Dehydrators

You might ask, “Why should I buy a dehydrator? “  I initially bought an Excalibur dehydrator to dehydrate the many pears my pear tree produced, and then once I began using it I realized that it was one of the best small appliance purchases I ever made.  The dehydrator lets me “cook” raw foods.  It lets me cook foods at very low temperatures that my oven does not allow me to do.  Heat destroys the enzymes and nutrients in foods.  The fresher, rawer, more organic, and nutrient dense your food is, the healthier it is for you.  A food dehydrator will allow you to make the best granola, crackers, taco shells, veggie burgers, dried fruits and veggies, fruit roll ups, and snack foods.  You can also use it to make jerky, yogurt, and cheese.  You can revitalize your stale potato chips with a dehydrator.  My office friends love the carrot chips I share with them!

Choose the size of dehydrator that best suits your needs.  A family preserving fruits from a large garden may prefer an 8 tray dehydrator, whereas a small family may prefer a 4 or 6 tray dehydrator.  I personally prefer the rectangular dehydrator because it is easier to make fruit roll ups and flat crackers or putting in long pieces of venison or beef for making homemade jerky.