[big green bloke]

hello everyone sorry for not being on for a long time bit life been a bit tough over the past couple of years but things are starting to look good
i have just got a  Dehydrator for when i get to much from the plots but any hints would be useful yours big green bloke

[Aunt Sally]

Hi BGB

Good to see you back

I have a dehydrator.  Fabulous for fruit which I then add to my muesli.

My tip for that is to cut fruit into this slices or even sized chunks to help them to dry evenly.  I even prick berries to help to let the water out.  Raspberries are difficult to dry: they take a long time.

[Annen]

As we speak mine is humming away drying slices of strawberries.  I picked over 3 kilos this morning, the small ones have gone into the freezer, the big ones are drying and the middle sized ones might be jam or we might just scoff 'em.

[Mrs Bee]

I use mine mainly for semi drying tomatoes to go in to oil and vinegar, or fro smoking to make anti pasti.

I use it for making pineapple,  pear and apple crisps to go with sorbets and ice creams.

I am not keen on dried fruit or vegetables, I prefer to freeze them.

I have use the dehydrator without heat to reduce some of the water in cured salmon and tuna before I smoke it, too.

[RJR_38]

I use mine for fruit a lot to make cereal toppings. I have had a lot of strawberries in recent weeks but pineapple is probably my favourite (sadly impossible to grow locally!)

[LotuSeed]

I always add Fruit Fresh to the fruit before I dehydrate. It helps prevent browning.  Adding a bit of lemon juice to water will do the same. If you can, avoid dehydrating on really humid days. If you're doing onions or garlic, move the dehydrator outside lol

[Mrs Bee]

Camden tablets in water stops browning too.

[Madame Cholet]

Makes brilliant apple rings with all those cooking apples everyone wants to give you in autumn. I love homemade fruit leathers too

[gypsy]

Today I have dried
melon slices. a full melon is too much for me so dried 1/2 of it.
1/2 a red pepper that I would not use before it was bad.
Herbs for winter use, dill, coriander, mint, parsley, thyme, sage, tarragon, chives.
Kale and chard made into crisps.
Sliced strawberries which I am going to stick in the coffee grinder when they are very dry, I then add a spoonful to plain yogurt.

[Madame Cholet]

Good idea with the melon I love watermelon they are so huge though.

[Willow_Warren]

Makes brilliant apple rings with all those cooking apples everyone wants to give you in autumn. I love homemade fruit leathers too

Interesting to know apples dry well in the dehydrator, I've wanted to try to make my own version of these for a while now as they seem so expensive in the shops:
http://www.waitrosepet.com/small-pet/small-pet-treats/burgess-excel-nature-apple-snacks-80g

but I've not yet invested in a dehydrator - not sure I can squeeze one into the cupboard either 

Hannah

[Madame Cholet]

Under the bed Hannah