Generally I prefer to use both onions and garlic in their fresh state. But I have found that gently frying dried garlic and onion pieces 'till golden makes a lovely garnish for Indonesian fried rice (Nasi Goreng) (thanks to Charmaine Solomon and her "Complete Asian Cookbook" for that tip, and many others).
Basic dehydrating question
- Thread starter Home Maker
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #22
Home Maker
Power Conserver
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2009
- Messages
- 86
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 29
Because of hand/arm pain, I use the food processor to dice my onions.
I have not made garlic powder, but there's nothing to keep you from doing it. Someone on one of my forums said she no longer cans or freezes tomatoes. She just makes tomato powder.
I've got two pineapples sitting here that I need to get in the dehydrator!
I have not made garlic powder, but there's nothing to keep you from doing it. Someone on one of my forums said she no longer cans or freezes tomatoes. She just makes tomato powder.
I've got two pineapples sitting here that I need to get in the dehydrator!
miss_thenorth
Frugal Homesteader
Oooh!! that sound yummy!
cackle
Lovin' The Homestead
What temperature do you use to dry your onions and mushrooms. My dehydrator said 95 but after 24 hours they are just kind of limp.
- Thread starter
- #25
Home Maker
Power Conserver
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2009
- Messages
- 86
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 29
My dehydrator says use 125 for onions.
big brown horse
Hoof In Mouth
O.k., I just purchased this huge professional model dehydrator by American Harvest at a Rotary Club sale.
It came with tons of trays, the thing stands over 2 feet tall when fully assembled. There are 15 trays all together, with liners made of mesh and also some solid liners.
The problem is (and maybe I should have started my own thread) that it didn't come with a manuel.
My question is are all those trays usable at once? How many can you stack together at a time?
There is an on/off switch, fan control knob and what looks like a temp control knob that goes from 90-165.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have tons of apple and pear trees that are already showing fruit. I really don't want to waste it, so I hope I can use all the trays at once because we usually get a GRAND harvest in the fall.
It came with tons of trays, the thing stands over 2 feet tall when fully assembled. There are 15 trays all together, with liners made of mesh and also some solid liners.
The problem is (and maybe I should have started my own thread) that it didn't come with a manuel.
My question is are all those trays usable at once? How many can you stack together at a time?
There is an on/off switch, fan control knob and what looks like a temp control knob that goes from 90-165.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have tons of apple and pear trees that are already showing fruit. I really don't want to waste it, so I hope I can use all the trays at once because we usually get a GRAND harvest in the fall.
freemotion
Food Guru
Well, I wish I had that dehydrator instead of my "toy" one....but I do have the solar dehydrator, dh's car!
I'm sure it is like all other dehydrators, and you can fill all or some or one of the trays, whatever you have. The more you fill, the more efficiently you use electricity, of course. You can even pre-dry things in the car, like I do, then run them through the dehydrator to finish them up. That is how I get lots more done, I fill both in the morning, then finish the car stuff in the electric one later if needed.
I've only dried leafy stuff in the car, though, so far. If it ever stops raining here, I will try veggies that way.
To give you some ideas, this week I dried mints, oregano, parsley, pineapple sage, stevia leaf, catnip, and right now I have three packed trays of red clover blossoms drying, and a batch of sage for sausage waiting to be washed, run through the salad spinner, and put in dh's car until the clover blossoms are done.
Happy dehydrating!
I'm sure it is like all other dehydrators, and you can fill all or some or one of the trays, whatever you have. The more you fill, the more efficiently you use electricity, of course. You can even pre-dry things in the car, like I do, then run them through the dehydrator to finish them up. That is how I get lots more done, I fill both in the morning, then finish the car stuff in the electric one later if needed.
I've only dried leafy stuff in the car, though, so far. If it ever stops raining here, I will try veggies that way.
To give you some ideas, this week I dried mints, oregano, parsley, pineapple sage, stevia leaf, catnip, and right now I have three packed trays of red clover blossoms drying, and a batch of sage for sausage waiting to be washed, run through the salad spinner, and put in dh's car until the clover blossoms are done.
Happy dehydrating!
big brown horse
Hoof In Mouth
toy dehydrator! Thanks for the info. I am going to fill that puppy up then.
I LOVE the idea of predrying in the car!! (I know it isn't too ss to use an electric dehydrator, but I need something right now and after the summer, we stay cloudy for the rest of the year.) I did find a "pantry dehydrator" that isn't electric and it looks very interesting.
I am dehydrating cilantro and tomatoes right now.
Storage after drying? Zilock bags and ball canning jars? (I am going to make sun dried tomatoes when I'm done with olive oil and then can them with a simple water bath.)
freemotion
Food Guru
It may not be "purist" ss, but hey, we do have to live in the real world.....we haven't had a dry day in weeks, it seems. I can't get anything dry in the car until it stops raining....but the sun comes out long enough to dry things in the car somewhat.
I always store everything in glass jars with tight-fitting lids. I love the old glass-top jars for this, but I do use the rubber rings to make the seal nice and airtight. You will lose a lot of flavor in baggies. Sometimes, if I just have a small amount of a couple of things, they will each go into a baggie and might share a jar, if the flavors are ok to blend. Like peppermint and chocolate mint, or two lemony herbs. Or stevia leaf and anything that will be used as tea and sweetened with stevia. You get the idea.
If the lids aren't tight, moisture can still get back into the items on damp days, and flavor can get out of things, too. Besides, I love to open a drawer or cupboard and see the beautiful glass jars with all the green (mostly) bounty in them! Makes all the work worth it, and it is fun to show off.....especially when someone makes a crack at my ss-ness!
DH got all excited about the pile of sage on the counter.....Is that for sausage? he asked......Yup, I'm gonna make some mixes for sausage and some for salad dressing, as soon as all the various herbs come in, still waiting on basil and more parsley.
I always store everything in glass jars with tight-fitting lids. I love the old glass-top jars for this, but I do use the rubber rings to make the seal nice and airtight. You will lose a lot of flavor in baggies. Sometimes, if I just have a small amount of a couple of things, they will each go into a baggie and might share a jar, if the flavors are ok to blend. Like peppermint and chocolate mint, or two lemony herbs. Or stevia leaf and anything that will be used as tea and sweetened with stevia. You get the idea.
If the lids aren't tight, moisture can still get back into the items on damp days, and flavor can get out of things, too. Besides, I love to open a drawer or cupboard and see the beautiful glass jars with all the green (mostly) bounty in them! Makes all the work worth it, and it is fun to show off.....especially when someone makes a crack at my ss-ness!
DH got all excited about the pile of sage on the counter.....Is that for sausage? he asked......Yup, I'm gonna make some mixes for sausage and some for salad dressing, as soon as all the various herbs come in, still waiting on basil and more parsley.
big brown horse
Hoof In Mouth
Thanks freemotion!
I just finished drying 4 very ripe tomatoes..this used to take me a whole day in the oven at its lowest setting..so a real time saver and an energy saver AND a FOOD SAVER!!!!! I also dried an old apple, a pear, cilantro and right now my lavendar salt recipe.
I have jars that need a job too and I agree they look so pretty with dried stuff in them.
It seems like the previous owner of this contraption grew tired of washing the trays and liners so I have been washing and drying each of the 15 trays and liners as I use them. The lid had a small crack in it, but good old strapping tape did the trick.
I just finished drying 4 very ripe tomatoes..this used to take me a whole day in the oven at its lowest setting..so a real time saver and an energy saver AND a FOOD SAVER!!!!!
I also dried an old apple, a pear, cilantro and right now my lavendar salt recipe.I have jars that need a job too and I agree they look so pretty with dried stuff in them.
It seems like the previous owner of this contraption grew tired of washing the trays and liners so I have been washing and drying each of the 15 trays and liners as I use them. The lid had a small crack in it, but good old strapping tape did the trick.
