I have always had a problem with throwing food away. I also like to prepare for the rainy day. We live 20 minutes from any shopping facility and we grow some of our own food. I have learned that the most economical way to preserve food is to dry it. It takes up less space, uses no sugar, and lasts up to two years. I do not do a lot to the food other than wash it, slice it, and prepare it for use. I do scald green beans, however.
Any time I bring food into the house either through harvesting, gleaning, or shopping, I sort out what we can eat immediately between now and my next town trip, and I preserve the rest. Green onions, celery, carrots, beans, peppers, and fruit dry very nicely. I have a large food dryer with 7 trays. To preserve electricity I fill all the trays up with sliced fruit, sliced mushrooms, chopped onions, sliced peppers, chopped celery, parsley, herbs, zucchini, beans, carrots, and whatever other veggies I am choosing to dry.
I have found storing dried foods in plastic bags to be a bad idea as moths can chew through and destroy the food. Freezing the plastic encased dried food takes up freezer space needed for freezing eggs and meat. A tight sealing glass jar is the best method of storing the dried food. Another plus for drying over canning or even freezing is that the dried food is alive with all the enzymes still present in the food.
My vitamins and supplements come with a small packet of silica gel for keeping things dry and fresh. When I am through with them I put that packet in a jar of dried food. I find that keeps things fresh longer. I store these glass jars (recycled from jars of jam and other items purchased at the grocery store) on a shelf in alphabetical order of what is in them and labeled with the date of processing. When I am in a hurry, making a soup or stew is very simple with tossing the dry ingredients into the crock pot with the meat and water and seasonings without messing up my kitchen.
By Leila B.
This page contains the following solutions.
The next time you go to the grocery store and they are having a great sale or your garden is overproducing, try my friend Amy's trick for easy winter soups.
A year ago or so I bought a fairly simple food dehydrator with six shelves. It has sat for awhile, but this year I decided to put it to work.
People always ask how come I buy very little at the grocery store. I own a Rival Seal A Meal- vacuum storage unit and a Excalibur dehydrator.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a dehydrator that I haven't really figured out yet. Does anyone have any tried and true recipes they wouldn't mind sharing? I would love to get snack type recipes to make for our 5 kids and anything else you'd care to share.
Hi. I have used my dehydrator for years. I always made apples rolled in dry Jello. My boys loved the different flavors. We would roll them and then put them in the dehydrator overnight and when they got up they had a good snack to put in their lunches for school. The only problem they disappear really fast. Have fun and experiment with everything. Jerky is really good.
Barb from MI
Use Mott's natural applesauce to make super easy fruit roll-ups. I especially like the strawberry and mixed berry flavors. Spread evenly onto plastic dehydrator sheets and dehydrate until dry to the touch. Peel roll-up off plastic dehydrator sheets and turn over and dry some more, until desired firmness. When dry, roll up and cut into 1-inch pieces for easy munching.
Tip: When spreading applesauce onto sheets, leave edges a little thicker.
Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
4 cups potatoes, peeled, boiled and mashed
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix at high speed. Thinly spread onto solid fruit roll sheets. Place on dehydrator trays and dry at 145º F. for 4 hours or until dry on one side. With a clean butter knife, lift entire ring off sheet, turn over and dry 1 hour longer, or until it is dry enough to break into pieces.
Taco Chips
1 7-ounce can whole kernel corn
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
1 tablespoon onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Dash garlic powder
Blend all ingredients at high speed in a blender or food processor. Spread mixture thinly onto solid fruit roll sheets. Place sheets on dehydrator trays. Dry at 145º F. for 6 to 8 hours, or until dry on one side. With a clean butter knife, lift entire ring off sheet, turn over and dry for 1 to 2 hours longer, or until crisp. Break into chips.
Zucchini Pineapple Chips
4 cups peeled zucchini (1/4-inch slices)
12-ounces pineapple juice (two 6-ounce cans)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 lemon juice
Place pineapple juice, sugar and lemon juice in 2-quart saucepan. Stir and bring to full boil on high heat. Reduce heat, heat to medium-high and add fresh, sliced zucchini pieces. Press all slices into liquid. Boil lightly for 10 to 15 minutes or until slices turn an olive green color. Gently pour into large strainer and drain. Allow to cool. Place slices on NESCO® American Harvest® dehyrator trays lined with Clean-A-Screen® sheet and dry at 135º F. for 3 to 5 hours. Dry until crisp.
Yield: 1 cup dried chips
Note: Foods feel softer when warm. To test for dryness, remove a few pieces and allow to cool before testing for crispness.
To intensify flavor, leave cooked zucchini marinate in liquid for a few days. The dried product tastes like a sweet, zucchini pickle. The tender peels may be left on smaller zucchini, if desired. For larger zucchini, remove seeds before using.
When I make my dried apples I sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on them before drying for a wonderful added flavor. They sure don't last long when I make them this way for the grandkids!
I just purchased a dehydrator and have been successful with the few items I have dehydrated except bananas. This is the 2nd time and each time, they never got to the "chip" consistency. The first time, I did nothing special to them except slice and dehydrate, 2nd time, I used a preservative and still after 13 hrs, they have never gotten to that "chip" consistency. What am I doing wrong? I have dehydrated at 135 and 145 degrees and still did not get there. Anyone have suggestions? I would very much appreciate as I love banana chips.
By Elaine M P.
Dehydrating will never make the bananas crisp. The crisp ones found in stores have been fried. Sorry, I was disappointed too.
I love dehydrated bananas in a bowl of cooked old fashion oatmeal. They don't get crisp but you do want them to be dry. Store them in a zip lock freezer bag. They don't last long with me because I eat a lot of bananas.
I just purchased a dehydrator and have been successful with the few items I have dehydrated except bananas. This is the 2nd time and each time, they never got to the "chip" consistency. First time, I did nothing special to them except slice and dehydrate, 2nd time, I used a preservative and still after 13 hrs, they have never gotten to that "chip" consistency. What am I doing wrong? I have dehydrated at 135 and 145 degrees and still did not get there. Anyone have suggestions? I would very much appreciate as I love banana chips.
By Elaine M P.
What about dehydrating fruits, veggies, and herbs? Anyone have any tips? I have just finished doing mushrooms and zucchini. I must say that I am very impressed with the results and it takes up so much less space, too. These mushrooms were about 2 lbs originally.
By Elayne
Do you have any recipes or suggestions on using a dehydrator?
Elayne
"Have a grape day."
