People with Lives Who Dehydrate

[RighteousYogini]

Hi Everyone
Many of these dehydrating recipes call for like 12 hours of dehydrating time... do raw vegans who dehydrate work? Or do they leave and keep the appliance plugged in while not at home?
Merci!

[LaniB]

I just bought the Excalibur model that comes with a 26 hour timer. It's about $30 more, but I know my life is not going to revolve around my dehydrator.

Edited to add - it's my understanding that the Excalibur models are safe to use when away from home or asleep.

[RighteousYogini]

Thanks for the edited reply, Lani...that was going to be the next question...if it was okay to sleep and leave, etc, with it plugged in.

Im still unsure about the dehdrating component, because people say that these are the foods that are really calorie dense or cause weight gain, etc... does anyone have any comment in that regard?? I guess maybe your diet becomes more and more simple and clean with time but its good to have for once in a while or as a transition? Or are the dehydrated foods AS GOOD as the simple stuff???

Thanks!

[LaniB]

There are definitely loads of people on the forum who have much more experience than me, but I will say your concern was also my concern about getting the dehydrator. (athough some things like Kale Chips are not calorie dense!)

That said, for me personally, I think I need to have a little more variety in my diet in order to keep raw. I know I am going to have to practice a lot of self control with these macaroons that I am planning to make (especially the macaroons!), so I will share some with friends and make sure I limit my intake so I'm not going crazy. In addition to just getting and staying healthy, I also really would like to lose some weight.

The other day I was reading a post that once your body is used to being 100% raw, you'll know when to stop. I hope this is true! I will tell you that I have been about 90+% raw and it's amazing to me how my carb cravings that controlled my life and caused me to over eat are gone. Now when I eat something sweet (macaroons, dates, etc.) I find don't need to eat a ton of them, I just have two dates and call that it, and it's satisfying for me.

I'm interested in what others comment as well.

[RighteousYogini]

Guess what I JUST MADE Lani!!! White chocolate macaroons! And they only need to be frozen, not dehydrated! BUt you're right. If I plan to do this long-term...would be worth the dehydrator. Excellent point. Ive spent the last about 10 days getting rid of coffee, wheat, sugar, and all dairy. But now it's time to up the ante because Ive had just the most PHENOMENAL TIME un-cooking this stuff! And I totally agree... I dont crave cheese like I used to, or cream, or sugar... its wild!! Every day Im more and more convinced that this is the optimal way of living.

That said, Im not giving up my organic vegan mayonnaise, simply because if I have another cashew based recipe I wont fit in my stretchy pants, lol. Umm... yah, even though I haven't gained a pound even while eating a kick-butt raw vegan cheesecake each week (I kid you not)..weighing in at 128 and pumped about where this is going to go!
Hey, if you wanna provide some mutual raw support via email, connect with me!! Maybe we can share daily food plans. ARe you gettting ready to go 100% lani?
Shanti
barrhavenyoga@gmail.com
Email me! (if ya want, lol)

[LaniB]

Yep, I am getting ready to go 100% raw - at least for 30 days. My thought was I would start April 1st. :-) Right now I am doing a lot of reading and trying to do at least two new recipes every weekend so that I can improve my raw recipe repertoire to keep things interesting for me.

I think the hardest thing will be when I go out to dinner. I read somewhere a good restaurant meal is a green salad at a Mexican restaurant topped with Guacalmole and Salsa. We have a new Mexican place that just opened on my street ... I am craving Mexican!! :LOL:

I will email you! :-)

[Revvell]

If you had to turn it off every time you left, your food would be growing new stuff by the time it dried ~ if it ever did. Leave it running.

[wannabehealthy]

you just leave it on and go on about your business.

[levamssg]

I have the excalibur 9 tray --- I leave it on whether I'm here or not, overnight, etc.

Mine has a timer, which is a royal pain because if I forget to reset the timer, it will shut off when things aren't yet done. So, I would prefer just an on/off with no timer at all. But that wasn't your question, now was it.

Yes - just leave the thing on until whatever you are dehydrating is done, then take it out and enjoy it. No worries.

And yes, the longer you are raw, the simpler your diet tends to become. When first starting out, it is nice to be able to create dishes that mimic sad foods, and a dehydrator really helps in that regard. You can have the crackers, chips, breads, pizza, etc etc etc. As the years go by, you may notice that you don't use the dehydrator as much, because simple plain food may be more appealing. But it's still nice to have when a cracker craving hits ... :eat

[Eva]

No big thang to leave it on, it's just a big fan. :) My mom goes to work all day and often has goodies waiting when she comes home. :)

[RighteousYogini]

If you had to turn it off every time you left, your food would be growing new stuff by the time it dried ~ if it ever did. Leave it running.

Love the sarcasm, Revvell. Always a delight! I suppose most people know the answers who have never seen a dehyrater let alone attempted to make something with one. I dont leave my stove or anything else running when I leave the house. Thanks others for your responses.

[modernmonkey]

The dehydrator isn't only for complex foods. We dehydrate lots of fruit for confection. I dehydrate nuts and seeds for granola. And kale chips. Or warming raw soup. There are limitless options.

[RighteousYogini]

Awesome........I think Ill have to bit the bullet!

[Revvell]

Love the sarcasm, Revvell. Always a delight! I suppose most people know the answers who have never seen a dehyrater let alone attempted to make something with one. I dont leave my stove or anything else running when I leave the house. Thanks others for your responses.

Wow! Interesting. I'm explaining why you leave your "d" on and it's called sarcasm? Okayyy! You're welcome.

[RighteousYogini]

REvell: Apologies if I misread. Could be detox brain making me cranky.

Has anyone read this fascinating response to Raw Foodists by the owners/creators of the Excalbiur??? Check it out!!

http://www.discountjuicers.com/excaliburstatement.html

[green goddess]

If I'm using the dehydrator, I often have it running overnight. I plan for how long whatever it is I'm making is going to take to dry, and get it going accordingly so that the goodies will be ready when I get up the next day! It's like waking up to freshly baked... kale chips!

I have no issues with leaving it on when I'm not home - I'm pretty comfortable with thinking it's not going to burn down the house, like an oven would, which I'm embarrassed to say I've actually done once. Not the burning down of the house part, but leaving the oven on absentmindedly when I went out (thankfully for only a short while) and discovering it when I returned. Oopsies.

[laura-jane]

I tend to dehydrate once on the weekends every two weeks--usually on Sundays. I usually place stuff in the dehydrator in the morning and check throughout the day.

I don't really like leaving stuff in the D overnight because I always overdry things when I do that. I hate it when things are TOO dry.

And, yes, I have a life! :)