Using the oven

[mama]

To dehydrate fruit???? I have tons of apples at home. Can I use an oven on real low setting to try and dehydrate them or is that a whole other type of process??? HaHA can you tell I never dehydrated anything before?

[aliciamatheson]

In order not to kill the enzymes, the temp should be below 120 degrees, optimally around 112 degrees.

Unless you stove has a warming oven, it will be too hot and kill all of those enzymes that we are striving for.

Some people that live in a hot climate can do dehydration in the sun with screens over the fruit for protection - not an option for me!

Check out the Excalibur dehydrator on Alissa's website.

[Morn]

It depends how low your oven goes. Mine is a Jenn-Aire and goes low enough . It was advertised also as a dehydrator as has a drying mode. I have heard some people put a temperature gauge in their oven to check temperature and keep the oven door cracked to also reduce temperature.

[DavidZaneMason]

Have you tried the Good Eats method? Buy 3 or 4 of those cheap paper AC air filters....lay your food in between the slats....and bungee the whole thing to a cheap $10 box fan. Air-dry on med-hi for 24-72 hours.

-David Z. Mason