Sure, they make great fruit roll-ups and great dehydrated mushrooms and beef jerky, but what else can you use your EziDri food dehydrator for?
BE CREATIVE! Or heed the old adage that necessity is the mother of invention. The best way to get your money’s worth with any kitchen appliance is to actually use it! Read on for other helpful ways you can get your EziDri Food Dehydrator up and running.
1. DRYING THE PASTA: If you make your own pasta, you know that if there is any moisture in it before you store it, it will go moldy pretty quickly. You can dry it efficiently and quickly in your EziDri dehydrator. Dry for 2-4 hours on medium heat and store in airtight containers. Remember, you can make the most wonderful pasta dough by hand, or even with a bread maker, and instead of using water as the moisture content, use vegetable juices like carrot, spinach, or bell pepper. Or, add homemade vegetable powders to build flavor and interest. Use the spaghetti or fettuccine extrusion nozzles on the Samson 6-In-1 or the Oscar Vitalmax juicer… how easy is that?
2. COOKED PASTA: Cooked pasta can be dried in your EziDri dehydrator and broken into small pieces before storing in airtight containers. When you need it, simply rehydrate in a bowl of boiling water and it only takes 2-3 minutes. Great for when you have leftover food and want to stretch it out a bit more without much extra effort. Or take it with you on camping trips and hikes. Big carbs, no complicated prep!
3. REFRESHING THE COOKIES: Don’t waste money on crackers, biscuits, chips or even cereal that are no longer fresh. If you find that they are a little stale, re-roast them by placing them in a single layer on the EziDri drying trays and turn them on for about an hour on medium heat.
4. HUMIDIFIER – If you find the air in your home to be quite dry, especially during the colder months, you can use your EziDri Dehydrator to humidify it and return it to a more comfortable condition. Place a few containers of water on the trays of your EziDri and turn it on high. As the water evaporates, the air becomes more humid.
5. AIR FRESHENER: You will notice as you use your EziDri dehydrator that the air is filled with the aromas of whatever you are drying. Did you know that you can deliberately use your EziDri to perfume the atmosphere of your home? By simply placing aromatic fruits or botanicals in the dehydrator, you can create a beautiful perfume, without any of the chemicals used in commercial air fresheners. Try citrus, lavender, or a variety of herbs.
6. AROMATHERAPY: Yes, it’s even an aromatherapy diffuser! Place some non-toxic branches or aromatic plants on the trays of your EziDri dehydrator and turn it on medium heat. Old bread moistened with water will help diffuse the aroma of vanilla essence. Lavender, rosemary, and rose petals are delicious.
7. CRUMBLED BREAD: Whenever you have bread that is not eaten, it is a shame to throw it away. Dry it in your EziDri food dehydrator, and once it’s crisp, shred it by hand or give it a quick taste in your food processor. While you’re at it, you can add herbs or citrus peels that you dried earlier, or vegetable powders to add more flavor. Flavored breadcrumbs are perfect for chicken, fish fillets or veal chops, and great for stuffing recipes.
8. POT POURRI: Customize your own potpourri combinations to suit your tastes and the materials you have on hand. The EziDri Food Dehydrator is the best tool for the job, as it perfectly dries all items while still allowing them to retain their beautiful scents. Try various flower petals, fruit peels, pine needles, herbs, grasses, woods, and spices.
9. FIRE STARTERS: Turn citrus peels into the best, most aromatic fire starters you’ll ever use. Citrus fruits do not break down in compost piles due to their antibacterial properties and actually inhibit the breakdown of other matter. When peeling citrus fruits, simply cut the skins into strips and dry until crisp. When you turn them on, the oils will ignite and burn for a decent amount of time. With no water content, they will burn beautifully.
10. PET TREATS: Don’t overlook your dog or kitten. Pig trotters and snouts and other meats are very welcome when dehydrated; Pets love them!
11. FLAVOURED VEGETABLE POWDER: Chop the vegetables into coarse pieces, spread them on a mesh sheet and dehydrate until the vegetables are dry and crisp. Then spray and store in airtight containers. Imagine what you can do with these! Try carrots, whole heads of celery, garlic, onions, red or green bell peppers and more. Add the powders to soups, salad dressings, bread dough, your favorite beef jerky marinade, or anything else your imagination conjures up.
As you can see, EziDri Food Dehydrators are very valuable appliances. You will have a lot of fun trying out new ideas and seeing what new things you can create. Available in three models: the Classic Everyday, the Snackmaker and its big brother, the Ultra FD1000.
