Use and Care Manual

 One side of my drying trays seems to be dried before the other. What should I do? Because your dehydrator may dry one
side faster than the other, halfway through the drying cycle you may want to turn the trays 180º. This may speed up the
dehydration process and will reduce energy consumption.
 My apples and pears have darkened to a rusty-brown color while drying. Are they safe to eat? Yes. Fruits that have turned
brownish color are safe to eat. Many fruits will oxidize during the drying process. Oxidation happens when the flesh of the
fruit is exposed to air. By pre-treating fruits oxidation is reduced.
 Why should the edges of my fruit leather be thicker than the center? With fruit leathers, the edges of the mixture tend to
dry first. If the edges are the same thickness as the center, they will dry too quickly and become brittle.
 My fruit leathers are very thin and brittle. I’d like to make them like the ones sold commercially. How can I do that? Juicy
fresh fruits, such as strawberries, can be too runny to create a thick, chewy leather like the commercial types. By simply
adding a banana when pureeing, the mixture will become thick and the fruit leather will as well. Be sure to pour 3/4 to 1 cup
of puree on each tray and allow it to spread out. Remember, the poured puree should be 1/4” thick at the edges.
 If I powdered my dried vegetables, what could I use them for? Powdered onion and garlic, of course, are favorite seasonings
for meats and sauces. Powdered tomatoes can be reconstituted into tomato sauce, paste, catsup, juice or soup. Powders are
easy to make. A blender or food processor will give you the finest texture. Simply place pieces of dried vegetables into a
blender and process. Store in air-tight bottles or jars.
 As items dry, should they be removed to allow better circulation for still moist foods and avoid over drying? Yes. As foods
dry, remove them from the trays and package. The other still moist pieces should remain in the dehydrator until they are
completely dry. However, if you have sliced your food into uniform pieces and have turned your trays 180º halfway through
the cycle, your load should be finished at the same time.
 Check out our dehydrator book, Preserve It, Naturally! over 250 page book. It contains hundreds of color pictures and
diagrams! The book completely details every aspect of drying from mint leaves to pistachio nuts. It has detailed directions
for craft ideas, instructions for yogurt and cheese making, dehydrating grains and even making baby food! There are 275
recipes using home dried fruits, vegetables, meats and grains for you to try, experiment with or use as a guideline while
concocting your own!
CLEANING and MAINTENANCE
 After each use, we suggest cleaning trays and mesh sheets with mild dishwashing detergent under warm water.
 Thoroughly dry the trays and mesh sheets before placing back in the dehydrator.
 To clean the dehydrator cabinet:
1. Unplug the dehydrator
2. With a wet towel, wipe the inside of the dehydrator.
3. NEVER rinse the dehydrator cabinet with water or submerge the dehydrator cabinet in water.
WARRANTY
Please visit our website: http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/warranty/
RECIPES
Please visit our website, facebook page (www.facebook.com/ExcaliburDehydrators) or refer to the PRESERVE IT NATURALLY book.
CUSTOMER SERVICE and TECHNICAL SUPPORT
1- [phone] or [phone] from 8am-5pm Mon-Fri Pacific Standard Time
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