I would be interested if any readers have found a way to dehydrate their garden produce - in the winter (i.e. with the "free" heat of your wood furnace); the problem is what to do with the stuff between harvest and dehydration. We are "on the grid" and have a couple electric freezers, and I would like to know if others have tried freezing, followed later (when the heat is free) by dehydration.

Andrew Johnstone AJMD@KeepAndBearArms.com

-- Andrew Johnstone (AJMD@KeepAndBearArms.com), January 14, 2001

Answers

Haven't tried it, but it sounds plausible. If you freeze the vegetables, then dehydrate immediatly, it should work. I will try putting a pint of our frozen greenbeans in one of our dehydrators to thaw and dry. I can then compare them to the fresh dehydrated. Let you know what my results are. Thanks for the project idea, it'll give me something to play around with.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 14, 2001.

I do this with berries. I freeze them immediately after picking (if I don't the kids polish them off). Then later in the winter I thaw them and mix them with applesauce. Then turn them into leather. The kids love it and it is cheaper than the store bought, as well as healthier. Annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), January 14, 2001.

I've done this many times and I like the results. It seems to break down some of the tougher fibers a little bit, remove moisture and allows me to dehydrate at a more convenient time.

My mother prefers to freeze her fruit, berries and juices for jam and jelly making, too. She said it always sets better that way and she didn't have to make it when the kitchen was so hot.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), January 15, 2001.

Andrew, In one of my dehydrating books it actually suggests freezing some things before dehydrating. Green beans is the one that comes to mind right now. I freeze things on cookies sheets that I plan to dehydrate later and then move into bags after well frozen so they don't stick together when I want to lay them out for drying.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 15, 2001.

Another positive experience. Done it with fine results. I have also frozen and then canned things, most notably "baby" corn, which is actually better canned since the heat (10 lbs) makes the cobs more tender. And for those of you who like stir-fry or Chinese, yes you can grow your open, even here in Maine! If you're interested, e-mail direct. More than a couple of requests and I'll post sources and info. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), January 21, 2001.