Topic: Drying out chilli's & fruit

[Lacelotte]

I was wondering if anybody here usually dries out thier chillis or fruit for storing.

If so how do you do it? I really want to do this with my chillis and goja berries this year to save freezers space and don't have a clue where to start.

Shane

[Crystalmoon]

Hi there I use a dehydrator made by a company called Excaliber...it was very expensive so it is quite an investment but works really well for everything including herbs. It makes great fruit leathers too & will dry out meat to make jerky. I have had it for years too so it is a reliable machine even if it does look very plasticky.  The way it is designed means you get an even drying all over the many trays that it holds. Sorry if this sounds like an advert Im not on commission honest  ;) just really happy with this product.
You can get cheaper smaller models of dehydrator now quite easily in the UK, maybe you could try one of these first & see if you like the results.
This year I am going to try to pickle alot of produce & also to make various chutneys. I got some books from my local library & have some great recipes to try out. The financial investment for this way of preserving your harvest is really small if you recycle old glass jars. New lids can be ordered on line for very little cost (as can new jars).
Hope this helps

[Baccy Man]

You can make your own food dehydrator for a fraction of the cost of buying one.
Mine is based on these plans which are simple but effective:
http://www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/dehydratorstryder.htm

Here are a couple of other designs:
http://www.k-clements.fsnet.co.uk/dehydrator.html
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/hooker41.html

[Barnowl]

I just put my chillies in an open bowl in the airing cupboard or hang them on a string in the kitchen. Thin walled varieties are more suitable for drying than fleshy ones, so you might have to take more care with the latter.

Haven't tried fruit, I'm sure it's much more difficult without specialist kit.

[calendula]

yes, that's all I do as I harvest the chillies I just leave them in the kitchen on a tray and they dry out wonderfully (our kitchen is very warm though with an Aga on full time so this might make a difference)

[manicscousers]

we just leave the chillies on the warm windowsill, they dried out very well  ;D

[tim]

Back of the AGA. As with Mushroms, Apples etc.