A Food Dehydrator
Vinny Offline
Geordie living 'ower the watter'
#41
(29-06-2024, 10:27 AM)JJB Wrote:
(28-06-2024, 06:35 PM)Vinny Wrote: I've still been experimenting with beef  jerky in the food dehydrator and think I have finally cracked it. I marinade the meat first over night and maake sure I add vinegar and honey to the marinade which I think helps preserve the meat longer once dehydrated.
I prefer my jerky with a little bit of 'give' and chewiness to it but have found because it is not totally dry 'snap & rattle' it doesn't stay edible as long?
To counteract this I put a handful in a bowl on the kitchen bench which I can use as a snack when I feel like it. It's perfectly ok for amonth or so. The rest I bag up into freezer bags and bung it in the freezer to be used once the other stuff is eaten.

I still have a bit more experimentation to do with it though! I am wondering whether I add  it to some soup whether it wil reconstitute itself once boiled, or if I soak it in beef stock overnight will that reconstitute it?

Meanwhile I am enjoying eatng it as a snack and sometmes pop some in my mouth whilst walking Kato and use it like a flavoured chewing gum! Big Grin

Does Kato get any?
He's had some but I buy him dried mini chicken breasts which are chewy and he prefers. Of course he is a true carnvore so tends to eat the 'stripped' chicken thighs which I cook in the air fryer first,before eating his biscuits! Even he realises,wheat and seed oils are bad for him! He loves butter as well,nearly as much as I do! Big Grin
"I'd rather be the oldest in the gym rather than the youngest in the nursing home" 
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Vinny Offline
Geordie living 'ower the watter'
#42
Chuffed to bits with my apple peeler/corer/slicer. I've filled all four sections of my dehydrator with apple slices in no time at all. Whoever invented it was a genius and I hope he patented it and was adequately compensated! Cool
I only expected it to peel and core the apples so it was an added bonus when I found out it sliced them as well! Smile

It's very theaputic to use and I can't wait for to use it again fo the second batch of apples. It took a bit of getting used to and I was just about peeling the apple down to marble size when I first started. It's easy to adjust when you ge into the swing of it. I just put the apple rings into a bowl of wate with two squirts of lemon juice, (just to be safe) and when the bowl was full it was the right amount to fill my dehydrator.
I just wonder whether the dried apples slices will hold onto their sweetness as the apples are a self fertile variety very similar to Cox's Oange Pippin. (Can't remember the name?)
"I'd rather be the oldest in the gym rather than the youngest in the nursing home" 
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Bren Offline
Member
#43
Vinny our apples taste just a good after being dehydrated. They're an old variety Worcester Pearmain, a lovely strawberry tasting apple but its only drawback is they don't keep above a few weeks after picking so i dehydrate, juice, freeze and make chutney with them.
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Vinny Offline
Geordie living 'ower the watter'
#44
Back on the dehydrating trail again, this time with some bramleys from alottment...............and thereby lies a problem with the gadget as it stuggles with large or mishapen apples.
I like to get some use out of the dehydrator mainly for drying various meats so this fruit drying is new to me? What do I use the dried eating and cooking apples for and do I dry them until they are like crisps or do I keep them slightly leathery?

I still have quite a few of my sweet apples still on the trees so wondered whether to chop and freeze or chop and dry? Apple chutney sounds nice too!
"I'd rather be the oldest in the gym rather than the youngest in the nursing home" 
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Bren Offline
Member
#45
Vinny i leave my apples  leathery and store them in jars, this is what I use mine for.
I eat them like sweeties  Big Grin  
take a handful on  walk 
add to porridge
nice in scones along with some raisins
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Vinny Offline
Geordie living 'ower the watter'
#46
(20-09-2025, 09:39 AM)Bren Wrote: Vinny i leave my apples  leathery and store them in jars, this is what I use mine for.
I eat them like sweeties  Big Grin  
take a handful on  walk 
add to porridge
nice in scones along with some raisins
I see what you mean Bren. The last load I did were cooking apples and the tart flavour has intensified so much, I can't stop munching them! Rolleyes Ive just bought some cheese scones so will try them with a couple of 'rings' with butter in them. Cool
Whenever I eat pork I useually have Bramley apple sauce with it. As I usually cook prok until its cunchy I may have some 'tart' cooking apple slices with it. Should go well with the belly pork I've just bought?

I wonder whether the sweet apples soaked in water,  will soften for puddings etc? Huh

I have given the remaining cooking apples to my daughter but still have loads of Cox's on the trees. As I can't do much outside, I may pepare some more as the gadget is so theaputic to use! Big Grin
"I'd rather be the oldest in the gym rather than the youngest in the nursing home" 
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Veggie Online
Super Pest Controller
#47
The peeler is also good for making chips in funny shapes - spirals, halfmoons, etc.
The Moneyless Chicken says:- 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
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Bren Offline
Member
#48
Vinny I make apple and raisin scones

I should have made that clear in my post. whoops.
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JJB Offline
Moonraker
#49
(20-09-2025, 01:57 PM)Vinny Wrote:
(20-09-2025, 09:39 AM)Bren Wrote: Vinny i leave my apples  leathery and store them in jars, this is what I use mine for.
I eat them like sweeties  Big Grin  
take a handful on  walk 
add to porridge
nice in scones along with some raisins
I see what you mean Bren. The last load I did were cooking apples and the tart flavour has intensified so much, I can't stop munching them! Rolleyes Ive just bought some cheese scones so will try them with a couple of 'rings' with butter in them. Cool
Whenever I eat pork I useually have Bramley apple sauce with it. As I usually cook prok until its cunchy I may have some 'tart' cooking apple slices with it. Should go well with the belly pork I've just bought?

I wonder whether the sweet apples soaked in water,  will soften for puddings etc? Huh

I have given the remaining cooking apples to my daughter but still have loads of Cox's on the trees. As I can't do much outside, I may pepare some more as the gadget is so theaputic to use! Big Grin

They are a marvel of engineering.  I've been processing and bottling apples all afternoon. As you say therapeutic.
Gardening is an excuse not to do housework
Greetings from Salisbury
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JJB Offline
Moonraker
#50
I've not got a dehydrator, if I can find room for it, I might consider one. How long do dehydrated apples keep for?
Gardening is an excuse not to do housework
Greetings from Salisbury
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