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HELP! Loaned dehydrator gone bung...
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denzil
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« on: Sunday 02 April, 2006 »

Yesterday was a somewhat jinxed day for me. First a friend's dehydrator started making funny clunking noises (half way through my first ever attempt at dehydrating - the sweet potato chips were not yet chrisp but were still yummy). About 5 minutes later my blender went bung, as I was mixing up some pizza bases to dehydrate.

So here's my question - does anyone know what temperature I can set the oven to, with the oven door ajar, to dehydrate these pizza bases without a proper dehydrator? I know I've read this somewhere on the site, but can't seem to find it today.

Thanks in advance for any tips.
Denise rolleyes
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Jocelyn *
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« Reply #1 on: Sunday 02 April, 2006 »

You should be able to pop them into your oven on its lowest temperature, or even leave then in the oven with only the light on. This might haowever take some time.

Its important not to exceed 120F, which is 48C. Anything higher will cook the food.


Joss
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Aw! Go eat a banana.
denzil
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« Reply #2 on: Sunday 02 April, 2006 »

Thanks Joss.

Will give it a go with lowest temp and door ajar, and see how it goes. smiley
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Piers
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« Reply #3 on: Monday 03 April, 2006 »

If you're planning on doing that for long you may want to get a food thermometer to watch the temperature (particularly in an oven with an open door where temperature can vary massively).

The exact temperature also varies somewhat depending on the exact food being done and the water content. The original "118f" that is usually quoted is for lettuce, which is gthe most easily damaged (and so gives us a nice safe estimate). For delicate things like watermelon it can be less, for dry, stable foods like coconut it can actually be higher.

It's also affected by water content and evaporation. For example foods with a lot of water will have it evaporate when drying, cooling the food below the temperature that the oven / dehydrator is set to. When foods start getting really dry, they get a lot closer to the air temperature. We've actually managed to have tomatoes drying be fine at 140 degrees for the first hour, but later get completely burnt black at 120! (This took leaving them in the dehydrator waaaaaaaaaay too long!).

Anyway, if this is getting to complicated just go for 120 as Jos said and keep an eye on them.
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Brett
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« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 04 April, 2006 »

I'd want to be pulling that dehydrator to bits. There's not much that can really go wrong with them - a fan, a heat elemet and a a thermostat. If the fan stopped blowing, it might just have a bit of food jammed in the fan. I'm no handy man (nor electrician), but removing a bit of jammed food wouldn't be too hard(?)
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Sheryl
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« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 04 April, 2006 »

The good news is she tightened the bolt on the bottom of the blender and it works again!!! YAHHH!! Now on to the dehydrator. How's it going Denise??

Cheers,
Sheryl
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denzil
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« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 05 April, 2006 »

The dehydrator is boxed and awiting clarification from the owner - ie does it usually make this noise. It's an old Harvest Maid, and I discovered on line that many do rattle a lot but still dehydrate fine.

I'm not too distraught because I'm off home to England soon for a trip and when I return I will be hitting the big 40 and a very good friend has offered to buy me a very fine Excalibur from S&P for my birthday. So only about 6 weeks to go until I have my own to play with.

The blender's blending fine too. Must soak some almonds for morning milk (glorious milk bag is fine new friend).

Denise
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Jocelyn *
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« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 05 April, 2006 »

Ah welcome to the wonderful nut milk bag club. I love mine to bits too.

Oh in case I don't hear from you again before you leave. Have a wonderful trip and really enjoy yourself too.


Joss
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Aw! Go eat a banana.
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