[pct-l] dehydrators

[mkwart at gci.net]

I just use a really cheap plastic Ronco food dehydrator from the 80's. 
It works fine with only a heat coil in the bottom and about 5 stackable 
trays that I rotate during the drying process. There is a vent on the 
top that can be closed down.

I mostly use it to make beef jerky. I also dehydrate spaghetti sauce and 
soups, using a plastic disc that sits on one of the stackable trays and 
keeps liquids from passing through. I will send you my beef jerky recipe 
off list--I got it from Dan LaBrenz as a result of a posting on the PCT 
list serv 3-4 years ago. I made a few modifications and now it's a 
staple for me. When I was a member of a CSA I dried my excess vegetables 
and that worked fine, too. They lasted for an incredible long time.

I have met many people on the trail who used driers 
extensively--especially vegans or vegetarians. Every time they made a 
batch of food in the winter, they would dry some in preparation for the 
hiking season.

--Fireweed