[Madame Cholet]

Still quite a novice with mine, lots of new and exciting things to try.

[chickpeacurry]

Just got mine on the go with tomato s it is the Andrew James 5 trays.  I have 3 of tomato and going to do dome beans.  Has anyone done tomato I am hoping they are like Sun dried.   What were the dried corgettee like ..  I am so hoping it is a success because not a huge fan of pickles

[Annen]

Just got mine on the go with tomato s it is the Andrew James 5 trays.  I have 3 of tomato and going to do dome beans.  Has anyone done tomato I am hoping they are like Sun dried.   What were the dried corgettee like ..  I am so hoping it is a success because not a huge fan of pickles

That's the one I've got, too.
I've done two lots of toms, the first were large tomatoes, seeded and quartered and they were very snackable as they were.  The other ones were smaller tomatoes just sliced and put in the trays, they were more acid and not quite so nice just to snack on.  I haven't tried putting them in oil after drying yet.
I did some courgette, but must've sliced them a bit thin and they came out like crisps, which were okay but not my favourite. I've had a few attempts at beetroot crisps but not succeeded yet.

[Madame Cholet]

I'm going to keep my courgettes for ading to dishes in the winter sups ect.

[Beetroot Queen]

My courgettes were really rubbery, what do you do with them as i was very dissappointed, also my beetroot were the same

[bravemurphy]

We are looking at getting one but read so many reviews that I really don't know.

Some say they are noisy, some say they use a lot of electric some say the trays break etc.etc.etc.

We were looking at the Andrew james round one but then I saw the rectangular one.

Just not convinced at the mo.

[Beetroot Queen]

We are looking at getting one but read so many reviews that I really don't know.

Some say they are noisy, some say they use a lot of electric some say the trays break etc.etc.etc.

We were looking at the Andrew james round one but then I saw the rectangular one.

Just not convinced at the mo.

Right now i wish i hadnt bothered, its already in the roof  the tomatoes went mouldy after a week, is that normal. I need some help with mine i obviously havent worked it out 

[bravemurphy]

Right now i wish i hadnt bothered, its already in the roof  the tomatoes went mouldy after a week, is that normal. I need some help with mine i obviously havent worked it out 

This is what I am worried about thx BQ you just saved me £50 ish.

Will stick to the freezer and pickling for now.

[snow white]

If it goes mouldy then they were not done long enoug or were not air tight.  Having great fun with mine at the mo.  Every flavour is intensified.  Fruit leathers are amazing, as are dried bananas.  Courgettes and swede are for soups etc.  Doing toms as we speak.  Everything takes longer than you think, but it only costs about 3p per hour, so a full load of stuff costs from 24 p  to 75p.

You must keep them in an airtight jar or bag as if they have access to moist air they will absorb water and go mouldy.  I put mine in kilner jars.

I have a round plastic one which at the moment am very happy with.

[Annen]

  Fruit leathers are amazing, as are dried bananas. 

I have a round plastic one which at the moment am very happy with.

What do you do the leathers in?  Iv'e tried to think what will fit into a round dehydrator.
I've just done a batch of bananas dipped in lime juice, and its lovely.

[Beetroot Queen]

I read they needed to be like raisins when they are ready and my toms seemed to be ready. I did put them in a jar, will maybe try again. I was very dissappointed.

Now beetroot will that end up crisp as mine were softish, i had far more success in the oven with beetrot.

[snow white]

[/quote]
What do you do the leathers in?  Iv'e tried to think what will fit into a round dehydrator.
I've just done a batch of bananas dipped in lime juice, and its lovely.
[/quote]

Cling film.  But I have just invested in some proper sheets that I will cut to size (amazon). The cling film curled around the sides and delayed the drying process but when it was nearly dry I took it off the cling film and finished it on the tray.

[plottopot]

I did black and green grapes (when they were cheap to buy) last year, took forever but then used them in my Christmas cake...what a treat, best ever and I'm ancient so take it from me, I have made dozens of the things.

[Trillium]

BQ, I highly recommend that you watch a youtube gal called dehydrate2store HERE

Not only does she describe all the how-to's but she also shows exactly how the result should look and sound like. EG A properly dried lemon slice should click when dropped on a counter and not be at all flexible. As snow white said, it sounds like you're not drying the tomatoes long enough. I usually run mine overnight as many things need around 10 to 12 hours drying time. Power is cheaper overnight and no one will disturb the drying.

If the finished item is not kept in a tightly lidded jar then it will resoften thanks to room humidity and storage time lessens.

Racks only break if someone drops them and steps on them.

[Beetroot Queen]

Thank you will take a look when i am on the big pc as youtube dont work on the ipad