Imagine stocking up on your favorite fruits and vegetables during peak season and enjoying them all year round without breaking the bank. You can do just that and much more with a food dehydrator.
If you love to cook, you know that fruits and vegetables are some of the most essential ingredients to have on hand. But when it comes to buying them, it can be a real budget-breaker. However, a food dehydrator is a way to preserve your fruits and vegetables while simultaneously maintaining their nutritional value and saving money.
Table of Contents
A food dehydrator is a kitchen appliance that removes moisture from food, which prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast. By dehydrating fruits and vegetables during peak season, you can stock up and enjoy them all year round without breaking the bank. But a food dehydrator isn't just for preserving fruits and vegetables. It can also make your own jerky, prepare outdoor meals, prepare healthy snacks and food for special diets, make pet treats, do arts and crafts, and create food storage.
7 Practical Uses Of A Food Dehydrator To Save You Money
1. Preserving fruits and vegetables during peak season
Dehydrating fruits and vegetables during peak season allows you to stock up and enjoy them all year round without breaking the bank. Dehydrated fruits and vegetables have a longer shelf life and are often more expensive to purchase pre-made.
| Fruits | Cost per lb (average) | Cost per lb (dehydrated) |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | $1.49 | $3.99 |
| Peaches | $2.99 | $6.99 |
| Berries | $4.99 | $9.99 |
As you can see from the table above, the cost of dehydrated fruits is significantly higher than the cost of fresh fruits. By dehydrating your own fruits and vegetables during peak season, you can stock up and enjoy them all year round without breaking the bank.
2. Making your own jerky
Making your own jerky at home can save you a lot of money compared to buying pre-made jerky. Store-bought jerky can be expensive, especially if you're a regular snacker. With a dehydrator, you can make your own jerky at home with your choice of meat and seasonings, which is much cheaper than store-bought options. If you have a dehydrator, try the recipe at the end of this blog post, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment.
| Store-bought Jerky (3 oz) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Beef Jerky | $6.99 |
| Turkey Jerky | $7.99 |
| Fish Jerky | $8.99 |
3. Making your own pet treats
Making your own pet treats can save you much more money than buying pre-made pet treats. Pet treats are easy to make with a food dehydrator, and you can customize them to suit your pet's taste.
4. Preparing Outdoor Meals
Dehydrated food is a popular option for camping and backpacking trips because of its lightweight and long shelf life. Dehydrators allow you to make your own dehydrated meals, saving you money compared to buying pre-made options.
5. Food preparation for Special Diets
Dehydrators are a great option for people on special diets, like raw food and paleo diets, as they can be used to make various dehydrated snacks, fruits and vegetables, and even meats.
6. Arts and Crafts
Dehydrators can also be used for various arts and crafts projects beyond just drying flowers and leaves to preserve them. They can dry herbs and spices, create potpourri, and even dry fruits and vegetables in wreaths or other decorative pieces. Wouldn't you know it, I wrote a dedicated blog post on preserving herbs: Preserve Herbs Using 2 Simple Solutions.
Dehydrators can also be used to dry materials for other crafts, such as gourds, pumpkins, and even pasta, to create unique art pieces. They can also dry clay pieces before glazing or firing them, which is a great option for ceramics enthusiasts.
With a dehydrator, the possibilities for crafting and creating beautiful, long-lasting pieces are endless. A dehydrator saves you money by allowing you to dry your own materials and opens up new avenues for artistic expression.
7. Creating a Food Storage:
Dehydrators are a fantastic way to create long-term food storage, as they preserve foods for emergencies or when fresh food is unavailable. This can be a great money-saver, as you won't need to purchase expensive canned or frozen foods as often. Additionally, dehydrated food takes up less space than fresh or canned food, making it ideal for long-term food storage.
Tips and Tricks for Using a Food Dehydrator
- Drying different fruits and vegetables: Different types require different temperatures and drying times.
| Food | Temperature | Drying Time |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | 135°F | 6-8 hours |
| Peaches | 135°F | 6-8 hours |
| Berries | 135°F | 4-6 hours |
Knowing the ideal temperature and drying time for different types of fruits and vegetables is important. Following the right temperature and drying time ensures that your fruits and vegetables are dehydrated correctly and retain their nutritional value.
- Setting the temperature and timing: The temperature and timing of your dehydrator can affect the final outcome of your dried foods. It's important to experiment with different settings to find the right temperature and timing for your food items.
- Troubleshooting common issues: Uneven drying or molding can occur if the temperature or timing is not set correctly. If you encounter these issues, make sure to adjust the temperature or timing accordingly, or try rotating the trays to ensure even drying.
Our Top Recommendation
The Cosori 6 Tray Dehydrator is our top recommendation. We have been dehydrating food for a couple of years and have had the opportunity to experiment with a few different brands and styles. Although we purchased our dehydrator on Amazon, you may be able to find it at a big box store.
The COSORI Food Dehydrator can be used for Jerky, Vegetables, Fruit, Meat, Dog Treats, Herbs, and Yogurt. It has Temperature Control, 6 Stainless Steel Trays, Rear-Mounted Fan, and a recipe book. It has 4.8 out of 5 stars and over 14,600 ratings.
I also use our dehydrator to make plant food. I'll write a separate blog on this topic.
Jerky Recipe
Making beef jerky at home with a food dehydrator is a simple and cost-effective way to enjoy a delicious and protein-packed snack. Here's a basic recipe for making beef jerky:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb of lean beef (such as sirloin or flank steak)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: your favorite herbs and spices for added flavor
Instructions:
- Trim any excess fat from the beef and slice it into thin strips, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Mix the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add any additional herbs and spices you'd like to use.
- Add the beef strips to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.
- Preheat your food dehydrator to 165°F.
- Drain the marinade from the beef strips and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Arrange the beef strips on the dehydrator trays, ensuring they are not touching.
- Dehydrate the beef for 4-6 hours or until it is dry and has a chewy texture.
- Once the jerky is done, let it cool for a few minutes before storing it in an airtight container.
Note: Drying times may vary depending on the thickness of the meat and humidity levels in your area. It's always better to check on your jerky every hour or so until it reaches your desired texture.
Conclusion
A food dehydrator is a versatile kitchen appliance used for various purposes. It can help you preserve your fruits and vegetables while maintaining their nutritional value, make your own jerky, prepare outdoor meals, make healthy snacks and food preparation for special diets, make pet treats, arts and crafts, and create food storage. The best part is by using a food dehydrator, you can save a lot of money compared to buying pre-made items.
So, why wait? Invest in a food dehydrator today and save money while enjoying delicious and nutritious food. If you're looking for a high-quality food dehydrator, we recommend checking out the Cosori 6 Tray Dehydrator , which is available on Amazon. Its user-friendly features and high-quality construction make it a great investment for anyone looking to preserve their food in a healthy and flavorful way.
Looking for alternative ways to dehydrate your herbs? Check out this post: Preserve Herbs Using 2 Simple Solutions.
