How well does this dry HERBS. How well does it dry onion and garlic. I am looking for drying herbs; and veggies for my soup mixes.
1539371
I belong to a CSA and a produce buying co-op, and sometimes we get things my family will not eat raw. I shred or blanch or slice and throw it in the excalibur. I love mine. I dry herbs on a low setting. I have also dried: onions (stinky while drying), chard, kale, shredded beets, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, shredded potatoes (cook first), celery, mushrooms, radishes (shred), sweet peppers, hot peppers, spinach, savoy cabbage, parsnips, lemon/lime/orange zest. I have not done garlic yet. I dry strawberries and bananas in bulk - 9 flats of strawberries and 120# of bananas in the last 2 months. I have 2 this size and a 4-tray, and they are used often. There is a great how-to site about "dehydrating to store" food. Do a search on that and you will find an amazing wealth of information.
1539372
I haven't dried herbs, garlic or onions in mine but I would not hesitate to use it for this purpose. Herbs probably take the lowest setting and onions and garlic a bit higher.
1539373
Hi. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to use this yet. I purchased it right at the same time as us rehabbing a house and that took up all of my time. Sorry.
1539374
Im a prepper and i love this. It does the temp and has a chart to show what temp to set it on. The trays are nice because my veggies do not stick and it is easy to dump them into a mylar bag.
1539375
It dries garlic very well but it does take a long time. Just make sure the cloves are fairly uniform in size and all are sliced lengthwise. Otherwise, it will take much longer to dehydrate. Got to have an "exit wound" for the moisture to escape.
615295
I just use the recipe on the can to make broth and then add whatever veggies I desire at the time. I also use it for a seasoning in potato salad, rice, etc. It is a wonderfully. Versatile item in my pantry!
1362294
Yes, but only certain foods. I had terrible results with onions, bell peppers and fresh herbs. Good results with garlic, if I halved the cloves first. Got a very fine mince with the garlic.
1439452
I had good success with these last summer. I didn't get to plant every variety of the herbs but the basil and the dill grew well. I wish you good luck in your herb gardening. P.S. I am in Alaska where the daylight hours were long in the summer. Pam in Bethel, AK
183617
Nice mix/blend. I'm ordering my second jar today. I use it for soup but it is also handy for just throwing a handful into other things. I just made rice in beef bullion with golden raisins and a fistful of these veggies. Delicious and painlessly added veggies (my nemesis).
1553511
It works very well, but like anything else can be a little dry. Add some liquid and it's perfect. I just reheated potatoes and veggies from the night before. I added some salsa. It was amazing!
82368
Personally, my favorite is sautéing in white onion, garlic, cilantro or basil. Cook potatoes, carrots & celery and drain. Add to sautéed pan, mix while on low heat. Delicious!!!!
1475818
I dry lots of herbs on their stem perfectly. You could loose items through the lattice / grates. I suggest the fruit roll up tray which I make flaxseed chips on.
394857
You could use it for leafy things, like basil, oregano, mint etc. But for thicker vegetables like carrots or onions your better off getting a forced air dehydrator. It will dry your vegetables more quickly with less chance spoilage.
299884
I haven't used it on lettuce or larger greens, but I have had good success with fresh herbs such as basil and parsley. It seems to get them small enough to use in dishes without mutilating them.
780079
I have used it with a bit of success on basil. In fact, neem is my go-to with basil! Best of luck!
449320
No problem at all. I would suggest using a french press to squeeze all the butter or oil out of your herbs.
1013191
What a coincidence - I just used this again last night. I overstuffed it a bit, which I don't recommend since you're not grinding it as well to start off with. Overstuffing it also results in some of the garlic juice leaking up the sides. However, I still ended up with very nicely minced fresh garlic. I've used it a number of times and still find it just as effective as the first time. I think it's a novel idea and good product, and it's held up well.
280993
It's been awhile but as I recall, it does come with a little insert thing that talks about how to season it --- basically by grinding dry corn or beans and baking it. I also ground used dried garlic, comino seeds and dried onion . I will say this though...to get a really great finish is going take time and repeated applications...if you are in a great hurry, you might want something else. In my mind, these are heirloom pieces of kitchenware that are meant to last a lifetime and passed down. They get better with age! Recipe booklet...not one that I remember, sorry...but any combo of yumminess will work. Just rinse out after the fact and bake dry thoroughly. Luck! It's been awhile but as I recall, it does come with a little insert thing that talks about how to season it --- basically by grinding dry corn or beans and baking it. I also ground used dried garlic, comino seeds and dried onion . I will say this though...to get a really great finish is going take time and repeated applications...if you are in a great hurry, you might want something else. In my mind, these are heirloom pieces of kitchenware that are meant to last a lifetime and passed down. They get better with age! Recipe booklet...not one that I remember, sorry...but any combo of... » Read More It's been awhile but as I recall, it does come with a little insert thing that talks about how to season it --- basically by grinding dry corn or beans and baking it. I also ground used dried garlic, comino seeds and dried onion . I will say this though...to get a really great finish is going take time and repeated applications...if you are in a great hurry, you might want something else. In my mind, these are heirloom pieces of kitchenware that are meant to last a lifetime and passed down. They get better with age! Recipe booklet...not one that I remember, sorry...but any combo of yumminess will work. Just rinse out after the fact and bake dry thoroughly. Luck! « Show Less
2194498
Does pretty good on everything minus herbs and juicing soft fruits (like strawberries). You get some juice but a lot of waste. Most hard fruits and vegetables do amazing.
450053
No, Not in my opinion. I grind my herbs after I dehydrate them in a small blender/chopper.
1003672
I haven't tried fresh herbs, just nuts and seeds. But I think it would do great because the blade is extremely sharp. This is a great product, I own 2 of them!