Newbie: Should i invest in a dehydrator?

[rawdanig]

I know i can't invest in a vitamixer at this time in my life( 2o y.o college student 8/hr job lol) but a dehydrator price range was only about 200 bucks and i can handle that but do i need it? I know i want to make pizzas and breads though so i probably should right? Hmmm would a cheap walmart brand do justice or is there a really good brand out there i should look out for. I tried checking Alissa's site but i didn't see anything. Help please :)

[MysticTree]

my personal experience says it's not necessary but if you think you'll have a better chance of succeeding long term by using dehydrated foods and you can really afford it then go for it.

Lots of people use these foods in their early raw days but tail off so you might find you don't use it as heavily after while.

I don't have a dehydrator.

[Dimond]

You'd be better off saving it towards a Vitamix, whether new or pre-owned. I've never owned a dehydrator and am real glad I never got one. I found different alternatives as well as bought pre-made foods, when needed.

[CathyA.]

my dehydrator is used so little. a good blender and food processor is probably a wiser investment.

[DebB]

I know i can't invest in a vitamixer at this time in my life( 2o y.o college student 8/hr job lol) but a dehydrator price range was only about 200 bucks and i can handle that but do i need it? I know i want to make pizzas and breads though so i probably should right? Hmmm would a cheap walmart brand do justice or is there a really good brand out there i should look out for. I tried checking Alissa's site but i didn't see anything. Help please :)

Since you're wanting to make pizzas and bread, then yes get a dehydrator. And yes - a cheapy brand will probably suit you well. I started off with the old round Ronco dehydrator.

Now, you won't be able to make, say, a big round pizza crust as the round ones typically have doughnut shaped trays (with a hole in the middle). Same with breads - you'll need to accomadate the shape of the tray.

I see round dehydrator frequently in the thrift stores for under $10! I actually bought a 4 tray Excalibur, still in the box with accessories for $10 at GoodWill. Last week I found a mint condition Samson juicer ($260 new) for $6.99! It looks like it's been used maybe twice. I bought a nice little food processor for our 5th wheel for a couple bucks. (And then save to get a high speed blender, cheapest price I found is just under $400 at a Costco road show - $50 cheaper than directly from VM.) So - the bargains are out there if you're persistant.

If you're not picky about staying raw (under 118 or thereabouts), you can use your oven to dehydrate on the lowest setting with the door slightly ajar. Best wishes! *Ü*

[rawdanig]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I was thinking of investing in a simple and cheap one as although i want to make pizzas i only make personal sized pizza so like 6inch and i really want to be able to make falxseed chips! so i'll keep my eyes peeled for those deals and will probably invest in a decent cheap dehydrator incase i do stop using it after a while i wont feel bad. Maybe ill look for a generic Vitamixer also but my current food processor and juicer were given to me as gifts(my lovely grandparents) never used so i figure they'll do for now :)

[DebB]

It looks like you are well on your way rawdanig! *Ü*

[MysticTree]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I was thinking of investing in a simple and cheap one as although i want to make pizzas i only make personal sized pizza so like 6inch and i really want to be able to make falxseed chips! so i'll keep my eyes peeled for those deals and will probably invest in a decent cheap dehydrator incase i do stop using it after a while i wont feel bad. Maybe ill look for a generic Vitamixer also but my current food processor and juicer were given to me as gifts(my lovely grandparents) never used so i figure they'll do for now :)
A doughnut shaped pizza might be rather fun and easier to cut because there would be no pointy bit of a wedge :eat

[rawdanig]

A doughnut shaped pizza might be rather fun and easier to cut because there would be no pointy bit of a wedge :eat

LOL! i agree and even having rounded bread would be nice. The shape would be comforting to hold hehehe.

I saw some dehydrators for 60 bucks on amazon. I thought that wasn't bad at all it's a Nesco brand and its somewhat square shaped and i think it has 6-8 trays which is decent i only need like 5 trays im sure lol since im only uncooking for me.

Last time at the farmers market there was a raw vegan stand of this lady selling her chips and bread she had her dehydrator with her so this saturday i hope she's there so i can learn a bit more info from her!! :excited:

[rawdanig]

Soooo out of my impatience i got another raw vegan cookbook today so i could really see what these recipes are like and what to expect and i was blown away by the variety!!!! And fell in love with a lot of the smoothies,noodles, rice,cereal,wraps,soups,scrambles,desserts and veggie sushi recipes!! I've decided that i can hold off on a dehydrator until Christmas lol cause i figure if i really want some bread i can either get it from the lady at the farmers market or just not go raw(gluten free at least) when it comes to breads every now and then. I will be investing in a Vitamixer :D

I can't wait for Alissa's book/dvd to get here!! I'm excited to start my 30 day challenge in July :woot:

Once i get my vitamixer should i sell my food processor and juicer? I mean this thing is a beast on its own lol

[MysticTree]

Keep your kitchen equipment. Each has it's own strengths and uses.

[DebB]

Soooo out of my impatience i got another raw vegan cookbook today so i could really see what these recipes are like and what to expect and i was blown away by the variety!!!! And fell in love with a lot of the smoothies,noodles, rice,cereal,wraps,soups,scrambles,desserts and veggie sushi recipes!! I've decided that i can hold off on a dehydrator until Christmas lol cause i figure if i really want some bread i can either get it from the lady at the farmers market or just not go raw(gluten free at least) when it comes to breads every now and then. I will be investing in a Vitamixer :D

I can't wait for Alissa's book/dvd to get here!! I'm excited to start my 30 day challenge in July :woot:

Once i get my vitamixer should i sell my food processor and juicer? I mean this thing is a beast on its own lol

I agree with MysticTree - I would not recommend selling your processor and juicer! They may say that the VM takes the place of these, but I have not found that to be true and I use all these appliances typically daily. Hang on to them! I wouldn't want to be without any of them. *Ü*

[rawdanig]

You're right im getting too excited is all and i don't think rationally when i'm excited lol. But logically it would be best for me to still hold off on the vitamixer because my current blender hasn't failed me and it always does a decent job. As far as being able to crush nuts up for milk and stuff i can just use a coffee bean grinder..which im sure i can find cheap at good will...im not made of money so i have to be careful and not let my excitement get the best of me. But one day a vitamixer will be mine :) hopefully as a gift for being raw for 6 months or something..you know gotta keep myself motivated and on track!:dance:

[MysticTree]

If you put a $ a day into a pot for every raw day you complete then you'll be there in no time.

[rawdanig]

I like that idea! I just might do that :) I'm going to make me a raw jar in ceramics this fall to save money in lol

[lil fairy z girl]

hi i bought a cheap one to start with but got fed up with not being able to make what I wanted eg stuffed mushrooms etc.. as the gap betwen the trays was not high enough. I didn't use it much as also for crackers and leathers I found the hole in the middle a nuisance. Anyway, I took the bite and bought the excaliber dehydrater, and it was the best thing I ever did. Its well worth saving up for, the variety of things you can do is limited to your imagination, its a totally different experience, i would now really be lost without it, i love it.

~*~* lil fairy ~*~*

[LaniB]

that is awesome!! I love my Excalibur!! Congrats on taking the plunge. :)

[Shona]

I have done just fine with my regular old department store blender and food processor and have never felt the need to spend big bucks on a Vitamix. But my way of eating raw is so simple that I seldom ever use the food processor either (although my blender gets a workout some days). A sharp knife and a cutting board is fine for me!

A while ago, a found a brand-new dehydrator at the pawn shop. It was the only one there. I snapped it up. So far, it's been sitting on the floor of the pantry and I haven't even taken it out of the box yet. I imagine I'll get around to trying it eventually. LOL

[alive-raw21]

I am also fairly new (3 months)

I got an Excalibur 4 tray dehydrator on amazon for 100 bucks. I'm also a poor 22 year old ;) but it made sense to me and I've made tons of crackers, chips, etc on it. It's awesome. It's even gotten friends and family more interested in it!

[jacsam]

A dehydrator is nice but I only use it now and then, on the other hand I use my vitamix daily......I'd take the 200.00 and tuck it away until you can get enough for a vitamix, even if it takes a couple years.

[Nad]

I'm a student so can't afford either right now, but I'm definitely saving up for a vitamix first. They're just incredible pieces of machinery! :heart Also if you want to make pizzas/breads, there are some raw recipes that don't require a dehydrator so just have a look around! I think Ani Phyo has a raw pizza base recipe in her Raw Food Essentials book :)

[rawdanig]

I'm a student so can't afford either right now, but I'm definitely saving up for a vitamix first. They're just incredible pieces of machinery! :heart Also if you want to make pizzas/breads, there are some raw recipes that don't require a dehydrator so just have a look around! I think Ani Phyo has a raw pizza base recipe in her Raw Food Essentials book :)

I have that book just bought it recently and was excited to see that she had a pizza base that didn't need to be dehydrated! Eventually i plan to try it out most likely when school starts and i wanna feel like a college kid on the weekends lol. I love Ani Phyo's books!!!