smaller ones had plastic trays and were best for making fruit leathers. The big one is about double the size of the average microwave with a lot of rectangular screens and several heat/blower settings. That's the one I use most, for dried apple slices, diced onions, diced green peppers, some veggie chips, jerky, dried salmon [not as good as smoked, but passable]. It's one of my favorite kitchen accessories.
I should probably also mention that I got all my dehydrators from garage sales or thrift shops. I didn't pay more than a couple dollars for any of them.
Last edited by karibear; 04-07-2009 at 10:12 AM..
Reason: add
We grow garlic and onions, dehyrate both and run them through a grist mill.
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