Dehydrating Class...

WOW! I really learned so much about Dehydrating foods from Lanette Lepper last night. I already own a dehydrator, so now's my chance to really see what it can do!

I can't wait for the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market Auctions to begin, so I can purchase fruits and veggies in bulk to dehydrate now. Hoping to plant plenty of herbs for homemade teas this year too.

FYI: You can view my "Dehydrate" Board on Pinterest...
lots of cool stuff pinned!!!

Here's just a 'few' things you can dehydrate....

 

Reference: http://www.housingaforest.com/healthy-dehydrated-fruit/

 

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Dehydrated Strawberries:

Wash the fruit and remove the steams.  

Use and egg slicer to make thin slices and

simply lay them on the dehydrator trays.  

No lemon juice or sugar needed.

They are great by themselves or as a topper for granola.

 

Dehydrated Kiwi:

Wash the kiwi and peel off the skin. Using a mandolin or knife, make thin even slices.  Arrange slices on dehydrator trays.  Again no special treatment, just ripe tasty fruit!  My kids think that they taste just like sour patch kids!  Love it!

Dehydrated Apples:

Wash your apples and run them through an apple-corer-peeler-slicer (if you don’t have one, then simple peel by hand, core and slice by hand).  Our family loves the tartness of granny smith apples.  Soak the apples in lemon juice to prevent them from browning.

We also enjoy…

• Sweet Cinnamon Apple Slices ~  Place apple slices in 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of agave nectar or honey.  Arrange the slices on the dehydrator trays and sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon.
• Cinnamon Sugar Apple Slices ~  Place apple slices in lemon juice and arrange on dehydrator trays.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

 

Dehydrated Bananas: 

Peel the banana and cut into thick slices.  I usually get about 18-20 slices out of each banana.  Soak bananas in 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 Tablespoon of agave nectar or honey.  Arrange slices on the dehydrator trays.  These will not be crisp like the ones in the store, but they taste SO much better.

 

Dehydrated Oranges: 

Peel oranges and thinly slice with a mandolin or knife.

Arrange slices on dehydrator trays.  

You may be surprised by how delightful dehydrated

 oranges taste.  They also make great Christmas decorations.

Drying time will depend on how thick you slice your fruit and if you have added agave nectar or honey.  Generally most fruit will take up to 8 hours.  I often start my dehydrator in the evening and let it run all night.  The fruit is dry when you cut it open and there is no moisture inside.  Remove the fruit from the tray and let cool before storing.  I store my dried fruit in glass mason jars.  It is best to buy fruit at its peak season and make sure to only use ripe fruit.
 

 

 

These healthy dehydrated snacks are perfect for camping, going to the beach, long car rides, throwing in your purse, on top of granola and just about anywhere else.  I love that there are no messy, drippy, sticky fingers or faces to wash and that my kids are snacking on healthy treats with no preservatives.