I inherited an inexpensive food dehydrator from my parents and have used it primarily for Kale. It didn't work well for other things because it didn't dry evenly and took a long time. Well, it has died and now I'm considering getting a new one. The really good, recommended ones are so expensive though! Then I wonder if I would use it more if I did have a good one? My kids love dried fruits and such. Does anyone have some suggestions for a good one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

I don't but would love suggestions. We inherited an old one from a friend and will be seeing how it dries apples soon. Would love to make good tasting, with good texture fruit leather, any suggestions on that?

I got rid of mine a while back. We had two electric ones, and didn't like that they took so many hours of electricity to make so little food.

But, I used to enjoy 1) cutting slices of zucchini or cucumber & salting and drying them to make "chips" that could be used like potato chips but healthier.
2) dehydrated watermelon is delicious!
3) for leathers, it is usually helpful to use about 1/2 apple in whatever you're making - it has pectin that helps the leather "work" Also, just plain banana puree makes a pretty good leather, if you don't mind the brown color. And, banana pieces are good dehydrated.

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I will try these Anna. We have plenty of apples!!

I have never had nor heard of dehydrating watermelon. Interesting.

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“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
― Mother Teresa

It's a good use for a watermelon that's not as sweet as you would have liked. Dehydrating concentrates the sugars and makes it yummier.

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