Fun.. Fun.. Fun



Nesco Dehydrator



Five med/large grated dehydrated potatoes with green onions on a 12" dinner plate



Chives about half done in the dehydrator

I had intended to can most of the garden this year. My goal is not using the freezer for preserving our food. After playin with the dehydrator yesterday and today I think I will be drying a lot of things. From what I have read there is more nutrition in the dried food as opposed to canning.

I re-rehydrated some of the potatoes for last nites dinner and honestly I could not tell the difference in taste compared to fresh. I see this as a way of making more fast "slow" food. Also as a way of saving space which I have very little of.

I've heard you can dehydrate meat, eggs and even milk but I have a lot of research to do before I try that! Also properly dried and stored dehydrated food lasts a long time, serval people said 30 years, I take that with a grain of salt? I still have a lot to learn but this really looks promising and I'm excited about another way of storing our food.

If any of you have tips I would love to hear them!

Dehydrator

I finally gave in and ordered a dehydrator. I can’t wait to get it even if all I can do is look at it till this summer. Actually I may try doing venison jerky, maybe not too.

I’ve been told that drying food retains more of the nutrients than canning and I’m all for that. Also it has a much longer shelf life and takes up much less storage space than freezing or canning.

We have a lot of wild raspberries and blackberries plus the strawberries I cultivate. Curious how that will work out. Thinking maybe fruit leathers but will have to do more research into that.

Also think it will be great for drying herbs, medicinal as well as culinary.

Would love to hear from those of you drying your own food.