Dehydrator hints

[Odsox]

Corn kernels go well, so do potato cubes. I have read you can dehydrate soup.....

Nev

Nah, the soup would fall through the holes

I have just done some broad beans (to go with the peas I did earlier).
The thing about drying beans and peas rather than let them dry naturally is they stay a nice green colour instead of a muddy brown.
I intend to make some falafel with them later.

[Thomzo]

I think I'm going to ask for a dehydrator for Christmas. Any recommendations as to make and model please?

Zoe

[Jandra]

Last year I got a dehydrator and I did some really nice things. Jerky was a great hit, as were apples and mushrooms.

However, I have some reservations about it, now. It takes quite a bit of energy to dehydrate a batch of food. The jerky is really nice but causes me to eat much more meat than I normally would (tastes too nice, I suppose).

I have a energy measuring thingy and plan (some time) to try and get a realistic idea about electricity consumption of dehydrating vs. freezing...

Jandra

[Odsox]

Mine is a Stockli made in Switzerland, details here ... http://www.ukjuicers.com/dehydrators/St ... drator.htm
This is the second season since I bought it, so still fairly new to me, so obviously can't comment on how long they last.
It is pretty foolproof though as this fool can testify.

[shell]

i have one i bought from a lady in kerry who imports them from nz,it cost me 120 euro`s and is quite large,too large to store in my cupboards has to sit on the freezer.it has 5 trays,very important to have enough trays to make it worth using,and there is a limit to the amount i can use ,i think its 7,truoble is i wanted to buy one for my dd but cant find the ladies number and i bought mine 4 years ago,i also bought a great apple corer slicer from her,so far i have done garlic,onions,pears,apples,tomatoes,banana,herbs,mushrooms,and kiwi coated in honey(watered down)for the totties packed lunches.could use some more recipes though,idea`s etc,up to trying anything once in the dryer that is
shell

[Rod in Japan]

I have a question for you dehydrated people. Did you get a dehydrator after failing at sun drying, or did you go straight for the reliable approach?

I ask because today I bought myself a 3-storey hanging net today for the purpose of experimenting with sun drying. The forecast is currently "sunny forever", good for drying things, bad for the garden.

[Odsox]

For me sun drying is totally out of the question.
I lived on a peninsula about 500 metres from the sea and the humidity seldom drops below 75%, so anything put outside to dry would either rot or ferment.
I can't even save my own pea seed as the peas immediately germinate in the pods before I have a chance to collect them.

On the other hand, I'm not much bothered by drought and I can't remember the last time I had to water the garden by hand, probably not for 3 years.

[shell]

i live in sw ireland,and as i`m also near mountains rain is in abundance,sun?sun? oh that,now i remember