Owner Manual

4
How to Use the Nonstick Mesh Screens
The exible mesh screens t 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. Once the food is dehydrated,
lift the mesh screen out of the tray using the cutouts on the side of the screen. Remove food. Bending the screen is helpful for remov-
ing foods that have a tendency to stick.
How to Use the Fruit Roll Sheets
A fruit roll sheet should be used when making fruit rolls and strips from fresh, frozen, or canned fruit. Refer to pages 5 and 6 for
instructions on making fruit rolls.
General Dehydrating Information
• When selecting foods for drying, choose those that are at peak eating quality. Avoid overripe* or immature fruits and vegetables.
Remove any bruised or blemished parts.
• For even drying, cut food into uniform sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. Use a Presto
®
SaladShooter
®
slicer/shredder, food processor,
or mandoline to aid in cutting uniform slices.
• Dehydration prevents microbial growth; however, chemical reactions caused by enzymes in fruits and vegetables can occur unless
food is pretreated before drying. Pretreatment will prevent or minimize undesirable color and texture changes during drying and
storage. See specific sections for recommended pretreatment.
• Drying times are highly variable depending on the type and amount of food, thickness, evenness of food pieces, number of trays
used, humidity, air temperature, personal preference, and even the age of the plant at the time of harvesting. That is why throughout
the book you will notice there is a range of average drying times. In some cases, you may need to, or prefer to, dry your foods for
shorter or longer periods than those listed. For best results, begin checking your food at the beginning of the range listed in the in-
structions. You should then gauge how often you should recheck the food based on how the drying is progressing. With some foods,
such as herbs, that may mean every 10 minutes, and with other foods, such as fruits, that may mean every 1 to 2 hours.
• Place foods in a single layer on the trays. Do not allow food to touch or overlap.
• When drying strong-smelling foods, such as onions and garlic, be aware that there will be a strong odor during the drying process.
That odor may linger after drying has been completed.
• Individual pieces of food may not all dry at the same time. Foods that are appropriately dried should be removed before those that
require additional drying. Always check every tray for appropriately dried foods. Allow dried pieces to cool and then place in a
covered container.
• If one tray of food is finished before the others, remove the dried food and return the empty tray to the unit rather than rearranging
the trays.
• This dehydrator can dry up to 12 trays** of food. If drying more than 6 trays at a time, it is recommended that the top trays be
rotated with the bottom trays halfway through the drying process. For instance, for 12 trays, rotating the top 6 trays with the bottom
6 trays provides the best results. Keep in mind, the first tray placed onto the base MUST have handles.
• Do not add fresh fruits and vegetables to a partially dried load. This will add moisture and increase the drying time.
• Allow for continuous drying. Do not unplug dehydrator in the middle of the drying cycle and resume drying at a later time as this
may result in poor quality and/or unsafe food.
• CAUTION! Wash hands thoroughly prior to preparing food for dehydrating. Likewise, thoroughly clean all utensils, cutting boards,
and counters that will be used for preparing food. Wash foods before preparing them for dehydrating.
WARNING! Do not spill or allow liquid or grease, including marinade, to drip into the base of the unit as it may damage the product
and/or cause smoking. The center hub on the base platform must never be obstructed. If the unit smokes, unplug it immediately and
discontinue use.
* Slightly overripe fruits are acceptable for making fruit rolls.
** Additional trays sold separately (see page 11).