Prep Genrl Freeze dried onions

[nomifyle]

Last year I stocked up on dehydrated onions and some freeze dried onions from Thrive. Opening the can of freeze dried they smell wonderful but they are absolutely tasteless. They cost 12 and change for a small canister. I won't be buying any more from them. I've used dehydrated onions for years and never had a problem with them. Same wonderful smell and no taste from the FD green onions from Thrive. From now on if I wanted shelf stable anything I'm buying from LDS.

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[hiwall]

From now on if I wanted shelf stable anything I'm buying from LDS.

Its just that they have a very limited product line.
A couple weeks ago the neighbor was moving some of their LTS foods and saw that the #10 cans were from 21 years ago! They opened a can of apple slices (from LDS) and they still tasted great.

 

[school marm]

Just a little FYI. A friend has a freeze dryer and tried out a batch of celery. I was really hoping FD celery would be close to fresh, but it isn't any closer to fresh than dehydrated celery is. Do not waste any money on getting FD celery.

 

[thompson]

Just a little FYI. A friend has a freeze dryer and tried out a batch of celery. I was really hoping FD celery would be close to fresh, but it isn't any closer to fresh than dehydrated celery is. Do not waste any money on getting FD celery.

This is one of those YMMV things, marm.

I can tell a huge difference between dehydrated and freeze dried celery. I'm comparing commercially prepared celery though. No way would I try using dehydrated celery in something like chicken salad, etc., but the freeze dried is very good, almost indistinguishable from fresh. I like using the dehydrated celery for soup, etc., because I tend to simmer those all day and the celery flavor intensifies (which we like) and the texture isn't nearly important in soup as it is for salads.

 

[school marm]

This is one of those YMMV things, marm.

I can tell a huge difference between dehydrated and freeze dried celery. I'm comparing commercially prepared celery though. No way would I try using dehydrated celery in something like chicken salad, etc., but the freeze dried is very good, almost indistinguishable from fresh. I like using the dehydrated celery for soup, etc., because I tend to simmer those all day and the celery flavor intensifies (which we like) and the texture isn't nearly important in soup as it is for salads.

I wonder if freeze-drying is like canning or dehydrating in that some varieties of a food will preserve better than others. Like I said, the celery was a huge disappointment. On the other hand, my friend's home freeze-dried sour cream was way better than the commercially freeze-dried stuff that we tried.

 

[nomifyle]

LOL I probably would not eat celery if I was starving, one of the foods I truly detest.

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[Kathy in FL]

I wonder if freeze-drying is like canning or dehydrating in that some varieties of a food will preserve better than others. Like I said, the celery was a huge disappointment. On the other hand, my friend's home freeze-dried sour cream was way better than the commercially freeze-dried stuff that we tried.

It might also be a prep issue. For dehydrating you really need a good freeze blanched product to get the longest shelf life with the best taste ... or so my experiments have shown. Could also be similar for FD products, its how you prep and what you start with that actually proves how your product will hold up over time and taste.

 

[Bps1691]

I dehydrated a lot of my own spices (sage, oregano, Basel, Dill, etc) and they are not as flavorful as fresh but are more than acceptable. In most cases they are every bit as good as store bought.

When it comes to onions, I do package them with peppers and freeze them together. I use them for frying or sauces in the deep winter. Other than that, I don’t like frozen onions. When I dehydrate them, they have some flavor, but not anywhere near fresh.

My LDS stuff has always been fine and yes, their selection is limited. Their prices are very reasonable. I also have supplies of Freeze Dried LTS from several sources and for the most part it is fine for what it is intended for- long term storage for use in emergencies. None that I have ever had is as good as fresh or what I make, but it is storable and eatable.

I keep a lot of spices like onion powders, garlic powders, etc, for the specific reason to add taste to an otherwise less than tasty offering. Even plain white rice can be made more enjoyable by the addition of spices, a few left over or stored veggies and help stretch a little meat a long way.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

My garden didn't grow any bell peppers this year. I resorted to buying dehydrated ones from Zatarains. I'm very disappointed in the flavor. Hardly any taste at all. I'm buying frozen ones already chopped from now on.

 

[Cardinal]

It might also be a prep issue. For dehydrating you really need a good freeze blanched product to get the longest shelf life with the best taste ... or so my experiments have shown. Could also be similar for FD products, its how you prep and what you start with that actually proves how your product will hold up over time and taste.

Have you tried dehydrating onions?

 

[Kathy in FL]

Have you tried dehydrating onions?

Yes. I have tried “from fresh” and “from commercially frozen”. The “from fresh”drove everyone out of the house the first time. Lol. They had a better taste but lasted a shorter time. I’ve dehydrated from frozen and they last longer but weren’t good for “fresh” use but for things like fajitas, stir fry, etc they were fine. Both did well in baking.

 

[Coco82919]

I love my freeze dried onions and celery. Also green onions. They taste fresh when I put it in tuan salad and other things. I wonder why yours was tasteless.

 

[Bps1691]

My garden didn't grow any bell peppers this year. I resorted to buying dehydrated ones from Zatarains. I'm very disappointed in the flavor. Hardly any taste at all. I'm buying frozen ones already chopped from now on.

I got my first Dehydrator several years ago as a chistmas present from my sister. I loved it so much that I have since bought a second.

I use it for produce from my garden and along with a vacum bagger, store a large amount of summer produce.

I also use it on frozen veggies I buy when they are on sale or for produce (and fruits) that I buy when it is in season and at good prices. That way no matter what my garden does, I can make sure I have plenty stored up. I also make up a lot of jerky for my grandkids when I catch lean beef meat on sale or when my oldest grandson gets his deer in the fall. It saves a fourtine over the cost of store made jerky.

I make up soup mixes from what I dehyradate as well. Add in the proper veggies, bullion, noodles, spices, etc so all that I have to add is water and the meat that I want to go with it (if needed).

You can get a Neso Dehyradator fairly cheaply. My second one is Mfr # FD-79 and has 4 trays (I bought 3 extra trays for mine) and it cost me around $60 a few years ago. I just checked Farm & Fleet and they have it for $89.99 and their in stock.

Nesco Food and Jerky Dehydrator - FD-79 | Blain's Farm & Fleet

Get your Nesco Food and Jerky Dehydrator - FD-79 at Blain's Farm & Fleet. Buy online, choose delivery or in-store pickup. Great prices on Food Dehydrators.

www.farmandfleet.com

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I got my first Dehydrator several years ago as a chistmas present from my sister. I loved it so much that I have since bought a second.

I use it for produce from my garden and along with a vacum bagger, store a large amount of summer produce.

I also use it on frozen veggies I buy when they are on sale or for produce (and fruits) that I buy when it is in season and at good prices. That way no matter what my garden does, I can make sure I have plenty stored up. I also make up a lot of jerky for my grandkids when I catch lean beef meat on sale or when my oldest grandson gets his deer in the fall. It saves a fourtine over the cost of store made jerky.

I make up soup mixes from what I dehyradate as well. Add in the proper veggies, bullion, noodles, spices, etc so all that I have to add is water and the meat that I want to go with it (if needed).

You can get a Neso Dehyradator fairly cheaply. My second one is Mfr # FD-79 and has 4 trays (I bought 3 extra trays for mine) and it cost me around $60 a few years ago. I just checked Farm & Fleet and they have it for $89.99 and their in stock.

Nesco Food and Jerky Dehydrator - FD-79 | Blain's Farm & Fleet

Get your Nesco Food and Jerky Dehydrator - FD-79 at Blain's Farm & Fleet. Buy online, choose delivery or in-store pickup. Great prices on Food Dehydrators.

www.farmandfleet.com

I bought a brand new one of those several years ago. DS wanted to borrow it for making deer jerkey. He burned it up, and I have never replaced it.

 

[Bps1691]

I bought a brand new one of those several years ago. DS wanted to borrow it for making deer jerkey. He burned it up, and I have never replaced it.

Sorry to hear about your experience.

My oldest one is at least 15-18 years old. I can't count the number of times I've made jerky with it.

I think the secret is to not overload it and follow the proper temperature settings for whatever you’re dehydrating. If you get in a hurry and try to do to much, it takes for ever to get them done.

It’s not a smoker, it is a dehydrator and IMHO overloading with not enough open spaces to circulate the heat could very well cause it to overheat or if putting to much in could take way too long to get done.

I have ruined a tray and the bottom once. I washed them in the dishwasher on the bottom rack and the plastic warped. I contacted the manufacture and bought replacement parts and was pleased with the price and the service.

 

[Old Reliable]

Give Honeyville (Bulk Grains, Baking Ingredients, Food Storage | honeyville.com) a try I believe you will like their product

 

[Millwright]

Made green chili with commercial frozen onions (white) yesterday. They were chopped fairly fine and didn't caramelize well. Overall, the flavor was acceptable, but I won't use them again unless I'm in a real bind.

I grabbed about 8lb of yellow onions to run through the freeze dryer.

There should be some crying in the barndominium soon.

 

[LilRose8]

Yes. I have tried “from fresh” and “from commercially frozen”. The “from fresh”drove everyone out of the house the first time. Lol. They had a better taste but lasted a shorter time. I’ve dehydrated from frozen and they last longer but weren’t good for “fresh” use but for things like fajitas, stir fry, etc they were fine. Both did well in baking.

If you dehydrate your onions ( or anything wlse) put them in mason jars are vacuum seal them. They will stay great for ages. I use this. Pump-N-Seal® Food Saver Vacuum Sealer - Fastest vacuum sealer for marinating - Food Saver - Long Term Food Storage It works really well. AND, it requires no electricity.

 

[LilRose8]

Made green chili with commercial frozen onions (white) yesterday. They were chopped fairly fine and didn't caramelize well. Overall, the flavor was acceptable, but I won't use them again unless I'm in a real bind.

I grabbed about 8lb of yellow onions to run through the freeze dryer.

There should be some crying in the barndominium soon.

what kind of freeze dryer do you have and how much do they cost, if you don't mind saying?

 

[Millwright]

what kind of freeze dryer do you have and how much do they cost, if you don't mind saying?

Harvest Right, I found it on craigslist for $1200.

So far, I like it.

Still learning how to drive it tho.

 

[LilRose8]

Harvest Right, I found it on craigslist for $1200.

So far, I like it.

Still learning how to drive it tho.

Thanks...it's way out of my price range unfortunately. I have been out of work since March since COVID and am living on fumes these days.

 

[paxsim2]

I dehydrate onions every year, I use the strongest smelling/tasting ones I can find. They are amazing and when stored properly they have lasted 2 years. I use them almost every day for seasoning something. I did by the Thrive Life onions and I thought they were pretty good and I really like their celery. Celery is not my favorite thing in the world but I do use it in soups. I dehydrate my own mushrooms too.