One thing I found with the beef jerky and the mixed vegetables is that you can eat them without rehydrating them. They're crunchy, and you will have to drink plenty of water because it will take water out of your system, but it is an easy way to get a meal in quick if there's some reason you don't want to cook it. Good for emergencies and camping. And, it tastes good as well. Same goes for fruit.
After dehydrating my food, I use a food. ($100) vacuum sealer. On each bag I write the food ( spaghetti sauce, applesauce,Salsa; all look the same dehydrated), before dehydrated quantity ( 1/2 lb, 24 oz, 2 servings, etc) and date. To save on fuel, pre-cook 80-90% (Al dente) short round pasta , dehydrated, and vacuum pack. On the trail, you can make Spaghetti with meat sauce for 1, 2, or 4 using your dehydrated sauce, hamburger, and pasta. Cover with water, bring to boil, take off burner, stir, place in cozy, let sit 10 minutes, check water and stir; add more water and return to stove if more water is needed or if too much water remove lid and return to stove. However usually I have to add water.
The sun is a fourth method of drying. I use foil lined, cardboard boxes with plexiglass covers and vents covered by screen. It's good for produce but not meat.
I have a round one and we do leathers, it's just that you have to trim the parchment paper into a round shape and then be careful when you put the moist food on it. I guess a square one is just more practical for leathers.
It's an expensive process, with special freezers that freeze very quickly and achieve much lower temps than do your home freezer. For additional shelf life, affordably, you can look into packing into mylar bags and purging the oxygen using nitrogen.
jmax7733 or, you can place them into glass jars with lids, and add an oxygen absorber . When the oxygen is absorbed you will have a nitrogen packed jar.
When I see a title saying, how to dehydrate food I am imagining a method NOT using a store bought dehydrator which is pretty self explanatory. How about a, 'How to dehydrate WITHOUT a dehydrator."?
The MSR page that links to this vid (and was recently sent out) incorrectly overlooks that meat, to be dried, must first be COOKED. You do not dry raw meat and expect it to be safe to eat. Otherwise this is a C- food drying vid.
One thing I found with the beef jerky and the mixed vegetables is that you can eat them without rehydrating them. They're crunchy, and you will have to drink plenty of water because it will take water out of your system, but it is an easy way to get a meal in quick if there's some reason you don't want to cook it. Good for emergencies and camping. And, it tastes good as well. Same goes for fruit.
After dehydrating my food, I use a food. ($100) vacuum sealer. On each bag I write the food ( spaghetti sauce, applesauce,Salsa; all look the same dehydrated), before dehydrated quantity ( 1/2 lb, 24 oz, 2 servings, etc) and date. To save on fuel, pre-cook 80-90% (Al dente) short round pasta , dehydrated, and vacuum pack. On the trail, you can make Spaghetti with meat sauce for 1, 2, or 4 using your dehydrated sauce, hamburger, and pasta. Cover with water, bring to boil, take off burner, stir, place in cozy, let sit 10 minutes, check water and stir; add more water and return to stove if more water is needed or if too much water remove lid and return to stove. However usually I have to add water.
Never done this so this video helps. Thanks for taking the time to show us.
Get an Excalibur dehydrator- you won't be disappointed. The round ones are not made like they used to be. The Excalibur's are a far superior product!
The sun is a fourth method of drying. I use foil lined, cardboard boxes with plexiglass covers and vents covered by screen. It's good for produce but not meat.
I have a round one and we do leathers, it's just that you have to trim the parchment paper into a round shape and then be careful when you put the moist food on it. I guess a square one is just more practical for leathers.
Thanks guys, this has helped me out a lot
How long does dehydrated food last if there in a vacuum seal package?
How does one do this with the oven or campfire? I remember hearing that smoke & cool air preserves things for longer than fire.
Thanks guys for the video.
Thanks for thinking to add in a vegetarian/vegan option!!
great tips, thanks
Great video and I would love to start doing this but how do you know how much water to add when dehydrating.
That's why you weigh it before and after. The difference between the two being the amount of water needed.
Great tips, thanks!
Sorry for such a newbie question, but how do you know how much water to use to
rehydrate?
Is freeze drying a better option? I hear freeze dries food last 20 - 25 yrs.
It's an expensive process, with special freezers that freeze very quickly and achieve much lower temps than do your home freezer. For additional shelf life, affordably, you can look into packing into mylar bags and purging the oxygen using nitrogen.
jmax7733 or, you can place them into glass jars with lids, and add an oxygen absorber . When the oxygen is absorbed you will have a nitrogen packed jar.
Awesome!
Almost had a heart attack when she pronounced jambalaya that way!
And you bothered to post this?
so the round one can't make sauces leather?
How do you know how much water to add to something like spaghetti sauce or vegetables or fruit
You can weigh the food before and after drying and add back that much water.
Thank you
this only works ..if your a good cook!
When I see a title saying, how to dehydrate food I am imagining a method NOT using a store bought dehydrator which is pretty self explanatory. How about a, 'How to dehydrate WITHOUT a dehydrator."?
The MSR page that links to this vid (and was recently sent out) incorrectly overlooks that meat, to be dried, must first be COOKED. You do not dry raw meat and expect it to be safe to eat. Otherwise this is a C- food drying vid.
So, you cook your jerky before you dehydrate it??