Does anyone here dehydrate food?

[Bateluer]

I just picked up a food dehydrator today, making dried apples as computer snacks is very appealing.

After reading the instructions, they say I need to pretreat the apple slices in 1QT water with 1 tablespoon 'pure crystalline ascorbic acid' dissolved in it, to ensure flavor and vitamin content. Since the goal is a healthy snack, I definitely want to preserve both the flavor and nutrients.

Is this the right stuff? Looks right to me, but this is my first attemp to dehydrate food.

 

[wfbberzerker]

eh, im sure it'll work.

 

[iamme]

my friend's mom bought a dehydrator and made dried pineapples, watermelon, and beef jerkey.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

 

[loup garou]

Dried cranberries rock!

 

[Fritzo]

I dehydrate water. Just can't figure out what to rehydrate it with

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: iamme
my friend's mom bought a dehydrator and made dried pineapples, watermelon, and beef jerkey.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Really, watermelon? Watermelons are 90%+ water, I thought, is there any mass left after dehydration to eat?

 

[eyecandy86]

dried fruit is disgusting. Why would you want that as a snack?

Looks like the same thing in powder form to me.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
I dehydrate water. Just can't figure out what to rehydrate it with

Either H2 or just plain O should work to rehydrate.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: eyecandy86
dried fruit is disgusting. Why would you want that as a snack?

Looks like the same thing in powder form to me.

It doesn't leave crumbs. It doesn't dirty the fingers. Its not sticky. Its healthier than eating M&Ms and Reeses while I'm playing EQ2.

 

[shaddupfool]

nerds.

 

[redly]

just weed

 

[ToeStub]

Originally posted by: iamme
my friend's mom bought a dehydrator and made dried pineapples, watermelon, and beef jerkey.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Your friend's mom made beef jerky in a dehydrater? Raw? Yeecchhh!

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: ToeStub

Originally posted by: iamme
my friend's mom bought a dehydrator and made dried pineapples, watermelon, and beef jerkey.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Your friend's mom made beef jerky in a dehydrater? Raw? Yeecchhh!

You can make beef jerky in an electric dehydrator, such as the Nesco model I picked up today. There's some pretreating and such you have to, but it can be done. Fish and chicken as well, apparently.

 

[WW]

dip the apples in lemon juice (buy a bottle of it)...works well...prevents browning

 

[HardcoreRobot]

ascorbic acid = vitamin C

 

[Patt]

The jerky in the dehydrator rocks ... I made about 7.5 pounds of it this weekend. I'm drooling just thinking about it.

Toe Stub:
Your friend's mom made beef jerky in a dehydrater? Raw? Yeecchhh!

How else have you ever seen jerky made other than raw? You think smoking it cooks it or something? Try it sometime ... so *damn* good.

 

[AreaCode707]

Dried peaches are heaven on earth, but SO hard to find.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: WW

dip the apples in lemon juice (buy a bottle of it)...works well...prevents browning

I read thats not as effective, but probably easier to come by. I ordered the powder in the link, next time I'll try some lemon juice.

I'm learning as I go.

 

[Patt]

browning looks gross, but still tastes great!