
So what’s the big deal about a dehydrator?
I think that a dehydrator is a big deal for several reasons, but my top 3 reasons I started dehydrating:
- to save money,
- control the quality of our food, and
- preserve fruit and vegetables before they go bad or when you have an over abundance
If these reasons are important to you too, take a gander at the other 11 compelling reasons why everyone should be dehydrating:
- Dehydrated food is a great way to preserve food for long-term storage
- Dehydrated food requires less space
- Dehydrated food can be stored in jars, vacuum sealed or Mylar bags
- Dehydrated food is lightweight enough to take hiking or camping
- Dehydrating foods makes your house smell like Thanksgiving
- You can make homemade fruit rolls
- You can dehydrate vegetables to add to soups, stews, pizzas, meatloaf, sauces, salad dressings and seasonings
- You can dehydrate flowers to make your own potpourri
- You can dehydrate herbs to make your own seasoning
- You can dehydrate meat for homemade jerky
- You can dehydrate fruit to add to homemade trail mix
Remember, I am a list-o-holic, so here’s a list of 20 reasons why I love my Nesco American Harvest dehydrator
- I like the white color
- Is easy to use
- Is easy to clean
- It came with a 1 year warranty
- Now, it costs less than $150 USD
- Received 4.5 stars on Amazon.com customer’s ratings
- Comes with a recipe book,
- fruit roll sheets,
- And mesh screens
- Easily expands to 30 trays
- Trays rotate to lock into each other
- Is lightweight and easy to move or transport
- Is energy efficient and quiet
- Needs less counter space then other larger dehydrators (takes up less than 2 sq ft)
- Easy heat distribution so there is no need to rotate the trays
- Has an on/off switch
- Has an adjustable thermostat dial
- The temperature ranges from 95-155 degrees, perfect for drying different foods
- Air is forced “up” the chamber, not through the trays for fast, even drying
- No mixing of flavor between the trays (dehydrates onions and apples together, no problems)
I have had this dehydrator for over 10 years but truth be told, I’ve only really used it for the last 3 years. If you decide to invest in a dehydrator I hope you don’t wait as long as I did to enjoy and reap the benefits of dehydrating.
Did either list help you decide?
Was there one reason that stuck out and compelled you to buy a dehydrator?
If not, what is your motivation?
I am adding watermelon and pineapple, but those fruits never last long enough in my house to make it to the dehydrator.
I ♥ my dehydrator and I hope you will too.
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[…] to the peppers. The red, yellow, and orange peppers are a sweeter. They are also great to dehydrate and perfect for homemade pizza, jazzing up meatloaf or putting it ‘in stuff’ … you […]