Has anyone done home drying fuits, vegetables

**winner** · 11-13-2008, 01:00 PM

Hi there,
I am thinking for a while about drying furits (apples, pineapples, apricots) and vegetables. Even to dry tomatoes would be much cheaper, then to buy them, they cost a fortune. Did anyone dry fruits and vegetables? Is it possible to dry them in the oven or it would be wiser to invest in those dehighdrators (sorry don't know how to spell). Any comments are welcome.

**nuisance26** · 11-13-2008, 01:35 PM

~I have a simple, heat element only(no fan) dehydrator that I bought at a yard sale for $2. I bought it really just to make dried fruits as a snack because I cannot stand the sulfur they add to all the ready-made dried fruits. It works great! Since I dry stuff for snacks and not storage, it just wouldn't be worth it to have a more expensive dehydrator.~

**vigilant20** · 11-13-2008, 01:38 PM

I got a nesco dehydrator this fall because it had a fan and thermostat (and was cheap especially for having those options) and it works wonderfully. Everything I've made (apple slices, fruit jerky, kale chips, raw food nut crackers) have all turned out great. I really need to branch out and start using it for more preservation.

**Ceashels** · 11-13-2008, 02:34 PM

I dry extra veggies that I haven't used up as fresh. So I have some zuchini, yellow squash, onions, leeks, cherries, and strawberries from the summer months. I have done dried grape tomatoes and celery as well. I mostly use the veggies to add into soups and use the fruit for snacks or baking.

**madhen** · 11-13-2008, 02:36 PM

You can dehydrate in your oven, if you can keep the temp down low (under 200F), but it can take a day or more for some fruits, so your oven is tied up, and is ON for 24 hours or more. It is probably cheaper to get a dehydrator. The NESCO brand is a great dehydrator for beginners, and I've dried just about everything in it, from herbs to meats.

**Lady_V** · 11-13-2008, 02:41 PM

How to Dry Fruits and Vegetables

I found this page to be very informative. It not only tells you how long, but how to prepare the fruits, veggies and meats for drying... as well as some recipes to use them in once they are done.

**winner** · 11-14-2008, 09:45 AM

Thank you all for the tips, so bottom line is, I will have to invest in dehydrator. Any adea how much it cost?

**nuisance26** · 11-14-2008, 10:54 AM

~The kind I have can be had for about $35 at Walmart. Here's a google shopping search I just did, http://www.google.com/products?q=deh...=1&sa=N&tab=wf ~

**nuisance26** · 11-14-2008, 11:08 AM

~Great, now you've got me shopping for one, lol! This one seems affordable and well liked. You can also buy inserts for fruit leathers, special screens for spices and extra trays to expand your drying capacity. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000665TM"]Amazon.com: Nesco American Harvest 5-Tray FD-35 425-Watt Snackmaster Dehydrator: Kitchen & Dining[/ame] ~

**nuisance26** · 11-14-2008, 11:14 AM

~Here's another popular one at Walmart(5 stars and 221 reviews!). http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=1120727 Somebody stop me!!!~

**vigilant20** · 11-14-2008, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~Here's another popular one at Walmart(5 stars and 221 reviews!). http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=1120727 Somebody stop me!!!~

That's the one I got. It looks strangely small in the picture. It's not!

**winner** · 11-15-2008, 09:44 AM

Thank you all. After seeing the picture, I am sure I saw them at the thrift shop. I will check there first see if I can find cheaper.

**allenwrench** · 11-18-2008, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~I have a simple, heat element only(no fan) dehydrator that I bought at a yard sale for $2. I bought it really just to make dried fruits as a snack because I cannot stand the sulfur they add to all the ready-made dried fruits. It works great! Since I dry stuff for snacks and not storage, it just wouldn't be worth it to have a more expensive dehydrator.~

How does it work? Got a photo or link? I'd like to try one with no fan.

**allenwrench** · 11-18-2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

You can dehydrate in your oven, if you can keep the temp down low (under 200F), but it can take a day or more for some fruits, so your oven is tied up, and is ON for 24 hours or more. It is probably cheaper to get a dehydrator. The NESCO brand is a great dehydrator for beginners, and I've dried just about everything in it, from herbs to meats.

In the old days the oven had a pilot light. Now it uses an ignitor. My ignitor went out and had a big bill to replace it. So careful about having oven go on and off too much. I used to use mine for yogurt. Now use a heating pad.

**terrie** · 11-30-2008, 02:08 AM

I purchased a 9 tray Excalibar dehydrator. It has square trays, with fan and heat adjustments. I had a 5 try round one. Round ones have less room for drying. And when it is really humid out, some things will mold. You also should rotate the trays, if there is NO fan.

I cook, cutup meat for jerky, make meat cubes, my own boullion mixes (grind up the chicken, beef or pork) once dry.

I've done chopped onions, all kinds of peppers, tomatoes of all kinds. Cherry tomatoes cut in half, make great salad topping, and pack more flavor dry. Potatoes should be par boiled first, then dried. Sweet potatoes turn out fantastic. Apples, lemons or lemon rind, for zest.

Celery, carrots, cabbage, celaric, beets, you name it. Pineapple dries fantastic.

I pick up mushrooms when on sale and dry them.

I dry all the herbs and veggies I grow, or locate on sale. I wait til I get enough to fill the dehydrator. If not, I cut it up, freeze, thaw, then dry.

Veggies are great for soups, omletts, snacks.

I store most of what I dry, in peanut butter jars. Or any plastic jar that had food in it. They are more sized for my cupboards. That way, they are water proof, and if something cracks, not all is lost.