food dehydrators

[nomad]

does anyone have one or have used one?
are they any good for the likes of chillis?
were can i get one relativly cheap?
cheers

[tiachica]

Yes,
I'd be interested in the replies as well!

[shirlthegirl43]

I have one, it is okay but I wouldn't bother for just chillies as they dry quite happily in a bowl on a sunny windowsill.

[Two_Sheds]

I had a go with the Search button. There's 5 old threads on dehydrators, here's the longest: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tors_2710.html

[Stacey Steve]

Try this, we have one and it gets used for: drying fruit, apart from the apples, pears and strawberries from the allotment, when bananas are going cheap, kiwi fruit is absolutely delicious. Lemons, oranges and satsumas for coooking out of season. Breadcrumbs, chillies and all manner of things OH passes through this. One of the better gadgets we have bought.

Westfalia Suche - dehydrator

And at only £27 well worth a try

[pigletwillie]

We use ours an awful lot. From making sundried tomatoes (sans sun) to drying mushrooms. Its a great tool and quite cheap too.

Wouldnt be without it.

[rana]

If you've got space and are good at DIY try making a solar dehydrator. Requires no electricity, it just concentrates the heat of the sun to dry your produce. See the following link for a simple design:

SOLAR DEHYDRATOR

[Hilary B]

If you've got space and are good at DIY try making a solar dehydrator. Requires no electricity, it just concentrates the heat of the sun to dry your produce. See the following link for a simple design:

SOLAR DEHYDRATOR

The basic idea is wonderful. Being somewhat pedantic about things, I would make a few adjustments to it for greater efficiency
1) 'double glaze' the solar heating section (2 sheets of plastic with a small gap, or the off-cuts from someone getting a conservatory with a multi-wall pollycarb roof)
2) use something a bit more durable than cardboard (it may be worth a couple of pounds not to have to start again if there is a shower while it is outside)
3) put an 'umbrella' lid over the drying chamber (again, a precaution against showers, but make sure it doesn't interfere with ventilation)


If you really want to get drastic, you can make the black 'base' of the heating section out of something like bricks (a nice slab of slate would be ideal, if you happen to have one handy<g>), which will absorb and store some of the sun heat all day, and then give off the stored overnight, so that anything which needs longer drying can be left there (weather forecast permitting)

[rana]

Yep

Hilary, I agree with your improvement ideas and there are plenty of sophisticated designs that offer more efficiency. I've even seen some designs which include solar powered fans. It all depends on how much effort (and expense) one is prepared to invest. However for the cost of a commercial electric drier it would be possible to design and assemble a very effective, efficient and robust solar drier.

Nice little project.................

[Hilary B]

Yep

Hilary, I agree with your improvement ideas and there are plenty of sophisticated designs that offer more efficiency. I've even seen some designs which include solar powered fans. It all depends on how much effort (and expense) one is prepared to invest. However for the cost of a commercial electric drier it would be possible to design and assemble a very effective, efficient and robust solar drier.

Nice little project.................

Yep. I had a few bright ideas already, but hadn't thought of making the heat chamber separate from the actual drying chamber (and it is so obvious once you've seen the diagram!)
Our Spanish property has a solar water heater based on a couple of secondhand radiators, and some roof insulation!

[rana]

I Have done the same here. My first solar collector is a black painted radiator, boxed and mounted on the roof. It worked a treat so I added another. Even at this time of year with a bright day there is free hot water.

[Gardenwitch]

Westfalia Suche - dehydrator

Fantastic thank you; I've been looking for one of these as well. I had one when I lived in states and it made great beef jerky too

[nomad]

ok i just ordered one so hopefully it will be here sometime next week so i will probably be asking for advice and tips once i get it.

thank you all very much

[elsie-scot]

ok i just ordered one so hopefully it will be here sometime next week so i will probably be asking for advice and tips once i get it.

thank you all very much

has it arrived? if so how are you getting on with it? I've liked the idea of one for a while, especially one at that price

[nomad]

yes i have got it and will be trying it this weekend, i got the catalogue aswell and they are down to 26 quid and you get 2 free knives with them!!!!!!!
i will post an update on how i got on with it soon.