preserving produce - dehydrating

I had always wanted a food dehydrator, I have fond memories of the tasty tangy dried feijoas my grandparents used to make. So I was very glad to stumble across this one in my local opp shop some time ago. And it has been a $10 very well spent. Dehydrating is a great way of preserving excess produce. You'd be amazed at the things that you can dry, anything really, for example, how about dried greens like cabbage or spinach or kale, blended into a powder and then used when making soups! I dried some of my excess zucchini this summer and now I'm throwing the dried slices into stews, it reconstitutes when you add it to liquid and it's like you've thrown it in from fresh. And the dried fruit or vegetable retains more of its nutrients than other preserving methods because of the low temperatures it's dried at. And takes up way less space than bottling. And the kids love the dried fruit as snacks. So yeah, I'm a fan as you can see.

Apples from a friend's tree.
Bananas that arrived a little bruised in our vege box.


Tomatoes from the garden.
Celery salt.


I'm pretty excited about the celery salt.
Celery from the garden, dried, then powdered in the blender, then 1 part salt, mixed with 1 part celery. And now I'm thinking, how about a few dried herbs from the garden in there too, and perhaps even maybe some of those tomatoes powdered and mixed in too.


Olive oil added to some of the tomatoes.

16 comments

Mrs Knight said...

delish!!! i did mean to buy one this summer but never got around to it. a must have by the looks!!

Stella said...

Wow how cool! I haven't heard anyone else get so inventive with theirs! I'm a sucker for dehydrated kiwifruit... Amazing!

Anonymous said...

First you made me want a pasta machine (way out of my budget thankfully) and now I want a dehydrater! This looks like it is extra useful. And yummy.

meg said...

How lovely, I wonder if you could make garlic or onion salt in the same way? It would probably make everything else taste horrid for years to come.

Michaela said...

Wow, what an inspiration... Now I will be on the look out for dehydrator in my local thrift shops...:)

Rhiannon said...

I have been looking for one of these for years now, unwilling to pay the $40+ that they go for on TM, but perhaps it is time to bite the bullet and invest- looks like it's worth it!

Kristin said...

We've had one on our wishlist for a while now. I'm thinking it's just moved up in the priorities!

{call me satch} said...

everyone is right, now I am thinking I need one too, you have a way of making things look & sound so appealing !!

Anonymous said...

Hanna do you secretly work for the dehyrator company and make money on commission?? You seem to be very good in convincing people they must have one, and a pasta maker too, hmmm.......

Cut&Alter said...

What a timely post as I was just talking to a friend about these yesterday! Great to hear that they do actually work so now I just have to wait for one to "appear" in the op shop! All your produce looks delicious! x

Mee said...

Frith has a point...And, what about your relationship with "Agee" and "Perfit" seals (don't try to deny it-I've read your blogs about preserving!) Perhaps there could be a conflict of interests arising here Hanna?? (I bet you wish your relations were a bit more sensible)

Mousy Brown said...

I am going to cross my fingers and send out wishful thoughts to the thrifty fairies and hope one ends up in my local 'Op' shop too! :D

Its_Lily said...

You've just solved the dilema of how to have greens for smoothies during the winter. Dry them and grind them. You're brilliant! Did you know that?

Stella said...

I love how everyone wants to rush out to the op shop, as opposed to an appliance store, in order to find one!

gardenmama said...

What!? This is so great! I did not realize it could make all of that goodness! And your sister made me laugh ; ) beautiful photos as always!

apples with honey said...

I love celery salt! It is my secret ingredient in pasta and potato salads, but I hate celery.
Hate it.
I had no idea it was really just as the name implied celery+salt.
Please don't laugh! ;)
e.