Warm to the touch... oh no

[Firicia]

Right now I am making corn chips in the dehydrater. They are at 105 right now (started out higher for about an hour like I read somewhere to do so not to spoil what you're making, and it shouldn't affect it cuz it's only an hour or something like that and the food shouldn't be warm inside yet) well I just went to flip the chips and when I was taking it off that sheet that comes with the dehydrater the soon to be corn chips were warm, quite warm actually.
I remember reading if something is warm to the touch you've destroyed all it's emzimes (sorry if thats not the right spelling I'm not so great at spelling) and it's no loner a raw food. I'm all worried that my chips are ruined:( Help.

[rawpriestess]

no worries, your chips are fine,

if you dehydrate over 115 degrees, for a long time, I think it's about 30 minutes, then you destroy enzymes.

and you can put your finger in 115 degrees, and it feel warm but not even hot.

so if you can touch it, or put your finger in it, then it isn't too hot.

you can try this with a thermometer and a cup of warm water, you'd be surprised how cool 115 degrees is. it's warmish, but it doesn't feel too hot to handle, until it's about 118, that is where you really loose enzymes quickly.

[SedonaSun]

...and I don't know that I'd call them ruined even if they DID get a little too warm. True, they wouldn't be technically raw or living if they got hot enough to kill the enzymes, but they're still not full of preservatives and chemicals and oil and massive amounts of salt and coloring and... and...

I can see where some would not want to eat something that may have been heated too much in the dehydrator, but look at the bigger picture... you'd be eating them with raw foods, dips, salsas, salads, right?

IMO, I'd not waste the time and money put into them and eat them either way. It's all a journey... :)

[veganman]

Hi Sedona...

I found this info regarding temperatures and dehydrators. It might be helpful (or confuse you more!:eek: ).

Excalibur enzyme info (http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/enzymes_and_thermostat_control.htm)