The advantage to drying in a food dehydrator is that the trays are designed so that air can flow freely between the food pieces. You also keep your oven space free for other cooking. However, it isn't necessary to buy an expensive dehydrator in order to create the recipes listed here. Most of these recipes can be closely replicated in a convection oven. Use baking sheets that allow at least two inches of space along all sides and keep the racks at least eight inches from the heat source. If I have access to the equivalent temperatures and times for oven drying, I will post them along with the dehydrator information.
Home drying is more cost-effective than buying commercially dried food, especially if you use foods that you have grown yourself. Bringing dried meals on camping trips reduces the weight of the food and storage space needed to transport it. If possible, package the dried food in recipe-size containers. This will minimize the number of times that you open the containers. Each time you open the package, air, light and moisture can enter and spoil the food.
As I have mentioned previously, crispy dried apples are a snack that will disappear fast in any household. Nearly any fruit will make a delicious crispy snack chip. Dried berries are a great sweet addition to plain puffed or flaked cereal. In addition to apples and bananas, you can experiment with blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, cherries, and mango.
Before drying, try dipping the fruit pieces into shredded coconut, cinnamon, or honey. Take a look at Mary Bell's recipe for Fruit and Nut Crunch and try your own version. Test the fruits at different drying times and with various toppings to determine what combination you enjoy the most.
Canned pineapple rings make excellent candidates for drying. I would usually advocate using fresh pineapple; however, it is difficult to find high-quality ripe pineapple in supermarkets. If you have access to affordable, ripe pineapple, by all means use the real thing. For a list of drying times for the most commonly dried foods, check this page from the Wood County, Ohio extension agent. For more accurate and specific drying times, consult the owner's manual from your dehydrator.
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