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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  Dehydrating Food  |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 08 2012 : 6:53:23 PM
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does anyone know if you can dry things like pumpkin?...I won't have a freezer & canning will take up so much room...if you have do you need to cook it first to soften it then slice it to dry or can it just be dried with out cooking...also can you do this with things like summer squash, winter squash & so on...any help would be great.....I am building a solar dryer but do have a small electric one I can use til I move at the end of Sept...thanks hens...Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 10:50:34 AM
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Hi girls!
Okay, so, I had started another post over in the Farm Kitchen - I hadn't seen this one! I'm so glad Kristina referred me over to all of you! Thank you, Kristina!!!
I'm new to dehydrating, and have some questions. We've had so many power outages already this summer, that I'm thinking canning and dehydrating foods might be a good idea.
I am wondering if you think it's okay to store dehydrated foods in Ball Jars? I have a FoodSaver and plan to use it to vaccuum seal the jars, but I am not sure whether I should just store the dried foods in the FoodSaver bags? I'm not seeking super long-term storage (although if the food lasts, that's great!), but plan to use the veggies, especially, in soups and stews, etc., this winter.
Also how do you feel about oxygen absorbers? Do you think they are a necessity when storing dried, vaccuum-sealed foods, or do you think it would be safe to just vaccuum seal everything?
What is the difference between how dessicants and oxygen absorbers are used? If I've dehydrated foods, shouldn't I use a food dessicant to keep out moisture? I haven't seen much discussion out there online when I've searched... most sites exclusively discuss the use of oxygen absorbers.
How long do the dehydrated foods last? How would I know if they're past their prime? Is it really necessary to freeze the dried foods, or is it okay to keep them in a cool, dark cupboard in a vaccuum-sealed jar or bag?
When I want to use dehydrated veggies in, say, soup, do I have to rehydrate it first, or can I just throw the dried veggies right into the pot? The directions in my dehydrator's package said that if you don't rehydrate first they will still be wrinkly and chewy - is that right? I swear we had a family member that used to just throw the dried veggies in the soup pot and everything turned out great - what do you think?
And, finally, is there a general ratio of dried to re-hydrated foods? In other words, say my recipe calls for 2 cups of mixed vegetables... What measure of dehydrated mixed veggies would I use?
Oh... and I guess one more... We use a lot of tomato products for many different recipes. Although I didn't plant many tomatoes, for some reason (probably from my compost) I have an abundance of volunteer plants throughout my garden consisting of all different varieties, and the harvest is rapidly approaching. I have read that you can dehydrate tomatoes into leather and then powder to use for tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato juice, etc... What is your opinion about that? Have you tried it? Do you like it? Is it a better alternative to canning? I've not yet canned tomatoes - I do plan to do that this year as well, but maybe for the sake of shelf space, the tomato powder will be a good idea?
Also, like Michele, I'm wondering about pumpkin and other squash, too. I have four small pumpkins, six acorn squash and a few zucchini that I would like to dry, I think, but the directions are confusing. It looks like I have to steam them, first, and then once they're dried, they're shelf life is only one week? Is that correct? Say it isn't so! If that's the case, I'll prepare and freeze them instead!
I know - LOTS of questions... I'm sorry! I'm a newbie, what can I say? I trust you girls more than anyone else when it comes to stuff like this, though, and could really use your wisdom and insight! Thanks so much for your help! Right now I've got onions and corn in the dehydrator and everything is looking great! SO excited!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 6:12:30 PM
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ok Nini I can at least help you with the tomatoes...I used to dry them to a potato chip looking thing & store them in a jar with a coffee filter set on the top then the lid...I had some that lasted over 5 years that way & still sweet & tasty when used....i never added water to them when I threw them in cooking but most of the time I just crushed them so I got bits & pieces once the water got into them.....
Now I have also done zuccini....I did not blanch them but just cut them thin & put them in the dryer until they were also like potato chips...those too got the coffee filter then lid & lasted for years...
Now I do not know the shelf live of dried foods but I know that even if they are old you can still add them to soups ect for the taste...whether they have any vits ect after years I don't know but I try never to waste anything if I can keep from it
also on the info for using dried veggies...if its 2 cups of normal vegs I put in about 1 to 1/2 cups depending on how small the dried veggies are & what they are.....example would be peas...i use 1 cup dried for 2 cups of normal...if I am making soups I don't worry about soaking them before hand as I let the soups cook all day....if I need them ready quicker I soak them 2 hours or so in hot water, then use that water in the soup as well...hope that helps....Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 7:30:30 PM
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Thank you SO much, Michele! I'm going to try it your way!!! This helps me a lot. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Chickens may rule, girlfriend, but I think YOU rule!!! Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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whispering pines
True Blue Farmgirl
428 Posts
patricia
sedro woolley
wa
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 8:24:08 PM
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How do you store the fruits and veggies after dehydrating them? Sorry ladies, I only read the first page.
"It's not what I do, but how I do it!"~Mae West~ |
Edited by - whispering pines on Aug 11 2012 8:29:44 PM |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2012 : 04:19:58 AM
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I store my veggies in canning jars with coffee filter then a normal lid onto of that...for fruits I do the baggie or seal a meal type thing...I guess I could use the canning jars for the fruits but since I always have more of them to store its easier to do them in baggies & dump them in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid....the seal a meal is great if you have a very humid place or they are to be stored for up to years...I use my fruits mainly in cereals, trail mix, baking ( which I mainly only do in the winter months)...the dried veggies I use year around so they go faster for me.....Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Marylyn
True Blue Farmgirl
316 Posts
Marylyn
Ellsinore
MO
USA
316 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2012 : 05:18:09 AM
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Thanks for the book, Kristina...I just ordered it! I just bought a new dehydrator and I don't have a clue!!! But give me a book and I can do anything!!!
Love,
Auntie M
Farmgirl # 4062
That which does not kill me, only serves to make me stronger!...unknown to me. |
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lindagwynn
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Linda
Deming
Wa.
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2012 : 08:30:22 AM
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Another good way to do zuchinni is to shred it and then dry it. I use this for all my bread recipes or fritters and it takes up so little room. Just make sure you get out as much liquid as possible.
With lots of hugs and smiles, have a great day.
" Your body knows how to heal itself; just give it the right tools."
Farmgirl#3864
Linda
www.gwynnsgifts.com |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Aug 13 2012 : 02:49:20 AM
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oh I love the shredding idea...that would be perfect & take less time to dry...oh plus perfect for the winter soups dry mixes...thank you for telling us this Linda....I will be doing this for sure....Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2012 : 05:28:17 AM
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I am finding a lot of recipes that say use raw meat...well drying raw chicken worries me so I will cook it......but I always use raw meat to do my beef jerky with...so its up to you I think with what you are comfortable with....Michele'
Chickens RULE!
hen #2622
theoldbatzfarm.blogspot.com |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2012 : 4:24:09 PM
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I just got started reading this topic. I used to have a big electic dryer, that looked like a kitchen cabinet about 16 inches wide, but traded it for a Mr. Coffee Food Dehydrator. It is just a little round thing, but dries a lot faster than the old one. I do fruit and zucchini, leathers, lots of stuff.
My grandmother dried all the time, and canned, and froze. She cooked on a wood cook stove, and had an old window screen hanging from the ceiling over the stove, she dried on that. She also had a bunch of screened trays that she put in a old car with the windows shut. That worked great, so you don't need electricity to dehydrate food.
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2012 : 2:57:04 PM
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Has anyone dried eggplant? I am trying it today. How do you use it?
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl
2914 Posts
Cindy
2914 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2012 : 3:43:31 PM
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The yeast probably refers to brewer's yeast which is good for dogs. I'd add maybe 2 tablespoons.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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westfork woman
True Blue Farmgirl
554 Posts
Kennie Lyn
Emmett
Idaho
USA
554 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 11:42:22 AM
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The eggplant dried in record time. I sliced it fairly thin, then soaked it in very salty water, just like I do when I cook it, for about an hour. Then I shook the water from it, spread it on the drier and in about 5 hours it was dry. It stayed nice and white.
Greetings from the morning side of the hill. |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 4:16:35 PM
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Kennie Lyn! I just dried eggplant the other day for the first time, too! I'm eager to see how it will turn out when I use it in a dish!!!
I've got a question for you all: I've got several bags and containers of blueberries in the freezer, and I could really use the room... Is it okay to dry them at this point, or will they be yucky? I know you can dehydrate frozen veggies, and I know it's recommended that you blanch and freeze blueberries before dehydrating them. I'm just wondering if it's too late to dry them even though I didn't blanch them first, and now that they've been in for a couple of months. And do you think frozen strawberries would be okay to dehydrate, too? I didn't have my dehydrator when I purchased all this fruit...
BTW - I just LOVE my dehydrator! LOVE it!!!
Thanks, girls -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2873 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2873 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 5:43:07 PM
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Nini
I always can my older freezer produce... Works great for me! |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 7:24:29 PM
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Thanks, Lisa! I guess if I can't dehydrate the fruit, I can make jam...or maybe pie filling. I was just hoping to get out of some of the work! LOL! - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Marylyn
True Blue Farmgirl
316 Posts
Marylyn
Ellsinore
MO
USA
316 Posts |
Posted - Sep 26 2012 : 05:19:38 AM
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Thanks for sharing, Kristina!
Love,
Auntie M
Farmgirl # 4062
That which does not kill me, only serves to make me stronger!...unknown to me. |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Dehydrating Food |
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Dehydrating Food
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