[Sharondp]

Just bought the latest kitchen garden maga and inside the back cover is a nice glossy ad for the 'Excalibur Food Dryer'
Looks good but can this be done in an oven?
Haven't looked at the website yet - just thought I'd canvas opinions!
Would love to make my own raisins!

[cameldairy]

We have a couple of food dehydrators. I don't think an oven would go as low as one. Plus the energy an oven would use for a long period of time would be A LOT more. Sometimes, (at least around here) you can find them at second hand stores and at garage sales for very little money.

[Norfolk Newby]

We use our electric fan oven to dry things like mushroom and hazel nut. On its lowest setting you just get the fan and a little higher and it runs at a fairly constant 70 degrees centigrade.

You can also use a chemical drier which is a sealed box (plastic food storage container provided the lid is a good fit) and a small cup or similar of a desiccant like calcium chloride or silica gel. Dry the food as far as possible and then seal it in the box for a few days. You can do this in the fridge if you are worried about the food going off while it is drying.

After the drying period, open the box carefully as the cup of desiccant may now be largely filled with water. You don't want to spill this water. Put the used desiccant/water into a glass oven-proof dish and place in a medium hot oven for about an hour until the water has been removed. The dry salt can then be re-used.

This technique should get small strips or slices of meat, fruit, vegetables etc very dry for storing. It's a matter of trial and error to see what works and meets your needs.

Storing food in the freezer in an open container will also remove a lot of the water. This is also a fairly safe technique as the food is less likely to spoil while drying. Some meats can develop a rancid taste though from the fat in them oxidising. Pork can only be stored a month like this.

[Greenerlife]

Absolutely love my dryer.  Have wanted one for years and years and finally took the plunge after seeing someone use it to make jerky.

Use it for dried fruit mostly (mostly to add to my muesli type breakfast) and also for jerky.  Make fruit leather which is delicious and also dry tomatoes to pack in olive oil when they are plentiful.  Have tried doing this in an oven but the results with the drier are much better and consistent.

[northfifeduckling]

texture of the dried produce is much better than if you do this in an conventional oven. I've heard that an Aga with the door slightly open achieves similar 

[Sharondp]

Thanks for all the replies. I may have a look around for a second hand one and give it a go 

[welshboy]

This is an idea/plan s about making a solar food dryer

http://www.i4at.org/surv/soldehyd.htm