Dehydrator

[corsican dave]

Fred, I know someone who uses something like this with very acceptable results. certainly the way to go for a once-in-a-blue-moon use:
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/14210/My-Kitchen-Food-Dehydrator

this type were over £100 when I first looked about ten years ago

[Wildfisher]

That looks interesting Dave. Certainly for all the use it would get from me it might do.

[bushy palmer]

That looks like the design that this guy uses http://www.hungryhammockhanger.com/It was his youtube channel that made me decide I wanted one.
I get the impression he uses his all the time, so I don't think it would be any less up to the job.

My reason for going with the design I did was the fact that I could leave it doing its thing while I slept.

[Wildfisher]

So once dry do you seal the food  up in one of these heat seal type bags or what?

[bushy palmer]

I'm just using ziplock bags and freezing. Liplock alone keeps it good for about six months. Freezing extends this to about 18 months. Vacuum packing will extend it even further.

I got a rather nice book with mine which had a rather interesting few pages on shelf life. Some fruits for instance, once dried and stored in airtight containers have a shelf life of between 25 and 30 years! :shock:

[Fishtales]

I looked at this one a few years ago but never got around to buying one

http://www.ukjuicers.com/excalibur-5-tray-ehydrator-with-timer-black

[Wildfisher]

Actually the most effective dehydrator you can get is a warm sunny day on the hill and 6 Munros.

I always found that after such a day my beer absorption capacity increased massively.  :lol:

[corsican dave]

one or two decent camping trips would certainly cover the cost of the cheaper version, when you compare with the cost of commercially produced food (around £5 per pack). the other thing to bear in mind is that it's virtually any food: imagine taking your favourite curry or stew on the hill plus the flavour and ingredients are down to you, so no flavour enhancers, preservatives or ridiculous amounts of salt. not to mention the portion size.... you can soon accumulate a reasonable stock by just making some extra each time you cook.

just as a matter of interest, there are a few commercially produced foods like this on the market: http://www.kudrati.com/Presentation/Pages/KudratiHome.aspx

once you try one, there's no going back! however, a quick read down the ingredients and you soon get the idea how easy and cheaply this can be produced in your own home.

[Wildfisher]

Do these less expensive models do stews and stuff or are they just for fruit and veg?

[corsican dave]

Fred, i think you just have to make sure you've got a pretty stiff mixture before you start. certainly the stuff i've seen made using the cheaper versions were damned fine curries and chillies. as bushy palmer says, they're just more labour intensive.

i did a lot of research on this about 15 years ago after a couple on a remote welsh campsite asked me to join them for a meal they'd deydrated themselves. it was fantastic. at the time all the dehydrators were expensive so i never got round to it. however, i'm now seriously considering one now they're more affordable.