Raw without dehydrator? Not recommended?

[Orange]

I have a food processor, twin gear juicer, 3hp juicer I don't have a dehydrator. Are there raw adherents here that don't dehydrate?

Also I live in Florida and my concern is that a dehydrator would invite bugs into it since it doesn't get very hot. Do you get problems with sugar ants or roaches or anything inside one?

If you think I will be setting myself up for failure without one, is Excaliber really the only one to buy? And where have you found the best price new?

In Kindness,
Orange

[kgarrett]

You really don't need one to be raw. I got one in January and I used it for a while but, haven't used it in quite some time. I love it but, I feel better without eating the heavier recipes. I am going to start using it again more mostly because I was want my hubby and son to eat more raw and I can make stuff for them.

[ShelShel]

You can totally be raw without any of the fun appliances. I found that the longer I was raw, the more fun I had adding them. I bought my first excalibur dehydrator this year and I've been raw since 2006. ;) Use what works for you and enjoy...no raw police here! :D

[How?]

I've been raw for a year and a half with just a juicer and a blender. I love being able to eat simply. So I don't have any desire to have one. The best thing to stay raw is appreciation. Being blessed enough to have found out about raw foods and being blessed with the abundance of the universe,planet earth in providing what you need. Thats all any of us need is a good dollop of appreciation with everything. Makes a great sauce!

[CathyA.]

i've been raw for a year and a half with just a juicer and a blender. I love being able to eat simply. So i don't have any desire to have one. The best thing to stay raw is appreciation. Being blessed enough to have found out about raw foods and being blessed with the abundance of the universe,planet earth in providing what you need. Thats all any of us need is a good dollop of appreciation with everything. Makes a great sauce!

agree!!!!!

[Dimond]

I've been raw years without one, however I have purchased ready-made and restaurant food when I needed gourmet raw, especially at the beginning. The longer one is raw, normally the less you need those kinds of foods. So for me it was the right choice. Also if I had other people to make foods for, it may have been helpful to have a dehydrator. There are plenty of raw gourmet recipes that don't need a dehydrator. I find just my Vitamix is really all I require.

Living in Florida is why I refrigerate all food once ripe. I always do everything possible to avoid bugs. That would be scary to find them in a dehydrator. :eek: Haven't heard anyone mention it, though it is a valid concern. If it can fit into your regular stove, that may help.

[Orange]

So I am answering my own question here, but I found this article.

http://www.fresh-network.com/acatalog/all-you-need-to-know-about-dehydrators.html

and it enlightened me. I am no way bored with the way I'm eating. Of course it's only been a couple weeks LOL.

Besides, to me, I LOVE lazy raw, I use my food processor all the time. I bought the OXO grater/peeler so I make spaghetti everyday, grind up stuff, plop and eat and I am so happy! It is so simple and delicious.

I just learned about the Green Smoothie from Boutenko and have been enjoying that the last couple of days and will keep that permanent everyday.

I think if when I get Alissa's book and if my teenage daughter thinks she wants to eat one of the dehydrator recipes I'll have to spend the money on a dehydrator to bring her over to the lightside.

But as for now, even 40 is a lot of money for us for Alissa's book! Ack, the economy.

But I guess I'll hold off until then, or until I say I really want them crackers, or veggie burgers or desserts.

I think I could use a great recipe book that is without a dehydrator!

[revdrcyn]

Orange,

You can definitely get by without a D, but if money is not an issue, don't deprive yourself!

Excalibur is definitely the way to go. I bought mine on eBay (from Excalibur - seller name = excaliburdehydrator):

http://shop.ebay.com/excaliburdehydr...&_trksid=p4340


They offer "cosmetically blemished" dehydrators at a discounted price. I have looked at mine inside-out and upside-down and honestly, I cannot see any so-called blemishes.

I bought the 5-tray and now wish I had gone for the 9-tray.

Also, the timer is a plus - could not live without that!

[sidrah]

Craigslist has some cheap ones, too. They are mostly people getting rid of the older round ones, but they work for a start. Maybe play around with what you like and then get something more expensive.
I think I am getting one for about 25 bucks this weekend from someone there.


I was at the Farmers Market today and the lady was selling fruit leathers and thin grnaola bars and you could tell by the shape they were from a round dehydrator. We got to talking and she said she has two and uses both the round one and Exacibur.

[lodestar]

i have a 9-tray excalibur. rarely use it. dried out food makes me too gassy and bloated. plus, the simple way serves me best.

[Orange]

Thank you for all the advice. The obvious I never thought of is, how do I even know I'd like it? Like you lodestar, maybe it wouldn't agree with me in the least!

[Evie]

Raw can be done successfully without a dehydrator. There are many people who do it. Not everyone has access or believes in using dehydrated foods. That said, I have tried several dehydrators. None of them compare to the Excaliber. I got one this past week. I have been dehydrating recipes I tried in the other dehydrators. The comparison is unbelievable. I will never go back to another dehydrator. The quality of the food is better with the Excaliber and it tastes better.

[Green_Woman]

I did Raw in 2006 with a cheap blender and nothin' else... no pre-made Raw foods, no dehydrator or food processor, nothing but a knife, cutting board, and blender. :D

I love my appliances now, but I certainly didn't need them in the beginning and lately, I've only been using the Blender again, anyway. :D Simple Raw works for as long as you want or need it to...

[somelikeitraw]

i've been raw for a year and a half with just a juicer and a blender. I love being able to eat simply. So i don't have any desire to have one. The best thing to stay raw is appreciation. Being blessed enough to have found out about raw foods and being blessed with the abundance of the universe,planet earth in providing what you need. Thats all any of us need is a good dollop of appreciation with everything. Makes a great sauce!

I absolutely LOVE this! Appreciation Sauce! :D

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

The only time I really wish I had a dehydrator is when I'm having people over for dinner. It would be nice to be able to make some "transition food" for them like pizza and enchiladas. Not all of them are used to the light water rich food and need something more dense.

Oh, and it would be nice to be able to dehydrate some produce myself in the autumn.

But other than that, I get by fine without it. In fact, I bet that I wouldn't eat as healthy if I got one. Fresh fruits and vegetables is what this diet is about in my opinion.

[klomasius]

I've found the most essential equipment for a raw lifestyle is fingers and teeth.

Add to that a good knife and chopping board and if you want to get fancy, a blender and off you go!

I've done extremely simple raw before with no effort, I think it's important how you approach it, I like the appreciation sauce idea!

I have the whole shebang with equipment, including a dehydrator. In the summer I don't use it much, except to preserve fruit and veg. In the winter I use it more, but have used it much less over the years. Only when I have the time and the inclination to make gourmet raw, time and inclination being bare on the ground these days with my life!

For me fresh is best, but the pleasure of dehydrated foods sometimes is sublime and fits with my hedonistic tendencies. :)