When you dehydrate--do you....

[miss_thenorth]

...chop all your stuff into small pieces, or dryi in big pieces, and cut up later? I did a bunch of onions today, and I ended up putting in big rings, b/c my eyes were burning so bad. Usually I cut into small peices first, but I just couldn't do it. I also did apples a few days ago, and dried them in big pieces, and jsut cut them up after. How do you do it??

 

[Tallman]

When we have dried apples, we did them in slices about a half inch thick. We use an apple peeler that also does the slicing for us. Works great.

Here's a site about slicing onions. We've never tried it.

http://www.seabrite.com/jeffs_great_british_eats/onion_trick.htm

 

[me&thegals]

Small, thin pieces so they dry down faster.

 

[Iceblink]

When I cut my fruit up first, it doesn't work very well. I was trying to make it a good size to put into oatmeal cookies. It either stuck together or fell through the cracks in the tray.

So now I leave it in big slices and cut it up afterwards, but if does take a long time and make my hands very sore.

I haven't dehydrated onions yet.

 

[keljonma]

If you are using a dehydrator, it should give you some suggestions for sizing.

It depends on what I am dehydrating.
Small berries - whole (cranberry, blueberry)
Large berries - halved or sliced (strawberry)
Most fruit - slices (rings) - no larger than 1/4 inch thick
Citrus peels - Large slices, pith removed
Mushrooms - sliced or whole (depending on size)
Most veggies - slices (rings or strips) - no larger than 1/4 inch thick
Corn - off the cob kernels

I have used parchment paper lined racks for items that will dry so small that they fall through the racks. But if it is a big project (like corn), then I just use my oven.

 

[miss_thenorth]

My dehydrator is old (~15yrs)--so no instruction book anymore. I usually do the small pieces, but gave up on the onions b/c my eyes burned.

NOTE TO ANYONE WHO HAS NOT DONE ONIONS! pick a nice day (or two)and do them outside. I knew not to do them in the house, so I started out putting them in my hubby's shop (48x64), --he was working in there, with the doors open and after about an hour--the onions went on an extension cord and put outside. He couldn't take it! I jsut checked the onions, they are not quite done, but they seem to have dehydrated quite well in the rings that I left them in. But it is taking a long time.

 

[freemotion]

I have used parchment paper lined racks for items that will dry so small that they fall through the racks. But if it is a big project (like corn), then I just use my oven.

Hmmm.....I've been wanting to do onions, I haven't dehydrated seriously, just herbs and tomatoes and dog treats. I like the parchment idea. Do you think it would work with onions chopped in a food processer? (processor??? Doesn't look right, too lazy to check!) Does it protect the plastic racks from being permanently impregnated with onion smell?

 

[keljonma]

My dehydrator is old (~15yrs)--so no instruction book anymore.

I got my dehydrator (ronco w/out a fan) at a trash and treasure sale for $2. I found the manual online. (One of the best uses of the internet to my mind..)

NOTE TO ANYONE WHO HAS NOT DONE ONIONS! pick a nice day (or two)and do them outside. I knew not to do them in the house, so I started out putting them in my hubby's shop (48x64), --he was working in there, with the doors open and after about an hour--the onions went on an extension cord and put outside. He couldn't take it! I jsut checked the onions, they are not quite done, but they seem to have dehydrated quite well in the rings that I left them in. But it is taking a long time.

You must do a lot of onions at once! I usually try to do no more than 2 racks at a time (cut in rings) and I put the dehydrator just outside my laundry/mud room through the open patio doors. (We don't have any outdoor plugs, except the ones in the barn.) I usually soak the racks in white vinegar when done with any dehydration project.

 

[keljonma]

I have used parchment paper lined racks for items that will dry so small that they fall through the racks. But if it is a big project (like corn), then I just use my oven.

Hmmm.....I've been wanting to do onions, I haven't dehydrated seriously, just herbs and tomatoes and dog treats. I like the parchment idea. Do you think it would work with onions chopped in a food processer? (processor??? Doesn't look right, too lazy to check!) Does it protect the plastic racks from being permanently impregnated with onion smell?

I haven't tried using the food processor (according to spell check ) for onions. My son hated onions as a kid, so I used to make onion juice in the blender and put it in a quart canning jar and put that into recipes instead.

 

[Farmfresh]

I just run the onions through the food processor and make a nice chop.

Or use my mandolin. A slice of bread in the mouth helps the tears

I usually do pounds at a time when I do it.

And a warning ...

Run the dehydrator on the porch or outside under a tree - the whole house will smell of onion strong enough to make you cry for a week!

Ask me how I know that one.

It is very worth the work. I do a bunch and then have a nice huge jar of onion flakes to cook with for a long long time.

Sweet onions like Vidalia or Walla Walla that are poor keepers make a GREAT dry onion - very sweet!