Drying food without a dehydrator?
 

So, is there any easy way to dry herbs like basil and veggies, like peppers without a dehydrator?

The humidity is such here, things just mold being left out. Nor do I have the money for a nice dehydrator right now.

you could make one?

either solar or use a light bulb.

one other option would be a dehumidifier in a tiny closet.

I forgot about the car option too, ready made solar dehydrator...

I personally never had much luck in my weather drying either. When I did..I would hang small bunches of say..basil up on a little clothes line in the house with netting..like tole..you buy at sewing stores...but most times the dried leaves would still fall to the floor. Some have luck drying on the back window of their cars. .I have an old dehydrator from California years ago that will take days to dry things vs the newer plastic ones that only take hours but..the noise from the fans on the plastic ones drive me nuts.. Old lady that I have now become. Sorry I'm not much help. Hopefully, others can give you some better advice. I dry so much basil and other herbs that I would truly miss not having them in my kitchen. Good Luck..

Build a solar dehydrator.

http://diysolar.dasolar.com/group/diysolardehydrator

http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/b...#axzz2aLEeeR6e

oven run on low with on and off cycles.

or maybe freeze dry in freezer

I used to use the oven to do jerky before I had a dehydrator. Lay stuff on a window screen. Attic is usally dry even in humid conditions.

Watch craigslist, email people that are having a yardsale the next day and ask if they are going to have a dehydrator---someone might have one that they do not use and would be willing to sale(I have found alot of items I was hunting by doing this or asking while at the yardsale and the saler would go in the house and get items and sell to me---like jars, cast iron, etc, etc)---go get it the day before the sale if possible or be at that yardsale a few minutes before they open. I have about a dozen dehydrators and most all are the nesco/american harvester brand/adjustable thermostat(like Walmarts sold/sells) most all were bought at yardsales/auctions for $5 and under. When you are at a auction----alot of people will not bid on these---thinking they might not work----I bid knowing if it does not work that I can have some extra trays.(But Every Dehydrator I have bought---worked) I use the extra dehydrator trays to add a few trays to a couple dehydrators I might have going.

Put a "wanted" add on craigslist/facebook in your area.

Sure a Excalibur etc is nice but these cheaper ones dry food too!

I'm not sure about in your climate, but in mine I just take the whole plants and hang them up above the woodstove once fall starts and we start heating with wood.

Alton Brown did a show where he made dehydrated foods with a box fan and paper AC filters.

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...on-Brown-style

heres a video from paul wheaton who is a member here....3 solar set ups.

heres a simple fast cheap set up.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Dehydrator-1/

this one says for humid areas


http://www.instructables.com/id/Humi...ar-Dehydrator/

I did dry herbs in the car under the windshield . I didn't want to run electric on a good sunny day. Just put them on a cookie sheet. Sue

elk, thx for the great links posted above.

I'm in a truly humid climate, and must use the lowest setting for the oven to dry anything, as things mold faster than they can dry.

Thank you for the ideas everyone.

Been very humid here... walk out and my glasses fog up, grass stays wet all day, even the outside of the house is dripping. Is nuts. So bad, have been having trouble breathing. sigh ~~

But it looks like I might be able to give a couple of those ideas a try! Thanks!

Use your car as a dehydrator. We did. Free energy. Lots of room. Follow the sun.

That's using the ol' noodle.

Thanks Bluemoonluck, I love Alton! If anyone is interested Alton has a video on You tube that shows him making this food dehydrator. It looks easy enough that I think I might even be able to make it and that's saying a lot! :D
Does anyone know a good source to buy some inexpensive food grade screens from? Maybe I 'm just really cheap:shrug: but when I did an online search the prices I saw looked a high. Thank you!

I have used this method with mushrooms and it works great.

Or between 2 window screens in a vehicle. Watch out you might want to ventilate.

I was just going to mention that.

Did not read the others so if it is a dupe --I take the blame

1 car---esp one with a blown eng.
Must have windows
temp gage

bake pan and cooling racks or for finer things a ss fine mest oil spatter guard for fry pans.

have the ballet tutu fabric --it is like mesh --oh duct tape (any color)

the tutu stuff and tape is to allow to open the windows to adjust the temp and keep bugs out.

load up trays and place in car--place temp gauge where you can see it.

test product every so often.

uses no ele.