tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post4553261115300361111..comments2024-03-14T15:31:17.982-06:00Comments on Dehydrating Way Beyond Jerky: Dairy, Don ‘cha Know? The Scoop on Cottage Cheese.Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08714407873275089321noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-45671375202235058602015-11-02T11:36:53.769-07:002015-11-02T11:36:53.769-07:00By the way, keep checking at your local thrift sto...By the way, keep checking at your local thrift stores. You can often find a perfectly good American Harvester for $5.00. Thanks to foolish people who don't get what you can do with these wonderful machines.<br /><br />Over several years, I found enough machines from $5 to $10 (less than the cost to buy two additional racks) to have three complete machines with 12 racks each.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714407873275089321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-44568206274511938402015-11-02T11:34:22.035-07:002015-11-02T11:34:22.035-07:00I have used the American Harvester for nearly twen...I have used the American Harvester for nearly twenty years. It's a wonderful machine. <br /><br />Recently, someone gave me a small Excalibur machine. It is also a good machine.<br /><br />Here is a post where you can find comparisons to the machines on the market.<br /><br />http://dehydratingwaybeyondjerky.blogspot.com/2012/07/dehydrator-comparisons.html<br /><br />Basically, all you need is a machine with a blower and a thermostat. You do NOT need a timer, because the drying time has three variables - moisture content of the food, size of the pieces of food, and ambient humidity where you live. In other words, if you are in a humid client or in rainy weather, it will take longer to dry than if you are in an arid climate.<br /><br />You need a thermostat because meats need to be dehydrated at 140 degrees and fruits and veggies need to be dehydrated at no higher than 115 degrees. (Dry them too fast and you may develop CASE HARDENING - see my post on case hardening)<br /><br />Features:<br />American Harvester can take up to 12 racks - one model can take 30 racks, where as the Excalibur is a boxed unit with a specific number of racks, smaller units only hold four to six racks.<br /><br />The American Harvester is significantly less expensive than the Excalibur.<br /><br />One nice feature of the Excalibur is that each rack has a flexible removable screen, making it very easy to pour dried foods into a container. The American Harvester's round racks do not do that. However, I over came that problem by dumping my dried food into a large flat plastic container.<br /><br />Another minor irritant with the Excalibur is the location of the blower. It is in the back. If you open the front to check on your food, light weight things will blow out all over the place. This can be overcome by simply turning off the machine.<br /><br />The Excalibur is considered one of the best. However, My American Harvesters have performed without a hitch for nearly twenty years. <br /><br />Why would I spend money on a Cadillac when a Ford does the job just as well?<br />Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714407873275089321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-80949529140041525842015-10-28T17:18:15.020-06:002015-10-28T17:18:15.020-06:00help please !!! hi this is my 1st t...help please !!! hi this is my 1st time on here . i just kinda found you while looking for imfo on dehydrating foods. have never done it and i am looking to buy a dehydrater. would you share which is best . if anyone has any imfo on recipes or the machine itself, how to do it and times i would be interested in your thoughts. anything would help. to anonymous, you have three with which you dehydrate, which do you reccomend, thanks to allcecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14618037198150629160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-39136946564435195252014-03-17T07:59:09.202-06:002014-03-17T07:59:09.202-06:00I am so very glad to have stumbled across your blo...I am so very glad to have stumbled across your blog. I am now dehydrating things from my freezer 1) to clean out freezer; 2) to make food longer term storage 3) so much easier to store & less space & weight of dehydrated foods 4) I can prepare the food , load the dehydrator, set time & temp and multi task while the dehydrator works. Right now I have 3 dehydrator...sometimes all of them working at one time. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-42443523306358353262013-08-14T13:29:54.327-06:002013-08-14T13:29:54.327-06:00Hi Lizabeth,
Yes, for most people it is better fr...Hi Lizabeth,<br /><br />Yes, for most people it is better fresh. It's a personal preference thing.<br /><br />However, I am always experimenting with things of this nature because I think in terms of disasters, both short and long-term. <br /><br />For people who can't afford the rising prices of dairy products, and they need a steady supply, this is an alternative. Refrigerating or freezing for the long term isn't feasible as you deal with molding and freezer burn, plus the monthly cost of electricity. To say nothing of 40% to 60% of nutrient loss by freezing<br /><br />For some of us, as long as the nutrition is fairly stable, then it's worth the effort to dehydrate cottage cheese. Plus, it's ideal for traveling or camping without having to lug an ice chest along.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714407873275089321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-46117905389857932862013-08-11T15:34:53.190-06:002013-08-11T15:34:53.190-06:00I go in fits and starts with the dehydrator. I hav...I go in fits and starts with the dehydrator. I have done a great many things in it over the years. But I think I'll stick to the other stuff seeing as cottage cheese is better off fresh made than from store or dehydrated.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13033247208071164624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-33771627145747174792012-12-08T14:54:19.659-07:002012-12-08T14:54:19.659-07:00Thanks so much. YOu know, they say necessity is th...Thanks so much. YOu know, they say necessity is the mother of invention. I am soooo needy! (chuckle)Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714407873275089321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-17425027149010425392012-11-09T22:23:45.972-07:002012-11-09T22:23:45.972-07:00Your contents are wonderful and advisory.
sydney s...Your contents are wonderful and advisory.<br /><a href="http://www.dealsextra.com.au/sydney.php" rel="nofollow">sydney spreets</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-73197769958670451862012-11-07T16:06:07.028-07:002012-11-07T16:06:07.028-07:00Yes, please do, as long as you include a link back...Yes, please do, as long as you include a link back to my blogspot! Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714407873275089321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-14383260046462605092012-11-07T16:04:49.606-07:002012-11-07T16:04:49.606-07:00I made another post on cottage cheese. Used my sal...I made another post on cottage cheese. Used my salad spinner to get rid of the extra liquid. It was fantastic as a dip!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714407873275089321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-20070227631045652652012-10-31T10:53:05.516-06:002012-10-31T10:53:05.516-06:00I LOVE cottage cheese! Wish I had known this when ...I LOVE cottage cheese! Wish I had known this when I hiked the Appalachian Trail. I dehydrated all my own food and had things like shepherds pie often. I love cottage cheese with meals like that and would have LOVE to have had this. My dehydrator is sitting next to me finishing some apples, next up.. cottage cheese! May I share this on my blog? http://www.nowwhatssheupto.blogspot.com/Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13790208942740324429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-84351756595927693022012-10-31T10:38:27.383-06:002012-10-31T10:38:27.383-06:00In a mason jar with an oxygen pack.... 30 years.
I...In a mason jar with an oxygen pack.... 30 years.<br />In just a mason jar 3 depending on humidity. <br /><br />Wendy bairdhttp://www.wendybaird.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-6899929533998577712012-10-31T10:34:30.953-06:002012-10-31T10:34:30.953-06:00I imagine you could use a cheese cloth to drain s...I imagine you could use a cheese cloth to drain some of the liquid first. I hate having an item in for 3 days.... Some many more things to dehydrate. Lol<br />Wendy bairdhttp://www.wendybaird.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-4757781068718795922012-10-31T10:32:06.391-06:002012-10-31T10:32:06.391-06:00How long can you store it for?
How long can you store it for?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6891422639012475199.post-72936551429038321932012-10-31T10:25:56.726-06:002012-10-31T10:25:56.726-06:00might be good to put if u r making lasagna or a ca...might be good to put if u r making lasagna or a cassarole if u can still cook<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com