deydrating on the CHEAP!

[BeingK8]

Just found this and had to share because I know I'm not the only one around here doing raw on a tight budget who doesn't have a dehydrator yet.

It won't work for big things (and I'm really curious about nuts...)
but for some stuff, this looks AWESOME!

http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season11/dried_fruit/witheringbites.htm

(fast forward to about 7 minutes in for the actual trick for dehydrating if you're not interesting in Alton's info on dried foods.)

[DebB]

:eek: Eeeek - from 7:10-7:20 - sacrilidge!! (Wikipedia definition: Sacrilege is the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object). *Ü*

[k8sl8]

I'm an alton brown fan... and this will probably work for the thinly sliced fruits and such that he had BUT I think the real thing is better and a lot easier to deal with. If you lived in an area with any humidity it would be a problem with no heat and if there are any buggy friends - it would be a nightmare.

I agree that the dehydrators are grossly overpriced for what they are. But until something better, ie. cheaper, comes along I guess I'll keep using the excalibur.

[fastfreedom]

:eek: Eeeek - from 7:10-7:20 - sacrilidge!! (Wikipedia definition: Sacrilege is the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object). *Ü*

LOL. That's too funny. I want me one of them. Had one, but it was false advertised saying it had a timer. So I sent it back. Now I don't wanna spend that much money for it. Maybe this fall.

BeingK8 - Thank you for that video link.

[cbowden]

Thank you BeingK8 for posting this link.

What a clever, simple and cheap idea. Wonder if you could make thin crackers this way......hmmmm.......

I usually just freeze my fruit for smoothies. But would love to be able to make flaxseed crackers. They are thin enought I bet it could work.

[DebB]

On a side note about dehydrating cheaply -- I was able to buy a 4 tray Excalibur at GoodWill last year for $10.00. It was still in the box with all the accessories. I love thrift stores! I see the round stacking tray dehydrators quite often at the thrift stores. *Ü*

[fastfreedom]

Another great idea. I'm gonna check the thrift stores. I just checked craigslist. Even with a round stackable dehydrator you could just take the heating element out to make sure it doesn't cook the items. And that would work for me in my environment cus we have low humidity.

[BeingK8]

I'm an alton brown fan... and this will probably work for the thinly sliced fruits and such that he had BUT I think the real thing is better and a lot easier to deal with. If you lived in an area with any humidity it would be a problem with no heat and if there are any buggy friends - it would be a nightmare.

I agree that the dehydrators are grossly overpriced for what they are. But until something better, ie. cheaper, comes along I guess I'll keep using the excalibur.


:eek: Eeeek - from 7:10-7:20 - sacrilidge!! (Wikipedia definition: Sacrilege is the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object). *Ü*
Haha! Deb, he doesn't say, "At the very worst, they don't work at all," until 7:22! LOL!

I don't really understand why he says that, actually. I mean, if he wanted to promote his novel idea, he could have just gone with the selling point that got me intrigued -that the real deals are out of some people's budgets at the exact time they want to get into dehydrating.



What a clever, simple and cheap idea. Wonder if you could make thin crackers this way......hmmmm.......

But would love to be able to make flaxseed crackers. They are thin enought I bet it could work.
THAT'S one of the things I was wondering about. (That and nuts. I'm very curious about nuts, too) I have many of the supplies needed to get into dehydrating between my supplies, my mom's and my grandma's. I only need the teflex (or whatever you call them) sheets. And I would LOVE to make some crackers and some onion bread/crackers especially. But I don't know if they'd work.

On a side note about dehydrating cheaply -- I was able to buy a 4 tray Excalibur at GoodWill last year for $10.00. It was still in the box with all the accessories. I love thrift stores! I see the round stacking tray dehydrators quite often at the thrift stores. *Ü*

Well, that is fantastic and what a good find. I'd be happy if I could manifest such a treasure for so cheap!!! I haven't found one at any thrift shops or yard sales as yet.

[one]

I remember watching that episode many years ago and wanting to make it because I am so cheap. :D I even went to the pet store to find a ceramic heater for the oven method he describes. But when I saw the price I decided against it.
I bit the bullet recently and got a nesco dehydrator from bed bath and beyond with their 20% off coupon. It was still around $50 but I like it quite a bit! It has handled everything I've thrown at it.

[MysticTree]

I struggle with dehydrators. I did have one. An excalibur no less. But the thought of all that energy being used just so that I could have a cracker or something was too much. I don't have a drier for my clothes so I figure I can do without a drier for my food.

Georgina

ps ... I have never seen a fan like that over here. I suppose they must exist though.

[BeingK8]

I bit the bullet recently and got a nesco dehydrator from bed bath and beyond with their 20% off coupon. It was still around $50 but I like it quite a bit! It has handled everything I've thrown at it.
Hey! That's not bad for starting out. I'm wanting to find out if I am really even into dehydrated foods before I'd invest in a pricey, "superwhamadyne" model. I'd do about 50 bucks to find out.


But the thought of all that energy being used just so that I could have a cracker or something was too much. I don't have a drier for my clothes so I figure I can do without a drier for my food.

Georgina

ps ... I have never seen a fan like that over here. I suppose they must exist though.

LOL! I do keep thinking about the energy usage to dry my food. I want to it the super old school way and dry stuff in the sun, but alas, I live in PA where we don't get enough sunny days and we do have bugs.

Box fans aren't sold in the UK? WOW! They're everywhere here. I'd say they may have become less popular in favor of other shapes and designs, but they are still readily available in warm months at hardware stores and discount stores everywhere.

[MysticTree]

This is England ... we aren't noted for our hot summers although today is a fabulous clothes drying day. Very warm - for us at this time of year - and very blowy. Perhaps if I made a netted cage and hung my foods in it on the line they would dry!

Box fans must be available somewhere here ... just never seen them.

Georgina