Hi Steemians!

It has been quite a while since I did my #triedntested and the last one was Steamed noodles (with a special soup)? Does it work?. I have always been trying out many things just to keep learning and testing new things and see what works and what does not work for an average n00b is most of the cooking.

(Well, if a n00b can handle the product / recipe, that's definitely a successful one!)

And today, I have decided to try out something that takes LOTS OF PATIENCE ..

Behold, the Dehydrating Machine

So as I have talked to several people in Steemit (but not realising @elizacheng has already tried before) I have decided to acquire a least expensive dehydrator, simply to try and see if I can create something that is both long lasting and healthy for all to consume, especially for my parents at home.

And so happen, the most popular item to test for dehydrating is - BANANAS.

I have acquired myself a just ripe (I think, some might think it is too ripe?) local bananas from a grocery shop, and decided to slice them as thin as possible.

Horror 1: Apparently most ideal cutting is to make sure ALL ARE THE SAME for optimum dehydration process.

Not realising that crucial point, I have decided to slice as thin as I can to my liking; and apparently, to Eliza, this is still too thick...

However I tried using a usual slicer, and it still did not work. This is rather frustrating and time consuming.

I did not dip my banana slices with lemon juice, instead, I have glazed my good stainless steel paring knife for a good control of cutting, but perhaps, it could be right as not long after I cut these slices, they started to secrete juice.

If you look closely at the picture at the bottom left there are a few slices that looks rather reflective, not because of the lemon juice, but it is more of the banana itself started to secrete juice.

And so, as quickly as I can, while niggling off the edges of the banana, I have managed to put 4 trays of bananas and 1 tray of lemon slices ready for dehydrating process.

The whole process actually took more than 36 hours, but by the 30th hour, I have decided to take out the lemon slices as they felt hard enough.

This is how it looked like at the 30th hour for the lemon.

And this is how it looked like at the 34th hour of the banana slice after I have reduced the heat before letting it cool.

So somewhere along the line I must have done it wrong, from the choice of bananas to perhaps the way I cut it; so I might try it again but I will probably try other things like vegetables first before I head back to bananas. I already have a small bag of this experiment and right now they are being chilled in a zip locked bag, hoping that with the cold it will be harder. Who knows? I might go back and give it a check later tonight.

As for the lemon slice, I have tried soaking it with hot water just to try and see how it tastes; and to my surprise, 1 slice of dehydrated lemon taste stronger than a fresh sliced lemon. Maybe the juice is more concentrated now that it is totally dehydrated and I can reuse it for at least 4 glasses of water (warm or room temperature).

Conclusion

All is not lost even though the banana slices were never hardening and crispy, but the lemon slices still serve a very good way to keep fruits longer and I no longer worry that I will waste my lemon if I had extra to spare after mock-tail mix. Having dried lemon slices anytime as I needed serves a good use for my parents when they need a warm glass a day, technically without keeping these in the fridge. It saves both space and time and effort.

Would you try yourself to dehydrate food just for the sake of eating something that is less preserved, even if you have to keep it running for at least 36 hours?

Share your thoughts here!

I hope you have enjoyed reading my review as much as I have enjoyed preparing it.

Until then

Thank You for Your Time