Food dehydrators; you’ve seen them on infomercials but what do you do with it? Dehydrators are useful tools for both consumers and professionals. The best thing about having one is you can preserve food for long periods of time.
If you’re curious about the many uses of a food dehydrator, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s why so many people are buying them, and why you should, too.
Ways to Use a Food Dehydrator
There are a lot of ways in which people use food dehydrators. When you buy one of these, you’ll get many great benefits that never get old.
1. Make Your Own Yogurt
You don’t need to buy an entirely new machine just to make your own yogurt. You can do it simply by using a dehydrator!
To get started, you’ll need a gallon of milk. Heat it in a pot, bringing it to 140? while stirring constantly.
After that, let the milk cool to 120? before mixing in two cups of raw or Greek yogurt. Then, decant the mixture into several canning jars to store individual servings.
Place the jars inside your dehydrator, setting it to 110? and letting it work for around 12 hours.
If you want to take it a step further, you could turn your yogurt into bite-sized snacks by making yogurt drops. Just mix in a teaspoon of cinnamon and a tablespoon of oats, then spoon the mixture onto a sheet in your dehydrator.
Dehydrate them overnight at 135 degrees, and they’re ready to eat!
2. Make Homemade Fruit Roll-ups
Fruit roll-ups are great snacks for kids, but the ones you buy from the store can be packed with additives and preservatives. With a dehydrator, you can make your own healthy ones, so you know exactly what your kids are eating.
It’s so easy to do! All you have to do is puree your choice of fruit, along with a couple of tablespoons of fruit juice and a cup of applesauce. Then, spray the sheet of your dehydrator with some non-stick cooking spray or oil.
Pour the mixture onto the tray, then set your dehydrator to work on full power for up to 8 hours. When it’s done, you’ll have a sheet of homemade fruit leather. Cut it into strips, then roll them up for a handy snack.
3. Soak and Dry Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds often contain enzyme inhibitors, which prevent our bodies from absorbing all of the valuable nutrients they have to offer. In order to unlock those nutrients, we have to soak and dry them. Food dehydrators are ideal for this purpose.
Soak them overnight, or for at least 7 hours, in salt water. Then, rinse them and remove the skins.
Lay them out in a single layer on a sheet in your dehydrator, and set it to 100?. After around 24 hours, they should be completely free of moisture. This will give them a better taste and a nice, crispy texture.
4. Dry Herbs
If you grow a lot of herbs, you know having fresh herbs is a treat. But keeping dried herbs is a great idea for winter.
The best part of drying herbs in a dehydrator is the fact that you don’t have to rely on the temperature. You can control everything yourself, and ensure perfect herbs every time.
5. Dry Out Flowers
Uses for a dehydrator aren’t just limited to food. You can use them to help decorate your home, too!
One way to do this is by dehydrating flowers.
If you’ve recently been given a bouquet, you can put it to use or save it as a keepsake this way. Otherwise, you can simply pick your own flowers.
Cut them off, keeping the stem as short as possible. Then, lay them out on a sheet in your food dehydrator. They should be in a single layer, spaced evenly apart.
Set the dehydrator to the lowest possible setting and leave it to work its magic overnight. In the morning, your flowers will be dried out.
If you want, you can use these to make your own potpourri! Spray them with a mixture of water as essential oils, and they’ll fill your home with a pleasant, floral scent.
6. Make Your Own Tempeh
Soybeans are incredibly versatile. As well as being used to make soy milk and tofu, they can also be fermented to form tempeh.
This is a traditional Indonesian food, but it’s become increasingly popular around the world because it’s a great plant-based source of protein. This makes it perfect for vegetarians and vegans!
In order to make tempeh, you need to ferment your soybeans for around 24-28 hours. During this process, you have to keep the mixture at a temperature of 86-88?.
A food dehydrator is the perfect environment for this! Use it to incubate your tempeh, making sure it stays at exactly the right temperature for as long as you need.
7. Homemade Fire Starters
Little do most people know, you can make your own fire starters instead of buying them from the store. And if you’re an orange eater, you’ll have plenty of kindling saved up. Dehydrating the orange peels until there’s no water left makes them easy to light.
8. Pet Treats
Is your dog allergic to the treats you usually buy from the store?
Store-bought pet treats have all kinds of questionable ingredients. But you can feel better about it if you make your own using a dehydrator. Pets will love the homemade treats made with healthy ingredients.
Cut thin strips of chicken, pork or beef and lay them on a dehydrator sheet. If you want, you can add some seasoning for extra flavor. Then, dehydrate them on the highest setting for around 8 hours. That’s all you need to do to get all-natural, wholesome dog treats!
You don’t have to use meat if you won’t want to. Sweet potatoes are also a good choice. Cut them into thin slices, and they’ll turn into dried chewy treats that your dog will love.
9. Homemade Granola
Did you know you can cook your own granola at home?
Granola is a healthy snack to have around the house and will become a better alternative to cereal in your home.
Try cooking some crunchy sprouted buckwheat granola for the whole family to munch on. Your granola can be customized to your liking, so be sure to add in plenty of your favorite berries and nuts.
Add in date paste or applesauce puree into the mix of nuts and berries for the ultimate winter treat. In the morning, add the granola to a few bowls and provide your family with yogurt options as toppings.
The ingredients for granola is quite easy, and you can make whole batches of it with a food dehydrator. Use seeds, oats, and much more to make the perfect recipe.
10. Healthy Chips
Let’s face it; it isn’t easy to eat only one chip at a time. You always end up eating too many and then feel bad.
But if you make your own at home, you don’t have to feel as guilty. Zucchini, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes all make great chip sources. Salt them to your liking, and you have the perfect snack.
11. Make Fire Starters
If you’re an avid camper, it’s handy to have your own fire starters to take with you. This way, you can avoid the frustration of trying and failing to light a fire with damp wood.
To make your own fire starters, dry out some large pieces of orange peel in your food dehydrator. Once they’re completely dry and crispy, they’re ready to be used for a campfire. They catch light very easily and contain oils that give a sweet, citrus smell, too.
More Food Dehydrator Ideas
The bottom line is, a food dehydrator can do so much to improve your life. And the fact that there are so many unique uses is a plus. The benefits of having a dehydrator will have you wondering why you didn’t buy one sooner.
Unsure which product is best for you? Read this article to find out which dehydrator will fit your needs.
