DIY food dehydrator, anyone?

crunky

crunky

Joined
Apr 6, 2010
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Wasn't sure if I should post this here, or under Food and Drink. I put it here since I figured it would get more views, and I'm not discussing actual food; just a food gadget ;)

So I tried searching on dehydrators, and all I could find were threads about commercial dehydrators. I know I can probably buy one that works just as well or better for the same price blah blah blah. I don't care; I like to make stuff myself, because, well, I like to.

Has anyone else done this? I haven't really found many pictures or plans on the net for dehydrators, mostly just solar dehydrators. That seems neat and I may try that someday, but not today. Anything else I have found seems a bit temporary, like a cardboard box and a fan; I don't want to muck with that, I want something permanent.

What I'm envisioning is a 2x2 frame(because I already have those laying around) skinned with thin plywood, and kitchen cooling racks as the shelves. For airflow and heat, I'm thinking a 60w or 100w light bulb in the bottom; and 2-3 computer case fans wired up to an AC power adapter(s). And I am thinking I will either have vents/windows cutout around the top of the sides covered in screen door material, or having some sort of adjustable vent on the very top of the box.

Thoughts?
I guess I'm just looking for suggestions for improvement, or pictures/descriptions of any DIY setups would be pretty helpful too!
 
I saw an episode of Good Eats where Alton Brown made jerky by stacking cellulose furnace filters in front of a box fan and holding them in place with bungee cords. It worked pretty slick; the strips of meat just nestled right down into the folds of the filters.

I imagine your idea would work better for wetter foods, such as tomatoes. You could probably find something better than PC fans, though. Just seems like a lot to go through; wiring, mounting, AC conversion, etc. Any sort of fan should work.

Of course, there's also the "set the oven to 150 and leave the door open a few inches" method, too.
 
Lol, yeah I saw the AB one too. Reason I was thinking the computer fans is, I have plenty laying around, and I'm sure I can find an extra wall wart in a box somewhere that would work perfectly. If I can find an 18v adapter and run 3 fans at half speed, or at least that is the plan.
 
I do jerky in my oven. Set it on the lowest temp and leave the door open about 3 inches; prop it open with a ball of tin foil. Results are great!
 
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