Tortilla chips without a dehyrdrator

[Tweesason]

Ok. Here is my conundrum. I am going 100% raw this month but I looooovvveee tortilla chips and salsa. While I can make the salsa raw, the tortilla chips are a problem. I can buy raw tortillas but I don't have a dehydrator or the money to buy one. Can I just leave the raw tortillas out until they harden? I know that regular cooked tortillas get rock hard if left out. :eek: This may seem silly, but it's worth a shot. Any advice? Thanks

P.S. Chips and salsa are my comfort food since going mostly raw.

[Shivananda]

The key issue I know about with air drying moist foods at room temperatures is that it is a very slow process which can encourage the growth of microorganisms. That's why air drying thick things like falafels and buns can turn them sour on you, as opposed to a quicker warm drying in a dehydrator and cold storage.

If you are careful, and use a good thermometer to avoid going over temp... I use a digital one with a long, flexible probe... you can get a little better result in a warm oven. If I leave the door half open and set the control very low I can manage to do this. It still won't be as good as a dehydrator because you don't have a fan moving air over the food, and you don't have the increased bottom circulation you get with mesh trays. But it's somewhat better than nothing.

One more thought (since I'm also a crunchy snacks fan) try substituting crispy lettuce leaves, cabbage leaves, onion chips. thin turnip slices, etc. for the tortilla chips. If the salsa is really flavorful that's often enough.

Buenos nachos... :)

[Rawkinlocs]

Tweesason,

Does this work in your budget?
http://nesco.com/products/?category=300&subcat=100&id=267

This is the model many of us own and some of us started out with before getting an Excalibur! It works great and has a temp. control.

They also have it in black now!
http://nesco.com/products/?category=300&subcat=100&id=267

Otherwise, there are online sources to buy raw crackers that are crunchy and work well with salsa, etc. I don't have any off hand to suggest, but I'm sure others will!

[aromaticwings]

Tweesason,

Does this work in your budget?
http://nesco.com/products/?category=300&subcat=100&id=267



Wow! Thanks Rawkinlocs... I have this type of dehydrator too but did not know they had the other added expansion trays for taller items and the flex sheets to add to the spoked trays... course I never went to the store to see if they had them.. I assumed only the more expensive types had that..

I know where I will be going tomorrow. Thanks again!
Debbie :D