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Farm Kitchen:  Dehydrators  |
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carolynann
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Carolyn
Branford
FL
USA
32 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 11:06:48 AM
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I'm new to the Farmgirl Connection, so I hope I'm doing this right :-) I've been drying foods for storage, and I'm thinking about buying a bigger dehydrator. Can anyone give me some advice on what to look for? I have an American Harvester Snackmaster wit 6 trays and 550 watts of power. It's old, but it still does a pretty good job. I'd appreciate any help you can give me . . . I want to make the RIGHT choice!
Thanks, Carolyn
At home on the banks of the beautiful Suwannee River in North Florida |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 11:41:25 AM
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I LOVE my 12 tray Cabela's dehydrator! I saved for awhile to get it and use it all the time now! I can do 15 pounds of jerky at a time! :)
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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carolynann
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Carolyn
Branford
FL
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 2:35:29 PM
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Great! I've been looking at a 10-tray Cabela's for $150 that sounds very close to the 9-tray Excalibur that costs $250. I'll go back to Cabela's website and take a closer look. Thanks 
At home on the banks of the beautiful Suwannee River in North Florida |
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carolynann
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Carolyn
Branford
FL
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 3:01:29 PM
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Does the Cabela's dehydrator have a door? Do you have to use the screens? One of the comments said the trays have fairly large holes . . . small stuff falls thru. Folks who bought screens said they had a hard time getting them to lie flat???
Thanks again . . .
At home on the banks of the beautiful Suwannee River in North Florida |
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Autumn Leaves
True Blue Farmgirl
463 Posts
Jennifer
Northern
California
USA
463 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 3:47:24 PM
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Mine's just a cheapo but, ooh would I love to have a new fancy one. Hope you end up with a great one!
Warm Wishes
Jennifer
Never let yesterday use up too much of today - Will Rogers
http://jenscountrylife.blogspot.com |
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carolynann
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Carolyn
Branford
FL
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 4:13:20 PM
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Well, I guess I'm just getting anxious . . . from everything I was able to find out about the Cabela's, it didn't have a door??? I tried to buy an Excaliber 3900 R (for refurbished) directly from Excaliber, but the shipping from CA was high. So, I checked on eBay and was able to get the very same model with free shipping for $159.99. I've ordered it!!! Excited am I  I'll let you know when it comes!
At home on the banks of the beautiful Suwannee River in North Florida |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 4:17:56 PM
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I had opportunity to borrow a friend's Excaliber and when I can afford it I will either purchase the Cabela's or the Excaliber :)
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Calicogirl on Oct 28 2009 6:21:29 PM |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 4:31:16 PM
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I've had my excaliber for at least 25 yrs, and i love it. I use it all the time for fruit, some veggys and jerky.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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carolynann
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Carolyn
Branford
FL
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 4:40:27 PM
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Since I already have a dehydrator and know I'll be using it a LOT, I'm using a bit of a small inheritance I just received to invest in those things that will help us survive until our economy recovers :-) The Excaliber I've ordered has a 10-year warranty, so I'll be very happy if it lasts 25 years!!! Hmmm . . . I may have to pass it on to my children, since I'll be 95 by then . . . LOL
At home on the banks of the beautiful Suwannee River in North Florida |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2009 : 6:26:10 PM
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Since you've already ordered from eBay (isn't it fun to find great deals?) you don't need to know that the Cabela's does have a door. It even has it's own place of honor in the kitchen area lol. I have the reusable "sheets" for making fruit leather, and I haven't ever tried to dry something that's too small for the screens. Anyway...you don't need this info anymore :) Be sure to let us know how much you're loving your new dehydrater when you get it!!!!
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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Shmemily
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Emily
Hillsboro
Ohio
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2009 : 06:29:43 AM
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| Didn't Maryjane suggest one from a woman who makes them and sells them from her home? I haven't bought the book yet and returned it to the library so I can't look up her name for you. But maybe someone who has the book can post that info? |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 3:51:38 PM
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Hi girls I just found this post!!!
Dh just bought a dehydrator from Bass Pro, got it on sale. I know absolutely nothing about them and actually grumbled when he brought it home, cause guess who will be doing all the work?!!!
I do know it is 1,000 watts, and their is a nice instruction book with it.
I don't know the first thing about drying anything. :(
Any tips? Favorite recipes?
I will say when I saw dried garlic my eyes lit up, when I saw dried herbs, I sat straight up in my chair, lol!!! I hate store bought herbs- tasteless, so it will be nice to use the dehydrator to dry my herbs next summer.
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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Lorie Marler
True Blue Farmgirl
265 Posts
Lorie
Guymon
Ok
USA
265 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 8:30:30 PM
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| I have had a dehydrator (garage sale find) for about 5 yrs and just started really using it this summer thanks to a push from a friend of mine. So far I have dehydrated lemon balm for teas, lemon thyme, sage, stevia, basil, onions, tomatoes, and jalapenoes. I am addicted to dehydrating. I hope you love your too. |
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CherryPie
True Blue Farmgirl
935 Posts
Kimberly Ann
Puyallup
WA
USA
935 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2009 : 08:07:08 AM
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I'm new to dehydrating. Could you guys give me a list of things you typically dry? I'll have to plan ahead for next year's herbs, but what other types of things are you making?
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher |
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twink
True Blue Farmgirl
131 Posts
Deb
Rapid City
SD
USA
131 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2009 : 10:25:03 AM
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There are about a bazillion dehydrating groups at Yahoo! Groups. Run a search and see if you find one you like. I belong to one group that is all about canning, freezing and dehydrating, but I don't want to push you to that one group, since there are so many to pick from. I'll let you decide which one you might be interested in. BTW, most of those gals are working with Excalibur (sp?) dehydrators and I'm not going to spend THAT much money on something I rarely use. I already have a couple of kitchen appliances that are swell dust collectors.  
I go there mostly for the freezing information. I only wish I had time to can things, and I've never had luck with dehydration. I end up spending mega bucks on fruit or veggies or whatever, and then they don't dry correctly and the whole works is wasted. I'm just too busy, I guess.
I use my oven to make crispy nuts and toasted coconut (as in the NT cookbook) and those go over well with my family. We like the coconut to make shrimp, which is a rarity around here. I make BIG batches at one time (and freeze ) because the oven is on for a long period of time.
Hope you find a group you like. 
-Deb
http://healthtalk.6.forumer.com/index.php
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you'll land amongst the stars. - Anonymous |
Edited by - twink on Nov 08 2009 10:27:17 AM |
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carolynann
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Carolyn
Branford
FL
USA
32 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2009 : 7:31:24 PM
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I've just put my first load into my new Excaliber . . . my, it does hold a lot! I went to a veggie market over the weekend and picked up a bunch of yellow squash, zucchini, green beans . . . that's what I have in the dryer right now.
Mostly I've dried pears (from our own pear tree), and apples (from an orchard in Henderson, NC). I've experimented with zucchini . . . came out good! One tray in the dehydrator right now is sliced thin for chips . . . I'm anxious to see how that turns out. I did a little eggplant and a cucumber (now sure what to do with a dried cuke . . . we'll see???)
I've got an herb garden in an old boat, so I'm going to try drying some herbs just as soon as I have another block of time.
I bought a book that has recipes for using dehydrated foods . . . I'll let you know how that goes when I've had a chance to try it.
Carolynann
At home on the banks of the beautiful Suwannee River in North Florida |
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Farm Kitchen: Dehydrators |
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Dehydrators
