I get kale in mass from a co-op and dehydrate it into a powder. I’ve added that to anything traditionally zucchini when I don’t have zucchini. Especially brownies, chocolate muffins, et al. My husband never has to know he’s eating green food. 😉
Yep! I'm always sneaking veg and green powder into eveything I can (but my family knows I do it). But my husband did give me a side eye when I said - here, try THESE brownies! They're extra special. :D
I'm glad to see that you are exploring the use of a freeze dryer. I got one last December and love it! I hope you do more comparing dehydrating and freeze drying.
I have been dehydrating for about 4 years and have learned everything I know from your site. I have been freeze drying for 2 years. I love both processes. Some thing we love dehydrated and some things we love freeze dried. It's subjective. Couple of tips (some of us have learned the hard way) 1. Always package up FD food warm. Never let the trays get cool/cold. There is a "warm tray" feature that pops up on the screen. I use it while checking my trays. 2. Add extra time to the FD so that you get to it when it is convenient for you and not when the machine stops - mine always ends late at night or in the middle of the night. My machine is set for 18 hours extra dry time. 3. The food is almost never completely dry when the machine thinks it's done. I check mine by weighing my trays. There are some things that I will not FD - grapes being one of them. We love love love dehydrated grapes and do not like FD grapes. Just a personal preference. Good luck - it's wonderful to have different options for preserving food!
Thank you for opening up a whole new world to me in the way of dehydrating/powdering and adding this nutritional stuff to my diet. Not everyone I feed is as into their veggies as I am, so this has definitely helped with making my food healthier and getting the little ones their daily recommended servings of stuff they might not like. One of them even prefers 'green' yogurt--she just doesn't know it's powdered broccoli--it really doesn't change the taste of the finished product!
This was great. I have both machines and loved you comparing the process. I have a 93 year young Mom with an empty sweet tooth - she will never know she is eating “healthy” brownies! Thank You! 🤗 P.S. And the tip of adding the powder 1/3 to other baking was grand. Congrats on the freeze dryer-you will love it.
lol I married a chap who refused to eat greens... so I made him yummy muffins etc...mmm yep you guessed it, they contained many and varied types of greens hidden in with the fruit. After over a decade of living with this gentleman he now devours greens, much to the constant shock of his family and he enjoys them... A plate full of veg does not bother him.... sorry but our greens didnt make it to freeze dry stage because I used them up
March thank you for taking on freeze drying as well. I dehydrate, can, freeze dry,and freeze as well. I am trying to get away from using freezers as much, due to losing 2 last year. We were blessed and had thermometers in them that had wifi notifications if they went above/below temperatures that we preset. We plan to travel for weeks at a time starting this winter, so having a freezer fail wouldn't be manageable from cross country.
I’m going to try freezing some Zeke shreds and mixing that with dehydrated this winter to make baked stuff. The frozen usually turns mushy and it can rehydrate the dried. Maybe😉
I enjoyed this video! I have watched so many of your dehydrator videos and you really encouraged me to try all sorts of things to dehydrate❤❤ I recently purchased a Harvest Right freeze dryer (not yet unboxed!), so I look forward to you doing more FD videos!!!
You can also use Cucumbers in place of Zucchini ... we've ad a blast doing this - this year... process them just like Zucchini and it's a win!! Love our Freeze Dryer as well!! Thanks so much for the videos. Blessings ❤
Well, I'm no expert on it, yet. I just started using it and had to take a long break while our weather was so hot (its outside and shouldn't be run in 95F+ temps), so I'll get back to it this week as our weather has cooled. So far it has been great and I'm enjoying the results.
I like any part of a brownie lol! Yours look delicious and I will definitely be trying the recipe. I am jealous you got a freeze dryer (in a good way). It will be interesting to see what you think of yours as you use it over time vs dehydrating.
Thank you for agreeing to try the freeze dryer. I have been curious how it works compared to the dehydrating. I will continue to follow your comparison between the two before I make my purchase but you have given me hope that the freeze dryer is a viable option. I love your brownie recipe. I learned a while back to put a few chocolate chips on top of the brownies as soon as you take them out of the oven. I let it sit for about 5 minutes and then spread the melted chocolate chips for a very thin layer of melted chocolate frosting. This is an awesome way to "frost" your brownies when you intend to serve them soon after baking but also good after the chocolate re-hardens (not sure that is an actual word or if I made one up). Thank you.
@@ThePurposefulPantry thanks, I just placed an order through your link! That’s a nice gadget to have. I used that food saver attachment more than I did the machine.
What a blessing to receive that dehydrator!! Love the comparisons, keep throwing those in there. My gallon jar was finally filled enough with kale and strawberry tops to powder. It filled a spaghetti sauce jar and I have been putting it in everything. Tried it in oatmeal this morning and my husband didn't even notice.
Darcy, as always, your vids on preserving zucchini’s are timely. TY for the answer to my question re: dehydrating rhubarb. I just realized that my mom in laws old sunbeam 70’s stand mixer probably has that shredding blade. It’s stored in the basement & I’ll have to check. It will sure beat shredding by hand. Definitely gonna make those brownies. I love the crispy edges ❤️❤️
I'm so happy for you that the xompany reeched out to you. I'm just starting with my dehydrate oven and i,m learning so much from you. Have fun and thanks for sharing❤
Wow! What a great video! I just love it! You talk about everything , so well explained. And I really really like to see the comparison between freeze dryer and dehydrator… it is really nice to show both, how to load trays and results… very interesting… and with a recipe too! 😍 Your brownies look delicious, I will make them for sure… just need to get zucchinis… 😊 And I prefer the middle part of brownies! 🤪 And tou have a nice setting in the garage, I wish I could do the same… oh well, maybe in another house or life! 🤣
He was very sweet to donate it. ♥ There is absolutely no space inside my house for the freezer dryer to go, so it was the only way, or we'd have to turn it down.
I feel you on the zucchini. My zucchini and crookneck squash haven't done diddly squat this year. I have added shredded veggies to all kinds of recipes to fool people. LOL
We're open about our additional stuff - but it certainly helps getting more and more nutrients in!! We had a great early month with them...and then all the bugs said - PARTY AT THE PANTRY! I think no one else gardens here, so EVERY bug in Texas came to live in my Zucchini.
No - they are not available to me most of the year, and I keep missing them when they are. Cut them in half, pit, , push the skin side up with your thumb to expose more of the flesh, dry at 125F/52C until they are done.
I just watched your squash video and it gave me inspiration to dehydrate all my squash. I have a large hard end-of-season yellow squash. Can that be dehydrated for powder?
I am thinking about the purchase of a freeze drier. May I ask what size you purchased? There are two of us, but I am a gardener. I was thinking the medium or large? Do you have an opinion or can you link your video? Thanks!
I would also like to store my dehydrator in our garage, but our garage isn’t insulated, heated, or air conditioned in any way. Will the extreme change in temperatures in Indiana damage my machine if it is left out there?
@@ThePurposefulPantry Thank you! I will do that once it arrives. I watched your video and ordered the Cosori you have. I’m new, but plan on working my way through your videos. They are very helpful and informative. The trouble is finding a spot for the machine!
@@ThePurposefulPantry So that means without vacuum sealing the dehydrated zucchini will last about a year. I assume it may last longer if I vacuum seal it, is that correct? Thanks so much for the prompt response.
