How to Dehydrate With a GE Monogram Convection Oven

Dehydration is the process of removing excess water from foods so that it will last longer. You can dehydrate many types of foods, such as vegetables, fruit and even fruit juice. Dehydrating pureed fruit will create fruit leather. You can also dehydrate meat to make beef jerky. You can do all of this in a food dehydrator, or you can use your oven to dehydrate certain types of food. GE Monogram convection ovens are effective in drying fruit because they have a fan that moves air around the oven to aid in the dehydration process.

Things You'll Need

• Cookie sheets

Instructions

1. Turn your oven to 150 degrees Fahrenheit for meat, 135 degrees Fahrenheit for fruit and 130 degrees Fahrenheit for vegetables. Wait for it to reach that temperature.

2. Place the food you want to dehydrate on cookie sheets. The food should be evenly sliced. The thinner the food, the faster it will dry completely.

3. Slide the cookie sheets into the GE oven. Leave the door 2 to 6 inches ajar to help air circulate. Place an oven thermometer in the oven to check the temperature. Adjust the temperature if it falls below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the food in the oven for one hour.

4. Rotate the food and adjust the temperature so that it is at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help dehydrate the food slower so that it is more flavorful. Don't lower the temperature more than that; otherwise, bacteria may begin to grow on the food.

5. Continue dehydrating the food until you cannot see any beads of moisture form on the food when you tear it in half. Meats should tear but not snap. Vegetables should snap, and fruit should tear. Drying time will vary greatly depending on the type of food you are dehydrating and how thick you cut it. Some food could take one day to fully dehydrate.

6. Remove the fruit from the oven and let it cool before storing it in an airtight container.

Tips & Warnings

• Because you are keeping the oven door open, always keep children and pets away from the kitchen while you are working.

References

• Canning Pantry: Drying Foods Indoors
• Farm Gal: How to Dry Fruits and Vegetables.