Oven vs Dehydrator....

[gabriele]

Sorry if this has been discussed already, can't find it anywhere....

if i don't have (and can't afford right now) a dehydrator, is there any reason that a modern oven can't be set to 100 or 105 degrees and used as a dehydrator? Do ovens not go that low? It surely must be possible???

[snoops]

I think there have been some posts where people have tried this. Also leave the door open a bit to keep it cooler. You could purchase an oven thermometer and test it out.

[Ilse W.]

I'm sure a convection oven would work, as long as it can be kept at a low enough temp. My guess is that the money you'd waste on electricity to keep this (or any oven) running for hours would quickly add up to the cost of an inexpensive dehydrator at wal-mart. You can also check out ebay and craigslist, or put a "want-ad" on your local yahoo freecycle group page.

[Aleesha Sattva]

you can do it... IF you can get your oven down that low. most ovens do not.

[Revvell]

Possible, yet, they don't have fans which dehydrators do.

Yes, this has been discussed ~

http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=47124&highlight=oven+dehydrator
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=43346&highlight=oven+dehydrator
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=42806&highlight=oven+dehydrator
http://rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=42296&highlight=oven+dehydrator


Sorry if this has been discussed already, can't find it anywhere....

if i don't have (and can't afford right now) a dehydrator, is there any reason that a modern oven can't be set to 100 or 105 degrees and used as a dehydrator? Do ovens not go that low? It surely must be possible???

[gabriele]

thanks for all the responses, i will read the links also....

[Seedy]

You CAN afford a dehydrator. I have an inexpensive American Harvest dehydrator that lets me dehydrate breads, flax crackers, corn chips, cookies, mushrooms, etc. The only thing I can't do are wraps because of the hole in the middle of the dehydrator. You can get the dehydrator and the fruit roll trays (needed to make flax crackers) for well under $100 on Amazon or eBay. Check it out.
Seedy

[Mary Kay]

Gaby,

Aha, so you are thinking of a dehydrator!!

If you do buy one of the cheap ones - like American Harvest ---make sure they have a thermostat on them.

My old American Harvest does have a thermostat. It was something like $39.99 10 yrs ago, but then I wanted more trays for it, and that ended up costing more than the original ---like $80...LOL, but again, this was pobably sevn or eight yrs ago.

I kept it though, even when I got my five-tray Excalibur, just in case I needed both.

Friends of mine keep finding them at garage sales for literally $4 etc, except they dont have thermostats, so I wouldn't bother.

HTH,

Mary Kay

[LilacLavender]

You CAN afford a dehydrator. I have an inexpensive American Harvest dehydrator that lets me dehydrate breads, flax crackers, corn chips, cookies, mushrooms, etc. The only thing I can't do are wraps because of the hole in the middle of the dehydrator. You can get the dehydrator and the fruit roll trays (needed to make flax crackers) for well under $100 on Amazon or eBay. Check it out.
Seedy

$100 is not my idea of affordable, but it's true that they can be found inexpensively. Sometimes you'll see them in thrift stores, garage sales, etc. but you may have to shop around.

[gabriele]

Thanks everyone, i will keep doing my research....

[DebB]

I saw a dehydrator with a thermostat, I think it was a Nesco - at our Thrift store for $8. I love thrifting! *Ü*

[streetsurfer]

You can also dehydrate in an oven by using a higher wattage bulb for your heat. The door is kept cracked open, and the oven can be started on low to bring the temperature up in the beginning, then turned off for the bulb to do the rest. Be sure put the oven bulb fback in for regular use. Standard bulbs won't take the heat of cooking. If your bulb is not of a type you can easily change to higher wattage, a trouble lamp can be placed on the floor of the oven. Secure that the oven can't be turned on if a seperate corded light is used, and that the cord won't be pinched in the door.

BTW our oven starts at 135.

[PammieTaj]

When I was considering a dehydrator, I found plans to make a solar dehydrator to use outside. These were made up of screen and some light wood framing if I remember correctly. They really only seem effective on hot summer days and if you can keep the bugs out of the inside.

I bought a Nesco, I think under a $100 and it has the thermostat. I'm happy with it. You might want to keep your eyes open on Craig's list, garage sales and thrift stores, though.

My oven doesn't go low enough for dehydrating. I haven't tried it with the light bulb trick though.