OPTIMUM P300 10-Tray Dehydrator

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Below is a factual Comparison between:

• Make your own preservative-free, chemical-free, homemade healthy snacks easily. With the Optimum P300 Stainless Steel Dehydrator, you will be able to create natural fruit leathers, meat jerkies and other dried foods and snacks right at home. Whether you are looking to be on the new health food trend or embarking on a raw food diet, the Optimum P300 Dehydrator is the kitchen essential set to change the way you eat for the better.

• Prolong the shelf life of fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables and meats, while retaining their nutrients to make delicious homemade snacks saturated with their own natural great flavour using our Optimum P300 Dehydrator.

• Dehydration is one of the oldest and most effective forms of food preservation. Dehydration allows you to preserve many types of food for indefinite periods by removing the moisture in meats, fruits and vegetables, which allows them to last for months instead of days without refrigeration.

• Rehydration is the replacement of moisture to bring the food back to its natural state. Although some dried foods, such as fruits, are excellent in their dehydrated state, other dried foods need to be reconstituted before eating them.

1. Use Produce In Peak Season - Using produce that is in peak season will ensure that your dehydrated foods taste as amazing as possible! Produce in its peak season contains more flavour, nutrients and vitamins.
    
2. Do Not Use Bruised Fruit - Bruised fruit should never be used in a dehydrator as it can spoil your entire batch of dehydrated fruit.
    
3. Lean and Fresh - When dehydrating meats, always ensure that they are lean and fresh.  4. Remove Fat - Remove as much fat as possible prior to dehydrating meats. You can always use a paper towel under your meat when dehydrating to absorb excess fat.
    
4. Uniformity - Uniformity is key when slicing or shredding your ingredients. Slices of fruit or vegetables should be between 6mm and 20mm thick. Meats should be no thicker than 5mm.
    
5. Avoid Browning - To avoid fruit from browning, soak cut fruit in lemon juice for 2-3 minutes prior to dehydrating. Remember to fully drain and dry off your fruit before placing it into the dehydrator.
    
6. Fresh and Ripe - Ensuring that your fruit is fresh and ripe is the best way to preserve sweetness and flavour. Avoid using unripe fruit.
    
7. Single Layer - Do not overlap foods on your dehydrator racks. It is important to keep all ingredients in a single layer. 
    
8. Think About Size - Dehydrated foods will reduce in size by 50%. It is important to take this into consideration when cutting your foods.
    
9. Vacuum Seal - The best way to store your dehydrated food is with a vacuum seal.
    
10. Cool, Dark and Dry - To ensure that your dehydrated foods maintain their quality, store them in a cool, dark and dry place that is no warmer than 16 degrees celsius. 
     
11. Double Check - It is important to ensure that your food is fully dried before storing. If you are unsure, cut a sample down the middle to check for internal dryness.

Whilst you can dehydrate almost any food, these are the best and most popular foods that our loyal customers love to use in our P300 Dehydrator:

1. Bananas

Slice the bananas, coat in lemon juice and bake for around 3 hours at the lowest temperature for a quick, easy and healthy snack on the go. 

2. Meats

Simply boil meats such as beef and then coat with seasoning to flavour. Place in the dehydrator for 3-4 hours and you have your own homemade tasty meat jerky.

3. Vegetable Crisps

Cut your veggies into uniform slices, season and dehydrate at the lowest temperature for around 4 hours. You can use any vegetables such as potatoes, turnips, mushrooms, kale, and even tomatoes. Say goodbye to unhealthy fried chips and hello to homemade, natural vegetable crisps.

4. Apples

Make your dehydrated apples a sweet and healthy treat by seasoning them with some honey and cinnamon. Cut them into slices, soak in water mixed with lemon juice (to prevent browning), season, and dehydrate for about 4 hours at 90°C.

5. Homemade Fruit Leather

If your favourite fruit smoothie ingredients are going off, add some lemon juice and honey, blend them up, and then dehydrate them. It’s a tasty, healthy snack to keep you going through the day/ Spread the blended fruit on a lined baking sheet and dehydrate at the lowest temperature for around 6 hours for homemade fruit leather. 

6. Nuts and Seeds

If you have trouble digesting nuts and seeds, soaking them in water will help break down enzymes, making nuts and seeds more digestible. After soaking, simply place in the dehydrator for 12-24 hours to ensure that your nuts are once again dried out. This works well for cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds.

7. Herbs

Herbs are one of the easiest and quickest foods to dry. There’s little preparation and they store for a long time without losing their flavor. Don’t waste leftover herbs - dehydrate them for your very own homemade dried herbs.