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This Dried Fruit is Anything But Dry.

August 16, 2015 By Lena

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

I’ll admit it; I don’t think a food dehydrator has ever been on my culinary wishlist.

I mean, I’ve never sat around on a Saturday afternoon thinking, I wish I could dry some fruit. I mean, who does… right? Except now that I have spent a Saturday afternoon drying fruit, it’s a process I’d definitely like to repeat again… and again… thanks to the Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator.
DSC_1246Back-to-school is around the corner. The opportunity to load up my boys’ lunchbox with healthy snacks – without preservatives or additives – is very attractive to me. And since my little guys love fruit, why not concentrate the flavours, make it completely portable, and have it available for them when they want it? Friends, I’ve seen the light: I totally need a food dehydrator. 

Now, if you’re like me and are new to dehydrating, here’s what you need to know:

1. The four most popular foods to dehydrate are fruits, vegetables, herbs and meat (think beef jerky). Dehydrating takes time. This is not something you can decide to do, and then have your goodies ready in an hour. Chances are, you won’t even have them ready on the same day; the process takes anywhere from 6-18 hours, not including the time it takes to wash, slice and prepare the food. However, the good news is that after the food is loaded up into the dehydrator, you can literally forget about it. The unit does all the work and is compact, relatively quiet and pretty much foolproof if you follow the instructions for preparation.
DSC_12482. Read the instructions to ensure you’re preparing your foods properly. Some fruits and vegetables call for blanching beforehand, or, to prevent browning, some food items require a quick dunk in a lemon juice bath. But most of the time you’ll simply need to wash and dry the food thoroughly. The more moisture you can blot off the prepared food, the easier (and quicker) it will be to dehydrate.DSC_12473. The Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator comes with five (5) stackable trays, but don’t feel that you have to fill them up on your first go. I started with three, and sliced my fruit super-thin to test out timing. With sliced bananas and strawberries at 1/8-inch thickness, the fruit was done in 3 hours! This aligns with the suggested drying time of 6-10 hours for fruit sliced 1/4-inch thick.

In the end, I was awarded with about a cup filled with super sweet dried fruit! It’s absolutely perfect and I can’t wait to try it again!
DSC_1249I’ll be adding my dried fruit to oatmeal and granola for breakfasts on the go, and my boys love it as-is straight from the jar. It was also the inspiration for this Banana Berry Fudge!

14 oz (1 can) sweetened condensed milk
228 g (1 bag) white chocolate chips
2 teaspoons strawberry jelly powder
2 tablespoons chopped dried strawberries
2 tablespoons chopped dried banana

Line an 8 x 8″ baking dish with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.

In a large, microwave safe bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and white chocolate chips. Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute, stir, and then microwave for an additional minute. Stir again.

Cool slightly, and then mix in the strawberry jelly powder and dried fruit. Smooth into baking dish and refrigerate for 2 hours, or until chilled through. Cut into pieces and enjoy!
DSC_1263The Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator retails for $69.99 and is available online at hamiltonbeach.ca or in-store where you find Hamilton Beach small appliances. And, here’s your chance to win one!

Make back-to-school breakfasts and snacks easy-peasy with the Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator. To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #HBSocialKitchen, Food Dehydrator, Hamilton Beach Canada, healthy living

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy Heffernan

    August 16, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    Bananas!!!

  2. Judy Cowan

    August 16, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    I would dehydrate some strawberries & apples first!

  3. michelle demmans

    August 16, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    i would love to win one and dehydrate strawberries

  4. ivy pluchinsky

    August 16, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    strawberries

  5. Jeannie Lam

    August 16, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    The first thing I would dehydrate would be strawberries!

  6. Lynda Cook

    August 16, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    I would love to make some beet chips, but I do have a freezer full of strawberries that need to be used up, but I think I would make apple slices first and then the beet chips

  7. John Allison

    August 16, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    I would love to try the bananas first.

  8. lori novak

    August 16, 2015 at 9:56 pm

    I would like to make strawberries and raspberries dried and try them in your recipe!

  9. Pat Drouillard

    August 16, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    strawberries and bananas

  10. Michelle

    August 16, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    APPLES

  11. Tammy

    August 16, 2015 at 10:06 pm

    Haha. Okay did you read my Instagram comment? Right away I popped over here and laughed… seriously, it is on my wish list! I mean I am not sitting around swirling my fingers thinking about dehydrating fruit but I do think it would be a great addition to our new healthy lifestyle. :)

  12. joy

    August 16, 2015 at 10:16 pm

    apples!

  13. Zoey Jiru

    August 16, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Fresh berries so I can add them to porridge later on in the fall.

  14. Anne Cresswell

    August 16, 2015 at 10:29 pm

    Strawberries, I love them. Then I’d move onto the bananas…the possibilities are great.

  15. Dianne Gardner

    August 16, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    I would dehydrate mangoes first.

  16. Herbert

    August 16, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    First food would be sweet potatoes or mango

  17. Josie Tusa

    August 16, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    Bananas would be the very first

  18. Jennpup (@jennpup)

    August 16, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    I’d like to dehydrate cherries! A bit more work pitting, but I can imagine it would be so great! Then strawberries and tomatoes.

  19. Peter Tusa

    August 16, 2015 at 11:59 pm

    Strawberries and apricots

  20. Lushka Smith

    August 17, 2015 at 12:09 am

    I think I’d try bananas as I always have them around.

  21. Melanie Chartier

    August 17, 2015 at 12:22 am

    I would love to try mango!

  22. Pamela Jessen

    August 17, 2015 at 12:25 am

    I would try blackberries for my first attempt!

  23. Dana Miller

    August 17, 2015 at 1:06 am

    The first food I want to dehydrate in the Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator is mangoes!

  24. Brenda Penton

    August 17, 2015 at 4:51 am

    I’d make beef jerky. I’ve always wanted to do it!

  25. Jenna D

    August 17, 2015 at 8:20 am

    Mango strips :)

  26. Marissa

    August 17, 2015 at 8:31 am

    The first fruits I would like to dehydrate are mangoes and pineapple.

  27. Rose

    August 17, 2015 at 9:09 am

    Mangos and strawberries

  28. Soozle

    August 17, 2015 at 9:27 am

    I would try bananas first

  29. JaimeeM

    August 17, 2015 at 10:24 am

    I will be making banana chips first.

  30. tanyab79

    August 17, 2015 at 10:58 am

    I would start with Strawberries followed by slice potatoes and so on.

  31. Sabrina Tong

    August 17, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    I would dehydrate apples first. There’s nothing I like better than dried apple chips! :)

  32. Wendy Hutton

    August 17, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    I would do onions first we use so many

  33. Donna Wilson

    August 17, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    I would dehydrate bananas first.

  34. elaing8

    August 17, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    bananas :)

  35. jan

    August 17, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    tomatoes or kale

  36. Alayne Langford

    August 17, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    You just killed it and got my full attention with this delightful Banana Berry Fudge! And guess what?! It’s gluten free!! You had me at hello.. :)

  37. Debbie F

    August 17, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    Sweet potatoes

  38. Karla Sceviour

    August 17, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    hmm I`d dehydrate some apricots!!

  39. Hope D

    August 17, 2015 at 7:21 pm

    I would try strawberries first

  40. Gillian Morgan

    August 17, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    I would dehydrate blueberries.

  41. Francine F

    August 17, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    I’d make sweet potato jerky for my dog :)

  42. Belinda McNabb

    August 17, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    I would do some bananas

  43. Jenness M

    August 17, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    I will dehydrate cranberries.

  44. Victoria Ess

    August 17, 2015 at 10:18 pm

    I’d probably make jerky first.

  45. Jolie

    August 17, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    I would dehydrate bananas, strawberries & tomatoes.

  46. Ira

    August 17, 2015 at 11:31 pm

    Strawberries, I love dehydrated strawberries.

  47. Tina L.

    August 18, 2015 at 1:50 am

    apple slices

  48. Rebby

    August 18, 2015 at 2:38 am

    Fresh BC Apples!

  49. HCM

    August 18, 2015 at 8:29 am

    This is new to me so I would try the simple fruits first like you did. Strawberries and bananas. I would add apples too since apple season will be coming up shortly.

  50. William Deaffie

    August 18, 2015 at 8:33 am

    Banana chips are a classic.

  51. Treen Goodwin

    August 18, 2015 at 10:41 am

    I’d do beef jerky for sure ,,, we love it and it would be awesome to win this for that reason .. thanks for the chance :)

  52. michelle tremblett

    August 18, 2015 at 11:51 am

    I would love to try dehydrated strawberries first, follow by bananas :)

  53. Emily C

    August 18, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    I would put in apples and pears.

  54. Melanie B

    August 18, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    I would do bananas first! The kids would love it

  55. Guppy

    August 18, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Id make banana chips.

  56. Tanis

    August 18, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Plums from our plum tree!

  57. Carol Denny

    August 18, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    Bananas and strawberries

  58. Julie Bolduc

    August 18, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    I would do strawberries and bananas

  59. Nicky

    August 18, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    kale!

  60. Doris Calvert

    August 18, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    Bananas and beef jerky!

  61. Shari Dalton

    August 18, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    I would dehydrate some fresh peaches!

  62. Darrah Bailey

    August 18, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    BEEF JERKY! :) Also banana chips ;)

  63. Ellie S.

    August 18, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    Ooh! Berries! Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries… I would love to try them all!

  64. Tammy @inRdream

    August 18, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    I would go with veggies, like beans, carrots and sweet potatoes.

  65. Jenn Erin

    August 18, 2015 at 7:21 pm

    I’d have to go with banana! I love banana chips.

  66. Rachel Girocks

    August 18, 2015 at 7:23 pm

    I would do strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, cherries!

  67. Joan G.

    August 18, 2015 at 7:47 pm

    I’m sure I’d start with the strawberries.

  68. Charity Konrath

    August 18, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    i would make apple chips

  69. ginette4

    August 18, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    Bananas and apples

  70. Ei Leen

    August 18, 2015 at 11:45 pm

    Mangoes! I LOVE dried mangoes!

  71. Silvia D

    August 18, 2015 at 11:47 pm

    I would dehydrate some fruits like bananas, strawberries and also my garden herbs.

  72. leanne

    August 19, 2015 at 12:36 am

    Mangos and strawberries.

  73. andrea amy

    August 19, 2015 at 1:42 am

    apples and peaches

  74. Kris L

    August 19, 2015 at 5:30 am

    Make some moose jerky, it is hunting season now!

  75. Donnas

    August 19, 2015 at 7:13 am

    I’d make beef jerky.

  76. Terri Baker

    August 19, 2015 at 9:32 am

    I would love to dehydrate the herbs I have growing so I can enjoy them during the winter months

  77. Kristine Ewald

    August 19, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Figs for sure

  78. margo beredjiklian

    August 19, 2015 at 4:58 pm

    If I had one of these, I would dry up many fruits to eat for healthy snacks. thanks for the chance to win Lena :)

  79. maria

    August 19, 2015 at 11:49 pm

    Mangoes!

  80. DianeG

    August 20, 2015 at 8:12 am

    I would make beef jerky first.

  81. Andrea

    August 20, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    I would try strawberries!!

  82. Patrick Siu

    August 20, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    kales chips

  83. Nicole B

    August 20, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Fruit for healthy snacks for the kids

  84. Nicole Jubleew

    August 20, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    Apples would be the first thing I would try to dehydrate.

  85. Heidi Pawluk

    August 20, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    Love to dehydrate some apples from my mom’s tree, strawberries & raspberries from her yard too.

  86. Sara Lima

    August 21, 2015 at 12:03 am

    I’d probably make fruit roll ups! LOL! I’m pretty much five, anyways.

  87. Robert Haynes

    August 21, 2015 at 8:33 am

    Spaghetti sauce for camping

  88. Angela Mitchell

    August 21, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Apples and Pears.

  89. Caroline B

    August 21, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    I would make apples. I love apple chips.

  90. Erin McSweeney

    August 21, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Fall apples will be the first fruit

  91. Angela Massis

    August 22, 2015 at 9:24 am

    Strawberries and Pineapple would be my first choice

  92. Darlene Schuller

    August 22, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    I use to do beef jerky in our oven… I would love to try it in this.

  93. Stephanie LaPlante

    August 22, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    Most definitely bananas and strawberries!

  94. doris humber

    August 23, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    I would try bananas.

  95. SueSueper

    August 23, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    I would try bananas.

  96. Brandee H

    August 23, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    I would love to make beef jerky and fruit leather.

  97. Kelley Moore

    August 23, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    strawberries

  98. lori butler

    August 24, 2015 at 11:47 am

    i would do some apples

  99. Nina Murray

    August 24, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    I’d like to make beef jerky!

  100. Nate Fuller

    August 24, 2015 at 9:32 pm

    I would like to try apples and berries!

  101. Birdiebee

    August 24, 2015 at 11:34 pm

    The first food I would dehydrate is beef jerky as it is the favored snack in my family.

  102. Suzi

    August 25, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    Bananas as I love banana chips

  103. Tara Elias

    August 25, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    Apple slices!

  104. heidi c.

    August 26, 2015 at 12:39 am

    I would love to dehydrate apples for chips!

  105. Florence C

    August 26, 2015 at 11:03 am

    Apples first!

  106. Juliee Fitze

    August 26, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    the first food I would do is sweet potatoes.

  107. Jennie Yuen

    August 26, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    I would dehydrate veggies and make veggie chips!

  108. Amanda Neilson

    August 29, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    I’d make banana chips!

  109. Rebecca Groen

    August 30, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    I would dehydrate apples and bananas first

  110. Lee-Ann S

    August 30, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    I’ll start with apples then go from there.

  111. kristen sowko

    August 30, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    I would love to try and make the bananas and strawberries! It looks delicious! Thank you for the opportunity! :)

  112. michelle

    August 30, 2015 at 11:32 pm

    Figs, my son loves figs. I can see his smile now.

  113. david s

    August 31, 2015 at 7:52 am

    Beef jerky!

  114. sarah alexis

    August 31, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    strawberries and kiwis

  115. Anna

    September 2, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    I would like to dry strawberry fruit leather.

  116. Travelbuds

    September 3, 2015 at 12:45 pm

    apples

  117. Theresa Black

    September 3, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    I would dry some mango’s first. Thanks for the chance.

  118. Linda H

    September 3, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    Would try bananas, apples & pineapple for my homemade granola.

  119. Adina H.

    September 3, 2015 at 7:02 pm

    I would like to dehydrate strawberries first.

  120. Amber Y

    September 7, 2015 at 7:20 pm

    Strawberries and peaches would be my first two tests! Kiwi would be a very close third.

  121. MOHAMMAD ANJUM

    September 7, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    would dry some mango’

  122. Karine

    September 8, 2015 at 9:46 am

    I would try making some jerky! haha

  123. Jonnie

    September 8, 2015 at 11:43 am

    I will dehydrate Mango first. My son loves it but it’s so expensive to buy.

  124. Bo Simms

    September 8, 2015 at 11:50 am

    The first food I will dehydrate in the Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator is kale, broccoli, various vegetables and fruit.

  125. Ruby BB

    September 9, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    I liked the bananas & strawberries. Will also do sweet potato for our dog.

  126. Melinda

    September 9, 2015 at 11:02 pm

    I would dehydrate strawberries and blueberries.

  127. sarah sar

    September 10, 2015 at 12:43 am

    I will dehydrate mint leaves! They are perfect for using in tea.

  128. Tara Gauthier

    September 10, 2015 at 2:45 am

    I would either make some jerky or fruit leather, although might have to dry some fruit to make that fudge. Oh, the possibilities are simply endless!

  129. denise

    September 11, 2015 at 12:28 am

    i would make banana chips.

  130. Lori Bate

    September 12, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    I would love to try peaches!

  131. kathy downey

    September 13, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    the first food you’ll dehydrate in the Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator would be banana

  132. Wendy Jensen

    September 13, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    The first food I will dehydrate in the Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator is apples.

  133. Dana Miller

    September 14, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    I hope I am lucky!! I’ve wanted one for a long time!

  134. Heather Howard

    September 14, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    I’ve been thinking of making jerky and dried fruit in the oven but a dehydrator would be great!

  135. Debbie White Beattie

    July 26, 2018 at 4:41 am

    I’ve never thought about using dehydrated fruit in treats but it’s a great idea

Trackbacks

  1. SURVIVALISTS BLOG | This Dried Fruit is Anything But Dry. – Listen to Lena – says:
    August 20, 2015 at 7:07 am

    […] NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only. I'll admit it; I don't think a food dehydrator has ever been on my culinary wishlist. I mean, I've never sat around on a Saturday afternoon thinking, I wish I could dry … Article by dehydrating food – Google Blog Search. Read entire story here. […]

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Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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