So much for my food dehydrator...

**leighcat** · 05-30-2010, 12:38 PM

I took a bunch of apples yesterday that were going to be wasted and prepared them for the dehydrator. They dried out alright. They stuck to the darn trays. I am so bummed.

I guess I should get a better dehydrator. I have a very old Mr. Coffee one that was my moms many years ago. I just hope they don't all have this problem.

**frugalfranny** · 05-30-2010, 01:33 PM

Could happen with plastic trays.......mine sticks to a point.

What I usually do is about half way through I move them....or at least pick them up.....really helps. Mine has stuck too but not to the point of ruining the food.........might have a few but those are eaten right then!!

I have also put a little oil on a paper towel and wiped it across the trays that I am using, prior to putting the food on them. I didn't 'spray them' as I thought I would get too much oil on the trays!

The two things that seem to stick the worst are apples and peaches..........nanas are just so-so! Haven't had trouble with anything else.

**KeithBC** · 05-30-2010, 01:39 PM

Have you tried parchment paper? DW uses it for a lot of baking of stuff that has the potential to stick. She swears by it - nothing ever sticks to it.

**frugalfranny** · 05-30-2010, 01:42 PM

Thanks keith...........great idea. Haven't done that and I use it in baking certain cookies too...........DUH!!

I did try using my fruit leather trays and thought maybe it took longer for stuff to dry............air can't circulate as well.

**savvy_sniper** · 05-30-2010, 02:23 PM

Once the apples are THOROUGHLY dry, they should pop off the plastic mesh trays when you bend them. Also don't try to take them off the tray until they have cooled off a bit.

**jas** · 05-30-2010, 02:52 PM

mine stick too as I always forget to oil the plasic sheets. It can be a pain to pick them all off, but it commom to even the expensive dehydrators if you don't oil them a bit.

**leighcat** · 05-30-2010, 02:55 PM

Won't it make them store poorly if I get oil on them? I was thinking of using some food for storing away for several months.

**mauimagic** · 05-30-2010, 03:35 PM

I am so glad that Leigh brought thid question up - I always spray my pans - and truthfully make a mess - a major DUH moment - mahalo FF - lightly oil the pans - no mess and cheaper too!! Good think I love laughing at myself!!

**Grainlady** · 05-30-2010, 03:40 PM

Avoid oiling trays/sheets. The cooking oil is quickly oxidized and will go rancid, especially anything you want to keep in storage for several months.

You may have better luck if you flip your apples after a couple hours, rather than letting them shrink in place on the trays.

In my American Harvest I have Clean-A-Screens that flex for easier removal of sticky fruits (especially pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, pears, honey-treated bananas, etc.). Remove food promptly upon drying. The curling action of the flexible screens really helps!!!

Refrigerating or freezing the trays or flexible screens for a few minutes will also aid in removal.

**leighcat** · 05-30-2010, 04:19 PM

Grainlady, what do you think of this one? Walmart.com: Nesco American Harvest Square Dehydrator, FD-80: Appliances

**Grainlady** · 05-30-2010, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by leighcat

Grainlady, what do you think of this one? Walmart.com: Nesco American Harvest Square Dehydrator, FD-80: Appliances

I think it looks great....

Good move on Nesco's part to develop a square dehydrator. It has more "umph" than my American Harvest, so it probably dries food much faster. Mine can stretch to 12 trays (10 sq. feet), while the Square Dehydrator only 8, but the new technology (Converga-Flow® drying system) sounds like a great improvement as well. The critics seem to love it.

I'd miss my Clean-A-Screen (screens) and fruit roll-up sheets. They get a lot of use. I can only assume Nesco will eventually have them for the FD-80.

**craftypam** · 05-30-2010, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by leighcat

Grainlady, what do you think of this one? Walmart.com: Nesco American Harvest Square Dehydrator, FD-80: Appliances

I am brand new to this dehydrating thing so I was looking at that dehydrator and then I found one (a different one) at the used clothing store. Sooo before I spend a larger amount of money I want to see if this dehydrating thing is for me. LOL

**Grainlady** · 05-30-2010, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

I am brand new to this dehydrating thing so I was looking at that dehydrator and then I found one (a different one) at the used clothing store. Sooo before I spend a larger amount of money I want to see if this dehydrating thing is for me. LOL

The most difficult part about dehydrating is incorporating the food in your menus. It takes longer for the food to rehydrate than most people realize. Examples -

Raw Applesauce: Soak 1 cup dried apple slices in 1 cup hot apple cider for 3-4 hours. Puree in blender and serve as you would applesauce.

Cooked Applesauce: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 cup dried apple slices. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, or until apples are soft.

Dried Apple Pie: Pour 1-1/2 c. boiling water over 1-1/2 c. dried appleslices and let soak for 3-4 hours....

I'd suggest checking the library for a copy of Making & Using Dried Foods - by Phyllis Hobson (my favorite book), How To Dry Foods by Deanna DeLong, or Mary Bell's book/s. They all give good instruction for dehydrating AND recipes for using it.

You'll also find you like some foods more than others... We love thin, crispy zucchini slices and use them instead of potato chips. Apple slices are our #1 home-dehydrated food in storage. It's a great snack food and I make all kinds of things using dried apples. Cost effective because I pick free apples as much as possible.

You won't believe how many tomatoes you can store in one quart jar!!!! Great space saver and another favorite.

It's amazing to purchase a large bag of frozen peas, dehydrate them and they fit in a 1/2-pint jar.

There IS a learning curve using dehydrated foods.

Good luck, and hope you love your results...

**leighcat** · 05-30-2010, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Grainlady

Apple slices are our #1 home-dehydrated food in storage. It's a great snack food and I make all kinds of things using dried apples. Cost effective because I pick free apples as much as possible.
Good luck, and hope you love your results...

Apples are one of my kids' favorite treats! I wish I had a free source of apples. I just buy a bag of organic ones when I can get a good deal. I dehydrate whatever doesn't get eaten when the skins start to get wrinkly. Until yesterday, I hadn't dehydrated anything in a long time. Now I have a little more counter space.
I think I will keep my dehydrator and try it one more time. This time I will make my slices a little thicker, then I will try flipping them over once when they start to get dry. I make them on the crispy side because the kids like them as apple chips. If this thing still gives me a hard time then I will invest in a new one. I am still eyeing that excalibur one though lol. I just don't know if I would dry enough food to make it cost effective. I can't eat anything too acidic right now otherwise I would be growing and drying some tomatoes and peppers. One of these days I am going to buy a book on dehydrating. I did take one out at the library but I had to give it back. I did order the book Country Beans through a co-op though. I can't wait to get it!

**frugalfranny** · 05-31-2010, 02:13 AM

Originally Posted by Grainlady

Avoid oiling trays/sheets. The cooking oil is quickly oxidized and will go rancid, especially anything you want to keep in storage for several months.

but would just rubbing it with a paper towel put that much oil on it?

I haven't noticed any difference...........