I have been cooking lots of root veggies and their delicious tops lately since adult son (49) moved back in and now think we should look into getting and using a dehydrator and making our own veggie "chips" etc. Has anyone else ever used one? Does it do a good job with root veggies and some fruits? Should I also get one of those "mandoline" slicers to make thin(ner) slices? Do tomatoes 'do' OK? Any and all ideas and suggestions most welcome here. Thanks
Love, Betty Lou

I don't have one, but have also considered it. Goods questions BL!

I am a sundried tomatoe addict personally.

Ana

We don't dehydrate, so I'm no help. Well we do, but only if we're outside during the summer.

We don't dehydrate either though we have thought of it. I do have a mandolin slicer which I love.

We use a dehydrator a lot for meat (jerkies). Less for veggies. I use it for herbs though and works very well and fast.
We have tried 3 kinds of dehydrators until we found one that can control temp better and spread it well. Mine must be 15 years old now and can't remember where I got it. I will check.

I use mandolins a lot; we have 3 (his and 2 hers). Tomatoes if firm works okay (not great); soft ones get squished.

Here's what worked well for us: Excalibur 2900ECB 9-Tray Economy Dehydrator, Black

thanks MaG! That looks awesome. I did not realise they are so expensive. I will have to shelve the thought.

I do however love my spiral slicer, especially for making zucchini pasta.

We tried the cheaper kinds before but some (decades ago) can't control heat well or drying uniformly.
I burned a lot of herbs to learn that.

I am glad you said that because I would have at some point added that to my collection of gadgets and I would hate to spend the money on something that does not work.

I have a ten tray TSM Harvest which I believe is comparable to the Excalibur but slightly less expense??? I also use mandolins for the lovely thin slices. I hand cut my tomatoes and get some terrific "sun-dried" tomatoes. I do herbs and fruit leathers and also jerky in mine. It is wonderful. I had a Ronco for quite a few years and I will say it lasted a long time. Too long. Little did I realize how much more efficient the larger, more controlled units are!! I just dehydrated bananas in mine. When mushrooms are on sale I stock up on these too as they rehydrate readily. I can't say enough about mine!!!

I am not going to read any more of these happy dehydrating stories so I can cease temptation.

What MaG said with the Excalibur. I have used mine for about 9 years now to dehydrate chopped onions, crushed garlic, tomatoes, apples, peppers, potatoes - pretty much "you name it." I'm not exaggerating when I say mine goes for as long as 2 months day and night in the late summer and fall. I've seen the TSM Harvest ones too and they seem to also get pretty good reviews. Like Lotus, I can't say enough about my dehydrator. If you think about getting one, stay away from the cheap round ones where you constantly have to rotate trays because the heat is on the bottom. After my Excalibur, I would never have the old kind again. The other requirement for good dehydrated stuff is a high quality mandolin - USED SAFELY!

Ana, you haven't lived until you've had my dehydrated garlic! And my smoked paprika? It will make you figure out a way to have a raised bed the dogs can get to and buy a dehydrator!

Not listening..... nope.

You're tough, girlfriend!

Hubby would be most displeased I am even having this conversation.

You can't imagine the vast number of dehydrators I find at thrift stores. Most look brand new. My theory is, the faster I can prepare something, the better it is. I have no patience for crock pots or drying stuff. I guess I live in the fast lane.

Got THREE crock pots when I got married. All 3 went right back to the store. I have been known to threaten bodily harm to good people who want to buy me 1) breadmakers 2)electric pizza cookers 3)electric carving knives 4)electric frying pans 5) do it yourself soda makers (the kind you carbonate yourself with their flavoring and water).

Fast is better and I gladly let someone else do all the preparation all the hard work. My two favorite things in the kitchen are my pressure cooker and my microwave.