dehydrator worth it?

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ok, i'm only on day 4 of this 30 day challenge, and i'm salivating from all the posts of recipes using the dehydrator. i was dreaming about leaving work early to make them and then realized i didnt have the only appliance that was needed! i haven't bought one simply because 1-i have no idea how much they cost and i just spent $60 on alissa's book and dvds, and 2-i'm afraid that i'll buy it and then never use it again if i don't stay raw for life. does anyone know the average price and if i can find it at target? i'd like to get one to check out the fabulous wraps and lemon cookies i've seen on here lately. they look sooooo yummy!! :D
thanks, lauren

[cassidy]

Hi Lauren,
I told myself (in June) that if I stick with raw until my birthday (which was this last august) that I can get a dehydrator. Well I did, off and on somewhat. I really wanted the Excalibur dehydrator but opted for a less expensive kind to start out with.
So a couple weeks ago I bought an Aroman dehydrator for $39.00. I LOVE it. I don't think you NEED it... but it is just fun. I love making my own sundried tomatos and flax crackers. It is a nice treat.
I like mine. I don't think I need a more expensive one... maybe someday. But this one works for me right now.
I know target has them... but I'm pretty sure you have to order them online. The only one I foung that I could actually LOOK at was at a store called the gourmet kitchen in an outlet mall not too far away. I was so shocked that they had them in stock. During the 30min that I was in the store they sold 3!
On that same note, I used to go to the library to check out raw cookbooks. There were always tons and they were never checked out. This was in like June. Now, and I have tried quite a few times in the last couple weeks, there are ZERO raw books in stock. NONE. EVER. It is so strange how quickly raw is picking up around here!

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where are you located that it's picking up that quickly? that's amazing! i'm in austin and i know there's at least one raw restaurant here, but i've heard it's expensive. thanks for the advice. i was going to try to go to target after work, but if you have to order them anyway, i'll just check online. thanks again :)

[cassidy]

I live in S California. I am so pleased it is picking up! But I wish I could still check out my books when I want... Oh well.
If you order online - checkout Amazon.com first. (also a good place to but your raw uncookbooks!) You can usually get them for a good amount less then you would from a reg. dept. store.
Before you order make sure that there is a Temp. regulator. Some don't.

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i'll check it out now. thanks again!

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wanted to ask, was it the "Aroma" dehydrator or "Aroman" as you posted above. found Aroma on amazon pretty easily. just checking

[meinleben]

i don't think there is any need for a deyhydrator to be a thriving raw food eater....i actually think most if not all of the dehydrated stuff is like junk food...i did eat a lot of it when i was first starting...yet it did not help digestion or vitality whatsoever....

raw is way more fun for me without the dehydrated stuff....

[luckitri]

I have a dehydrator and I have not used it in almost 7 years and I am only keeping it in case I change my mind when it gets cold. The stuff that you buy in the store is treated with sugars and sauces and chemicals so the stuff you make at home will not look or taste the same although it will be healthier. When I made the chili recipe last week (the most recent one on here) I didn't put in the dehydrator as advised - I put it in a pot on the lowest setting stirring constantly between chopping and adding and I don't think that it got as warmed as much as it would have in the dehydrator for an hour - actually it all went so quickly that I think it just got the produce from refrigerator temp to room temp and then I was done and eating it.

[Brianna]

It's defnintely been worth it for me. I love flax crackers and they're so cheap to make yourself, but expensive to buy already made. I also soak and dehydrate my nuts. Sometimes I even make raw cookies in the dehydrator. I've defnintely gotten my money's worth out of it.

[juliebove]

I guess it depends on what all you eat or want to eat. I can buy many of the Go Raw products at my local health food store, like flax crackers and pumpkinseed bars. But they're not cheap! Making my own in the dehydrator would be cheaper. But have I? Not yet. I guess because it's just so easy for me to go get them already made up. And such a pain to use the dehydrator. At least it seems that way to me. I love to cook (rest of the family is not raw) but hate to clean up. So when I use the dehydrator not only do I have to clean that up but usually the food processor and some tools as well! Hehe.

I did not have the dehydrator for many months. Couldn't afford it really. Got a food processor and some sprouters. Those were a great help and the food processor saved a lot of time. And yeah, I had to clean it.

But I kept seeing recipes for corn chips made in the dehydrator and I wanted to try those. Got the dehydrator for my birthday. Tried the corn chips. :eek: Yuk! Tried several times and apparently they are not for me. Just couldn't get them to come out. Then I saw rave reviews of the onion bread. Tried it and loved it. So did my non raw but dieting family. I make it often. Nut cheese was good too. And so were the lemon chews.

So to me (at least at this point in time) the dehydrator is something I use sometimes. Like the bread machine for my daughter. Not something I want to use every day, but something I want to use some times. I had wanted an Excalibur but realized this wouldn't fit very well in my kitchen. What I got was the American Harvest and added extra trays and sheets. Works for me!

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

For me it is. I too enjoy having it available for dried tomatoes and flax crackers. I also use it to dry pineapple if I'm not able to eat the fresh stuff fast enough.

If you're thinking about getting one, you could start by getting a cheaper round model (American Harvest brand- I believe Nesco may make one also). Just make sure it has temperature control if you do get one.
They generally sell these at WalMart. I've also seen them at Fleet Farm.

If you're certain you'll use it a lot and can afford it, you can jump in with both feet and get an Excalibur. (I had a round one from before, later bought a 9 tray Excalibur, which I'm very grateful to have.)

Good Luck in your decision! :)

[cayako]

i would try to look for things on craigslist...i got my two excalibur dehydrators for $15 a piece! (both are 4 trays and a little bit older). i had to drive an hour each way to get them, but they were worth it for the price (ok, factor in gas...)

also, if you do buy an older/used model, put a thermometer in there before you dehydrate first...i found out that my temp gage was 15 degrees off! so i was trying to dehydrate the first time at 90 (herbs) and it took three days because it was actually at 75...

and yes, i used mine like crazy in june and july, but now i use it less and less, one, i'm off and on the wagon, two, i am finding myself craving more and more mono foods BUT!! i know that when i get back from vacation, i will be firing it up because it will be FANTASTIC for harvest time. sundried tomatoes, dried herbs, dried fruit, kale chips, dried veggies and around the holidays? i'll probably make fruit leather for the relatives...or an onion loaf:)

just keep an eye out on the 'ole craiglist or other classifieds. there should be one near your area... www.craigslist.org

christina

[Lay-Lay]

I use mine to mostly make crackers and raisens. It is something I can live with or without.

[fikustree]

Hey, I saw you are in austin to. Check Craig's list, they have a some on there from time to time, usually around 30 bucks.

Also, go to the Daily Juice on Barton Springs, it is so great. They have wonderful juices and to go raw foods that you can take for lunch. They also have so obscure stuff that is hard to find at whole foods.