Simple Foods: Rediscovering Our Food Dehydrator

Dan and I have mentioned a few times on the podcast how much we love our Exalibur food dehydrator. We absolutely love making our own dried fruit and beef jerky, free of additives and other junk ingredients that most other off the shelf foods have. Funny thing is, we didn’t always feel that way about our dehydrator. For a long time it just sat alone, tucked away in a cabinet above our refrigerator. It was yet another appliance we bought on impulse without thinking through how we would use it and if we really needed it in our lives. Isn’t that the case with most things we purchase on impulse?

We bought it well before we started our simplicity journey and got it primarily because we had just finished a 12 day juice fast and were motivated to continue to incorporate healthier, raw foods into our diets.  Plus we were tired of paying outrageous prices for beef jerky! So we got it, tried it…and then stored it away for months before using it again. Why? Well, like I said, we didn’t think through all the variables of bringing yet another appliance into our lives. And of course it was “out of sight and out of mind” so it simply didn’t get used.

Then one day Dan and I were discussing ways to slow the accumulation of clutter in our lives and curb our spending. We made a pact with one another to revisit and reuse some of those long forgotten items we purchased but never fully used, to see if we could or would actually use them. If not, we vowed to get rid of them for good! Luckily, after a serious interrogation session we determined there was a place for our food dehydrator in our lives. We just needed to ask the right questions:

  • What and how many types of foods do we want to make with the dehydrator?
  • Is there another way to make the same foods with items we already own? Or can we purchase these same foods with the same quality?
  • How often do we want to use it? Are these foods we will eat on a regular basis or only on special occasions?
  • Why are we not using it? Is the process too difficult? If so, can we simplify the process to make it worth using and keeping?
  • Is there a routine we can establish to make sure we use it?
  • Is the cost in time, effort and output worth keeping it?

In the end, we decided that it was worth it…for us. We love that we are creating healthier options for snacks and that they last longer than the fresh fruit that would end up going bad because we never ate it fast enough! Sure it takes some effort to prep the food before dehydrating, but we made the process simpler by creating a bi-weekly routine of dehydrating our snacks and we get the entire family involved making it more of a weekend or pre-camping trip ritual.

So take a look around at those things in your life that aren’t getting the attention they deserve. Is it because they really don’t fit into your lifestyle, or do you just need to take a closer look and strategize how it can add value to your life? It just might be worth the effort.

So, what do you have laying around the house that you could put to good use? What’s something you’ve been hanging on to fully intending to use, but never seem to get around to actually using it? Let us know in the comments below.

 

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5 thoughts on “Simple Foods: Rediscovering Our Food Dehydrator

  1. My sister in law owns a food dehydrator and I share it with her. And I own a yoghurt maker she uses occasionally. I love to make crispy nuts in the dehydrator and want to try beef jerky. Your pictures have inspired me.

    • That’s great, Ginger! I’ve never used a yogurt machine myself but it sounds like something right up my alley. I’m glad you like the pictures. We’re trying to “document” more of what we do with photos to share here on the site.

      Dan simplified his jerky making by starting off with lean, grass-fed beef hamburger. It totally eliminates the cutting and makes the jerky so easy to chew, too. Much, much easier than using strips of beef.

  2. So I got one of these deal-ee-ohs after hearing you guys talk about it on a podcast. I got a much smaller one, but I’m loving it. It’s not terribly convenient, but either is juicing, which I’ve been doing for three years now. Once I noticed what a huge difference The Green Juice made for me health-wise, I felt it was worth it…kale in my teeth and all. Same thing happened with the intimacy I’ve been sharing lately with my dehydrator as I chop, chop, chop away my Sunday afternoon 🙂 The other big kitchen surprise is my zucchini noodle maker, Vanessa! I actually started using it b/c I eat mostly Paleo and am missing the pasta in my life…it’s a pretty good substitute. I’m using it at least four times a week—definitely worth keeping around. The lemon juicer thing, electric can opener and caveman blender have not made the cut. I’m finding it’s all about paying attention to what you really use.
    Actually…this whole simplifying thing is about being mindful, in general.
    What a concept, huh?
    Loving this new found life!
    * * *
    Here’s hoping your family is enjoying some floating time this spring!

    • They’re great aren’t they? I love they jerky. I’m a meat guy. But the kiwi…oooooo it’s nice and tart! Glad you’re having good, healthy fun with your kitchen stuff. It feels so good to use the things we have and only have the things we use.

    • Yeah…funny how you take a liking to eating “grass” when you start to see and feel how good it is for you! Juicing is fabulous! I love my spirulizer too but need to use it a little more. And we’re about to toss out our old blender, food processor and coffee grinder…and maybe our mortar and pestle since our Blendtec can do the functions of all of them! Edit, edit, edit!

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