Using Oven as Dehydrator

[RawSweetie]

Hi all~
Can I use my oven with the door open to dehydrate a loaf for
Thanksgiving? The lowest setting on my oven is 170 degrees...

It seems like this might be easier than turning oven on/off constantly? But it's Thanksgiving, so I'm willing! :)

[Revvell]

I'd like to suggest you do a search here: "oven dehydrator"

Is it gas or electric? Sounds like electric. Are you sure you want to use that much energy?

How about making lasagne or another dish that doesn't need dehydrating?

170 will basically be cooking your food imo.

Revvell

[raw_danceruk]

The lowest temp seems very high

mine will do 50 deg, which is tiding me over till I can get a dehydrator for xmas

Mmm perhaps trying googling alternatives- I have heard people using radiators effectively and fans also.

Have an experiment:o

[raweater]

When I started I was using my relatively new countertop oven's "dehydrate" mode, it works like a regualr dehydrator using the fan to circulate air, but the temperature is pre-programmed to 140*F, you can adjust the temp in almost all modes except dehydrate! And in convection bake mode the lowest is 250*F. I still used it at 140 so I could still make "raw" recipes even though they were cooked for the first few months of my "raw" diet. I now have a 9 lever excalibur, I had hesitated between the 5 and 9, and am really glad I got the 9, it's often full, especially when making thin items like chips or pizza crusts, it's easy to fill all 9 levels. I tend to avoid using the top and bottom most levels as they seem to get less heat and air flow, I normally move things that are almost done to the top and bottom level and use the middle levels for fresher items.

[RawSweetie]

Thanks, everyone. I don't really want to use that energy, but I know I would have for Thanksgiving, if it was doable...hmmm...that is so interesting that you can use a radiator :) Too bad I don't have one!

I'll keep thinking on this.

[RawSweetie]

Doh! Did a search, found the threads, good to go.