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FBC
Oct 16, 2015 7:30:15 GMT -8
Post by Coolkat on Oct 16, 2015 7:30:15 GMT -8
This has always been fascinating to me and more so now that someone recently gave me a dehydrator. I had no idea that chilli could actually be dehydrated. Looks like you need to drain most of the liquid though? Seems like a waste to drain off the tomato juice first. Am I missing something. Now that winter is upon us and my garden has been rototilled under I might have some time play with this.
I'll go do some googling but what else might someone dehydrate that you wouldn't normally think of being dehydrated?
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BigLoad
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FBC
Oct 16, 2015 8:13:42 GMT -8
Post by BigLoad on Oct 16, 2015 8:13:42 GMT -8
There's generally no need to drain liquid, it just takes more time to dehydrate. I keep the chunk size small, and sometimes I pull out the meat and dehydrate it separately, since not everything dries at the same rate. I'm not sure that's really necessary, however.
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sarbar
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Oct 16, 2015 17:35:20 GMT -8
Post by sarbar on Oct 16, 2015 17:35:20 GMT -8
coolkat, just line your trays with parchment paper and ta-da. Simple rules? Keep everything similar size. Have meat in small chunks. Don't try to dehydrate really oily foods.
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rebeccad
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FBC
Oct 16, 2015 20:51:12 GMT -8
Post by rebeccad on Oct 16, 2015 20:51:12 GMT -8
Sometimes with a chili or spaghetti sauce I'll boil it down a little extra before I start drying it. That's just to save time, though, and maybe make it a little easier to contain on the trays.
BL--it generally doesn't hurt the beans and tomatoes or whatever to dry extra, so I usually dry it all together, if I've cooked it together. I do of course make plenty of "hamburger gravel" that can be used in a variety of recipes (and storing that is a good use of the vacuum sealer, though I usually just make it all in the week or so before a trip, so I don't have to worry about extra storage steps).
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rebeccad
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Oct 16, 2015 20:53:29 GMT -8
zeke likes this
Post by rebeccad on Oct 16, 2015 20:53:29 GMT -8
The Fuller Brush guy came to our door one day, and was trying to sell my mom on how great his product worked for shining shoes. She brought out dad's church shoes, and asked for a demonstration. Mom was a good looking mom, I suppose, and this was when she was about 38-40, so still in her prime. Guy shined dad's shoes up to a brilliant gloss, then mom bought nothing. Told the guy thanks, and ushered him out of the house. Dad was not quite sure what to think. Sometimes, salesmen are quite useful. Wandering off the topic, but that reminds me of the story my mom tells. She and Dad had just moved into their first house, & I'm not sure if the furniture hadn't arrived or if (very likely) they didn't have much. But a vacuum salesman came to the door, with the usual line about doing a demo on her carpets. "I don't have any carpets." "Then allow me to demonstrate on your furniture." "I don't have any furniture." She says he just sort of backed away...and apparently spread the word, because she never got another one at that house!
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zeke
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Oct 17, 2015 3:40:45 GMT -8
Post by zeke on Oct 17, 2015 3:40:45 GMT -8
I was just adding to Steve's post about salesmen not allowed.
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rebeccad
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Oct 17, 2015 10:11:17 GMT -8
Post by rebeccad on Oct 17, 2015 10:11:17 GMT -8
Oooh...pear chips! Love them!
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mk
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Oct 17, 2015 20:23:05 GMT -8
Post by mk on Oct 17, 2015 20:23:05 GMT -8
Do you slice them? Thinly? I tried banana chips once and was not thrilled with the results!
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BigLoad
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Oct 17, 2015 21:42:43 GMT -8
Post by BigLoad on Oct 17, 2015 21:42:43 GMT -8
Do you slice them? Thinly? I tried banana chips once and was not thrilled with the results! The best tool for the job is one of those apple peeling/slicing contraptions. It makes nice, thin slices in a hurry. How were your banana chips disappointing? Did you put lemon juice on them before drying? Mrs. big_load and I disagree on how far to dry them. She likes to leave them just a bit chewy. I like them brittle.
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mk
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Oct 18, 2015 9:08:19 GMT -8
Post by mk on Oct 18, 2015 9:08:19 GMT -8
I think I just didn't get the banana chips dry enough. I, too, would prefer brittle. And I guess I expected them to be sweeter. I don't think I used lemon juice. I really haven't done much with the dehydrator - and it's all been trial and error. I may try the pear chips, though. Do you use lemon juice on those, as well?
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BigLoad
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Oct 18, 2015 9:10:57 GMT -8
mk likes this
Post by BigLoad on Oct 18, 2015 9:10:57 GMT -8
I may try the pear chips, though. Do you use lemon juice on those, as well? Yes, it keeps them from turning brown.
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BigLoad
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Oct 19, 2015 6:52:11 GMT -8
Post by BigLoad on Oct 19, 2015 6:52:11 GMT -8
not I. Just core, slice and dry. I don't even peel. How about some cinnamon?
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