Making
your own dehydrated foods is quite easy, and there are three main ways
you can
do it: in a dehydrator, in the oven, or in a DIY dehydrator.
1. Dehydrator
Dehydrators
are specialized home appliances designed specifically for food
dehydration. These are widely available in stores and online, and many
models are available under the $50 price range.
The most important advantages of these appliances are:
- They’re easy to use, as all you have to do is push a button and let the machine work without your supervision.
- You can dehydrate a variety of foods at a time.
- The dehydrator uses low temperatures, which help preserve the nutrients in the food.
To
dehydrate food using a dehydrator, simply prep the foods by peeling and
slicing them up, spread them evenly on the shelves of the device, and
then turn on the dehydrator, selecting the intended setting. Once the
dehydrator stops working, let the food cool off, remove the food from
the shelves and put the food items in containers.
2. Oven
The
main advantage of dehydrating foods in your oven is, of course, the
fact that you don't need to buy any new appliances. This method is also
the fastest, although it might be less capable of preserving the
nutrients in foods, as the lowest oven temperature is still relatively
high compared to dehydrators you can purchase or fashion yourself.
To
dehydrate foods in the oven, simply set your oven to the lowest
possible temperature (usually around 175°F/ 80°C) and make sure the oven
fan is turned on. Spread the thinly sliced foods onto the baking sheets
lined with paper, and check up on them every half an hour to make sure
they don't burn or harden too much. Every food type will take a
different amount of time to prepare - with meats typically taking
several hours while berries and other fruit being ready in a much
shorter time.
3. DIY Dehydrator
To fashion a DIY dehydrator of your own you'll need a box fan, dehydrator sheets, and clean air conditioner filters. Unplug the fan and set it on the ground with the airflow directed upwards. Prop up on side of the fan 10-15 cm (4-6 in) and put an AC filter on top. Spread the thinly sliced foods on a dehydrator sheet and put an additional dehydrator sheet followed by another filter on top. You can sandwich several layers of food in this fashion, securing them with bungee cords.Since this method doesn't require any heat, the food will take the longest to be dried out, with most foods taking 2-3 days to be ready.
Homemade Dehydrated Food Recipes
When
dehydrating foods, you can certainly let your imagination run wild,
combining different types of cereals, nuts, and fruit into the mix to
make homemade granola, trying out different combinations of fruit to
make fruit leather,
and also making more traditional foods, such as dried apple chips and
raisins, for example. To inspire a bit of variety, we will show you 4
different dehydrated recipes you can try out.
1. Fruit Leather Recipe - a healthy sweet treat
Ingredients:
½ cup mango*
½ cup strawberries*
1 cup applesauce
½ cup strawberries*
1 cup applesauce
*you can use fresh or thawed frozen fruit. Any type of fruit you like will work for this recipe.
Preparation:
1. In a blender, puree the fruit until smooth and combine with applesauce.
2. In the oven:
Spread the mixture onto a lined baking sheet in a thin even layer. Cook
on the lowest temperature for 1-2 hours or until the mixture is no
longer sticky. Check the mixture every 20 minutes to make sure it
doesn't burn.
In the dehydrator: Line
a dehydrator with baking paper and spread the mixture in a thin even
layer. Dehydrate on 130-140°F (55-60°C) for about 6 hours.
3. Slice the fruit leather into thin strips and roll it up. Store in airtight container.
2. Mushroom Jerky Recipe - the healthier version of jerky
Ingredients:
4 medium Portobello mushrooms, sliced into thin strips
1 tbsp olive oil
½ cup barbecue sauce
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Salt to taste
Preparation:
1. In a medium dish, mix all ingredients apart from the mushrooms.
2. Add in mushrooms and coat evenly in the marinade. Let them sit in the marinade for 1-2 hours or overnight.
3. Before dehydrating, shake each piece over the bowl to remove excess moisture. Then dehydrate, 2-3 hours in the oven at minimum temperature, or 4-5 hours at 145°F (62°C) in a dehydrator. The mushroom should be dry but also remain a bit chewy.
3. Kale Chips - the most nutritious 15-minute snack ever
Ingredients:
1 bunch of kale
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt, pepper, and any additional seasoning of your choice to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt, pepper, and any additional seasoning of your choice to taste
Preparation:
1. Wash and dry the kale first. Then remove the stem from the kale and tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
2.
Toss the kale with oil, and then spread onto a baking sheet and season.
If you're using the oven, set the oven to 300°F (150°C) and cook for
10-15 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. If using a dehydrator,
set the temperature to 125°F (50°C) and dehydrate for about 3-6 hours.