I’m sure there was a post about these, but I canna find it. We have been drying our chiles, and some of the moister (is that a word?) ones are going mouldy due to our ‘umid conditions. So we’re thinking of a dehydrator. I know some of youse ladies have one, is there a model you can recommend?
cheers and beers,
pm
I have a Fowlers Vacola brand and I am happy with it.
bluegreen said:
I have a Fowlers Vacola brand and I am happy with it.
Didn’t Fowlers make the old bottling kits? I think my mum had one.
pain master said:
bluegreen said:
I have a Fowlers Vacola brand and I am happy with it.
Didn’t Fowlers make the old bottling kits? I think my mum had one.
yes, you can still get them too.
bluegreen said:
pain master said:
bluegreen said:
I have a Fowlers Vacola brand and I am happy with it.
Didn’t Fowlers make the old bottling kits? I think my mum had one.
yes, you can still get them too.
you can? I want one!
Hey PM
I sun dry mine for a week, bringing them in each afternoon. Then I pop them in the oven on the lowest setting with the door open a little for about an hour to finish them off.
If you’re only doing a batch every now and then, it’s not too expensive or labour intensive.
There are loads of plans for DIY solar dehydrators on the net. They really aren’t very difficult to construct.
pain master said:
bluegreen said:
pain master said:Didn’t Fowlers make the old bottling kits? I think my mum had one.
yes, you can still get them too.
you can? I want one!
My parents had one when I was a kid. We were lucky kids because we always had out of season preserved fruits. From pawpaw to pineapple to stonefruit etc. There was always something to go with home made ice cream. I don’t think they ever did vegetables. I wonder why?
I’ve got a Eurolab…was only a cheapy from deals direct but I’ve not had a problem with it.
pomolo said:
pain master said:
bluegreen said:yes, you can still get them too.
you can? I want one!
My parents had one when I was a kid. We were lucky kids because we always had out of season preserved fruits. From pawpaw to pineapple to stonefruit etc. There was always something to go with home made ice cream. I don’t think they ever did vegetables. I wonder why?
most vegetables don’t have the acid content like fruit so there is risk of botulism.
bluegreen said:
pomolo said:
pain master said:you can? I want one!
My parents had one when I was a kid. We were lucky kids because we always had out of season preserved fruits. From pawpaw to pineapple to stonefruit etc. There was always something to go with home made ice cream. I don’t think they ever did vegetables. I wonder why?
most vegetables don’t have the acid content like fruit so there is risk of botulism.
That’s right. I remember now. But they always made pickles, relishes and chutneys on the stove top.
I suppose that’s how they used up the vegies. Jams too. Jams were put in huge jars. Probably a 2 or 3 litre equivalent. We were only a 5 person family. Boy we must have eaten some food.
pain master said:
bluegreen said:
pain master said:Didn’t Fowlers make the old bottling kits? I think my mum had one.
yes, you can still get them too.
you can? I want one!
Teleost said:
Hey PMI sun dry mine for a week, bringing them in each afternoon. Then I pop them in the oven on the lowest setting with the door open a little for about an hour to finish them off.
If you’re only doing a batch every now and then, it’s not too expensive or labour intensive.
There are loads of plans for DIY solar dehydrators on the net. They really aren’t very difficult to construct.
yeah I sun dry mine too, but it is too humid outside somedays and the mould can set in… especially the juicier ones. I mean I get a good success rate, I’ve already got several jars of hot chile powder of different varieties for different moles and curries… I just was keen on whether or not a dehydrator would improve my chances…
AnneS said:
pain master said:
bluegreen said:yes, you can still get them too.
you can? I want one!
Mum still has hers and has offered it to me. Not sure if it would be economical though…she used it on the old fuel stove. I only have electric. Would probably be better for me to get a new electric model but use all her bottles. Once our 70 plus fruit trees and vines start really producing we will need something :)
My Mum had one and we would preserve Apricots and peaches…. loverly jubbly. When I met GF, she had all the bottles and the seals but didn’t know what they were for so she tossed them…. I said Noooooooo!
pain master said:
I said Noooooooo!
Mum used to preserve peaches, apricots and pears mainly.
I picked up mine from the Salvos for $5, not working properly. I must have been from when they first went electric. It is a big copper pot like the stove top ones, but has two electric elements (for high and low.) One of the elements wasn’t working but it just needed a new cord. Came with thermometre in ^o^F and tongs. I look out for jars in the op shops as every now and then someone has handed some in. You should get new rings regularly and I definitely wouldn’t use any that have been in storage for a couple of years as they will probably be half perished. Lids should also be replaced if showing signs of corrosion. You can get stainless steel ones now for longer life. There are heaps of places that sell them on line and some hardware stores sell the jars, rings and lids.
this is my new ‘ezidri snackmaker’.
the local betta electrical mob recommended it and they are usually honest with their recommendations.
justin said:
this is my new ‘ezidri snackmaker’.
the local betta electrical mob recommended it and they are usually honest with their recommendations.
I believe they are a good brand. Did you get extra trays as well?
pain master said:
AnneS said:
pain master said:you can? I want one!
Mum still has hers and has offered it to me. Not sure if it would be economical though…she used it on the old fuel stove. I only have electric. Would probably be better for me to get a new electric model but use all her bottles. Once our 70 plus fruit trees and vines start really producing we will need something :)My Mum had one and we would preserve Apricots and peaches…. loverly jubbly. When I met GF, she had all the bottles and the seals but didn’t know what they were for so she tossed them…. I said Noooooooo!
I had all of Mums. A huge variety, but I gave them to Ken the Gardener. I’ve sort of regretted not keeping them now.
bluegreen said:
justin said:
this is my new ‘ezidri snackmaker’.
the local betta electrical mob recommended it and they are usually honest with their recommendations.
I believe they are a good brand. Did you get extra trays as well?
No – just 5 trays with the two types of inserts – mesh and solid.
I find it hard to fill all 5 trays so, altho’ 10 trays would be efficient, it’s seldom (if ever) that i would have sufficient time to prepare that much produce.
friends lent us their 10 y.o dehydrator last year so we could test its usefulness. we discovered that fully dried takes days and that’s the irony – they had used their dehydrator once 10 years ago and it proved to be too costly on the power for the returns it gave.
we bought one because we are very happy with semi-dried toms (use romas), quince/fig leather and a few other products that we can’t procure any other way.
justin said:
bluegreen said:
justin said:
this is my new ‘ezidri snackmaker’.
the local betta electrical mob recommended it and they are usually honest with their recommendations.
I believe they are a good brand. Did you get extra trays as well?
No – just 5 trays with the two types of inserts – mesh and solid.
I find it hard to fill all 5 trays so, altho’ 10 trays would be efficient, it’s seldom (if ever) that i would have sufficient time to prepare that much produce.friends lent us their 10 y.o dehydrator last year so we could test its usefulness. we discovered that fully dried takes days and that’s the irony – they had used their dehydrator once 10 years ago and it proved to be too costly on the power for the returns it gave.
we bought one because we are very happy with semi-dried toms (use romas), quince/fig leather and a few other products that we can’t procure any other way.
How do you finish up your tomatoes? I was having alot go mouldy after putting them in oil.
Now I freeze them and only put them in oil a day or two prior to use, but mostly I don’t even bother with the oil.
How do you finish up your tomatoes? I was having alot go mouldy after putting them in oil.
Now I freeze them and only put them in oil a day or two prior to use, but mostly I don’t even bother with the oil.
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we covered the semidried in olive oil.
the dried were just in an airtight jar.
both are having their first anniversary about now and no mould.
don’t know what went wrong ar your place – but – whenever i say something like that on this forum – hardly a day goes by before the circumstances change – so just hang on …………..
justin said:
this is my new ‘ezidri snackmaker’.
the local betta electrical mob recommended it and they are usually honest with their recommendations.
what do you do with dried strawbs?
pain master said:
justin said:
this is my new ‘ezidri snackmaker’.
the local betta electrical mob recommended it and they are usually honest with their recommendations.what do you do with dried strawbs?
back right hand – i preserve them in vodka because i couldn’t find a strawberry liqueur to preserve them in.
they have a concentrated taste – so i’m hoping to add a bit of this liqueur to icecream with strawberry topping.
in the foreground is 5 kilos of tomatoes for sauce. it’s a lot of toms – and yet RB had picked 20 kgs at the stert of his season.
i guess i have picked 10 kg all up this year.
justin said:
pain master said:
justin said:
this is my new ‘ezidri snackmaker’.
the local betta electrical mob recommended it and they are usually honest with their recommendations.what do you do with dried strawbs?
back right hand – i preserve them in vodka because i couldn’t find a strawberry liqueur to preserve them in.
they have a concentrated taste – so i’m hoping to add a bit of this liqueur to icecream with strawberry topping.in the foreground is 5 kilos of tomatoes for sauce. it’s a lot of toms – and yet RB had picked 20 kgs at the stert of his season.
i guess i have picked 10 kg all up this year.
I approve.
I have an Excalibur dehydrator, purchased second hand for half the new price :)
Much easier than the round ones.
The raw recipes using it have all turned out superb.
Love it. Had raw vegan apple crepes (dehydrated) with macadamia nut butter and strawberries on the weekend. Yummo!