excalibur food dehydrator

[judydawn]

Parcels are always delivered when you're not at home - it is a long wait until the morning 

[jeninwa]

I have been using my friends Ezidri (snack maker) food dehydrator for the last couple of weeks, today I went and bought one. More than happy with the results that I have been getting. So far I have dehydrated parsley, apples, pears, capsicum, zuccini, lemon peel and mushrooms.

[judydawn]

Do you get good instruction manuals and lots of ideas with these dehydrators?

[fundj&e]

Anyone ever dried eggplants ?

[Cornish Cream]

Jude's looks huge - I don't know if I would need one that big 

Have you decided to get one Judy

[judydawn]

I don't know CC - I don't really think I need one but I would try and put it to good use if I got one.  I'll have a bit of a look around at some of the smaller versions in home shops but I'd love to read a book which shows you everything you can dry and then what you do with them once they are dry in the case of things I am not used to using. I'm off to have a bit of a google and read up a bit more about it.

[Cornish Cream]

Andie opened my eyes to other things you can use it for,proving bread,laundry etc But with the central heating coming on in the mornings now I just pop the TM bowl on a hot radiator to prove,then when the dough is knocked back I place the bread tin back on there as well so the dough can rise. 

[fundj&e]

i hope my kids ask me what i want 4 xmas this year i usually say nothing

[Cornish Cream]

i hope my kids ask me what i want 4 xmas this year i usually say nothing

Print off a picture so they know which one you would like Uni

[fundj&e]

i have no idea which one i want, i think i will wait for JD  to get one lol

[judydawn]

Well, I have browsed but I don't know if I really need one.  If you had an endless supply of fresh fruit it would be handy, I don't like jerky and I don't use many dried tomatoes either. I do love dried bananas though and indulge myself occasionally with a packet of those. Where would I put it, the excalibur is rather big but that is obviously the best one because those who have gone before us have done their research and chosen it. Once all the girls receive their excaliburs and start using them, perhaps they can tempt me when they tell us all what they have been doing with it but in the meantime I can live without one.  Sorry Uni, you have to make your own decision on this one

[andiesenji]

I have several books on dehydrating and using the dehydrator for crafts and things.  Some of the books are old and new techniques have been developed - often for treating the food prior to dehydrating with citric or ascorbic acid to prevent browning, etc.

There are two that I use most,
Food Drying with an Attitude  by Mary Bell - published in 2008 and updates her earlier book  published in '94 (Complete Dehydrator Cookbook)

and Kristen Suzanne's EASY Raw Vegan Dehydrating
Some reviewers complain that the first part of the book leans heavily on the raw foods bandwagon, but it is obvious with the "Raw Vegan" words in the title that this book is directed at that.
The ideas and techniques are good for expanding your ideas of what a dehydrator can do. 

I've also got both the 1st edition(1984 140 pages) and the 3rd edition(194 pages) of Preserve It Naturally from Excalibur which was free with the purchase of my last Excalibur.   The latter is more expensive - if you don't get it with an Excalibur but has a lot of excellent ideas.

[trudy]

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!

Well finally after all the hullabalu the dehydrator was delivered this afternoon.  It's now unpacked and ready to go!!!!
Judy I was a bit concerned that maybe it would be a lot larger that the one I already have.  Well it's a bit smaller, so that's good.  I have ordered a couple of books which I hope to have by the end of the week to give me extra inspiration.
Kathryn - is your on the way!!!!!

[faffa_70]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I  need to ring them again tomorrow, I have just been far too busy. They were last I rang them, waiting to hear from the technician if it was ok or a faulty one (sound familiar!!) I even gave them my email address and said that would be a great way to keep in contact with the 3 hours time difference etc but have not heard another word.

[Yvette]

Wooohoooo