Buying a food dehydrator

[atropa]

Sorry if this has been posted to death. I'm hoping to get a food dehydrator for Mother's Day, since I can't afford to pay for Mountain House stuff, etc. My question is, once I get the food dehydrated, what's the best way to store it? Would a food saver type deal be the way? I've googled it and everybody says it should be hermetically sealed. Is this the same thing? I'm sure you guys are thinking these are stupid questions but I really don't know.

 

[Kimber]

Good question,

I don't know the answer either, but that's my plan.

We bought a food saver last year for meat specials to stick in the freezer - so far so good.

Shortly, I plan on making jerky again, and plan to use it for that. If you've successfully dried the beef to death and move it quickly to the food saver, it seems that you've solved the moisture problem and can can just store the packs.

David

 

[summerthyme]

A lot depends on WHAT type of food... stuff like onions, peppers, apples, tomatoes, (anything that isn't meat and is low fat) keeps for a long time without anything more than being stored in sealed jars (closed tight, not vacuum sealed necessarily) and kept in the dark... the cooler you can keep them, the longer their shelf life. I've got 6 year old dehydrated tomatoes which don't look or taste any different from the ones I did last year.. they were only stored in mason jars with lids firmly screwed on...

Jerky or things like dried eggs, the less oxygen the better. In that case, a food saver AND A JAR SEALER ATTACHMENT is probably the way to go. Why the "jar sealer"? Because a lot of this food has sharp points and edges when it's dry. It pokes through plastic bags and ruins your seal. Or if you vacuum seal it thoroughly, the pressure crushes the food into small pieces.. which you may not want.

Home-dried meat, etc, isn't the same as Mountain House.. which is FREEZE dried. Doesn't mean it's not great food.. just might taste different. For long shelf life of dried meats, it's probably *best* to refrigerate or freeze. Thoroughly vacuum sealed is second best, but should work. Don't count on home dried meats, etc, to have a shelf life beyond a few months to maybe a year. For non-electric-dependent meat storage beyond 12 months, pressure can stews and meat.

Summerthyme

 

[atropa]

Ever feel like you're screwed? If I want to successfully store anything I have to buy expensive gadgets or expensive already prepared food. I'm kind of freaking out a little. Our money is spoken for, almost every cent, each month. I have feelers out for a used pressure canner but nothing yet. A small dehydrator is affordable for me but it won't help if the stupid food only keeps for a short while. I can't stand the thought of my babies slowly starving or worse. I just feel really frustrated right now. I have a constant knot in my gut. I just hope to god things can hold off for a little while longer so that I can make sure I have something for my family. Sorry for the tirade. Thank you ST, that was really helpful info.

 

[AnniePutin]

Take a deep breath, Atropa. You're doing all the right things--gathering information, planning on buying a small dehydrator, and looking for a used pressure canner. These are all excellent ideas! To that, I'd add to the plan getting a food saver with the jar sealer attachment--and extra bags and food saver containers as you can add those things. I'm prepping for a goal of 3 months into the future. A stockpile of things that would last for years would be nice--but, I can't afford the Mountain House deals, etc., either--or solar panels, etc., etc. For those of us who have very little extra to spend, we need to be well informed on what we can do simply, with some good basic food preservation tools. It can be done! You're doing great!!

 

[atropa]

Thanks, I get these moments of panic sometimes, you know? I feel a little better, but I'll feel alot better when I get that canner and dehydrator. Scary times.

 

[Butterfly]

Atropa, I've got a food saver with the jar sealer and it is one of the most used items in my arsenal. I buy sugar, rice, etc. in the LARGE bags and seal it in smaller jars. It's in usable quantities then and it costs next to nothing. Sam's always has sugar, rice, flour, etc. at a good price in large quantities. And I prefer opening a quart jar of rice and not having to worry about those silly moths flying out of a box that has been sitting on the shelf for a year. LOL

And I too have just recently bought a canner. And thanks to the help on here, I've actually canned chicken and broth. I'm getting ready for the vegetables from my garden now.

 

[AnniePutin]

I also frequent Sam's! A prepper's friend, for sure!

 

[summerthyme]

Atropa... What foods were you specifically wanting to dehydrate? What "gaps" in your food storage program are you trying to fill?

You can easily dry many vegetables and fruits and have the ingredients for many casseroles and meals which will dry easily and last a long time.

If it's protein you're trying to stock up on, you might do better to concentrate on non-animal sources (beans, grains) for the most part, and dry things which will make those foods much more interesting and palatable. Drying meat- if you have to buy the meat first- isn't going to be inexpensive, no matter how you slice it.

If you are trying to simply have some very long term "insurance" as far as feeding the family, it's probably best to concentrate on things like wheat, rice, beans, and lots of seasonings for them (at least as far as both shelf life and cost go)

For vacuum sealing, the best value around is still the "pump 'n seal" gadget, which will let you vacuum all the air from regular canning jars. or even other odd size jars, as long as the jar lid has sealing compound on it. It's about 20 bucks (or maybe a bit less) and although I'm not impressed with it for vacuuming out air from ziplock bags (which they claim it does well) it's nearly unbeatable for sealing stuff in jars.. and you can reseal them over and over again.

While I admit the Mountain House type stuff is appealing, it's absolutely NOT the best deal out there for your money, unless you have plenty of cash and NEED "ready made" food which will store for a long, long time. Most of us are cash challenged enough that we need to be able to eat our food storage regularly, rotating it and trying to get ahead a ways.

If you can start by drying things like fruits (really easy) and veggies (some are easier than others, but things like tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers are nearly foolproof) , you'll have nutritious additions to your food storage which will make cheap protein sources like beans and rice and grains much more palatable and interesting. Add some storebought stuff like gravy mixes, or even just soup stock base or boullion and you'll have the "makings" for many meals.

In the Depression, people often didn't eat meat for days at a time (some probably a lot longer than that!). My Mom tells of "imitation gravy" which was essentially a flavored roux.. flour, some type of fat (butter was great, but it often was lard) and milk if they had it, water if they didn't... seasoned with poultry seasoning, or pan drippings (from roasting free soup bones they got "for the dog" from the butcher. They didn't have a dog). They ate that gravy on bread or potatoes or cornmeal mush.. and thought it was wonderful. These days, we might have to adjust our tastes a bit... but if we were hungry, I suspect it would taste good again.

Don't panic or get discouraged. All we can do is the best we can. God will honor that.

Summerthyme

 

[Splicer205]

Summerthyme beat me to post some good ideas, but since I typed it, I'll go ahead and post it:

You're not screwed Atropa. You're stressed. You don't have to have expensive gadgets. It's true they make things so much easier, but you don't have to have them. And the day may come when none of us are able to use electric appliances.
I noticed you lived in Ala. Doesn't the sun shine there anymore? Just kiddiing.

I know it's humid, but you can dry a lot outside. You can also use your oven. I made beef jerky for years in my oven. If they even made dehydrators, I didn't know about it. It's messy and you'll want to line your oven with foil, and it will smoke. But it will work.

You could dry veggies on a window screen outside covered with another screen or a cloth to keep insects off. If the humidity is too high, you could finish them in the oven. Till Mothers Day and your new dehydrator.

I don't know if you're referring to the "food only keeps for a short while," as in you will eat it quickly, or that it will spoil or go bad. Food that's prepared right lasts a long time.

You don't need to have a pressure canner to can tomatoes or jellies, jams, etc. And dried beans, rice, and cornmeal aren't rising in price as fast as a lot of groceries, so you may want to consider a few bags of them, some powdered milk, and oil. There are inexpensive things that won't be what you want to eat, but they'd keep you alive. And might get that knot out of your stomach knowing something was there.

I sure wish you the best, Atropa, and it's so admirable that you are concerned about your family and taking care of them. You're not alone in your worries, struggles, and concerns. The difference is that you're taking steps to do something about it. So you should pat yourself on the back. Good luck and congrats on your efforts.

 

[atropa]

Wow, that pump n seal thing is neat! As far as gaps in my food storage, I've just begun. I did recently get a Sam's card, and have bought rice and flour. Next is sugar, but they don't have bulk dried beans or oatmeal, surprisingly. I think you can order them to be picked up at the store, not sure if you need a credit card. Montgomery is devoid of cool markets and stuff. We at least have a farmer's market, so I'll definately be getting some bushels of things to can/dry. Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. It really means so much.

 

[breezyhill]

Thanks, I get these moments of panic sometimes, you know? I feel a little better, but I'll feel alot better when I get that canner and dehydrator. Scary times.

hello atropa,
i know how you feel about having a food supply with little ones. btdt.

i have 4 dehyrators, they are snackmaster jrs. they are not top of the line, by any stretch of the imagination. but they work for me. they have 4 trays, and work by heat and a fan to circulate the air up through the trays. i get them cheap on ebay and use them to dry all sorts of things. if you have access to ebay, you can do a search for snackmaster jr and you'll be able to see what they look like.

last weekend i went to the farmers market and bought 20 stalks of celery, they were 1 buck a stalk. they were huge stalks, too, with at least ten spears on each one, in addition to the taste tender inside.

well, i now have a celery stash to get me through to fall.

a couple of months ago, i bought 3 ten pound bags of onions at the farmers market, and dried the onions.

you know, it is nice to use fresh, but if it's not available, or too expensive, then you've always got your backups.

just take things one at a time and build up your food storage at a pace that suits you financially.

i would really like to give you one of my dehydrators, and i'll pay for the shipping, too. i know about pinching penneys and wanting to feel like you are accomplishing/working towards a goal.

if you're uncomfortable about address swapping, maybe we can enlist dennis' help.

breezyhill (debbie)

 

[fruit loop]

Dehydrators are great

We have the one made by Mr. Coffee, but I don't think they make them anymore.

Be sure to get a couple of dehydrator cookbooks...yes, there are some out there....if you want to move beyond banana chips and jerky.

If you're looking for a good pressure canner, go to Wal-mart and buy the cheapo one by Mirro. That's what I have and it's lasted 7 years. Still going.

 

[atropa]

I will look at Wal Mart for that canner, BH you have a PM and my undying gratitude.

 

[momof23goats]

I dry onions, green beans, mushrooms, just about everything. I keep most in mason jars, sometimes I seal it with my seal an save. I love being able to just reach in a jar, and get a handful of stuff and throw it in the pot, in the winter months.
It is great!!!!you will love yours too.

 

[hummer]

Vacuum sealing......

Hi atropa. I have the least expensive vacuum sealer from Wal-mart. For those dehydrated things that are sharp after dried, I first place them in a zip-lock baggie with the zip-lock part cut off. I then place that inside the vacuum bag and seal. Inner bag keeps the sharp points from going thru the vacuum bag and thus retains the seal. I do the same with flour, baking soda/powder, etc. Keeps the fine pwd. from ruining the seal. I am working on saving $$$ so I can get a vacuum sealer with a jar sealing attachment......some day............................. In the mean time, what summerthyme said is good info......dried stuff will keep for several years simply in jars or zip-lock bags if kept dark and cool. Lots of good info in this thread. hummer

 

[hummer]

prep for mushrooms???

I dry onions, green beans, mushrooms, just about everything. I keep most in mason jars, sometimes I seal it with my seal an save. I love being able to just reach in a jar, and get a handful of stuff and throw it in the pot, in the winter months.
It is great!!!!you will love yours too.

Hi. When you dry the mushrooms is there any type of preparation you have to do to them before hand? Or simply wash, slice and dry???? Thanks....

 

[atropa]

That's a good idea, the baggies to keep sharp things from piercing.

 

[wasabell]

I have a 9 tray Excalibur and I love it.

I store dried mushroom, onions, bell pepper, assorted fruits, hamburger rocks and beef jerky in either glass canisters with a screw top lid or zip loc bags. If there's sharp edges to the dried product, use a glass jar, but you need make sure your hands are sanitary if you reach in, otherwise...pour it out. Sanitation is the key.

Dried foods are as old as the hills. Sanitation and common sense rule. We haven't gotten sick yet,and its been over 3 years.

Jan

 

[Mushroom]

Atropa, you can get a head start on garden produce if you want to by using frozen veggies. They are already blanched and just need to pop them onto the trays and dry. I do mixed veggies all the time for soup starters. Green beans do very well after freezing. don't bother with potatos, they are just too much work for what you get. You are better off getting them in the pearls for mashed taters. Sliced potato casserole mixes are fine just cut off the instructions and put the whole box into a canning jar and vacuum seal. either put the instructions inside or tape them outside.

You can get frozen strawberries or other fruit for making leather for the kids. Rehydrate leather and you have babyfood. Crush dehydrated carrots and you have babyfood. You get the idea. Look for apples in the produce reduced section for bruised apples and make applesauce and dry that for leather. Sliced apples work well, too. There are all kinds of easy ways to get a good start without spending all of your time working on it. Carrots dehydrate very nicely. If you rehydrate them without cooking them, they make nice teethers. Jerkey does, too if you don't use pepper on it. just break it the size to fit in a little fist and let them gnaw on it. the down side of this is that they become addicted to it. Ask me how I know this.

Whenever you go to the store, buy a couple bags of beans and something extra for long term storage. Your stash will build up very quickly. We all started somewhere but if you don't get any kind of start, you won't have a start at all. Just remember those sweet little faces and you will find a way. Remember that there are lots of good wild foods to be gathered, too. Free is my kind of price. We have made jams and jellies out of free fruit since we got married 43 years ago. It's just in getting it done and making it fun in the learning process. We always involved the kids in the picking of the wild fruit and they always enjoyed it. Except for the bugs, of course. Make this a family project and it will get done and you won't feel so stressed. Many hands make for light work.

Mushroom

 

[atropa]

I had no idea you could use frozen veggies! And the baby food tips are great.

 

[idelphic]

I have to say that it sort of makes a different as to what dehydrator you get. I have had two round electric types over the last 12 years. I have pretty much retired both as being crap... the round plastic trays break. They should be fine to clean in the dishwasher, and yet they won't fit.. In a SHTF sit - I know I won't have the dishwasher,.. but while I have it, I want to be able to use it..

That being said, you don't have to have a dehydrator to get started. Alton Brown from Good Eats did a show on jerky. He used a normal box fan and 4 paper pleated furnance filters.

You can use window screen, cheese cloth, or as the indians did.

I'm hoping to get an upgrade, and hit the farmers markets this summer. It's just a thing,... Don't let it worry you.

 

[night driver]

9 tray Excalibur and two Snack Masters. And when we do Jerky they ALL run 48 hours solid. But our meat cures for at least 24 before we run the driers, and the resulting jerky has lasted 5 years with no issues (ONLY sliced meat, however. the SAUSAGE home made lasts about 6 months unless frozen. there's just too much fat in ground beef if you don't grind it yourself.)....


The 9 Tray Excalibur is what I would go with if I were starting from scratch right now. You REALLY DO want to be able to set the temp of the drier....even the new Snackmasters have a temp setting.

 

[jlee]

I'm not (yet) in the Big Leagues like some people above, but I'll add some miscellany.

I've dried onions in the gas oven. IIRC, I cut them VERY fine, and just let the pilot light heat dry them. (Maybe I'm not remembering that correctly.)

A co-worker many years ago decided the back windowsill in her car was the perfect place to dry herbs, because the heat was so intense. And she was right! But an unintended consequence was that someone broke into the car and stole her parsley, thinking they were getting pot.... But consider: do you have a horribly hot sunny window? Do you ever park you car in the sun? And I mean that seriously: a closed car can quickly get way above a hundred degrees, as we've heard from so many horror stories.

In California when I was a child, they dried apricots on large wooden trays in the orchard. Of course, the humidity was low, and it was the wrong season for rain.


And thanks to everyone for the tips, which I've now copied into another file for When I Have My Garden Next Year.

 

[atropa]

I'm not (yet) in the Big Leagues like some people above, but I'll add some miscellany.

I've dried onions in the gas oven. IIRC, I cut them VERY fine, and just let the pilot light heat dry them. (Maybe I'm not remembering that correctly.)

A co-worker many years ago decided the back windowsill in her car was the perfect place to dry herbs, because the heat was so intense. And she was right! But an unintended consequence was that someone broke into the car and stole her parsley, thinking they were getting pot.... But consider: do you have a horribly hot sunny window? Do you ever park you car in the sun? And I mean that seriously: a closed car can quickly get way above a hundred degrees, as we've heard from so many horror stories.

In California when I was a child, they dried apricots on large wooden trays in the orchard. Of course, the humidity was low, and it was the wrong season for rain.


And thanks to everyone for the tips, which I've now copied into another file for When I Have My Garden Next Year.

I bet that person was seriously disappointed!

 

[MaxTheKnife]

I see you live in Alabama, atropa. So you get some of the same hot sun we do here in Arkansas. You don't really need fancy gadgets to dry your food. The sun will do it for you just fine. It will take some engineering on your part, but you can construct drying frames with nylon window screen material that will dry your food just fine. The trick is to make the screens so that you cover the food to keep the flies off of it. You'd be surprised at how fast the sun can dry food. If you can find stainless steel screen wire that would be the best option, but it's expensive and hard to find.

I have an Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator but if I didn't, I'd use the sun to dry my food. And when the power goes out the sun will still be there. So it's a win/win situation to have both ways set up to dry your food. And yes, vacuum packing the dried food is probably the best way for long storage of dried food. Either in glass canning jars or plastic bags. So if you're determined to find a way to preserve food then you just have to do the best you can do. Use the sun because it's free and it's fun. But it also works better than any other source commonly available to most folks. Good luck on your project and I really hope you get it worked out.