- Long gone are the days when meat was dehydrated in the open sun. Today, food dehydrators make it easier and safer to prepare this delicious snack. Best of all, they allow the cook to prepare jerky that suits their taste buds. The cook can even prepare gourmet varieties by using different kinds of meat and marinades. Not to mention that making jerky at home saves a ton of money.
- Kids love fruit snacks. Unfortunately, store bought brands are loaded with sugar, preservatives and artificial colors and flavorings. In fact, many varieties of strawberry fruit snacks are made with pear and then flavored to taste like strawberries. Then there's the cost. A small box of name brand fruit snacks usually costs more than $3. Thankfully, a food dehydrator makes wonderful fruit snacks. Being able to prepare fruit snacks at home not only allows parents to prepare a healthier version, but the possibility of flavors is endless.
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Not only do food dehydrators make great fruit snacks, but they can also be used to simply dry fruit. Instead of spending a small fortune on dried fruits that may be coated in sugar or have added preservatives, fresh fruit can be dried. This is a great way to create snacks or ingredients. Cranberries, blueberries and even strawberries can be dried and mixed into the snack mixes. Pineapple, bananas, apples and peaches can also be dried and enjoyed by themselves. Any type of fruit can be dried. This is a great way to take advantage of excess fruit during harvest season.
There are times when there's an excess of produce on hand. The cook may have a garden or may have scored a great deal at the market. Either way, these excess vegetables can be dehydrated and stored for later use. When the cook wants to use the dried vegetables, they can be rehydrated using warm stock or water. If making soup, the dried vegetables can be added directly to the soup. Just be sure to give the vegetable enough time to hydrate or they will be a bit tough.
