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2:13 pm
May 7, 2011
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My daughter would like to dehydrate cranberries when they are in season. She is concerned that she is going to have to blanch them because they would need some sweetening before dehyrating them.
Has anyone done cranberries and if so what ihas been your experience.
3:37 pm
February 10, 2009
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I looked into this because dried cranberries are something I love to snack on. Most store bought dried cranberries (craisins?) are sweetened but you don't NEED to do it, they'll just be extra tart from what I've read. I figured I wouldn't but might dust them with sugar for eating if I wanted to later… not sure really. You can soak them overnight in sugar water before drying from what I've seen, though I haven't found any specific ratio of sugar to water given. Some are sulfurated too, but again, it's not necessary, just a cosmetic thing. Apples and some other fruit that may oxidize are treated with sulfur, but it's not absolutely necessary. Can't see a need to do that with cranberries but commercial companies often just do that stuff out of habit I swear.
6:47 pm
June 1, 2010
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… and so many of us can't eat the pretty dried fruit because we have a (severe) reaction to sulfured foods. (includes wines with sulfur added, dried apricots, many salad bars. . .
6:30 pm
October 31, 2010
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Wondering…. Can I dehydrate peaches after they've been frozen? Has anyone tried, and what was your result?
6:44 am
June 2, 2010
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Yep, I've done this. I drain them of as much juice as I can, then spread them out on fruit leather sheets and dry. If they have added sugar, they take longer to dry. I've dried both sugared and unsugared. The sugared turn out like gummy candy. My DH & daughter love them. They aren't "pretty" but really tasty.
7:28 am
October 31, 2010
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Thanks – I'm going to try some. I really like to just eat most dehydrated fruit right out of the jar. I had a lot of peaches that I froze this year and now that Ihave the dehydrater up and running, I'm wishing I had more dehydrated than frozen.
10:54 am
June 2, 2010
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I forgot to mention that the sugared peaches are very, very sticky. They won't dry brittle because of the high sugar content.
11:01 am
July 29, 2009
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I just dehydrated cranberries a couple of weeks ago in my NEW Excal (still just testing, doncha know). I did not sweeten them in any way, and they are VERY tart, but good if used in other things (like oatmeal). I did blanch them prior, but I probably didn't leave them in long enough. If you don't pop the skins, they puff up like little balloons and don't dry. I ended up having to pop most of them in my fingers throughout the drying process. I read several sites that said it was better to just cut slits in the skins (make x's like when you're peeling tomatoes) than go through the blanching. I think blanching could work, if you gave it enough time. I was really worried because everything I read said that you couldn't let the blanched berries get mushy. I am beginning to think that doesn't matter much. Anyway, that's my experience. :)
11:08 am
June 2, 2010
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MrsFuzz,
I again want to thank you for sacrificing your time to test the Excal. Just a reminder though, thorough testing could take years, decades even!
Another way to help in the cranberry/blueberry drying process is to freeze them before drying. Freezing helps rupture the cells and seems to help with the drying process. I use blanching over cutting each individual cranberry.
I just added a recipe for Overnight Oatmeal with Fruit at FBR. You may want to check it out. I use apples, raisins and cranberries in it. Great for the cold mornings we've been having.
11:20 am
October 31, 2010
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Just read another post somewhere in which the person said they would get shish-ka-bob skewers (presumably the wood disposable ones) and while watching a video – or whatever – would thread their items that need to have the skins broken onto the skewers to accomplish the break.
That sounded like an interesting idea that would work really well to accomplish the task. I imagine that you just slip them off the skewer onto the dehydrater rack as you go.
3:01 pm
February 5, 2011
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Leah's mom, that is a cool idea. I love to dry blueberries but it is such a chore to stab all of them, lol. We have a Blueberry Festival here every year and I always make blueberry baked goods for fund raising. This year I made Sour Cream Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake by adapting an old old recipe I used to make alot when my daughter was in school. (Many many years ago, lol) Might try cranberries soon. I love cranberry/orange scones, muffins, bread etc. etc…… Trouble is that neither dh or I eat much baked goods as he is diabetic and I am trying to lose weight. I use Zsweet when I bake and Splenda brown sugar.
8:19 am
November 9, 2010
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I just got an Excel for Christmas ( boy was I thrilled!) and have a few questions before I start. Can I use my silicone baking sheets when making leathers etc? I have them already and don't want to buy any more. Also have parchment paper. Does that work too? I read that some people use the cheap plastic cutting board but had concerns about the heated plastic which I completely understand. One of the many reasons I wanted an Excel was to make our own puppy treats. Can I dehydrate liver and cut into treats. They are very expensive in the store but puppy loves them. What is the process? Any tips for newbie like me would be welcomed. Thanks.
10:16 am
June 2, 2010
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Ruby,
Welcome to the wonderful world of dehydrating. You will love your Excal. I have never used silicone baking sheets in the Excal but I don't see why they wouldn't work. You will probably need to flip your leather midway through the drying time so the bottom can dry completely.
My friend trains service dogs and makes all her own treats. They raise meat chickens so she keeps the livers, hearts and gizzards if customers don't want them. She purees the livers and hearts along with some flax and rice and makes liver leather. She dries it in sheets then cuts it to the desired size piece. She's best-friends with every dog she meets so it must be good stuff. She peels the tough membrane off the gizzards then chops them in chunks and dries that way. You may want to dry outside or in the garage, her family complains about the smell.
12:34 am
January 2, 2011
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Ruby,
I make fruit leather all the time & use parchment paper without any problems. I don't have to flip it over & am able to let it dry until done. You will love your dehydrator & all that it can do for you!
8:22 pm
February 10, 2009
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Another new food dehydrator for christmas question…..
I have a nesco american harvest top motor with 5 trays….
I am getting ready to make some beef jerky and was wondering if I only put the number of trays in that I am using (I only got 1lb of meat so I'm figuring I may be only using one maybe 2 trays at the most) or do the empty trays (added height) aid in air circulation/drying time.
If its better to have all the trays in should the meat then be put closest to the fan/motor or on the bottom?
Any help/hints? THanks!
9:09 pm
February 22, 2010
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I have a top motor dehydrator too. I just use as many of the trays as I fill. If I only have 2 trays full of veggies or fruit thats all I use. I don't do the meat. My son does that so I am not sure on meat.
9:29 pm
October 31, 2010
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I do the same with mine – just put in the amount of trays that I have food on. Not sure if that's the best way but it's what I do!
7:26 am
June 2, 2010
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I had corn and mixed veggies drying yesterday. Five pounds of corn filled one quart jar. Four pounds of mixed veggies filled a quart jar. Our local grocery store had frozen veggies on sale for $0.89/pound. I bought a bunch and am drying them to use later. My favorite method of dehydrating, cut the top of the bag open, dump onto the trays and dry. Couldn't be easier.
8:15 am
April 3, 2011
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I have the Nesco with 5 trays and top motor. My directions say to always use all the trays even if you are not filling them all. I keep what I am dehydrating nearer the top.
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