Dehydrators - Page 2

C'Marie · 10-09-2011, 01:47 PM

OMG I'm such a gadget-a-holic. I want one, too!

How many kale chips can you make in it? Like what would be a 12-oz package of potato chips? I can't envision it, I've made them in the oven and one cookie sheet didn't make very many.

porkfatrules · 10-09-2011, 01:48 PM

That's a good point, mymy -- if you want to do those kinds of things too, the Excalibur is a better choice than the Nesco. The Nesco doesn't have fixed walls -- the trays themselves stack to make the body of the dehydrator. So, you can't put anything taller than an inch or so in it (the height of one tray). The Excalibur has a fixed frame, and the trays go in and out, so you could put something taller in (like a lump of dough or a jar of yogurt).

privatediva · 10-09-2011, 02:11 PM

thanks Christine...but I need the cheaper Nesco one

I think I'm about as likely to culture my own yogurt as I am to walk on the moon in the next two weeks...and my son is a pastry chef, so I leave my bread baking to the pro these days. I want it mainly for veggie chips...my younger daughter is really grooving on those

porkfatrules · 10-09-2011, 02:22 PM

*has a yogurt maker already -- makes gallons of yogurt at home*

porkfatrules · 10-09-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C'Marie

OMG I'm such a gadget-a-holic. I want one, too!

How many kale chips can you make in it? Like what would be a 12-oz package of potato chips? I can't envision it, I've made them in the oven and one cookie sheet didn't make very many.

I used two bunches of regular kale, trimmed off the stems, and ripped them into pieces.

That took every tray I have -- the ones that came with the Nesco plus the two extras I bought -- and was a teeny bit over-crowded. And, when dried, I filled two gallon-size ziploc bags with kale chips. I've made them in the oven also, and they came out, somehow, better this way -- super-crispy without shrinking as much, not really bitter or burned tasting.

Does that help?

mymy3377 · 10-09-2011, 02:27 PM

Yeah, I got the Excalibur after realizing how much I was spending on full fat Fage every week

Now I just buy half and half which is much cheaper and I think the stuff I make tastes so much better but I think that has to do with how much cheaper it is to make

porkfatrules · 10-09-2011, 02:35 PM

You make it with half and half??? Oh my . . . .
I make it with whole milk, but I'm definitely going to have to give that a try!

mymy3377 · 10-09-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkfatrules

You make it with half and half??? Oh my . . . .
I make it with whole milk, but I'm definitely going to have to give that a try!

Well Fage is made of whole milk and cream so I decided to make my yogurt with half and half and it is very, very yummy

Idreamofweightloss · 10-10-2011, 04:33 AM

Are kale chips allowed on P2?

porkfatrules · 10-10-2011, 05:41 AM

Nope!!!

But, there was a big interest in dehydrators in general, for doing dried fruits, veggies, and jerky, so I'm experimenting with veggies for my family. I'm going to have to save the kale and green bean chips (especially if coated with oil to give that crunch!) for P3/P4.

kerbear879 · 10-12-2011, 11:50 AM

Honestly, I would just buy a nuwave oven. I have one and quite literally it does everything. And yes it dehydrates too. You can even hard boil eggs in it. It's perfect for hcg too because you can cook all your meat in there and you can even cook it frozen.

porkfatrules · 10-12-2011, 12:46 PM

I just tried making crunchy green beans (like the ones you can get at Whole Foods) -- FAIL! They came out shriveled, just like roasted green beans. They're still good, but not like the super-crispy ones that stay full size. Ah well, beef jerky next!

Emi · 10-13-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkfatrules

I just tried making crunchy green beans (like the ones you can get at Whole Foods) -- FAIL! They came out shriveled, just like roasted green beans. They're still good, but not like the super-crispy ones that stay full size. Ah well, beef jerky next!

Oh man... did you coat them in oil?!?!?

porkfatrules · 10-14-2011, 05:17 AM

Yup, coated them in oil and salted them. This is what the ingredients list on the crunchy green beans I buy, so my guess is that there's some other process (blanching? convection oven? higher temp?) that gives it the crunch.

Oh well . . . on to jerky!

Kerry · 11-05-2011, 05:42 AM

I wanted to bump this up because I broke out my dehydrator recently and have been making jerky and just made apple chips and banana chips.. what kind of fruits and veggies is everyone doing?

try2basunbeam · 11-09-2011, 07:26 AM

I've had an excalibur for years. Used it a few times and all the hassle with moving it around made me not use it as much but now I've been using it all the time. I made a space in the basement for the dehydrater so I wouldn't have to set it up and take it down all the time. HAve a little table nest to it to help with the prepping. The noise is down there where it doesn't bother anyone- except maybe the cats! lol

I soak raw almonds overnight in a bowl of water, then dehydrate them. They are the sweetest best tasting almonds ever. My SIL who has a crazy mad cancer says our bodies can't properly digest nuts unless they are soaked adn then dried like that. If you do them in an oven, they tend to get bitter.

I also made flax sesame crackers--they are dehydrating right now--it's a first for me, so I hope they are good.

And when I go to the grocery, they have discounted fruit all the time so I'll buy HUGE bags of bananas for $.79 and last week I got 5 pineapples for $.79 each and dehydrated them. My family will eat the dehydrated fruits much faster than fresh.

I make jerky in it too. My dd says it is the best and she is a jerky junkie! lol

My friend makes yogurt in hers. I don't because I don't like yogurt that much...

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10-09-2011, 01:47 PM	#31
C'Marie Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 4,047 Gallery: C'Marie Stats: 270/down 110-ish/ goal 147 WOE: hCG Rx shots/JUDDD maintain Start Date: 1/4/2010 Now R9 P2	OMG I'm such a gadget-a-holic. I want one, too! How many kale chips can you make in it? Like what would be a 12-oz package of potato chips? I can't envision it, I've made them in the oven and one cookie sheet didn't make very many.

10-09-2011, 01:48 PM	#32
porkfatrules Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,506 Gallery: porkfatrules Stats: 223/183.5/110 WOE: HCG R3 Start Date: Re-re-re-start 5/8/11	That's a good point, mymy -- if you want to do those kinds of things too, the Excalibur is a better choice than the Nesco. The Nesco doesn't have fixed walls -- the trays themselves stack to make the body of the dehydrator. So, you can't put anything taller than an inch or so in it (the height of one tray). The Excalibur has a fixed frame, and the trays go in and out, so you could put something taller in (like a lump of dough or a jar of yogurt).

10-09-2011, 02:11 PM	#33
privatediva Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Posts: 2,544 Gallery: privatediva Stats: 128 (R2ldw 128) 5'7" WOE: healthful, delicious low carb Start Date: 6/28/2011 (started HCG) maintaining since 9/2011	thanks Christine...but I need the cheaper Nesco one I think I'm about as likely to culture my own yogurt as I am to walk on the moon in the next two weeks...and my son is a pastry chef, so I leave my bread baking to the pro these days. I want it mainly for veggie chips...my younger daughter is really grooving on those

10-09-2011, 02:22 PM	#34
porkfatrules Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,506 Gallery: porkfatrules Stats: 223/183.5/110 WOE: HCG R3 Start Date: Re-re-re-start 5/8/11	has a yogurt maker already -- makes gallons of yogurt at home

10-09-2011, 02:27 PM	#36
mymy3377 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 369 Gallery: mymy3377	Yeah, I got the Excalibur after realizing how much I was spending on full fat Fage every week Now I just buy half and half which is much cheaper and I think the stuff I make tastes so much better but I think that has to do with how much cheaper it is to make

10-09-2011, 02:35 PM	#37
porkfatrules Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,506 Gallery: porkfatrules Stats: 223/183.5/110 WOE: HCG R3 Start Date: Re-re-re-start 5/8/11	You make it with half and half??? Oh my . . . . I make it with whole milk, but I'm definitely going to have to give that a try!

10-10-2011, 04:33 AM	#39
Idreamofweightloss Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Hockley,Texas Posts: 797 Gallery: Idreamofweightloss Stats: 142/119.6/115 WOE: JUDDD Start Date: April 2011	Are kale chips allowed on P2?

10-10-2011, 05:41 AM	#40
porkfatrules Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,506 Gallery: porkfatrules Stats: 223/183.5/110 WOE: HCG R3 Start Date: Re-re-re-start 5/8/11	Nope!!! But, there was a big interest in dehydrators in general, for doing dried fruits, veggies, and jerky, so I'm experimenting with veggies for my family. I'm going to have to save the kale and green bean chips (especially if coated with oil to give that crunch!) for P3/P4.

10-12-2011, 11:50 AM	#41
kerbear879 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 588 Gallery: kerbear879 Stats: 341/200.2/160 @ 5'9" Start Date: 3/23/2005	Honestly, I would just buy a nuwave oven. I have one and quite literally it does everything. And yes it dehydrates too. You can even hard boil eggs in it. It's perfect for hcg too because you can cook all your meat in there and you can even cook it frozen.

10-12-2011, 12:46 PM	#42
porkfatrules Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,506 Gallery: porkfatrules Stats: 223/183.5/110 WOE: HCG R3 Start Date: Re-re-re-start 5/8/11	I just tried making crunchy green beans (like the ones you can get at Whole Foods) -- FAIL! They came out shriveled, just like roasted green beans. They're still good, but not like the super-crispy ones that stay full size. Ah well, beef jerky next!

10-14-2011, 05:17 AM	#44
porkfatrules Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,506 Gallery: porkfatrules Stats: 223/183.5/110 WOE: HCG R3 Start Date: Re-re-re-start 5/8/11	Yup, coated them in oil and salted them. This is what the ingredients list on the crunchy green beans I buy, so my guess is that there's some other process (blanching? convection oven? higher temp?) that gives it the crunch. Oh well . . . on to jerky!

11-05-2011, 05:42 AM	#45
Kerry I'm not fat, I'm fluffy Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brooklyn Ny Posts: 6,608 Gallery: Kerry Stats: Post Preg:195/151/140 (pre prego 230/135/130) WOE: PALEO/PRIMAL just call me cave lady! Start Date: Low carb living a few yrs now.. Restart Nov 2010	I wanted to bump this up because I broke out my dehydrator recently and have been making jerky and just made apple chips and banana chips.. what kind of fruits and veggies is everyone doing?

11-09-2011, 07:26 AM	#46
try2basunbeam Junior LCF Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Milwaukee WI Posts: 50 Gallery: try2basunbeam Stats: start-200 R1-177, R-2 170, R3- WOE: rxHCG Start Date: May 2010	I've had an excalibur for years. Used it a few times and all the hassle with moving it around made me not use it as much but now I've been using it all the time. I made a space in the basement for the dehydrater so I wouldn't have to set it up and take it down all the time. HAve a little table nest to it to help with the prepping. The noise is down there where it doesn't bother anyone- except maybe the cats! lol I soak raw almonds overnight in a bowl of water, then dehydrate them. They are the sweetest best tasting almonds ever. My SIL who has a crazy mad cancer says our bodies can't properly digest nuts unless they are soaked adn then dried like that. If you do them in an oven, they tend to get bitter. I also made flax sesame crackers--they are dehydrating right now--it's a first for me, so I hope they are good. And when I go to the grocery, they have discounted fruit all the time so I'll buy HUGE bags of bananas for $.79 and last week I got 5 pineapples for $.79 each and dehydrated them. My family will eat the dehydrated fruits much faster than fresh. I make jerky in it too. My dd says it is the best and she is a jerky junkie! lol My friend makes yogurt in hers. I don't because I don't like yogurt that much...