tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post6183982580204557163..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Dehydrating Blueberries: An ExperimentLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-24677608593276866052016-11-29T20:17:13.052-05:002016-11-29T20:17:13.052-05:00I think it depends on the brand of dehydrator and ...I think it depends on the brand of dehydrator and where the heating element is. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-47502046821640363682016-11-29T16:00:29.839-05:002016-11-29T16:00:29.839-05:00I have 4 Nescos, all bought at thrift shops and sw...I have 4 Nescos, all bought at thrift shops and swap meets. The one with the heater on top is better. Try ebay if you're impatient.patouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13684909061926373821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-16581099058397342492016-11-29T15:58:57.106-05:002016-11-29T15:58:57.106-05:00No, top tray is cooler, had to leave the top one o...No, top tray is cooler, had to leave the top one on longer with my red bell peppers.patouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13684909061926373821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-83603081185593745152010-08-04T11:42:27.014-04:002010-08-04T11:42:27.014-04:00I am fascinated. I never heard of a food de-hydra...I am fascinated. I never heard of a food de-hydrator. With one of these I could dry the summer herbs from my garden, going to see if they are available in the UK ...<br /><br />Look forward to learning how your experiement goes.Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488670649558382921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-66793770892609967442010-07-31T07:16:43.219-04:002010-07-31T07:16:43.219-04:00Dehydrators are pricey;! Still, once you have one...Dehydrators are pricey;! Still, once you have one, you'll be glad you bit the bullet. Of course if you ask me, I'd recommend the Excalibur! :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51941124799306258792010-07-31T00:10:35.851-04:002010-07-31T00:10:35.851-04:00I don't have home blue berries but the ones fr...I don't have home blue berries but the ones from Costco are so sweet that I looked up information and froze ours. I don't have a dehydrator now though I'm trying to get one. My friends in Oregon recommended a Nesco, American Heritage - I think that's it. I'd have to order it online. There are none in stores here - I have exhausted the stores believe me. I used to have one, and along with many things I've lost track of, it's one of them.Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06432035940956042729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-48400992753302374942010-07-30T07:09:09.443-04:002010-07-30T07:09:09.443-04:00Oh Michelle, lucky you! Mine seems too small alre...Oh Michelle, lucky you! Mine seems too small already. Doubt I could talk DH into a 2nd one though as he was skeptical about the first, LOL<br /><br />Carrie, stay tuned!<br /><br />Robin, the dried ones are nice for muffins and pancakes. I like your idea of freezing them for snacks and simple desserts though. I've frozen a bunch this year, so I'll be able to try those for myself.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-24950497584886043952010-07-29T20:22:37.706-04:002010-07-29T20:22:37.706-04:00What a cool experiment! I have never tried drying ...What a cool experiment! I have never tried drying blueberries. I plan on picking some more this year but I will probably freeze them again. When we get our kitchen put together then I think drying some would be fun. I would assume that you would use them in a lot of baking? Since I can't really bake at the moment, I just take my frozen blueberries out of the freezer and use them as a snack or whip up some cream and use is as a dessert.Robinhttp://farmfolly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-67916373124331051422010-07-29T10:32:05.280-04:002010-07-29T10:32:05.280-04:00I had a similar experience with blueberries last y...I had a similar experience with blueberries last year. I call them "blue pebbles"! The good news is that they haven't molded... I am still planning to use them, but I think steeping them in brandy before using them in muffins or something would certainly make them more palatable!<br /><br />I have one of the circular type dehydrators, and it recommends that you rotate the trays every several hours - I would expect that the top trays would be hotter/drier than the lower ones - good thing you took the top one out first!!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08421589409738817614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-38300833523618514842010-07-28T20:23:03.950-04:002010-07-28T20:23:03.950-04:00That's why we just bought a 2nd freezer second...That's why we just bought a 2nd freezer secondhand!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-47915214164130256922010-07-28T18:56:19.631-04:002010-07-28T18:56:19.631-04:00Geodyne, if we didn't have our humidity, I wou...Geodyne, if we didn't have our humidity, I would love to try sun drying. I think that would be more of an art than a dehydrator though!<br /><br />Benita, yes, and I'm so glad my readers' comments prompted this. I <i>am</i> thinking about that book. Just need to figure out how to start, what to write, and when to write it!<br /><br />Maggie, LOL. I know my neighbors think we're weird. Why else would we do so many things around here with hand tools!<br /><br />Melissa, if that's the case, then all my experimental batches will probably mold. No, I don't do anything to pierce the skins, though I know some folks do. Really, my only argument with last year's batch was that the blueberries were bland and flavorless. They reconstituted well, but weren't tasty. Of course, they weren't very flavorful when fresh, but that wasn't a good year for blueberries. This year there's a huge difference, so maybe drying some of these would be more satisfactory. <br /><br />Thanks for the link! I'm always looking for good resources. <br /><br />Michelle, that's an idea. Of course, I'm running out of room in my freezer! really though, I have had good results with home dried fruits and vegetables. Some of them have kept for years. And years!<br /><br />Carrie, here's hoping they turn out well!<br /><br />Barb, well they must not have made a huge impression, LOL. OTOH, they obviously weren't absolutely terrible either. You'd probably remember one of those tow things.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-18020308714697288342010-07-28T16:35:25.381-04:002010-07-28T16:35:25.381-04:00I dried blueberries only once and used a screen I ...I dried blueberries only once and used a screen I took out in the sunshine and fresh air every day and brought them inside at night for what seemed like ages. It's been so long ago I can't remember is I was happy with them or not.bspinnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11385723696922637454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-58376891570441435252010-07-28T14:44:04.443-04:002010-07-28T14:44:04.443-04:00Science experiments are right up Jason's alley...Science experiments are right up Jason's alley! Will have to show him this. Looking forward to the results! -CarrieWhat Pigs Don't Knowhttp://www.pigsdontknow.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-68649241250168146822010-07-28T13:08:21.186-04:002010-07-28T13:08:21.186-04:00We store all our home-dehydrated fruit in the free...We store all our home-dehydrated fruit in the freezer to prevent any chance of mold, since we don't use preservative like commercial dried fruit. Then you can stop the drying at whatever texture you prefer!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75249214185993827102010-07-28T12:28:43.851-04:002010-07-28T12:28:43.851-04:00You actually want your blueberries to be rock hard...You actually want your blueberries to be rock hard! Did you prick the skins or steam them so the skin could break? Here is a link to my idol in dehydrating. You could not have a better dehydrator. The Excalibur is the best. Good luck watch this video of blueberries it will help I promise!!!<br />http://www.dehydrate2store.com/videos/?id=5<br /><br />MelissaKids and Canning Jarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794388845414644018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-37768169051518210902010-07-28T10:22:32.145-04:002010-07-28T10:22:32.145-04:00I love home experiments like this. :) But at my ho...I love home experiments like this. :) But at my house, they have a tendency to tip slightly toward "mad scientist," or from next door's perspective "deranged neighbor."maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409400959408658124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-16828340819779584192010-07-28T09:17:23.199-04:002010-07-28T09:17:23.199-04:00Don't you just love experiments? It's lik...Don't you just love experiments? It's like being a scientist, but the results are more personal than global.<br /><br />I'll be curious to see what your results are. And I STILL think you should write a book about your experiences as a homesteader.Benitahttp://www.basicallybenita.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-86921565241529650002010-07-28T08:21:52.321-04:002010-07-28T08:21:52.321-04:00Fabulous. It's always good to approach these t...Fabulous. It's always good to approach these things systematically.<br /><br />Like you, I've found there is an art to drying food, and have had successes and failures. I left my dehydrator in Australia but have been thinking about trying my hand at sun drying this year, as we've been having such a dry sunny summer.Geodynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05612024268485020748noreply@blogger.com