need a substitute for teflex sheets

[beckyh]

I only have two teflex sheets for my dehydrator, and I want to make a lot of stuff tomorrow and I need more sheets, but I think the only place I can get them is online, so I was wondering what I could use on my other 7 trays. Thank you!

[lafsalot]

You can use unbleached parchment paper.

[beckyh]

great! Thanks so much!!:throwhearts:

[ReneeH]

I used to use Saran Wrap before I got mine. That seemed to work better for me than parchment paper for me. That seemed to stick to my Flax Crackers and was hard to peel off...

[beckyh]

Renee, did you use Saran Wrap for everything? Because I have some of that at home, I guess I could try it.

[ReneeH]

Yea....when the recipe called for Teflex Sheets--like when I made Onion Bread, Flax Crackers, Calzone Bread....anything like that--I would cover the Dehydrator tray with Saran wrap. If you look at my 1st Alissa thread from LOLF you can see how I wrapped it.

Someone once asked me if I did that to stop the smells from mixing, but it was because I didn't have my Teflex Sheets.

Be sure to peel it off when you flip the tray. The only problem I had was with making Banana Leather. It was hard to peel it off, but I found a way around it by folding it twice on the bottom so that when I flipped it I could unfold the flap and peel it off.

I hope that didn't confuse you! :)

[changeisgood]

Is there a forum here that tells me (us) exactly how to use the dehydrator. I'm a little overwhelmed and need to get my feet wet!

I have the instruction booklet, but I'm confused. The booklet says don't let any liquid onto the trays and many recipies I look at have liquid that could drip. Does the teflex sheet prevent dripping on the tray below it?
And you mentioned flipping. I saw that in recipies. I'm dehydrating something for a certain length of time, and then I know I need to turn over whatever I'm making to do the other side. So, do I flip it onto another tray with teflex? One recipe I saw said to p/u the teflex sheet and flip onto tray. So how do I get it back onto the teflex sheet I was using - won't it 'break' since it's still moist?

And so many recipies call for nuts. I'm nuts over nuts! I feel left out. Sauces want nuts, some crackers want nuts, desseerts want nuts! I'm going nuts!
HELP!!
Does anyone here give a private lesson or two and at what fee? I want to get more involved in my 'uncooking' to atleast have fun as a stress buster.
And to enjoy a Sunday sit down dinner with my husband where we both go WOW! together like we did when I cooked something for both of us. I miss that bonding. And he is eagerly awaiting dehydrated meals, which thrills me!

[ReneeH]

Ok, ChangeIsGood.... First, breathe!!!! Que Alissa's new meditation CD!!! :wuv

Now, dehydrating is actually very simple! O.k., picture this:

Making Banana Flax Crackers from LOLF

I have soaked my Flax Seeds over night and I'm ready to go! Now, it's the morning and I'm ready to begin. I put all of my ingredients in my food processor and begin processing, which is liquified in my processor. If I poured this on my Mesh Screen in my Dehydrator it will run right through, so I need to grab my Teflex Sheet (or Saran Wrap my Mesh screen from my dehydrator) and pour my liquified Flax mix on it. I then spread the mix to the end of my Teflex Sheet (I like mine spread thin), keeping in mind that the goo from the Flax will hold it together.

Still with me? Good!!! Now, place the tray inside your dehydrator and turn the knob to 112-115 degrees. Place the cover on and leave it alone. After it has hardened, take out the tray, put another NEW tray on top of it, faced down. Hold on to BOTH trays and then flip!!!! Remove the original tray and mesh screen, peel off the Teflex. Now you should be looking at the bottom (wet) side of your crackers!!! Now, just put the NEW tray with your Crackers back inside the dehydrator. There should mow be NO Teflex sheet between your flipped Crackers and your tray!!!! It's NOT leaking through because you let it dry out before you flipped it!!!!

See! Easy breezy!!!! :). Oh, be sure to leave some extra space (like remove the tray on top of your crackers) because sometimes the crackers tend to curl up on ya!!!!

By the way, I teach Alissa's level 1 and 2 classes and I *will* come to you!!! Just email me if you'd like to take a class!!!

[Pop Tart]

For ingredients that aren't too runny, I use waxed paper.

[ReneeH]

I also get tired of nuts from time to time...and my son is allergic to them. So I try replacing the nuts with Sunflower or Pumpkin Seeds!

[changeisgood]

Got it, Renee. So, There is the tray, and a mesh that fits into it (comes with dehydrator) - but that screen is not the teflex? So, I need a third something or other on top of that? I'm trying to picture it.
I went on line and watched videos and it seems everyone does it different - they lay it on the screen, they put something over the tray.

I will also check out your class info.

Thank you.

[changeisgood]

I'm soaking my flax seeds as we speak! And soaking sweet potato and potato slices - overnight.

If the flax seeds get grinded up - why not just use raw flax seed meal?

I tried a raw flax seed 'cookie' made by Nature's Gift. I like the seed whole andit seemed simple to make, from what I see of their ingredients, the flax, dried pineapple pieces, and agave.

And of course, the crackers will be good with zuchinni hummus.

[modernmonkey]

Be sure to peel it off when you flip the tray. The only problem I had was with making Banana Leather. It was hard to peel it off, but I found a way around it by folding it twice on the bottom so that when I flipped it I could unfold the flap and peel it off.

I hope that didn't confuse you! :)

You confused me. All I heard was flippy, foldy, flappy!! LOL!

[beckyh]

Thanks Renee, I understand! I will give it a try this weekend. I have some new recipes that I found that I want to give it a try. I will let you know how it works!:excited:

I am off to start drinking my greens!!!

[Raw Angel Mom]

I am so sorry to deliver this sad news but saran wrap shouldn't be in contact with your food. You can research to find out why exactly. It isn't good at all, i would use the baking paper instead and make sure to buy the teflex for next time.

[kjduf]

My dehydrator came with two teflex sheets and I bought 7 more from Alissa's store. I found them to be the cheapest around.

I tried the saran wrap but it made my food taste weird so before I got all my sheets I used parchment paper. But unfortunately there is nothing like teflex sheets.

[ReneeH]

You confused me. All I heard was flippy, foldy, flappy!! LOL!

Sorry if this confused you!!! I'm in the process of making a Dehydrating Thread, hopefully that will clear up your confusion....


Thanks Renee, I understand! I will give it a try this weekend. I have some new recipes that I found that I want to give it a try. I will let you know how it works!!

You're welcome! Great!!! Let us know!


I am so sorry to deliver this sad news but saran wrap shouldn't be in contact with your food. You can research to find out why exactly. It isn't good at all, i would use the baking paper instead and make sure to buy the teflex for next time.

Hi RawAngelMom!!! I actually got the idea from Alissa's book LOLF...page 282. It says, "Plastic wrap serves the same function, but the Teflex sheets are reusable and easier to handle. Whenever possible, use the mesh dehydrator screens alone because it allows the airflow to surround the food, resulting in faster drying times."

So, this is why I used it before getting my Teflex Sheets. It served it's purpose for me then, but now I use my Teflex Sheets and I love them. I don't feel that using the Saran Wrap temporarily was a bad thing...especially because I didn't use them for an extended period of time and not for every item that I made. For me, baking paper stuck to my food and it was difficult to get off, especially for flax crackers. But, I guess it's a personal preference... If baking paper works best for you, go for it!!! :excited:


I tried the saran wrap but it made my food taste weird so before I got all my sheets I used parchment paper. But unfortunately there is nothing like teflex sheets.

I didn't find that to be the case for me... If you did, it's good that you bought the Teflex sheets....

[Raw Angel Mom]

Sorry if this confused you!!! I'm in the process of making a Dehydrating Thread, hopefully that will clear up your confusion....



You're welcome! Great!!! Let us know!



Hi RawAngelMom!!! I actually got the idea from Alissa's book LOLF...page 282. It says, "Plastic wrap serves the same function, but the Teflex sheets are reusable and easier to handle. Whenever possible, use the mesh dehydrator screens alone because it allows the airflow to surround the food, resulting in faster drying times."

So, this is why I used it before getting my Teflex Sheets. It served it's purpose for me then, but now I use my Teflex Sheets and I love them. I don't feel that using the Saran Wrap temporarily was a bad thing...especially because I didn't use them for an extended period of time and not for every item that I made. For me, baking paper stuck to my food and it was difficult to get off, especially for flax crackers. But, I guess it's a personal preference... If baking paper works best for you, go for it!!! :excited:



I didn't find that to be the case for me... If you did, it's good that you bought the Teflex sheets....

Allissa book got written a while back. If i would have wrote her book i most likely would have given the same advice. This is a new finding. This material shouldn't touch our food, i only found that out recently. I also thought of using it this way with the dehydrator. This material has been use for a very long time for our food so are plastic container. Which you know now they free a toxic gas when exposed to warm air. This is why also you need to be careful with water bottle that aren't store in the fridge. Saran wrap is very toxic to food. I am so sorry, i know this is practical and convenient but isn't the purpose to do raw food to cleanse our body from toxin. Do your research and you will see for yourself.

http://www.answers.com/topic/plastic-wrap

http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/04/17/10-ways-to-avoid-toxic-plastic-bpa-synthetic-estrogens-and-your-child/

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4384/is_2_40/ai_n29248662/

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-microwave-dioxin2.htm

http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/plasticwrap/page.html

http://members.fortunecity.com/tonymanero/wrap3.htm

p.s I couldn't find the article about the saran wrap touching the food period but the gas will still be release at ambient room especially if you use the dehydrator.

[ReneeH]

Great articles...definitely worth reading! Teflex is definitely the best option, I'm so glad I got mine...I love them and wouldn't trade them for the world.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Yes Teflex are so much better, and if we need more until we get them, it is better to use the baking paper even though it doesn't do too much a good job but as a quick fix, it does the trick. What is scary, is the substance they use to soften the plastic is extremely poisonous and saran wrap is worst then most plastic container. I have been using only glass to store my food. I no longer use plastic even for drinking. Sadly the lunch of my daughter are heavy (Due to glass container) but she will develop the muscle. The stainless steel container are lighter and i use them too for her lunch.

All the best!

[beckyh]

Thank you all for the advice. Until I have some extra $ to get the teflex sheets I will be using the baking paper!!