Dehydrator

[InfiniteSheldon]

I usually store dried fruit in clean sterilized jam jars just wondered what others do. I branched out a bit yesterday and did half a dozen kiwis, bit messy with the mandolin but they dried very well. I've also got a few mangos but can't work out how best to slice them. Has anyone dried then as cubes? I just keep eating them .

I store the same way with an oxygen absorber.
If the fruit is mushy, I'm more for making fruit leathers. I like kiwi but have never tried it. I might whizz some up with homemade applesauce as a base and see how that works.

Forgot to say I sliced mango fairly thin and it was a success. Actually never thought of cubing it. Will give it a try.

Tomorrow is onions, mushrooms and peppers and investigating the oxygen sucker. Definitely going to try cubed mangos on their own I think as they will possibly take a bit longer.

I also use clean kilner jars to store dehydrated fruit. I did a load of bananas the other day.

Cubes will take longer, sliced is better

Kilner jars here too - though I wish I could find ones with locks. My 10 year old DS just wolfs the stuff.

Kiwis I slice thin - skin and all - with a serrated steak knife. No mess at all.

I've got kilner type jars, but with flat sides, so they fit into the cupboards far better

I have a daft question. Can you dehydrate herbs/how do the turn out?

You can but I just hang them up in the garage.

Thanks @bellinisurge I go through so much dried coriander it's silly! So whilst I was thinking about doing my garden this year I wondered if I could make it myself.

I have to be honest to say that just stick fresh coriander in the freezer.

Does anyone make fruit leathers? Are they good and easy? Or waste of time?

They are fab. Dd loves them. And she is very fussy.

I haven’t tried dehydrator yet though I would love to. I use lot of sun dried foods though.

Anyone got a recommendation for a particular brand of dehydrator?
We’d probably focus entirely on home-grown veg and fruit.

I have a Carew. At the time second cheapest /good reviews on Amazon. Which shows how scientific I am.
The holy grail (pardon pun) is the Excalibur.

Excalibur

Thank you, something to think about.

Felt inspired to get the dehydrator out after reading this thread. Tried kiwis in it for the first time, kids loved them. Also put strawberries in there. My kids like adding dried fruits to porridge and to snack on, so its nice to have a selection in.
I have never tried making fruit leather but might do so this week.
I am now drying spinach as we use a lit if it and it takes up freezer space or doesn't last when you get a big bag of fresh leaves.
Waiting for mine to grow in pots but want a back up supply

Can anyone point me to a good source for learning how to use dehydrator best? We're having our first go this weekend & quite excited. Or a list of easy things to try/tips. Thank you!

This was the first book I got and it is still my "go to" book. It is well named for me

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Dehydrating Foods (Complete Idiot's Guides (Lifestyle Paperback)) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1615642269/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_2J2HEbR917Z9Z

I got this secondhand on Amazon so it was a bit cheaper.

Thanks @bellinisurge have ordered that now

What do you do with the dried food after? Can you cook with it as normal (onions etc) or do you just eat things as snacks (fruit etc)?

Depends. I rehydrate and use as I would normally in a recipe if it's veg. We had a first world lack of celery emergency a couple of months ago. I tipped some dehydrated stuff into a cup, soaked it in water and then used in a risotto in the normal way.
Fruit, I tend to just munch on.