BPA and Dehydrators

[greentealady]

Hello, I have been looking into getting a dehydrator but am concerned about the plastic parts of them. The Good 4 U/VegiKiln/Dehdra (all the same machine just different names I found out) have plastic #6 and the excalibur has plastic #5. It looks like #5 is better for you then the #6. I really want one of these machines but dont want to screw up all the healthy things I am doing with leaching plastic into my foods. Any advice or thoughts?

[Mary Kay]

Many feel that the temp is not high enough to really get the plastic into your food - but after all, it is still sitting there on it. But for only like a day, max.. Me? IDK, I'd pay extra for stainless-steel screens. But it's actually not the screens I worry about, it's the solid teflex sheets.....sigh......I just use 'em, and try not to worry about it. And man, those teflex sheets sure do work great.

I even wonder about parchment paper --I mean, isn't it coated with wax = petroleum derived?

Mary Kay

[greentealady]

I think it is so frustrating that there is always something to worry about. I am just not sure if I could do all this healthy stuff and then not worry about the plastic in the dehyrators. I am sure it is fine, people have been using them forever but I am a stupid worry wart. The stainless ones are so expensive. I guess I will just go with out till I can afford a ss one. Thanks for your reply.

[coco]

you can buy unbleached parchment paper. it's not waxed.

idk either but better safe than sorry with weird plastics.

[Mary Kay]

I've wondered this for years, but never acted on it! I DO use unbleached parchment paper, but it's still waxed, isn't it? And unless it's beeswax or soy derived, isn't it petroleum derived?

And where do you get ss dehydrator sheets?

I hear ya on your concern, and I think it shows that you are concerned and take your health into account.

Mary Kay

[DuaneE]

I have an Excalibur and one of the deciding factors for me was the #5 plastic. At this time they don't know of any leeching affects of #5 plastics, but does that mean that it isn't leeching something? I don't know... When I purchased my dehydrator I somehow got the impression that I was buying a pack of Teflex sheets when in fact I only bought one. So often if I make something that requires more than one tray I am stuck using parchment paper (from pampered chef).

In the end all we can do is our best.

[NaiveJeanette]

if you don't want to use a dehydrator, just use the one you have in your backyard--The Sun :D

[T-Bird]

if you don't want to use a dehydrator, just use the one you have in your backyard--The Sun

LOL! But you still need to smear the food on something!

[philmwri]

The sun is a good dehydrator and here in
Florida your food will dehydrate extra fast.