Recommended food deydrators?

[turley]

I have started to think about dehydrating some of my own meals and it appears that many of you regularly use a food dehydrator for your bushwalking foods.

I am wondering which models you use, what do you like/dislike and would you recommend this model to a friend?

Any advice is appreciated!

[HitchHiking]

I got one at aldis a few months back now for 30 bucks I think. I enjoy it. It works fine for what I like to do and how I use it. I would like the mesh tray to be a slightly finer mesh and I would love to have more then the 3 trays it fits, but now im jsut being greedy

[Liamy77]

are there any types / designs to avoid??
i'd like to start doing this too ( but when ya carry your water here in WA there hasn't been enough advantage to bother before).... untill now!
read a few good tips in "food to go"... got me interested again

[1iron]

Hi

I have an Ezidri Snackmaker with 5 trays and 5 solid plus 5 fine mesh inserts.

I mainly use it for dehydrating Indian curries which are my bush walking staple food but also dehydrate other things.

Would I recommend it? Yes providing you are going to use it enough, given the cost of buying one.

[Macca81]

i also have the ezidri snackmaker.

i think its worth the cost, having the same meals that you enjoy eating at home, having them taste just like they do at home, is worth the money IMHO. and you will find that you start drying things you never thought of... my mother decided to dry the ginger concoction that i used in the boil for my homebrew gingerbeer, so she could use it as a herbal tea... it worked too! and yogurt and sour cream, the really add a classy finnishing touch to your cereal and geez do your walking companions look when you add the sour cream to your chilli con carne!

[jose]

Hello Macca81
Yogurt is the only food that I really miss on extended walks. Does the dried yogurt resemble the original product after re-hydrating and are there any special tips or do you do the same as with any other dried food?

[Macca81]

do it muh the same. spread some out on the solid sheet and dry. if you get the water mix right, it looks much the same as yogurt once rehydrated. just pour some in the ziplock bag and mush it up and leave it to sit for a bit. hard to get that water ratio right, but it still tastes the same

[jose]

Thanks Macca81.
After it has dried do you you break it up into pieces or grind it into a powder?

[Liamy77]

can it (yoghurt) be eaten like a fruit leather? or is it brittle? - sorry havn't done much of my own dehydrating (apart from jerky, billtong & fruit)

[Macca81]

i just broke it into pieces (well, it brok itself into pieces as i removed it), but now you mention it, i reckon a powder would be a good idea...

and no, i think it would be far too brittle to be eaten as a leather... perhaps if you upped the sugar content it might remain somewhat pliable?

[Liamy77]

maybe honey added?
would anyone be willing to try? - i don't think i can buy another bit of gear (dehydrator) on the list for a little while atm...

[Macca81]

if i think about it, i will give it a go. honey should do the job to in theory, as the sugar content is so high... and it would likely tast better

[Liamy77]

cheers..... of course if it works it'll be that little bit harder to wait to get the dehydrator

[frank_in_oz]

can it (yoghurt) be eaten like a fruit leather? or is it brittle?

It ends up like a fruit leather. I reckon if it is brittle it is too dry.......

Really sorry, I can't find the yogurt pic but this one is of a chilli sauce and hopefully gives you the idea. (This one has been a bit over-dried by my daughter)

Just spread the yoghurt on a fruit leather tray and wait till it becomes leathery..... You can then rehydrate it or just chew it like a fruit leather. pretty nice!

[corvus]

I am really curious ,given the time and energy required to "dry" yoghurt and being that it not a prime food source for most do you do it just because you can or why because any beneficial bacteria would be killed by prolonged heat IMHO
corvus

[frank_in_oz]

I am really curious ,given the time and energy required to "dry" yoghurt and being that it not a prime food source for most do you do it just because you can or why because any beneficial bacteria would be killed by prolonged heat IMHO
corvus

Hi Corvus, I don't take it personally but my daughter likes it. Others I walk with like it just for the flavour or to add to muesli .

Now I am home I have been able to find the images of it.

In all honesty, if you have your dehydrator setup and have a few meals to do, adding another tray and pouring the yoghurt in requires minimal effort.

[Liamy77]

its the little treats that keep you kickin.

[corvus]

I guess you use Fruit Yogurt ? so I can sort of understand why you would do it (I only eat plain Yogurt) however I buy my treats ready made such as they are
corvus

[ninjapuppet]

I bought an harvest maid fd1000 6 years ago for about $450 and wouldn't recommend it unless you are super keen and use it regularly. Ive used it twice in 6 years and it just takes up too much space in my small apartment. Gotta get rid of it.

My mother uses an $80 sunbeam and produces equally good results. It also packs alot smaller.

Just out of interest, does anyone know how long dehydrated mince can keep for?

[Marwood]

The shelf life of dried food depends on a number of thing, but you can store it longer if you keep it in the freezer.

[corvus]

If you freeze it you can keep it for at least 12 months and I always stored my dehydrated food in the fridge short term.
It also helps if you can vacuum seal it .
corvus
beaten to it

[Macca81]

I guess you use Fruit Yogurt ? so I can sort of understand why you would do it (I only eat plain Yogurt)

i suspect that this may be the difference between my dehy yogurt and franks. it looks like franks is flavoured, and so would have a higher amount of sugar. mine however is plain greek which has minimal sugar in it. in my experience, sugar content plays a huge part in whether things come out dry and crunchy or soft and pliable...

[Charlievee]

I've got a Fowlers Vacola dehydrator. Had it for years, still going strong.....

[John Sheridan]

Anyone recommend any brands you can buy now in the shops, this topic interests me.

I wan't to dry some pasta sause now that I have found out aboubt cosy pot coooking, would love to have some hot pasta as a main meal with some nice pasta sause

Thanks.

[damon_james]

My favourite food dehydrator is this guy :

http://www.strivefood.com.au

[Nuts]

John, ive sent you a message and another link that may help ^^^

[Nuts]

Are you Posting a review?

[MartyGwynne]

I have the fowlers dehydrator which has about 5 trays I think.
Cost me about $60 or so (cant quite remember).
I also use a fan forced electric oven on non-stick trays or ones lined with the non-stick baking paper on low low heat.
Marty

[BackpackDave]

After extensive research, (like we do with most expensive things) my wife and I, purchased the 9 Tray "Excalibur" for about $400.0 Plus. We were very much into a health kick at that time. It does the job extremely well!
The most important feature's we looked for were, adjustable temperature contol from "very low and cross air flow", for even heat distribrubution.
http://www.organicsaustraliaonline.com. ... tor+White+
Cheap dryers don't leave much in the way of actual nourishment, bit like microwaves IMO ... they over heat and the faster drying process (Excalibur drys quicker, but only because of design and relatively so, re lower temps) brings about a more concentrated flavour, often misleading to the quality of meal produced. Having said this, I myself am only a beginner to this awesome method of food prep and storage. I also grow organic food and find the dryer good for such things as well. I really need to use it much more than I do! Same goes for my cold press juicer

If you want food to sustain you, then the slower you prep and more effort you make, will result in a product that gives back so much more and for much longer, however keep in mind the faster we process our food, the less it gives back, and the quicker it depletes. The longer the trip, the more important, this fact. My dryer does not always get used, but every time I do use it...I love the fact I have one that provides quality food...and enjoy the longer process in prepping whilst thinking about all those poor soles with nothing but bread, sugar and a heavy load!

At any rate, no matter what dryer you got, or are thinking about ... when it comes to hiking, its simply the best tool you can get.

[John Sheridan]

I just bought a Dehydrator at Homemart for 39 bucks, I think It was half price or less, no idea if it's any good, the brand is CookWell, probably a relabeled brand from Europe or something.

Now I have to try it out any ideas a how, just something easy before I try something harder involving meat

Cheers.

/PS It has a knob that go's up to 70c, no idea if it will reach that temp, well hopefully on the bottom tray at least