Sproutmans Kitchen Garden Cookbook by Steve Meyerowitz

Author:Steve Meyerowitz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Book Publishing Company
Published: 2011-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

What If You Do Not Have A Dehydrator?

If you do not have a dehydrator and do not wish to purchase one at this time, you have three choices:

Choice 1. Low Oven. You can use your oven at the lowest possible temperature. Crack open the oven door to create air circulation and to moderate the temperature. This method has the effect of partially cooking the food as well as drying it. It will have mixed results depending on the food being dried and the nature of your oven. A convection oven, if you have one, works best. But in general, temperature control in an oven is difficult and loss of nutrients is far greater than in a dehydrator.

Choice 2. Modified Oven. This method involves your oven and a little handiwork. Install a 150 watt light bulb inside your oven. If you need to, use a worker’s lamp (a bulb cage at the end of a long cord). In this approach, the oven stays off and the heat of the bulb does the drying. Improve your results by adding a small fan to circulate the warm air. Leave the door ajar to create circulation. If possible, lay your food on a non-aluminum screen. This affords better air circulation and simulates the mesh screens used in professional dehydrators. Nylon or plastic screening is available from camping, outdoor supply and houseware stores. If screening is unobtainable, use parchment paper.

If your oven has a pilot light that is on constantly, it can substitute the need for a bulb. Raise or lower the temperature by changing the pilot adjusting screw. If you have no pilot light, set your oven to the lowest temperature possible and leave the door open. Electric ovens work better because temperatures can be set very low.

Choice 3. Sun drying. This is how the art was invented in the first place. It requires a hot, sunny, dry climate. Unfortunately, that leaves many of us out. But if the weather is ideal, it can be a fine way to dry food. Hang onions, garlic and leafy herbs on strings, place fruits and vegetables in nets, or lay them out on screens. Rain, cold, clouds, insects, animals, air pollution, acid rain, northern climates and high humidity often make this ancient approach impractical. But, if you are in the right place at the right time, it is the most natural way to dehydrate. Make sure you drink plenty of water.

Practically speaking, your best choice is still to purchase a dedicated dehydrator. These machines usually work faster, use less energy, handle greater volume and provide fool-proof results. For the health-minded consumer, a food dehydrator is just as useful an appliance as the venerable kitchen blender.

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