11 weird but practical uses for an EziDri food dehydrator

Sure, they’re great fruit rolls and great dehydrated mushrooms and beef jerky, but what else can you use your EziDri food dehydrator for?

BE CREATIVE! Or heed the old adage that necessity is the mother of invention. The best way to get your money’s worth from any kitchen appliance is to actually use it! Read on for other helpful ways you can get your EziDri food dehydrator to work.

1. DRYING THE PASTA: If you make your own pasta, you will know that if it has some moisture in it before storing it, it will get wet fairly quickly. You can dry it efficiently and quickly in your EziDri dehydrator. Dry for 2 to 4 hours at medium heat and store in airtight containers. Remember, you can make the most wonderful pasta dough by hand, or even with a bread maker, and instead of using water as the moisture content, use vegetable juices like carrot, spinach, or bell pepper. Or add homemade vegetable powders to create flavor and interest. Use the extrusion nozzles for spaghetti or fettuccine on the Samson 6-In-1 or Oscar Vitalmax Juicer … how easy is that?

2. COOKED PASTA: You can dry cooked pasta in your EziDri dehydrator and break it into small pieces before storing in airtight containers. When you need it, just rehydrate in a bowl of boiling water and it will only take 2-3 minutes. Excellent for when you have leftover meals and want to stretch them a bit more without much extra effort. Or take it with you on camping trips and excursions. Great carbs, no complicated prep!

3. COOKIE REFRESHER: Don’t spend money on cookies, crackers, chips or even cereals that have passed their freshest state. If you find they are a bit stale, re-cut them by placing them in a single layer on the EziDri drying trays and turn them on for about an hour at medium heat.

4. HUMIDIFIER: If you find that the air in your home is quite dry, particularly during the colder months, you can use your EziDri dehydrator to humidify it back to a more comfortable condition. Place some water containers on the trays of your EziDri and turn them on high. As the water evaporates, the air will become more humid.

5. AIR FRESHENER: When using your EziDri dehydrator, you will notice that the air is filled with the aromas of whatever you are drying. Well, did you know that you can deliberately use your EziDri to perfume the atmosphere of your home? By simply putting aromatic fruits or botanicals in the dehydrator, you can create a beautiful perfume, without any of the chemicals used in commercial air fresheners. Try citrus, lavender, or a variety of herbs.

6. AROMATHERAPY: Yes, it is even an aromatherapy diffuser! Place some non-toxic twigs or aromatic plants on the trays of your EziDri dehydrator and turn on medium heat. Old bread moistened with water will help diffuse the aroma of the vanilla essence. Lavender, rosemary, and rose petals are delicious.

7. BREAD BLACKBERRIES: Whenever you have bread that is not eaten, it is a shame to throw it away. Dry it in your EziDri food dehydrator and once it is crispy, grind it manually or give it a quick tap in your food processor. While you’re at it, you can add herbs or citrus peels that you may have dried before, or vegetable powders to add extra flavor. Flavored breadcrumbs are perfect for chicken, fish fillets, or veal chops, and are great for filling recipes.

8. POT POURRI: Make your own combinations of potpourri according to your tastes and the materials you have on hand. The EziDri Food Dehydrator is the best tool for the job as it dries all items perfectly and still allows them to preserve their beautiful perfumes. Try various flower petals, fruit peels, pine needles, herbs, grasses, woods, and spices.

9. FIRE STARTERS: Turn citrus peels into the best, most aromatic fire starters you’ve ever used. Citrus fruits do not break down in compost heaps due to their antibacterial properties and, in fact, inhibit the breakdown of other matter. When peeling citrus fruits, simply cut the skin into strips and pat dry until crisp. When you light them, the oils will ignite and burn for a decent amount of time. Without water content, they will burn wonderfully.

10. GIFTS FOR PETS: Don’t overlook your dog or kitten. Pork trotters and snouts and other meats are very welcome treats when dehydrated; Pets love them!

11. FLAVORED VEGETABLE POWDER: Coarsely chop the vegetable, spread it on a mesh and dehydrate until the vegetable is dry and crisp. Then spray and store in airtight containers. Imagine what you can do with these! Try carrots, whole heads of celery, garlic, onion, red or green bell peppers, and more. Add the powders to soups, salad dressings, bread dough, your favorite beef jerky marinade, or whatever else your imagination conjures up.

As you can see, EziDri food dehydrators are very valuable gadgets. You will have a lot of fun trying out new ideas and seeing what new things you can create. Available in three models: the Classic Everyday, the Snackmaker and their big brother, the Ultra FD1000.