Owner Manual

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Form 4038-170A

Dehydro

™

digital electric

Food Dehydrator

INSTRUCTIONS

Visit www.GoPresto.com

Estas instrucciones también están disponibles en español.

Para obtener una copia impresa:

• Descargue en formato PDF en www.GoPresto.com/espanol.

• Envíe un correo electrónico a contact@GoPresto.com.

• Llame al 1-800-877-0441, oprima 2 y deje un mensaje.

This is an Listed appliance. The following important safeguards are recommended by most portable appliance manufacturers.

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

To reduce the risk of personal injury or property damage when using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be

followed, including the following:

1. Read all instructions.

2. Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles or knobs.

3. To protect against electrical shock, do not immerse cord, plug, or the dehydrator

base in water or other liquid.

4. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.

5. Unplug from outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow to cool before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning

the appliance.

6. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug or in the event the appliance malfunctions or has been damaged in

any manner. Return the appliance to the Presto Factory Service Department for examination, repair, or electrical or mechanical

adjustment.

7. The use of accessory attachments not recommended by the appliance manufacturer may cause injuries. Use only genuine Presto

™

dehydrating trays and accessories with this dehydrator.

8. Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter or touch hot surfaces.

9. Do not use outdoors.

10. Do not place on or near a hot gas or electric burner or in a heated oven.

11. Never use this appliance to dehydrate foods that contain alcohol or have been marinated in alcohol.

12. Do not use appliance for other than intended use.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

THIS APPLIANCE IS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY.

• Dehydrates fruits, vegetables, and herbs and spices. Great

for jerky and fruit rolls too.

• Digital temperature control and timer for precise drying

time and temperatures.

• Includes six drying trays, two fruit roll sheets, and two

nonstick mesh screens for small foods.

Summary of content (12 pages)

PAGE 1
Dehydro™ digital electric Food Dehydrator • Dehydrates fruits, vegetables, and herbs and spices. Great for jerky and fruit rolls too. • Digital temperature control and timer for precise drying time and temperatures. • Includes six drying trays, two fruit roll sheets, and two nonstick mesh screens for small foods. Estas instrucciones también están disponibles en español. Para obtener una copia impresa: • Descargue en formato PDF en www.GoPresto.com/espanol. • Envíe un correo electrónico a contact@GoPresto.
PAGE 2
Important Cord Information This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug is intended to fit into a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not attempt to modify the plug in any way. A short power supply cord is provided to reduce the risk of becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord.
PAGE 3
How to Assemble and Load Trays for Dehydrating 1. Remove trays and cover from unit. 2. Turn over power base and unwrap cord. 3. Set base, right side up, on a dry, level surface. In order to function properly, the dehydrator must have sufficient airflow; therefore, be sure the base and cover vents are not obstructed at any time. Never place dehydrator on carpet, a towel, or newspaper. 4. Each tray has raised ribs on one side. Food goes on the side of the tray without raised ribs (Fig. B1, page 2).
PAGE 4
How to Use the Nonstick Mesh Screens The flexible mesh screens fit into the dehydrator trays to keep foods that get very small when dried, such as herbs, berries, and carrots, from falling through the tray grates. The screens may also be used when drying foods that stick to the grates, such as bananas and tomatoes. Position the mesh screen on the dehydrator tray. Then place the food you want to dry on the mesh screen.
PAGE 5
How to Dehydrate Fruit and Fruit Rolls Dried fruits and fruit rolls are nutritious and portable snacks. Drying fruit intensifies the natural sweetness of the fruit because the moisture is removed. Selection and Preparation Select fruits that are at the peak of ripeness. Wash fruits to remove dirt and debris. There are many options when it comes to drying fruit and personal preference should be your guide.
PAGE 6
Almost any fruit or combination of fruit can be puréed and dried for fruit rolls. The quality of the fruit roll depends on whether the fruit has a low or high amount of the naturally occurring starch called pectin. Fruits that have a high amount of pectin will bond together in a solid sheet and easily peel, while fruits that have little pectin will flake and crack rather than peel. When using fruits low in pectin, add another fruit that is high in pectin to improve the texture of the roll.
PAGE 7
Fruit Drying Guide Dry fruit at 135°F or 57°C. Drying times are highly variable and dependant on the type and amount of food, thickness, evenness of food pieces, humidity, air temperature, personal preference, and age of the plant at the time of harvesting. Fruit Preparation Pretreatment Average Drying Time Apples Peel, if desired, core, and cut in rings or slices, ⅛˝ to ¼˝ thick. Ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid mixture, or lemon juice.
PAGE 8
the tissue walls so moisture can more readily escape during drying and enter during rehydrating. Blanching can be done in water or steam. Water blanching causes a greater loss of nutrients but is faster than steam blanching and achieves a more even heat penetration. Steam blanching—Fill a deep pot with water and bring to a boil. Place vegetables loosely in a basket or colander that will allow steam to freely circulate around the vegetables.
PAGE 9
Uses Dried vegetables have a unique flavor and texture and are best used as ingredients for soups, stews, casseroles, and sauces rather than stand-alone side dishes. When using in soups, dried vegetables can be added without soaking. Dried vegetables used for other purposes need to be soaked before cooking. To soak, start with 1½ to 2 cups of boiling water for every 1 cup of dried vegetables. Soak for 1 to 2 hours or until vegetables have returned to nearly the same size they were before dehydrating.
PAGE 10
CAUTION! The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that meat/poultry be precooked prior to dehydrating or baked after dehydrating to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. WARNING! Any liquid or grease, including marinade, that drips into the base of the unit may damage the product and/or cause smoking. Meat/poultry strips should not be placed over the center hole or allowed to drape over the sides of the trays. Ground meat should be 93% lean.
PAGE 11
Packaging and Storage After cooling, pat jerky with paper toweling to remove any fat droplets which may have formed on the jerky. Follow “Packaging and Storing Dried Food” information on page 11. Jerky can be stored 1 to 2 months at room temperature. However, to maintain the best flavor and quality, store in the refrigerator or freezer. Packaging and Storing Dried Food • Dried foods need to be properly packaged to prevent reabsorption of moisture and microbial deterioration.
PAGE 12
Part 02910 Perfect companions for your Presto® Food Dehydrator... Presto® SaladShooter® electric slicer/shredder (Part 02910) The quick and easy way to evenly slice fruits and vegetables for drying. Includes interchangeable slicing and shredding cones. Presto® Professional SaladShooter® electric slicer/shredder (Part 02970) Part 02970 Same great features as the original SaladShooter®, but with added power and capacity.