No Dehydrator? Use an Oven Instead!

Make your favorite fruits and veggies last longer with the help of a dehydrator. But what if you don’t have one?

Good news, you can use an oven instead!

An oven can be an excellent alternative to a dehydrator, especially if you don’t want to buy it. The oven will help you dry your food for better shelf life.

Are you ready to learn how to use the oven for dehydrating food? I’ll guide you every step of the way. Don’t worry; this technique is a tried and tested method you can trust!

What is a dehydrator used for?

A dehydrator reduces the water content of the food to make it last longer. I love how it can help avoid wasting food, especially fruits and veggies.

In fact, you can also make your own seasoning by drying herbs and spices of your choice. It’s a good way of drying food to make healthy snacks.

Using my dehydrator, I discovered how to make Dried Apple Slices, raisins, chili flakes, paprika, and more!

How exactly does it work? Well, it allows airflow at a low temperature that eventually dries the food without burning it or losing its health benefits and flavor.

Benefits of Dehydrating Food

Whether you’re using a dehydrator, an oven, or even the sun, dried food has its benefits. 

First, it turns fresh food into lasting and healthy snacks or treats. You can even store your favorite seasonal fruits and veggies, so you never have to run out. 

In addition, using a dehydrator helps retain the benefits of the food to keep it healthy even after they dry. You will surely love how crunchy and delicious these dried snacks are.

Dehydrating is also an effective way of enjoying a vegan diet. For instance, dried nuts and fruits are great ingredients for meal preps, salads, granola bars, and more. 

It is also helpful for avoiding food waste. Dehydrating is also an excellent way of saving money, storing food, and maximizing space in your kitchen.

In conclusion, drying food has numerous advantages that you can gain. Start reaping them by learning how to dehydrate them with an oven!

How to Use an Oven as a Dehydrator

1. Preheat the oven to 85ºC for about ten minutes.
2. Prepare the ingredients with a knife or V-Blade Slicer.
3. Then, line the oven tray with grill mesh or parchment paper.
4. Place it on a cooling rack.
5. Arrange the food on the rack in a single layer.
6. Place them in the oven and let the oven dry them. 
7. You can flip the slices to dry both sides.

Remember to be patient when using the oven, especially if the food has lots of water. The average drying time can last between six to ten hours. 

And that is how you can convert an oven into a nifty dehydrator! Try it out with your favorite fruits and vegetables, and let me know how it turns out!

Best Foods for Using a Dehydrator

You can dehydrate food from fruits and vegetables to meats and herbs. According to Eating Well, the best fruits and veggies to dehydrate include the following:

• Apples
• Berries
• Tomatoes
• Mangoes
• Pineapples
• Bell peppers
• Zucchini
• Sweet potatoes

Transform meat like beef, chicken, and turkey into jerky treats. Add these to stews, salads, or dishes for variety and flavor. Put them in a jar, and you have yourself a healthy yet yummy snack. 

Interestingly, grains such as quinoa and barley can also be dried to make flour for your baking needs. 

Don’t stop there! Herbs such as oregano, mint, and basil can be dried to cook the most perfectly seasoned dishes. I love using it for drying the herbs and spices for my mixed herbs!

Dehydrator vs. Oven

When choosing whether to use an oven or a dehydrator, here are some pros and cons that you may consider when making this decision. 

Let’s start with the dehydrator! You can dry many foods at the same time because of their size and layers. It even has a thermometer and timer to make it easier to monitor.

It is specially made to spread heat and air for effective drying food. However, a dehydrator can also be expensive. This also uses electricity and space in your kitchen.

Meanwhile, an oven is more readily available than a dehydrator. It also dries the food quicker. Oven drying also doesn’t cause too many changes in the food.

Although, using an oven can be tricky when it comes to setting the time and temperature. It is also limited in terms of space because, most of the time, there are only one or two layers in the oven.

In conclusion, choose whatever depends on your most important factors!

For instance, if your concern is space, it’s best to use a versatile oven. The dehydrator might be better if you want to dry food in bulk. 

	Oven	Dehydrator
Price		✅
Space	✅
Dehydrating Time		✅
Nutrition		✅
Cost of running		✅
Usage		✅
Utility	✅

Important Tips

Be patient

All good things take time, and dried food is certainly not an exception. After all, the best results are always worth waiting for, right? 

Allow air

If your oven doesn’t have a fan feature, then you can leave the door slightly open to allow air inside. It also helps you achieve a crunchy and crispy texture. 

Line the tray 

Place wax or parchment paper on the tray to keep the food together and to make cleaning easier.

Pay attention to the temperature

Dehydrate the food slowly at a low temperature to avoid burning it. Food can take several hours to dry, especially if they have water content.

Prepare the food well

Slice the food thinly, if needed. Evenly arrange it in a single layer with a bit of space in between to cook them all the way through. 

More Dehydrator Alternatives

Microwave

1. Spread the food on a microwave-safe dish.
2. Then, set your microwave to the defrost setting.
3. Let the food dry for about 30 minutes or until dried.
4. Flip them every ten minutes to dry all sides.

Toaster Oven

1. Preheat the toaster to 80°C.
2. Arrange the fruits or veggies on a lined tray.
3. Then, let it dry for at least six hours.
4. Check and turn the food every 30 minutes.

Sun-drying

1. Place the food on a lined tray.
2. Cover the tray with a food net cover.
3. Let it dry under the sun for a few days.

Conclusion

To summarize, a dehydrator may be useful for storing food, but it’s not the only appliance that can dry your favorite food. When it comes to food, there are always alternatives available. 

And when you don’t have a dehydrator, use an oven! What matters most are the results – the healthy, tasty, healthy, and lasting quality of dried goods.