| If you already own a food dehydrator then you're | | | | things that I use them for. If you have ever |
| already on the road to eating healthy snacks and | | | | purchased dried cherries you know they are not |
| saving money all at the same time. If you don't | | | | cheap and the ones that are cheap may not be |
| own a food dehydrator you should. Food | | | | the best quality. So I make my own dried |
| dehydrators are a great way to not only store | | | | cherries with high quality fruit and they turn out |
| your foods but to create good dried foods that | | | | great. |
| we pay alot of money for in the stores. I want | | | | #5. Apricots: I have always loved dried apricots |
| to give you my top 7 items that I love to | | | | and they have a natural sweet flavor. Dried |
| dehydrate and inform you of why you should | | | | apricots have many uses much like cherries. One |
| own one yourself. | | | | of my favorite uses is to garnish steak with them |
| #1. Bananas: Any time you go to the grocery | | | | to add a sweet flavor to the meat. Apricots are |
| store think about the cost of dried banana chips. | | | | not to expensive but again the tubs of dried |
| Now think about the cost of bundle of bananas. | | | | apricots are sort of pricey. Also try these in a |
| They are not even close in price. I recently went | | | | bowl of grape nuts to have a healthy and tasty |
| to the store and bought bananas on sale for only | | | | snack. |
| 29 cents a lb. However also displayed by the | | | | #6. Beef: Beef jerky is wonderful especially for |
| bananas were a 1/3 lb. of banana chips which | | | | those of us on a high protein diet with low |
| happened to be $3.99. Now I don't know about | | | | amounts of fat. Using lean meat can help you |
| you but I think I'll buy my own bananas and | | | | create a very high protein low fat snack that can |
| produce my own banana chips at a fraction of | | | | be consumed daily to add the power pack of |
| the cost. | | | | protein for a long workout. This is probably one of |
| #2. Strawberries: I love fresh strawberries but I | | | | the most common uses for a food dehydrator |
| also love dried strawberries. Dried strawberries | | | | but you can't beat a classic. Beef jerky is also |
| are great for topping cereal with and can be | | | | great for the long road trips with the family and |
| stored for quite awhile longer than fresh | | | | kids. |
| strawberries. I am not sure I've ever seen dried | | | | #7. Apples: I love to eat dried apples. Once they |
| strawberries in a store before but trust me they | | | | are dry add a light dusting of cinnamon to the |
| come out nice and sweet when you dry your | | | | apple pieces and you have a very good snack. |
| own. | | | | They always seem to store very well to and for |
| #3. Deer Meat: I don't hunt but I have hunters in | | | | at least a few weeks. Apples get crunchy which |
| my family and every year they hunt and bring | | | | can add to the uses they have. Toppings, |
| home a deer. I always end up with some of the | | | | garnishings or just by themselves apples are |
| deer so I make jerky out of it. It is absolutely | | | | always one of my favorites. |
| delicious and has more of a wild flavor than beef. | | | | Hopefully this helps give you an idea of some of |
| So for something more exciting I always eat the | | | | the uses for a food dehydrator. Experiment a little |
| deer meat instead. | | | | bit and without much effort you'll come up with |
| #4. Cherries: Dried cherries can be used for just | | | | an idea all of your own. Some things do not |
| about anything. You can top salads with them, | | | | dehydrate well at all and others dehydrate |
| cereals, cookies and even bread. I am sure they | | | | wonderfully. Trial and error will help you find |
| have many other uses but those are a few | | | | exactly what type of dried foods you love. |