Book on Dehydrating??

[nelson96]

Can anyone recommend a book for dehydrating?

I just purchased my first dehydrator and the manual that comes with it has next to no instruction on actually dehydrating food. . .  I would like something that is both instructional and includes recipe's.

As a side question:
The dehydrator I purchased is the 160L Cabela's Commercial Grade Dehydrator.  If anyone has one, or knows someone that does, can you offer any hints you've learned to make using and cleaning go better?

Thank you

[fratermus]

I'd start be reading the official info before buying books. 

If you're planning on drying a lot of sticky stuff, cabela's makes a special sheet for that.    For a zero cost experiment, you can rinse sliced fruits with water then pat dry before dehydrating.  IME sometimes this will remove some surface sugar to minimize sticking.   Dipping in an acidified water bath (to prevent discoloratoin) has the side effect of helping rinsed sugars although the water gets stickier as you go along. 

{edited to fix link}

[nelson96]

Thank you, that was very helpful.  I'm finding a lot about dehydrating on TSP but it's kind of all mashed together in one thread and many aren't explaining the full steps used (for a noob like me). 

[nelson96]

Based on the big dog that I bought Cabela's 160L Commercial Food Dehydrator . . .  It blows air from the bottom up through the center of the racks.  If I'm doing a small batch, should I place the racks on the bottom or the top?  Or should I spread them out so that there are racks of food being dried from top to bottom with a lot of space in between each? 

When using all the racks it has 24.  I'm predicting that until I learn what I'm doing I probably won't use more than 4 or 5.

[LibertyBelle]

One of my favorites is a little yellow book called "Dry It, You'll Like It" by Gen MacManiman. 
Here it is in PDF, although I chose to buy it hard copy and support the author.
http://www.modernsurvivalonline.com/Files/food%20storage/article7-10/Dry%20it%20you%27ll%20like%20it.pdf
 

[Morning Sunshine]

I don't have a book, but have you gone to www.dehydrate2store.com yet?  it is better than a book - there are videos
videos that cover from fresh produce to how to use/store your dried food.  She also has a virtual newsletter that sends out wonderful tips monthly.

I have read your hashbrown question, btw, and am planning to make some for brunch tomorrow.  I will even take pictures for you.  (Getting them uploaded will be a different story, however!)

[nelson96]

One of my favorites is a little yellow book called "Dry It, You'll Like It" by Gen MacManiman. 
Here it is in PDF, although I chose to buy it hard copy and support the author.
http://www.modernsurvivalonline.com/Files/food%20storage/article7-10/Dry%20it%20you%27ll%20like%20it.pdf

Thank you that looks like a good start.

I did notice that most of her instruction on drying fruits and vegetables did not include dipping them in to anything or adding anyhting to help retain their natural color, does that mean that none is needed or that she doesn't care?

[nelson96]

I don't have a book, but have you gone to www.dehydrate2store.com yet?  it is better than a book - there are videos
videos that cover from fresh produce to how to use/store your dried food.  She also has a virtual newsletter that sends out wonderful tips monthly.

I have read your hashbrown question, btw, and am planning to make some for brunch tomorrow.  I will even take pictures for you.  (Getting them uploaded will be a different story, however!)

I had not stumbled on to that website yet, thank you, it looks very useful.

I look forward to your help on those grated potatoes (hashbrowns), thank you.

[LibertyBelle]

Thank you that looks like a good start.

I did notice that most of her instruction on drying fruits and vegetables did not include dipping them in to anything or adding anyhting to help retain their natural color, does that mean that none is needed or that she doesn't care?

I never dip/add anything, and I've not had anything turn out-and-out brown.  While the apple slices aren't quite white, they are certainly not brown. Same with potatoes...just a darker ivory. The strawberries just turn a darker shade of red, but again, not brown.  But the reason I dry my own is so that I will have healthy food, vs "pretty" stuff that has been treated with all sorts of chemicals to the point they are actually fake looking.

[nelson96]

I never dip/add anything, and I've not had anything turn out-and-out brown.  While the apple slices aren't quite white, they are certainly not brown. Same with potatoes...just a darker ivory. The strawberries just turn a darker shade of red, but again, not brown.  But the reason I dry my own is so that I will have healthy food, vs "pretty" stuff that has been treated with all sorts of chemicals to the point they are actually fake looking.

I agree with you on the "natural" aspect, which is why I don't buy many dehydrated items from the store.  Have you tried dipping items in pineapple juice or lemon juice to help?  Does it help much?

[Morning Sunshine]

I agree with you on the "natural" aspect, which is why I don't buy many dehydrated items from the store.  Have you tried dipping items in pineapple juice or lemon juice to help?  Does it help much?

I dip my bananas is lemon and/or lime juice.  but that is a flavor thing more than an aesthetics thing.  it changes the flavor and makes it really tasty.   

[LibertyBelle]

I dip my bananas is lemon and/or lime juice.  but that is a flavor thing more than an aesthetics thing.  it changes the flavor and makes it really tasty.   

Haven't tried dipping in pineapple or lemon/lime juice, as I like my dehydrated foods to have their own natural flavour, especially if I intend on using them in future recipes.  But I'll have to try that with a batch or two of snacking fruit.