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10

General Operating Tips

The following section applies to all

models except where stated otherwise

Before operating your food dehydrator for the fi rst time please be sure to completely 

read and understand these instructions. Wash and dry the trays and any other parts 

which will contact the food.

•  The fi rst time you turn on your Dehydrator you may notice an aroma. This is normal. 

To avoid this smell from being transferred to the food, place one tray and the lid on 

the base and following the instructions for your specifi c model, allow the unit to run 

without food in place until the aroma is gone. This is only necessary the very fi rst 

time you use the dehydrator, and takes less then one hour.

•  Place the dehydrator on a fl at, dry and stable (not carpeted) surface. Make sure 

there is at least one inch of clearance around the dehydrator to ensure proper air 

fl ow.

•  Prepare foods, according to the instructions given in this manual and fi ll the drying 

trays. NEVER cover the center hole in the trays or the vents on the top lid!

•  Make sure the drying trays are securely nestled on top of each other and on the 

unit’s base.

•  Plug the power cord into any standard 100-120 volt household outlet.
•  Consult the various tables at the end of this manual to get an idea as to when food 

is properly dehydrated and ready to be stored.

Tray Rotation

Inspect drying trays periodically. Rotate trays if the food you are drying requires 

it. Remove all the trays as a unit, then remove the lid. Place the top tray on the base, 

followed by the next uppermost tray, until all trays have been rotated.

Care and Maintenance

After each use, clean the drying trays and dehydrator lid with warm, soapy water. 

Do not wash trays, lid or base in dishwasher. Stubborn particles may be removed by 

soaking and/or using a plastic scrubber. Do not use abrasive materials or solvents to 

clean plastic!

To clean the dehydrator’s base (the bottom part with the motor and heating element), 

unplug and wipe clean with a damp sponge or cloth. NEVER immerse the base in water 

or allow liquid to fl ow into the area that contains the electrical parts.

Storage

After the dehydrator is cleaned, dry all parts, stack drying trays on the base, and 

store in a safe place.

Содержание PKFD18WT

Страница 1: ...ELECTRIC KITCHEN DEHYDRATOR MODELS PKFD18WT white PKFD19BK black USER MANUAL ...

Страница 2: ...resistant glass cooktop or cutting board It is imperative that an additional heat resistant cooking surface such as tile Formica or any surface protected with a heat resistant finish at least the size of the unit or larger be placed beneath this unit This will serve to protect the surface beneath from heat that can be generated by the food dehydrator ...

Страница 3: ...r Food Dehydrator 11 Stacking the Trays 11 How To Operate Your Food Dehydrator 12 Dehydrator Troubleshooting Guide 13 Storing Dried Foods 14 Reconstitution 15 Fruit Dehydration Tips 16 Pre treatment of Fruits 16 Fruit Leather Dehydration Tips 17 Vegetable Dehydration Tips 18 Pretreatment of Vegetables 18 Temperatue Conversion Chart 19 Meats Fish and Poultry Dehydration Tips 20 Jerky 21 Drying Othe...

Страница 4: ... appliance with a damaged cord or plug If the appliance malfunctions or if it has been damaged in any manner return the appliance to an authorized service facility for repair or replacement The use of accessory attachments other than those supplied or recommended by the manufacturer may cause hazards and can void your warranty Arrange cord so that it cannot be caught or tripped over Do not allow c...

Страница 5: ...way If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet reverse the plug If it still does not fit contact a qualified electrician Do not attempt to defeat this safety feature To clean the heating base unplug from wall outlet and wipe with damp cloth or sponge and mild soap Do not immerse base or cord in water Top lid and trays may be submerged in warm water and washed with mild soap or washed in TOP rack of...

Страница 6: ... and nutrition Thousands of years ago one of the few ways people had to preserve foods was by laying them out to dry in the sun Before such modern appliances as refrigerators and before chemical preservatives dehydration was an easy way to safely store foods for use at a later time when food was scarce or not in season Your new food dehydrator applies modern science to this ancient art to bring yo...

Страница 7: ...the foods are sliced When drying fruits it helps to get all the slices about the same thickness so they all dry to the same moisture level at the same time Thick slices dry more slowly than thin slices The thickness you choose is up to you but slicing all the pieces to as close to the same size as is possible will help ensure success and consistency The skin of many foods naturally protects the fo...

Страница 8: ...ick to the food pieces It may be necessary to stir the finely chopped food once or twice during dehydration to ensure even drying of all the pieces To do so turn the machine off unplug it remove the trays stir then reassemble and restart the machine according to the instructions Prevent Dripping Some foods such as very ripe tomatoes and citrus or sugared fruits may drip If too much liquid drips int...

Страница 9: ...ow moisture level will take a much shorter time to dry Citrus fruits like oranges will generally take longer than apples for the same reason So how do you know how long to let the foods dry After the dehydrator runs for a while remove the trays and examine the foods Don t be afraid to peek This will help you learn about the drying process and how long it takes For foods with higher moisture levels...

Страница 10: ... vents on the top lid Make sure the drying trays are securely nestled on top of each other and on the unit s base Plug the power cord into any standard 100 120 volt household outlet Consult the various tables at the end of this manual to get an idea as to when food is properly dehydrated and ready to be stored Tray Rotation Inspect drying trays periodically Rotate trays if the food you are drying ...

Страница 11: ... Once the trays are all right side up you can stack them in two ways Depending on their orientation to each other they can be set for thick or thin foods To change the stacking height simply rotate a tray 180 degrees to change whether it is tall or short stacked Refer to the two photos to the right to identify the difference between these two stacking options Any combination of stacking can be use...

Страница 12: ...has a capacity of at least 5 amps Your food dehydrator is simple to use and is designed to make the dehydration process simple and accurate if the instructions are followed Be sure that you have read the safety tips at the beginning of this manual before proceeding The first time you turn on your food dehydrator you may notice an aroma This is a normal by product of the manufacturing process To avo...

Страница 13: ...e stack trays properly Variation in food thickness and ripeness Trays not rotated Too much material in drying trays 1 Verify that foods are uniform in thickness 2 Rotate trays once or twice during the dehydration process 3 Verify that food on the trays does not block air flow through the tray stack Temperature control not functioning at proper range Temperature in lowest tray should be approximatel...

Страница 14: ...s or heat sealing cooking bags are excellent Fill each bag as much as possible and squeeze out excess air Filled bags may be placed in metal cans with lids shortening or coffee cans are good to keep out insects Glass jars with tight fitting lids can be used with or without plastic bags Quality plastic containers with tight fitting lids are good but they must be airtight Do not use paper or cloth bag...

Страница 15: ...Larger vegetable or fruit slices and meat cubes can be reconstituted overnight in water left in the refrigerator If this is inconvenient place in boiling water remove from stove and let stand 2 to 3 hours Whole pieces of fruit take longest to reconstitute and are best left to soak overnight Other Reconstitution Hints If you drain reconstituted foods save the liquid This liquid has great nutritiona...

Страница 16: ...times of fruits refer to the Fruit Timetable on Page 27 To avoid this darkening the fruit pieces can be dipped in solutions of lemon pineapple or orange juice or ascorbic acid prior to dehydration Dip the fruit in the solution for two minutes Drain on paper towels and place in drying trays Lemon Pineapple or Orange Juice Fresh or bottled lemon pineapple or orange juices are the best because of the...

Страница 17: ...e puree as you are making it It is not only your privilege but an important part of the process because if the puree tastes good the leather will taste even better Remember that the flavors and sweetness will concentrate when the leather is dry so don t make it too sweet It is best to use a fruit leather sheet designed for the purpose but if not available you can line one half of each drying tray w...

Страница 18: ...e steamed or blanched for freezing they must be treated for drying With the above named exceptions in mind most remaining vegetables will need to be steamed or blanched before drying Many vegetables have enzymes that help the food ripen and leaving these enzymes active in the food will cause them to continue to bring about changes in flavor and aroma which can be undesirable Although untreated vege...

Страница 19: ...e stored longer than 5 months Sprinkle with salt before drying or use seasoned salt for a more interesting flavor Dry until very brittle These can be served plain or with dips Vegetable Powders Vegetables may be pureed dried as leathers and then powdered for making juices soup bases chip dips salad dressings cream soups or baby foods Dehydrate the vegetable leather until very brittle then immediate...

Страница 20: ...t very thin slices A food processor or a specialized meat slicer can do a great job You can also tell your butcher that you are making dried meat or jerky and they will be glad to thin slice it for you When drying meat or game for stews soups etc remember that these types of meat must be cooked prior to drying Cook cut into small cubes and place in the dehydrator Dry until all moisture has been re...

Страница 21: ...or at least 3 hours or even overnight This gives the meat a unique flavor and at the same time tenderizes the meat Increase the marinating time for a stronger flavored jerky Meat may be seasoned with salt pepper garlic or onion powder or other spices Because flavors intensify during dehydration use salt sparingly There are lots of jerky recipes available Try them or create your own unique flavor Drain...

Страница 22: ...and before the evening dampness Flowers should be dried as quickly and as soon as possible after picking Discard any damaged or brown leaves Place in trays without overlapping Drying times will vary depending upon size and type of flower Dry for approximately 2 to 36 hours Herbs Rinse and shake off excess water Pat dry Remove dead or discolored leaves If using seed pick when pods have changed color...

Страница 23: ...__________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _...

Страница 24: ..._________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fruit Preparation Table ...

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