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Farm Kitchen:  Dehydrating Questions  |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 10 2012 : 10:39:48 AM
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Hi girls -
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?
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?
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?
Thanks so much for your help and insight! Any suggestions or tips would be GREATLY appreciated!
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Edited by - Ninibini on Aug 11 2012 04:48:59 AM |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 06:22:41 AM
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I have stored some in Jars.
I also have stored in Freezer Bags and placed in Freezer.
I have not dried tomatoes.
I prefer the canned tomatoes over the powder.
I have considered doing dried tomatoe slices for recipes that call for dried tomatoes.
If space is an issue dried foods take up a LOT less room.
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 08:21:49 AM
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I've stored my dehydrated goods in jars for years with no problem. I use lids and rings and lids from mayo jars, etc. I've never had a problem with anything that was sufficiently dried.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 10:51:55 AM
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Thank you SO much, girls!! This is extremely helpful! Kristi - I just posted over in the other forum! Thank you for the referral! :) Hugs - Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13771 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13771 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 2:45:04 PM
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Nini,
We DO store dried veggies and fruits in jars without problem. However, we DO prefer to store them in ziploc bags in the freezer.
We don't use oxygen absorbers
One of our VERY FAVORITE things to dry are tomatoes . . . . usually we just toss the dried 'maters into whatever. Occasionally we will put them in a bit of water or olive oil to rehydrate a bit before using. I've canned a LOT of tomatoes in my life and I will NEVER can tomatoes again! Drying them is our preferred method, hands down! We've never tried to actually do juice or paste. We've just been very, very pleased with the dried tomatoes. In the bottom of the bag are the teeny tiny pieces and we can, and do, crumble the bigger slices into smaller bits whenever we want them smaller.
Another of my favorites are dried cherries, both sour and sweet . . pitted. I use them in baked goods, oatmeal, etc. If I want cherries for crisps I just pit and freeze.
Hope that helps!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 3:25:21 PM
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Yes I store things in jars. Sometimes I vaccum seal them, most of the time I don't. I try use random empty jars instead of my canning jars to keep those free.
I have a foodsaver... sometimes I vacuum things in bags. Honestly, I forget about it most of the time. =) If I were planning to use it through the winter, I'd put it in regular ziplocs and in my various tins in the pantry. I wouldn't waste the money on my vacuum bags. I only vacuum those things I know I potentially need to keep for a longer time.
I don't typically use O2 absorbers. Our long term grains that are in #10 cans have them. But I won't buy them to use at home. Once you open the pack they can get ruined fairly quickly. For me... I wouldn't worry about the absorbers, especially if you are going to vacuum seal.
If you put dried food in a clean container and vacuum it or just put the lid on tight... no need for dessicants.
Dehydrated foods can last for years and years and years if properly stored. If they look bad, or smell bad... they are past their prime. You might lose a little vitamin concentration over time, but then, you lose a little by dehydrating them too.
For soups- I don't rehydrate anything. Just throw it in the pot. I do rehydrate things like mushrooms and apples before I bake a pie or make stir-fry.
There are some calculators and such in recipe books and online for subbing dried. For me, I throw in what I think looks "about right." I don't really ever measure much of anything. If it were a specific recipe, I might soak the dried food first, for a little while, just to plump it and get a better idea of a measurement.
Yes. I have dried and powdered tomatoes. I also leave them in slices. I prefer my tomatoes canned, but I have dried set aside because I don't believe in having all my storage in one "type."
We have been doing Bountiful Baskets for almost a year, so we often have leftover veggies when it is time to get our next basket... So the other thing I have been doing through out the year.... any veggie... any! Even lettuce... that's getting to "that" point or we just have an abundance of... I dry. Then I powder them in the blender and add to my veggie jar. I use that in soups, sprinkle on foods, etc. It's a random concoction of all leftover veggies. So the mix is never the same. I have many, many dehydrator loads of veggies that are powdered down to less than a half gallon jar at the moment. My jar has things like.... squash, beets, potatoes, letture, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, all kinds of peppers, eggplant, herbs, etc. Doesn't matter, if it's a veggie and not going to get eaten right away... in the jar it goes. Today there is a plethora yellow squash going into the dryer because for some reason the garden has gone crazy producing squash this week. . Then.. into the jar!
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2012 : 7:25:02 PM
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Thank you, girls! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!
Our corn came out AWESOME!! It's as sweet as candy! I had to hide it out of fear my guys would eat it all as a snack!!! The onions, well, those are taking a lot longer... Nevertheless, I'm THRILLED!!!
CJ - do you just rehydrate the tomatoes to make sauce, then? That sure would be something! I guess I'm going to have to try! You're probably going to laugh at me... A long time ago, I bought a big jar of sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil. I got it home and stared at it every time I opened the cupboard... I had no idea what to do with them! They WERE very pretty, though! Made me feel a little bit like a gourmet just having them on the shelf! LOL! What do you do with your dehydrated tomatoes???
And Angie - I just love your idea about powdering leftover veggies. I bet that really makes everything taste so much better! I am definitely going to try that!!! Thank you! You're a wealth of information! So - it IS okay to dehydrate squash, then? The booklet that came with the dehydrator was a bit confusing. It says you can steam it first and then dehydrate, but then it says also that it only has a week's shelf life? Is that right? I'm sure I must be misunderstanding what it's saying!
I actually did order Mary Bell's book. I thought it would be here today, but alas, 'twasn't. I am really looking forward to her ideas and recipes, too! This is really amazing! And so easy!!! LOVE it!!!
Have a great rest of the weekend!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Farm Kitchen: Dehydrating Questions |
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Dehydrating Questions
