7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 1 Food Dehydrator Model 7100 IMPORTANT Please keep these instructions and your original box packaging.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 2 INDEX Contents of package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Important Safeguards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Using the Food Dehydrator For The First Time. . . . . 4 Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Drying And Selecting Foods To Dr y . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Preparing Foods To Dry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Drying Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 3 Food Dehydrator CONTENTS Ventable See-Through Lid 1 Herb Tray Liner 5 Stackable, Adjustable Dehydrator Trays 2 Fruit Leather Tray Liners Dehydrator Base Unit 2
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 4 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS When using this electrical appliance, safety precautions should always be observed, including the following: ■ Read all of the instructions before using, then save for future reference. ■ Do not let the cord hang over the edge of the work space or touch any hot surfaces. ■ Place the dehydrator securely in the center of the counter or work space.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 5 Food Dehydrator BEFORE FIRST USE 1. Remove the base unit, 5 food trays, 2 tray liners (for making fruit leather), and 1 mesh tray (for drying finely chopped foods and herbs). 2. Wash trays, liners and cover in warm soapy water. Rinse well. (They can also be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher.) 3. Wash the outside of the base unit with a moist sponge and mild detergent. Do not spill water or other liquids in openings.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 6 PREPARING FOODS TO DRY DRYING TIME Apples, pears, peaches and apricots are frequently pretreated to slow the loss of vitamins A and C and also to prevent browning. All fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed to remove dirt, bacteria and insect larvae. Fruits and vegetables may be peeled. If the peels are left on the fruit, they will add extra nutrition, however, the peels may be tough and grainy when dried.
100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 7 Food Dehydrator 6 STORAGE SHELF LIFE Packaging DRIED FOODS MUST BE PROPERLY PACKAGED IN ORDER TO KEEP WELL. Package your dried foods in freezer plastic bags, squeezing out as much air as possible. We recommend using one of the several models of Deni Freshlock® vacuum sealers or vacuum canisters. Store the plastic bags inside of airtight metal, plastic or glass containers.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 8 REHYDRATING Foods which have been dehydrated can be rehydrated in water. It can be done in one of three ways: (1) Fruits and vegetables may be soaked in cold water for 2-6 hours in the refrigerator; (2) they may be soaked in hot water or immersed in boiling water for 5-10 minutes until reaching desired consistency; or (3) they may be rehydrated while cooking. NO seasonings, salt or sugar should be added during this process.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 9 Food Dehydrator Pretreatment (optional) Below are listed several optional methods of pretreatment. You need not pretreat food in order to dry it. However, pretreatment often makes food look better, increases the shelf life and can even enhance the nutritional value of some foods. Experiment with both treated and untreated food in your storage to see which will best suit your needs.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 10 Fruit FRUITS THAT DRY BEST Fruit Preparation Apples Core and slice in 1/4” ring. Apricots Bananas Berries Cherries Halve & pit. Slice lengthwise or crosswise 1/4” thick. Barely ripe bananas hold color & flavor best. Only strawberries dry well. Berries with seeds do not dry well. Slice 3/8” thick. Remove stems & pits. Dry whole or halve.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 11 Food Dehydrator MAKING FRUIT LEATHER 3/8” Fruit leathers, also called fruit taffies or fruit rolls, are easy to make in your Deni Food Dehydrator. Fruit leather is a perfect “take along” snack, high in energy and nutrition. Because fruit leather is made from a fresh fruit puree, a solid surface must be used for drying. If poured directly on the trays it would seep through the openings. The solid lining fits into the regular trays.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 12 DRYING VEGETABLES Vegetables dried at home require a little more effort in processing and storage than do fruits because they are low in acid and have little sugar. Some vegetables such as broccoli or asparagus have a poor quality when rehydrated, and are better frozen than dried. Others, such as potatoes, are available at reasonable prices all year round and may not be worth your time to dry them unless they are used for lightweight camping.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 13 Food Dehydrator VEGETABLES THAT DRY BEST 12 Vegetables Preparation and Pretreatment Uses Vegetables Preparation and Pretreatment Uses Beets Use small tender beets. Steam until almost tender. Slice 3/8” thick. Flake in blender for soups, salads, pickled beets Onions Trim ends and remove paper shell. Dice 1/4” to 1/2” thick.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 14 DRYING MEATS AND FISH MEAT JERKY Your Deni Food Dehydrator makes two types of dried meats or fish: JERKY- dried, marinated, raw meat or fish that is consumed without added water-and DRIED COOKED MEAT OR FISH that is cooked, cut into small pieces and dried. Since most bacteria in raw meat and fish is destroyed during cooking, salting is unnecessary. Adding water reconstitutes dried cooked meat or fish. Fresh or frozen lean meat makes the best jerky.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 15 Food Dehydrator A marinade is an alternative to salt mixture in jerky. MARINADE RECIPE FOR JERKY OR FISH For 4 pounds of meat or fish, use; 1/2 cup liquid smoke 1 cup soy sauce 2/3 cup water 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Mix and let stand while preparing meat or fish. Place meat or fish in a bowl and cover with marinade, tossing to coat all pieces equally. Let stand 6 to 12 hours. Drain in sieve and dry.
7100 Instructions sgle pg 6/18/01 9:46 AM Page 16 Food Dehydrator CUSTOMER SERVICE If you have any questions or problems regarding the operation of your Deni Food Dehydrator, call our customer service department toll free: 1-800-DENI-VAC Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Deni by Keystone Manufacturing Company, Inc.® ONE-YEAR WARRANTY Your Deni Food Dehydrator is warranted for one year from date of purchase or receipt against all defects in material and workmanship.
