Has anyone used it as a dehydrator? I'm mostly interested in drying herbs and tomatoes from my garden.
2014163
I have used it to dry herbs. YOu don't turn it directly into the sun, just a little off. Don't seal the glass lid shut just rest it on the metal tighteners so that there is air flow. if the herbs aren't dry by dark, just shut the lid and finish the next day. It works really well. Just remember that you don't want it directly in the sun or it will get to hot. You want the temperature around 100 to 120 degrees F., or the essential oils will get cooked out of your herbs.
2014164
I have done bananas. If you live in a dry area it would be better than if you're in a very humid region. Leave the glass open so there's circulation. Don't go for the full on sun as if you were cooking, it'll get too hot.
2014165
There is no difference in using the oven to dry herbs or using the Sun Oven, much like the cooking of foods by using this. You just need to make sure they are not touching or overlapping and it should work fine for you. But I do not have the personal experience as using it as a dehydrator, but I do have the experience as using it as I would my conventional oven and there is no difference in taste or texture of the food.
2014166
My limited experience is that you can dry a small number of items with the glass proped open a bit for air circulation. I have not tried tomatoes and I doubt that the small quantities and long time periods needed would make it pratical. I bought a book called "The Solar Food Drier" by Eben Fodor that has a very good description of the whole process and plans for building your own solar dryer. The book states that most drying is done at a temperature range of 120 to 150 degrees. I hope this helps.
2153992
No I did a lot of dehydration. The slices are just right. I love mine and am 100 percent happy. Wish I had bought one years ago. It saves hours of time.
2282073
Yes I use it quite adequatly without the timer. In fact your supposed to turn the trays 180 deg. Halfway thru drying process ( approx. 2 hrs.)This is the way I've always done it and with great results.This dehydrator is specifically designed to operate with certain parameters and guidelines the rotation being one and also always having all trays in dehydrator even when there empty. But I'm curious if you or anyone else will or have done it using the timer w/o rotating I would really like to know how it turns out.
1434928
Yes. I had a hard time figuring out the same question when I bought my square dehydrator. I'd be curious to hear about how well your dehydrator work for you. Mine seems to take about 3 to 4 times longer to dehydrate than the recipes claim. I've started using my gas oven for dehydrating instead because of this.
575529
It is not enclosed, but if the temperature of the room is high enough, it should dry tomatoes, I would try celery first. I dry herbs, not vegetables on mine. Good luck
293882
Though I never have, I did find recipes on YouTube using this dehydrator to make yogurt. Looked yummy, especially when one lady used dehydrated fruits that she dehydrated on her Excalibur.
1129295
I have never used it to dehydrate meat but the manufacture claims you can make jerky in this. If that is your purpose I suggest you get the 6 or more tray model.
450053
No, Not in my opinion. I grind my herbs after I dehydrate them in a small blender/chopper.
624380
I haven't used it in that way. I use it for chopping vegetables and nuts. If needed just drain it by pouring excess off.
2282245
I would think that the screens would be well suited to dehydrating herbs, that they would not stick. I haven't dehydrated herbs, but, I have dehydrated plantain chips, which is likely much stickier, and the chips very easily removed from the screens.
1348442
It is working well in my basement which is not that large and is open for the most part. For a separate storage room, I have another dehumidifier. My basement is damp, but the two dehumidifiers keep it nicely dry. I wish that I could give you a more clear answer. I probably should have responded that I do not know. IT is working very well for the laundry and the large, open area where it is set up.
2224208
I bought this with the intention of using it on my tomatoes. It worked very well for them. I am sure it would work well with basil as well. Just make sure you soak them from the ground up. Do it again after it rains, too.
1129297
I have never used it to dehydrate meat but the manufacture claims you can make jerky in this.If that is your purpose I suggest you get the 6 or more tray model.
1839686
It doesn't have a temperature adjustment on it, but I think it gets up to like 110 degrees. It was a little low for what I was dehydrating and it took forever and made the trays brittle. But it would be perfect for herbs or fruit leathers, certainly nothing thicker than 1/4 inch. It's super basic, if you're looking to start dehydrating every weekend get something a little more sturdy, if you want to experiment but are nervous this is the way to go. It's hard to screw up when there's nothing to adjust.
2143008
Hi, I bought this rack several months ago and what I probably meant was that properly dry vegetables as well as marijuana requires certains things in range like temperature and humidity, air circulation is never directed to the drying goods and if you put the rack outside you can say good bye to the slow drying process.You don't wanna dry anything outside (low moisture and sun will totally dry your goods) everything cured slow taste better, smoke better and so on. It's not completely shielded around the cylinder walls so it seems is built for indoor use only. Hope this answered your question. Hi, I bought this rack several months ago and what I probably meant was that properly dry vegetables as well as marijuana requires certains things in range like temperature and humidity, air circulation is never directed to the drying goods and if you put the rack outside you can say good bye to the slow drying process.You don't wanna dry anything outside (low moisture and sun will totally dry your goods) everything cured slow taste better, smoke better and so on. It's not completely shielded around the cylinder walls so it seems is built for indoor use only. Hope this answered your... » Read More Hi, I bought this rack several months ago and what I probably meant was that properly dry vegetables as well as marijuana requires certains things in range like temperature and humidity, air circulation is never directed to the drying goods and if you put the rack outside you can say good bye to the slow drying process.You don't wanna dry anything outside (low moisture and sun will totally dry your goods) everything cured slow taste better, smoke better and so on. It's not completely shielded around the cylinder walls so it seems is built for indoor use only. Hope this answered your question. « Show Less
559022
First let me say I have 2 of these and I LOVE them! Mine are located on a corner of my deck that is right near where I have easy access to a hose. I watered/soaked with a hose nearly every day when it was super hot and a little less often when cooler. I have had great success with greens (kale, spinach, lettuces) in spring and then peppers, tomatoes and herbs throughout the summer. It would be rough with just a watering can to thoroughly soak the soil, I think. Hose is preferable.
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.