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Here’s our ultimate list of what you can do with a food dehydrator. Hint: it’s a whole lot more than just jerky!
If you look around the web you’ll realize that the list of what dehydrators do is just about endless. It would be a lot easier to list what won’t work, but we’ll save that for the end. (Click here to go to the short list: What You Can’t Dehydrate With A Food Dehydrator)
The most common uses are for all types of meat jerky and fruit leather. You’ll discover so many uses beyond that, from other foods to craft projects. You also may be surprised to discover a few solutions for some daily household issues.
If you thought you didn’t need or want a dehydrator, read on. You might just change your mind!
The Quick Answer – Basic Categories
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Meats, Poultry, Fish, and Game
- Nuts,Seeds, and Grains
- Herbs
- Sauces, Soups, and Salsa
- Flowers and Plants
- Crafts and Household Items
The Long Answer – Detailed Lists
Fruits
Chopped, Sliced, or Pureed for fruit leather (aka fruit roll ups or fruit jerky)
- apples
- apricots
- bananas
- blueberries
- cherries
- coconut
- cranberries
- grapes
- kiwi
- lemons
- limes
- mango
- oranges
- papaya
- peaches
- pears
- persimmons
- pineapple
- plums
- raspberries
- strawberries
- tomatoes
You can also dry fruit skins. That’s pretty much what commercial dried cranberries are.
Vegetables
Chopped, Sliced, Pureed for Sauces
- asparagus
- beans
- beets
- broccoli
- cabbage
- carrots
- cauliflower
- celery
- collard greens
- corn
- eggplant
- garlic
- green beans
- kale
- leeks
- mushrooms
- onions
- peas
- peppers
- potatoes
- pumpkin
oh wait, isn’t that a fruit?
- shallots
- spinach
- squash
- sweet potatoes
- zucchini
Meats, Poultry, and Fish
- Beef
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Scrambled Eggs
- Venison
- Other Wild Game
- Salmon
- Tuna
Nuts, Seeds and Grains
- Almonds
- Brazil Nuts
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Macadamia Nuts
- Pecans
- Pine Nuts
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Chia Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Sunflower Seeds
- Barley
- Brown Rice
- Oats
- Sprouted Grains
- White Rice
- Wild Rice
- Legumes!
Herbs
- Basil
- Tarragon
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Summer Savory
- Bay Leaves
- Parsley
- Dill
- Mint
Some Foods You Can Make
- Chips
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Granola
- Herbal Teas
- Yogurt
And then there’s the “king” of the dehydrator, jerky:
- Beef Jerky
- Turkey Jerky
- Wild Game Jerky
- Salmon Jerky
- Fruit Jerky
- Tofu Jerky
- Veggie Jerky (aka Veggie “Bacon”)
Some Non-Food Things You Can Make
- Fire Starters for camping
- Paper
- Pet Treats
- Potpourri
More Things You Can Do
- Proof dough
- Germinate Seeds
Some Non-Food Items You Can Dry
- Ball Caps
- Delicate Clothing Items
- Mittens & Gloves
- Paper Mache
- Flowers
- Pine Cones, Whole Apples (and lots of other
miscellaneous stuff you use for craft projects) - Shoes
- Boots
- Wallets (and other items that accidentally
go through your washing machine) - Your Kid’s homework (and other important papers that you accidentally
spill something on)
What We Do NOT Recommend!
If what I found on the web is true, people have actually put these items in a food dehydrator:
- Cassette Tapes
- Cell phones
I repeat, this site in no way recommends putting anything like a cassette tape or a cell phone in a food dehydrator!
What You Can’t Dehydrate With A Food Dehydrator:
- Milk
- Cheese
- Raw Eggs
- Lettuce
- Foods with very high oil content (such as avocados)
It’s a short list, but it’s important. In fact, you certainly can dehydrate some of those foods, but you need to do some studying first. For example, you may experience success with something like avocados, but be aware that foods with high oil content won’t keep nearly as long as a lot of other dried foods.
On the other hand, foods such as raw eggs and dairy products are a whole other story because there are some health risks involved. You seriously need to know what you’re doing, else the end product may not be safe to eat.
Another Very Important Note: Many people successfully dehydrate a wide variety of meats and wild game, and even pork. It is essential to be aware that if you don’t do it correctly, you could end up with food that will make you extremely ill, or worse (think trichinosis in raw pork). Before you attempt to make jerky or dehydrate any other kind of meat, consult a guide from a trusted source. Don’t guess at it – ask the experts!
For more information please see “The Ultimate Do Not Dehydrate List”. Another good resource is your local extension service.
If you found this info helpful please share on Pinterest and help us spread the word!
Yvette Appleton says
Hi!
I have a ” Magic Aire 11 ” dehydrator, & I would like to buy x 8 MESH inserts…the type used for drying herbs, sticky items, etc. Do you sell this product? If not, any idea where I could purchase these inserts?
Regards,
Yvette
Susan says
Hi Yvette,
I’m not at all familiar with the Magic Aire brand, but I did a little research, and a couple of sources claim that all parts for the L’Equip Dehydrator will also fit the Magic Aire II. To confirm that, you might try contacting L’Equip customer service. Their website is https://www.lequip.com/. Ask them the exact dimensions of their dehydrator trays, and measure your Magic Aire trays to see if the dimensions match. Also make sure the tray design matches yours (Note that the L’Equip trays have a hole in the center and indentations on the ends.) These mesh screens are hard to find online. You may be able to find them at Newegg. Newegg is an established, reputable online merchant, but their price on this is exorbitant – they want about $15 for a set of two, plus $10.95 shipping!
Another idea is to look at the Weston Food Dehydrator Netting Roll on Amazon.
This is a 13.5 inch by 63 inch roll of dehydrator netting that can be cut to fit your trays. If 13.5 inches is wide enough for your Magic Aire trays, this might work for you, and it also might cost less than buying a set of inserts. The only drawback I can think of is that if your trays have holes in the center, or if they have oddly shaped edges like the L’Equip trays, then it’s going to be harder to cut the exact shapes you need. I would make a paper pattern first, get it to fit the tray correctly, and then use that pattern and an Exacto or carpet knife to cut the mesh screens. (But that’s just my thought. You might be way more talented than I am at crafty things!)
Also, I’d just like to clarify that no products are sold directly from this website. The Healthy Kitchen Shop is a review site, and our goal is to help people determine which product best suits their individual needs. We do extensive, in depth research and write detailed reviews so that our site visitors can find the information they need (and want!) to know before they buy a product, including where to find the best prices online.
I’m sorry I can’t give you a more definitive answer about your Magic Aire, but I do hope this is helpful. Best of luck finding your mesh screens, and thanks so much for visiting our site!
Sharon says
I have the old magic site 11. It doesn’t have temperature control so I am wondering if I can use it to dehydrate cooked meat ? Thanks
Susan says
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the question, and you’re wise to be careful. I’m not familiar with any of the Magic brand dehydrators, and I’m also definitely not an expert on meats. I suggest you try contacting the manufacturer and see what advice they can offer.
Sorry I can’t help but good luck!
Susan