I dusted off this.
It has been ages since I had dehydrated anything. Probably almost a year.
With the chillier weather and a craving for something warm, last night I fired up the hot box.
Being that it runs for hours and hours it’s not the type of appliance I’d run in the summer since my small kitchen tends to get extra toasty when it’s on, but in the winter, I’ll take the “free” heat without turning on the heater.
I dehydrated bananas. Ground-breaking indeed.
I don’t really “love” bananas just to eat. I like them in banana-containing recipes but I am not one to just chomp into a banana for a snack. Something about them plain, as is, that I just don’t care for all that much.
But give me warm, dehydrated bananas slices and I could single-handedly make the prices of Dole stock rise.
They are not pretty creatures in their wrinkly post-dehydrated state. And night-time photography in an already dark kitchen is not a pretty experience either. Gah, hate the shorter and shorter days.
But these ‘nanas are so good. Chewy, sweet, warm little discs.
Dehydrating removes the water and therefore concentrates the flavor of whatever it is you’re dehydrating and in this case the banana slices get sweeter and richer tasting.
So perfect.
Questions:
1. What have you revisited or dusted off lately?
I dusted off my nifty fifty. I still don’t “love” it but I’m liking it more. I’d like a prime lens for food photography. If anyone has one you love for food photography, holla. Canon 35mm f/2.0 or 35mm f/1.4 anyone? 50 mm f/1.4 or 1.2?
I’ve also revisited these bars after not having them for about six months. Happy I did.
2. Do you own a dehydrator? Want one?
As I’ve said in this post, I do not use my dehydrator much at all. Nearly a year could go by in between uses. I find the oven to be much quicker, more efficient, and dehydrators are very bulky and take up a fair amount of precious countertop real estate.
For the person who just wants to make cheezy kale chips or chocolate coconut kale chips you can make them in the oven, and I do make them in the oven with decent results, i.e. low oven 200F, door ajar if you wish, and wait and flip, wait and flip.
You’d be doing the same thing with a dehydrator, more or less.
That said, if you just have to have one, or you own one already and really adore yours, awesome!
I would personally spend $250 on a good food processor, a refurbished Vita-Mix, a Kitchen-Aid Stand Mixer or other appliances before I’d allocate resources to a dehydrator. Because those are some pretty pricey banana slices if you average it out based on how (in)frequently I use mine, but it’s fun when I do dust it off.
Thanks for the Natural Protein & Energy Drink Giveaway entries
I would love a dehydrator but there are so many things I would buy first (like a big girl food processor, my mini one limits my quantities of dough balls!) that it just doesn’t make sense.
Agreed. Lots of things *First* before resources$$ are allocated to that…in hind sight, I realize this more now. You learn as you go and build your stash :)
Gosh, you make the banana chips sound amazing. I want a dehydrator so badly. I keep thinking of all these things to do with one!
i am not really a banana fan, either. can’t remember the last time i ate one. but, like you, i do love bananas in baked goods, like muffins.
i’ve never used a dehydrator! they look pretty nifty!
not really “dusting off,” but i did just dig out all my winter hats, mitts, etc yesterday – sob sob. but that’s the reality of what is ahead, weather-wise!
stay warm my friend!!!
Mmmm I love banana chips! I do have a dehydrator and was addicted to it for awhile, but it, too, has been on the shelf without use for a long time. I go through phases with my kitchen toys, though. I know I’ll pull it out again & use it in future, just not right meow. Toys I use daily are my blender/food processor. The bread maker also seems to be making guest appearances lately, too!
I’m the same…phases with my toys. Good way of putting it.
Oh man…my poor dehydrator!! I haven’t used it in so long!! I need to give it a go again….
You’re preggers…just sit on the couch and let it collect dust :)
Banana pieces look yum,,.
I need to make banana chips! That’s been on my list for a while!
they have a flavor that’s awesome & being that you already love bananas, try them in the hot box.
Would love to own a dehydrater. Definitely something I see in the future!
How nice it would be to dry my own cranberries, and mangos and spices!
I’ve been thinking about getting a dehydrator, but like you said, I’m not sure I can spare the counter space in my small kitchen. I already have a kitchenaid stand mixer, vitamix, food processor, microwave…these older kitchens were not built for so many appliances!
older or urban. My kitchen is the size of my master closet, I swear. There is soooo little storage and room!
Dehydrated bananas are my absolutely FAVORITE. Do you think you could do bananas in the oven?? We don’t have a dehydrator, so just trying to think of other options. I also love dehydrated apples with a little cinnamon sprinkled on them. Yum!
anything you do in the dehyd, you can of course try in the oven. low oven. bananas take a good 4-5 hours in a 160F dehyd. They’re going to take nearly as long in a 200F oven, just be patient and give them a whirl I’d say!
I love bananas in their natural state, but those golden little dehydrated disks look like an incredible snack!!
and keep me posted when you get the book! I want to make sure the vendor ships it :)
Will do, dear!! Can’t wait to bake some cookies from it! – those thin mints are on my radar. I wish we lived closer so we could bake through the whole dang book together.
xx
I just dusted off my dehydrator too! But I did apples with cinnamon instead of bananas. I was lucky and got my 3 tray Excalibur for $40 off Craigslist, it belonged to this guy’s roommate and left it there when he moved out a year earlier. He didn’t know it was worth so much more than that!!
THAT is a deal. Those are the times when CL is worth it’s weight in gold. Congrats!
Ok the photos alone make me hungry. I just want to reach through the screen and grab one of those chips. I now feel like I need a dehydrator ;-)
Oven girl, oven.
Bananas take a good 4-5 hours in a 160F dehyd. They’re going to take nearly as long in a 200F oven, just be patient and give them a try I’d say!
I need to request a dehydrator for xmas. There is so much I could make with it. Bananas/plantains would work great I imagine.
mmmmm coconut kale chips sound unreal! I just made some smoky kale chips using TJ’s new african smoked sea salt and they were awesome…I highly recommend it!
my hubs would love your version!
Those bananas look so awesome! they’re probably a lot less filling than eating an ordinary banana. Great idea. I would love a dehydrator, it’s such an unusual appliance.