A Food Dehydrator.
The Simple Machine, That Will Save You Hundreds of Dollars
Do you cook?
Do you use herbs when you cook?
What about onion or garlic powder? Or even just onions and garlic? Chives?
Do you grow a garden in the summer? If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you need a food dehydrator.
(photo by Rowen)
The spring of 2020 brought on a lot of changes in my household. The pandemic hit, grocery store shelves became empty as every “panic stock piled”.
Those empty store shelves brought on a new resolve for me to become less dependent on grocery stores.
But how can I do that, when I live right in the middle of the city, and have a tiny space to grow what my family needs?
I know I will never be able to fully supply my family, but there were a lot of changes that I can make that would not only save me a trip to the store, but save me significant money as well.
As someone who cooks for their family daily, sometimes multiple time a day, onion and garlic powder and herbs are a staple in my house.
And I use a lot of seasoning in everything that I cook.
99% of what I cook contains onion powder, garlic powder, and some variety of herbs.
And the cost adds up quickly.
When I am lucky, I find them at the dollar store. Although, admittedly, the flavor isn’t as good, and you need a lot more to season your food.
When I am not lucky, I have paid upwards of $5.00 for a small bottle. Which honestly, lasts less than a week at my home. Because it literally goes in everything.
BUT onions and garlic, in whole form, are reasonably priced and sometimes even really inexpensive. For between 2–3 US dollars, I can get a whole BAG of onions, and that will make numerous jars of onion powder that tastes so much better than what is in the store.
Making the powder is ridiculously easy.
~Peal your onions or garlic (it’s the same process)
~Mince finely with a sharp knife, or use a food processor to cut onions/garlic
~Bake in oven at 140–150 degrees F.
OR in your food dehydrator until completely dry.
May take up 8 hours. I usually “stir” them occasionally through the drying process. Although it isn’t necessary when using a dehydrator, I feel like this helps dry it more evenly.
- It is important to watch your onions carefully if using an oven. You want to dehydrate, not burn them.
~Once completely dry, you can leave in small pieces, or grind into onion powder. I use an inexpensive coffee grinder to make my powder. Or just as often, I use my stone mortar and pestle to grind everything up.
Add salt to taste if you like onion/garlic salt.
- When using a coffee grinder, do NOT use the same one that you use for your coffee beans. You will never get the taste of herbs/onion out of it. And it will flavor your coffee, unpleasantly. (unless you like onion flavored coffee)
Herbs, in the grocery store, are quite expensive.
But oregano, basil, and other herbs can be easily grown indoors in a sunny window. In the summer, herbs can be grown in large patches, in pots, or as companion plants to protect other garden plants from pests.
And then dehydrated for future/winter use.
I actually grow herbs year around. The plants I have indoors all winter, will go out into the garden, in the spring. By spring, they will outgrow my hydro-system and need to be moved or retired. So out to the garden they go, to grow as large as they want. And inside, new plants will be started. By the time winter rolls around, and the outdoor plants die, the indoor plants will be producing. It’s a tidy circle of herb life. The summer harvests grow enough to stock pile herbs. While the winter plants keep me in fresh herbs through the winter. Allowing me to have both fresh and dried on hand.
Green onions and chives are also something that’s easy to dehydrate. No more wilty slimy bundles of unused green onion. Just dice them up and pop them in the dehydrator. Next time you have baked potatoes or potato soup, you have tasty green onions.
My husband bought my dehydrator, and it quite surprised me. The gift was odd. It was the thing I never knew I needed, and now I cannot live without. It has been a major tool in trimming my grocery store dependence.
Rowen is a mother, Wife, Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, community volunteer, and nature lover. Most of her time is spent with her family or volunteering in her community. Rowen has a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Family Counseling and Minoring in criminal justice. Writing has been her passion since high school, and she enjoys using it to help others.