Dehydrator for making home made fruit/veg ‘crisps’ and fruit leather ?

[advicepls1234]

Looking at making some crispy type apple crisps, beetroot crisps, parsnip crisps, sweet potatoe scrips, kale ones. But also seen people making fruit leather in some sort of dehydrators.
Even looking at making chicken breast ‘crisps’ as every now and then buy them on Amazon as a healthy protein ‘snack’ for us. All minimal seasoning in regards to salt. Just want to make own rather than keep buying packets of the least salt content healthy ones that soon add up per packet.
But are great for snacks when out and about Espesh for LO

Anyone doing this?
Any particular techniques, machines you're using?
any fails and tips to share?

LO is toddler FYI

thabks!

Have you got an air fryer? Doesn't that have a dehydrate function?

Just a note of caution, many years ago I used to carry bags of dried, unsweetened mango around with me, so my toddler could snack on them when out and about… fast forward to first dentist appointment, aged 2, and my dc needed fillings - the dentist worked out it was the dried fruit between meals… (it sticks around on your teeth for a long time)..

I’m a bit late on the air fryer thing, never known which one to buy, and not had time to research which is best with all the stuff about some being toxic if buying one made with wrong material etc.

Maybe I’ll look into that when get a chance, thanks

Plenty of dehydrators on ebay, prices start around £20, I did consider buying one, but wasn't sure how much I would use it.

My DIL does fruit leathers and dehydrated fruit. She uses a dehydrator that looks like a big 1980’s microwave. Despite the size it takes hours upon hours per batch (please look it up, somehow 18hrs comes to mind) AND when in operation the humidity in the kitchen is noticeable.
Fruit, due to relative proximity she has access to cases upon cases of farm fresh fruit, which she slices thin and dehydrates.
It’s a huge job in her case BUT her dried strawberries, peaches and bananas are amazing.

We have one, must be 15 years old but not used it in a while.
Bananas are fab, especially overripe ones, I got 2 carrier bags full for 50p each, threw half away as they were rotten and did the rest in the dehydrator.

It does take ages as someone has said. Beef jerky is a favourite grand kids are always asking for it. My favourite is lamb jerky but it doesn't half make you fart.

Maybe ask that mushroom lady from Aus

dont know about jerky but I’ve made fruit leather in a low oven and thought you could do similar for fruit crisps.

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My husband HAD to have a dehydrater last year. Fast forward to it having been used once! One batch of beef jerky made using £20 worth of steak that we ate in one sitting. Now its just an occasional trigger for a bicker (along with the canoe, expensive road bike, 4 tents and everything else he hoards) when I get frustrated my house doesnt look like the pages of 'Home Beautiful'

There was a murder case from Australia recently where someone had dried then powdered poisonous mushrooms to kill people.

I've got a cheapish (£50) one from Amazon. Takes a looong time on a low heat to dry fruit, and you need to slice it thinly and evenly. I also use it for drying freshly gathered kelp to go in my facial oil and body scrub. Works really well for that!

Our Ninja has a dehydrator. One layer of ‘crisps’ at a time, hours to produce and a nano-second to eat 8 crisps. Only used it once!

I used to make a heck of a lot of jerky, in a proper dehydrator there are multiple layers so you could do loads at the same time.

Turn my back and the kids would eat the jerky in a few seconds.

Cant you use your oven, I made 'sun dried' tomatoes once in the oven, might try again this year. You keep the oven door open and put it on 'quarter' or whateve your lowest setting is and do it overnight. I think some people even use the defrost setting

This is how and why I started, but its difficult to get the settings right so the food doesn't cook.

The whole point is it's dried, not cooked, which is why I bought a dehydrator.

I used to buy a big piece of beef or lamb from Morrisons when their half price meat deals were on and make jerky. Just checked and beef now seems to be £10 a kilo, I am sure I used to pay £4, this would have been 2012ish.