Well now I can Can, freeze and dehydrate everything.

My husband surprised me with it so I am making jerky out of deli meat.

Was wanting to make fruit roll ups out of the persimmons and other fruits that are growing here.

You're gonna love it! Congratulations!

I know one can do fruit and also do tomatoes sorta like sun dried tomatoes. How about other veggies?

Congrats on the new dehydrator!

I really have only done fruit. My family has orchards in the Traverse City area so we get a lot of fruit free from them. Really, my 86-year-old mother is still drying a lot of fruit for me

My son has done jerky though. I'm not a fan, but if you are you can make better than you can buy!

Yes a lot of other veggies and fruits.Even hear people talk about cantaloupe and water melon.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/p...

Thanks! That looks like lots of great information. I sure would love to dry tomatoes and green beans to use in the winter.

You know, I always said I wasn't a fan of dried tomatoes but then I realized it probably depends on the variety. I have a dehydrator so I should try this year with some of my favorite varieties and see.

Arlene, you should definatley try for dried tomatoes. They cost a fortune in the stores! I bet you could sell them at market too.

Oh, you're a genius! Especially the ones I cannot sell for want of a crack or something! Not sure if they're considered "prepared" food but I know someone else who sells a few. I'm going to try that! thanks for the idea!

I have to look into this dehydration thing. I have had one for 10 years and it is under used!

Mine too. I think I'll pull it out now.

I got a dehydrator this summer to dry lots of my farm CSA produce for winter.
I followed the instructions and even left them in longer than recommended.
Then I put them in ziplock bags.
And they MOLDED!!!!!

What did I do wrong?

Did the instructions specify how thinly different crops need to be sliced?

And how thinly they need to be spaced apart on dehydrator racks?

For spacing, it said "not touching".
And as for thinness, I used my mandolin - very thin.
Had more trouble with the beets than the zucchini but after the beets visibly molded I didn't trust the zucchini.....

I don't know.

But I just learned that "mandolins" aren't just musical instruments!

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UT...

Such a handy tool for those of us who cook for one.
I have a Cuisinart for when I do batches of a recipe for the freezer.
But if I'm just making a little of something, I use the mandolin.

Recently, in the grocery store, I saw dried okra and green beans.
They looked very good too.

Happy Solstice everyone!
The sun has begun its return to us.
With apologies to our friends from the Southern Hemisphere - In only 6 months will begin its return to you again.