Freezing the food in a deep freezer for several weeks takes care of the majority of problems that might arise from bugs and bacteria. Hi guys, I’ve found that leaving the skins on when doing hashbrowns doesn’t work well. I have not had this problem. Hi Stephanie, I’ve never tried it with the potato skins still on but I’m sure it would work fine. To cure potatoes, place in a cooler, dry area for a … These wash easily in hot soapy water, and you can even put them in the dishwasher. Your website was just what I was looking for – very informative and complete. It is easy to do and doesn’t take a lot of effort. Yes, you can grind potatoes into a flour. Since this is not a dish I feed my family often I usually choose to use fresh potatoes when making it. You’ll like it! I don’t care if they turn black, I am just looking for the easiest way to put some potatoes up. That would be a great place to dehydrate the onions! These sheets come in handy for small pieces that might fall through the trays. I was so glad to get an update email on this today, because someone gave us a lot of potatoes and some of them are going bad, so now I remembered I can dehydrate them! I did cook them a little longer and that seemed to work. I cannot go to expensive. If you have boiled them, there should be no eggs or bacteria. Avoid Using Plastic. green potatoes are those that have been exposed to the sun while growing. That’s right! The potatoes turn black because they are immature. . Growing Cranberries – How Cranberries Are Grown And Harvested, How And When To Fertilize Vegetable Plants In Gardens, Raised Beds & Containers. Just trace, cut, and place on the tray. Yes, I like to do this extra step. I do not own the electric dehydrator and intend on drying potatoes using solar-tunnel heat. It might help to cover the area with cardboard after covering it with either of these. I can’t eat regular potatoes unfortunately. is it possible to dehydrate raw potatoes? I wouldn’t, however, fry up some potato wedges and then dehydrate them. Yes, just be careful not to overcook them. Dehydrated potatoes … Poatoes (or rice) veggies & a couple bouillon cubes or powdered cheese. That gave me 20 lbs. I’m not sure I’d put kitty litter in my dehydrator. I’d much rather have a hint of onion in my potatoes than my fruit! Will they dry right. So I highly recommend that you cook them first. Instead of … We often place a small paper towel in with dehydrated items. Hi. Yes, you need some type of iron. If so , how often would I need to alternate shelves and how many hours/days will the process take? Yes, drain them before placing them in the fridge. Yes, you could dehydrate the potatoes in chunks and re-hydrated them to make mashed potatoes or you could just grind up the dehydrated potatoes and make your own instant potatoes. Can you make french fries out of your potatoes and dehydrate them? Backpackers have been using this process for years. They are also nice to have around as an "emergency" food, in the case of natural disaster or other emergency. Boiling them adds more wate to then remove, and I don’t have a food processor. As you collect them, lightly brush off any dirt or soil, being careful not to damage skins. I live in MX and do not have access to Mylar bags. Next, move your potatoes to a cooler, covered location and spread out to cure. … The problem with doing that is that often the material is not food grade so I know that would be a problem for a lot of people. Mine seem to turn black regardless of the process I use. 1/4″. Vacuum sealing is a great way to preserve food. You can see how they’re cut better in this photo. My guess would be that they might not be cooked quite enough. Using fresh potatoes and blanching before dehydrating. Want to get more ideas? If you can store potatoes in the ground, that would be preferred for the long term. Once dry (crispy) rub between your hands to separate grains. Blanch the potatoes by bringing a large pot of water to boil. Let set overnight. Should I have left them in the boiling water to cool? I went through 4 dehydrators before I finally got smart and purchased my Excalibur 9 tray, which is the last one I’ll ever buy. With rising food prices and shortages, it can be a good idea to store staple foods such as potatoes when prices are low, or when you have grown your own. Boil your potatoes for about 5-8 minutes depending on how many potatoes you have and the size of your pot. This article may contain affiliate links. You can find them here on Amazon. Peel the potato … It’s like magic. So many comments on onion smells. Dehydrated Potato Flakes . I would wash the fabric first to get out any “finish” that they put on in the manufacturing process and I think it would be fine to use with food. As an aside, enlist the help of your family and friends to give you prepaid visa cards instead of gifts so you can purchase your dream dehydrator. Wonderful idea I have both and never thought if that, thanks . If you don’t see any mold and everything looks good, you’re probably fine. We also do this with dehydrated things to insure that they are TOTALLY dry! (Been there – done that – took days to air out.) I always put my peeled potatoes in water with lemon juice until I have them all peeled, no matter how I am fixing them (canned, dried or fresh). When you dehydrate … Maybe I missed it, but I don’t see the temperature the dehydrator is to be set at. We normally pick them and let them sit on the basement floor for several weeks beforing storing as an alternate way to cure. on Growing Heirloom Sweet Corn – 4 Great Varieties To Grow In The Garden! Proper curing all begins at harvest time. Also can the chunks then be rehydrated and use as mashed potatoes? I took the onions out a couple hours prior to the potatoes as they were done sooner. The drier the soil the better, as the potatoes will shed off most of the dirt. They are fairly easy to cook, don’t weigh much and keep for a long time without refrigeration. Load up your dehydrator. Really home grown potatoes aren’t generally eaten when they are still green because the grower knows a green potatoe from a mature one. My dehydrator does not have a thermostatic control, just vents. Jennifer says: April 23, 2013 at 11:09 am I plan to place the potatoes in Mylar bags and then place the Mylar bags in 5 gallon food grade buckets. Let cool. Best Herbs to Dehydrate for Long Term Storage. Potatoes are brushed when they leave the storage … Prevent cut and peeled slices from browning by covering them with water or vacuum sealing. Also, how do you use the dried onions? Add potato slices or shredded potatoes to the water and resume boiling until slices are fork tender, about 4-6 minutes… They will be smaller in size and yes, crunchy. I especially like to use them with potatoes since they are non-stick. Thanks! You could give it a try. After the water has reached a rolling boil, remove the potatoes … Can you not dehydrate raw potatoes? ;D. Linda, let me know if it works! I’m sure the smell would dissipate over time, but I use my dehydrator weekly if not daily. and then don’t blanch as long. Thanks for the info. The do need to be a cooked a bit more than just blanching; they need to be cooked through but not mushy. Thank you for any responses. Potatoes are everyone's favorites and I'll show you how they can be easily dehydrated from pre-cooked sliced potatoes! We also use mylar bags. I soak them in water for a few minutes then saute as normal. I do not recommend dehydrating raw potatoes. Some Asian markets sell inexpensive dehydrators, too. You can dehydrate raw potatoes but like you mentioned they will turn black and they might take a lot longer to re-hydrate. My husband says it reminds him of hash-browns cooking… I still prefer waking up to the smell of bread baking but the smell of dehydrating potatoes comes in a close second. In addition, using mesh bags or containers that keeps moisture from getting to the potatoes helps keep the potatoes from rotting as well. Preparing the Potatoes. I usually leave mine overnight. Yes, but you would need to make sure your mashed potatoes were spread really thin on the trays, otherwise it might take forever. Dehydrated potatoes are great for camping and those who travel a lot. At this point, it is okay to have a bit of humidity in your storage location, as it helps in the curing process. What did I do wrong? I have been vacuum sealing my veggies in glass jars, I also put in oxy-sorb packets is this a good way to get a longer shelf life. The old standby is after handling onions to wipe some lemon juice on your hands to remove the smell. The first time I dehydrated onions I was really worried because I washed all the trays, sprayed them with vinegar and even tried to air out the dehydrator for a bit. If your food slices aren’t too thick or extremely thin, the suggested time will do … I love this tutorial, great job! When using items to grate, etc, after washing and drying, turn oven to lowest temp (Ours is 170*) turn oven OFF, place items like grater blades, sieves, and more on large cookie sheets and place in oven. Being a lifelong teacher she is right at home teaching canning, dehydrating, pressure cooking, bread making and more. Not all of them, but a major of them. How do you rehydrate & cook them once dehydrated? Thanks. Different Methods to Dehydrate Food. I have dehydrated red potatoes, both sliced and shredded. Garages, back porches and even barns will work well for curing. If you mean cut them into french fry shapes, yes you can. Pick perfectly ripe fruit, wash them thoroughly, and then slice into thin slices. Thanks in advance. Yes, you can dehydrate in the oven. You may have to soak your trays in warm water for a little longer when washing your trays if you don’t have the non-stick dehydrator sheets. Do you have any ideas on what I should do? So I really recommend you get a set-up that has a higher temperature. How To Grow Devil’s Ivy – The Perfect Houseplant, And Outdoor Plant Too. Here you can see I’m using my Excalibur. I’m not sure how often you’d have to rotate your shelves, it all depends on the dehydrator you have. That would not work very well…..:). Spread on dehydrator sheets and process as for fruits. I love your website. They have a fantastic shelf life when stored correctly. I have purchased those oxygen packs and store my dried goods in glass jars with 2 or 3 of them per jar….no mold yes didn’t freeze either should i? Begin by harvesting when the soil is dry, and not moist or wet from recent rains. Hi Jennifer! If we’re using the onions in a fried dish we rehydrate but most times we just toss them in the dish dry. Lynn, you could use plastic bags, but the potatoes may not keep as long. This post might help. I was anxious to try to dehydrate potatoes for hash browns. Herbs come from all parts of the plants. I don’t have a dehydrator…can I dehydrate potatoes in the oven on a low temp? Here is a look at the simple basics of harvesting and preserving a potato crop. Then I store them in a Mylar bag in a food storage bucket. Hi Debbie, yes, it’s possible but they will turn black and might be harder to reconstitute. But of equal importance, keep any light from hitting your potatoes. I take the skins off when doing sliced also but leave them on when I do diced since I cut those by hand.. Also, what temp is the dehydrator set to? It depends on humidity. Wash your potatoes. For many folks potatoes are their main carbohydrate source. I plan to place the potatoes in Mylar bags and then place the Mylar bags in 5 gallon food grade buckets. There you have it! Learning to grow, harvest and store your own crop of potatoes is one of the easiest ways to produce lasting food from your garden. Hi Jennifer, I would like to know after you freeze the hash browns after dehydrating them for a couple of weeks and take them out will there be moisture in them when I vacuum seal them in my mason jars? Here’s a shot of the potatoes still in the food processor. Any hints you might have would be greatly appreciated. ;D, Now, I guess I will have to drag the darned dehydrator out to the garage to see if doing potatoes out there will remove the onion smell….. wait a minute !!! Very strong smell first few hours but by the time they were done no odor. Hello! so you will notice this more so with them if they aren’t cooled thoroughly. Could you shredd the potatoes before you blanched them? While some parts of the plants will be easier to dry and store long term, all herbs are a perfect addition to any long term storage… Love your posts, I was wondering about sliced potatoes for au gratin or scallops, how thin would they need to be cut to make them dehydrate and still be good for making au grating when rehydrated? Can you dry chunks of potato? Cover them with boiling water, seal it up for a few mins., drain & cook them up. I think the oxygen absorbor is overkill if you are already vacuum packing. The ultimate dehydrator! You can set the temperature between 125 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit. I have the round dehydrator and only one solid sheet. BUT – now the garage SMELLS LIKE ONIONS – A MONTH LATER! After logging in you can close it and return to this page. As long as you keep them in a cool, dry … It will take about 10 days in total to cure your potatoes before placing them in long term storage. When this happens, the potatoes are harmful if the green portion stays on before eating. Could I do the same thing – shred, dehydrate – with leftover baked potatoes? They are cheap, reusable, and replaceable. You might end up with something more like mashed potatoes though. It is easier to grate raw potatoes. Yes, you can dehydrate sweet potatoes and they would absorb some of he onion smell. I do have another question. Note: Individual items are available in bulk for group, institution, or corporate clients. 1- oil dry or kitty litter takes odors out (It helped remove smokey smell from a neighbor’s closet after a small fire in the house.) Let us know if either one works? For larger-scale food dehydrating, consider one of the Excalibur dehydrators. Can also cut parchment paper to size needed. That’s just soft enough for a fork or a skewer to go through. For best results, you never want the temperature to rise above 60 to 65 degrees, or fall below 40. Contact us here. I have a Salad Master with a coarse cylinder like for making coleslaw . The best way to prevent this undesirable outcome is to take water out of the equation and dry the potatoes. This lets the potatoes fully mature and develop the skins needed for storing. It sounds like they may not have been cooked all the way. The smell of drying onions is very strong and will linger in your home for a long time. However, if you don’t wash your potatoes dirt and germs can transfer from the peeler to the peeled potatoes. The process of how to dehydrate food for long-term storage is pretty easy. When first digging up your crop, allow the potatoes to sit in the sun for a few hours to help start the drying. We can add canned meat when we cook it. I thought I followed the instructions but when I drained the potatoes to cool them in the fridge overnight, they turned black. They are wonderful for camping. How Long do Dehydrated Potato Flakes Last? Blanch potatoes before dehydrating – super important!! I like potato peels on fresh potatoes like baked or fried and am wondering if they would dehydrate ok? In a couple of minutes, if they look like they need … Set the temperature and you’re ready to let them dehydrate overnight. I also plan to make potato flour from some of the potatoes. It would be for me. Dehydrating vegetables is one of our favorite methods. Now to get the dehydrator I am looking for. Use enough hot water to just cover them. Can this process make potato flakes as well ? Load up your trays. Because they have high humidity, potatoes spoil in a hurry. This makes great instant potatoes and also a great thickener for soups or stews. Growing Coneflowers – The Perennial That Brings Birds, Bees & Butterflies! The lemon juice keeps them from turning black, and will even “crisp up” ones that might be a tad old and wrinkled. All with oxygen absorbers. Another way to keep the potatoes white … When you are ready to use the dehydrated potatoes, soak them in water for about 15 minutes. Also have you ever done it without cooking first? Don’t waste your money on anything else! The moisture that dripped from the onions, and out of the dehydrator, formed a little onion-smell puddle on the garage floor….and it stayed – and stayed…. Drying fruit in a dehydrator that reeked of onions was something I didn’t wanted to try. They would be good dehydrated this way for potatoes au gratin. All of the tips we’ve mentioned here so far will work for long term storage of your potatoes. With the Food Saver bags, we’ve made up meals in a bag. Most modern ovens cannot be set this low. I am in KwaZulu-Natal-South Africa where sunheat can go as high as 37 degrees Celsius. The Cedar chips might work, though…..:). Yes, to re-hydrate I just soak them in water (use enough just to cover the potatoes). How dry should the potatoes get when they’re done being dehydrated? I have a little old school desk on my front porch where I put the dehydrator in the summertime to keep the house cool. And Mason jars & Food Saver bags. Cooked potatoes can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days, or in an airtight container … This might be different if you live in a tropical environment. A lot of people think that if you’re going to peel the potatoes then you don’t need to wash them. so it was a job to get the onion smell out, but keep up the good work!! Thank You again for sharing your wonderful site!! I would not eat anything over three years unless there was no other food available, even in a pretty bad collapse three years is long enough to get crops going. I’m trying to get at least 10yrs. Also I am in Arizona. I want to make potato ´powder´, i tried looking online and all ive seen is Potato starch and Flour. Just read your post on potatoes and onions, I to dry a lot of my vegetables, but on my onions I just slice them thin and the potatoes I do the same, but I made the mistake and did the potatoes first and then the onions!! It keeps the starch from getting onto the plastic mesh part of the trays, much easier to clean! Then just lay the potatoes out onto your dehydrator trays and dehydrate. Virtually no humidity. Next, move your potatoes to a cooler, covered location and spread out to cure. With fresh onions, I always saute them before adding them to anything cooked. See: How To Create A Simple DIY Harvest Rack. I think that’s a fabulous idea! We always plan to dehydrate vegetables and properly packaged it can last for years in our storage. Connect with Jennifer on. You can fit a lot more shredded potatoes in the dehydrator than you can sliced potatoes and shredded potatoes can be used for hash-browns, soups, casseroles, stews and much more. They should be pretty dry, at least 90% of the moisture removed. You said to cool them overnight in the fridge after boiling. Thanks. If so, how big do you cut your chunks. Or should they have a little water in them? Avoid using plastic at all costs. What do you know about making insant rice Thanks. Before I share food dehydrating recipes, let’s talk about how to make dehydrated food. 2) cedar chips like used in a dogs’ bed has been used under cushions of a couch where a dog had been sleeping. I love this idea of yours here! I have not tried that, but since you mention it I am curious…..:) Let me know if you try and what the results are. My idea is to just grind the dehydrated potato that you showed during the process explained in your blog so they can last a loooong time, isnt that the same as flour?