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Dehydration removes the moisture and will cause the foods to shrink as
it dries. is allows you to store the same amount of food in a smaller space,
but it also means that the food shrinks during the drying process, smaller
pieces can fall through the holes in the drying trays. To prevent this par-
ticularly when drying chopped or shredded foods, line the trays with mesh
tray inserts before laying out the food. Chopped food should not be spread
thicker the 3/8 inch. Use a fork to expose the mesh tray insert in several
places to provide proper air circulation.
If you do not have mesh tray inserts available, use nylon netting, needle
point canvas, cheesecloth or similarly, coarse woven fabric. When lining the
tray be sure to cut an opening for the tray’s center hole. e fabric should be
food safe, allow air to pass through it, and it must be laundered before being
used. Use care when choosing fabric as sticky foods may not be able to be
easily removed, and particles from the fabric may stick to the food pieces.
It may be necessary to stir the finely chopped food once or twice during
dehydration to ensure even drying of all the pieces. To do so, turn the ma-
chine off, unplug it, remove the trays, stir, then reassemble and restart the
machine according to the instructions.
Preventing Dripping
Some foods such as very ripe tomatoes and citrus or sugared fruits may drip.
If too much liquid drips into the bottom of the unit it can be damage neces-
sitating service. Additionally, the dripping from a tray above can change
the flavor of different foods on lower trays. To help lessen the dripping after
placing food on drying trays and before placing them on the dehydrator
base, tap the tray firmly downward on a towel laid on the counter top a few
times to remove excess moisture.
To catch any remaining dripping during dehydration that may occur
with very moist foods. Use fruit leather sheets places on the bottom two
trays. Alternate the sheets on one half of the two trays. Example: the left
side of the first tray and the right side of the second tray. en place these
two bottom trays on the dehydrator base before placing the remaining trays
with the food to be dried above them. When rotating trays, wipe the fruit
leather sheets, but leave the two trays at the bottom of the stack of trays.
When the food becomes dry enough so that it is no longer dripping, remove
the fruit leather sheets from the bottom trays to enhance air flow.
Do not use wax paper in place of the fruit leather sheets as the wax on
the paper will melt at dehydration temperatures which can taint the food or
damage the dehydrator. Always remember to leave the center hole of each
tray uncovered.
