FD 5
FD 5
FOO
MODEL
! Thoroughly wash hands before starting to work with food, and wash
again each time they touch anything other than food, before resuming
work.
! Scrub and sanitize trays and lid of dehydrator between uses.
! Clean all kitchen equipment thoroughly after each use. Use hot water
and detergent.
Further suggested
! Use clean tongs, forks, and other utensils instead of hands whenever
! Keep hands away from mouth, nose and hair when handfing food.
surfaces.
Table of Contents
Important Safeguards. ................. . ............................................................... 1
Cord Set Instructions .................................................................................... 2
Warnings ........................................................................................................ 3
Introduction ..................................................................................................... 4
Diagram of Parts ............................................................................................. 5
Cleaning Instructions ...................................................................................... 5
General Information/Before You Begin
Why Dry Foods’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*...............6
How do Foods Dry’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Selecting Foods to Dry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
AN0
Fruit.................................................................................................... 8
‘reparation .................................................................................................... 8
.................................................................................................. 8
Test.................................................................................................. 9
........................................................................................ 10
................................................................................................... IO
................................................................................................. 10
Test................................................................................................ 10
of Drying Times ................................................................................... 11
MEATS
Jerky-Meats and Fish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Dried Meats and Fish . . . . . . . . . . . 16
BABY ............................................................................................... 16
................................................................. 17
STORAGE AN0 LABELING ...................................................................... 18
......................................................... 19
RECIPES
Fruit............................................................................................................. 20
Fruit Lea&r/Rolls....................................................................................... 21
Vegetables .................................................................................................. 22
Meats .......................................................................................................... 24
TO ORDER ACCESSORIES ..................................................................... 24
RECORD-KEEPING CHARTS................................................................... 25
IF SERVICE IS REQUIRED........................................................................ 26
! Simply plug in The Food Dehydrator. Push the ON/OFF switch ON.
The light on the switch will illuminate to indicate that the unit is
operating.
! Once drying is complete, turn the switch to OFF, and unplug unit.
! When using the Fruit Roll tray, always place on the top tray.
Diagram of Parts
Lid
Fruit Roll
Tray
Trays
Lighted On/Off
Base Plate Switch
Cleaning Instructions
Unplug from outlet prior to cleaning.
Wash trays prior to use in warm, soapy water. Rinse well, then dry.
DO NOT IMMERSE the base plate in water. Only use a damp cloth to clean.
COST
Saving money is a major benefit of drying foods. Home-dried foods can be
made at a fraction of the cost that you will pay at the supermarket. Buying
produce and meats on special, or growing your own in the summer is a great
way to make your food dollar stretch further.
GREAT TASTE
Once water is removed from fruits and vegetables, the natural flavor is concen-
trated into chewy, healthy snacks.
STORAGE
Once the water is removed from foods they are only a portion of their original
size. Foods can be sealed in airtight bags or mason jars. Open these in winter
and enjoy the fresh taste of summer.
HOW DRY?
Dehydrating foods is a simple way to expose foods to heat and air, thus evapo-
rating the moisture and removing any water vapors emitted from the foods.
the moisture out of the foods quickly and evenly. This
method is of the forms of food preservation.
SELECTING FOODS TO DRY
Select foods to dry that are in excellent condition. Remove any bruises or
before drying. Fruits should be ripe. Those fruits that are naturally rippened
have the highest natural sugar content and dry best.
Vegetables should be ripe also. Cut away any spoiled or bruised areas. Any
fruit, vegetable and most meats can be dried. Experimentation with your food
dehydrator is the best way to find which foods you enjoy most.
Cut foods Slices that are about thick work the best.
Foods can be sliced, shredded or diced. Cut foods, then quickly place
to dry.
Drying times are affected by the humidity, thickness of slices and moisture
content of the foods. Keeping good records will help adapt drying habits
to these variables.
Rotate trays if you notice uneven drying. Simply move the bottom trays
to the top and the top trays down towards the bottom.
For best results, keep all five trays in place while drying, whether they are
used or not.
Always use the Fruit Roll Insert on the top tray. This will help ensure even
air flow to all trays.
If using cheesecloth, use on top two trays only. This will ensure proper air
flow.
PREPARATION
Wash fruits thoroughly. Remove any blemishes or spoiled spots. Slice into
slices or circles or in halves. A slicer or food processor will help speed up this
step.
PRETREATMENT (OPTIONAL)
Pretreating fruits is optional. You do not have to pretreat fruits to get good
results. Listed below are several options for pretreating. You may experiment
and find the option that is best for you. The key to long life is proper storage.
Review the “Storage and Labeling” section on page18 for more details.
Pretreating is a step that helps to slow down enzyme growth. Enzyme growth
leads to unwanted color and flavor changes in fruits.
NATURAL PRETREATMENTS
Lemon and pineapple juices are the most common natural pretreaters. Soak the
cut fruit in either juice for about 2 minutes. Then place fruit directly onto the
trays. Try other types of natural juices such as orange or lime.
For a tasty treat, dip soaked fruit slices into coconut, honey, spices, cinnamon or
even a gelatin powder, then place on trays to dry.
Syrup
Syrup is a process that helps retain the color of apples, apricots,
nectarines, peaches, plums, and pears. This process results in a sweeter
tasting candied fruit.
Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup white corn syrup and 2 cups water in a large heavy sauce
pan. Add 1 and pounds of cut fruit. Bring to a boil. Then remove from heat
and let stand about 35 minutes. Do not stir while the fruit is sitting, this causes
the fruit to break up and lose juice. Drain and lightly rinse with water, then place
on trays to dry.
Peeling fruits is a personal decision. Skin adds a longer drying time, however,
skin is a highly nutritious part of the fruit. Personal preference is the only way to
decide about peeling.
ACID-CITRIC ACID
These two acids help to prevent browning. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of absorbic
acid and 2 tablespoons of citric acid in 1 gallon of water. Dip cut fruits into solu-
tion for no more than 2 minutes. Drain, them immediately place on tray to dry.
HINTS TO REMEMBER
! Keep fruit slices no more or less than about thick.
! Do not overlap produce.
! Do not completely fill each tray. Allow enough space for air to circulate.
! Place cheesecloth on the trays to prevent small fruits from sticking or falling
through.
! Cool produce before testing for dryness.
DRYNESS TEST
Drying fruits is not an exact science. There are many variables that can affect
results. Keeping records of all the variables as you dry will help repeat your
successful efforts. Variables include humidity levels, temperature, the number of
trays that you used, and the types of fruits used.
General Guidelines
Be sure The Food Dehydrator is cool before testing fruits. Fruits should be
pliable and leathery without patches of moisture and not be hard and tough.
Overly dried fruits do not taste as good or store as well and lose nutrients.
Properly dried fruits will have about 15% moisture and will feel soft and leathery
to the touch. A good test for dryness is to tear a piece of fruit and check if mois-
ture develops at the tear. If it does, then the fruit is not quite dry. If no moisture
beads, then the fruit is dry.
DRYNESS TEST
Vegetables will be hard and briffle when dried. Cool the vegetables before test-
ing for dryness. Some foods like tomatoes will be more leathery. The best test
is to feel if the vegetables appear dry enough to store.
FRUIT LEATHER/ROLLS
Puree your favorite fruit in a blender or by hand. It is not necessary to add
sugar; the roll will be naturally sweet. Pour onto the supplied plastic tray insert.
The mixture should be about thick. The tray insert will hold about 1-2 cups
of pureed fruit. Smooth out with a spoon. Dry for about 4-8 hours. Fruit leather
is dry when it is no longer sticky to the touch. Remove from the tray when dried.
Fruit rolls will keep up to a year, properly packed at room temperature.
Lemons 4-24
Mushrooms
in half. Leathery
cut into
‘strips or chop.
MAKING JERKY
Beef
Slice the flank or round steak into thin strips or slices. Cutting the meat while it is
frozen may make cutting easier. Cut across the grain for more tender jerky.
Place in prepared marinade for 3 hours or overnight in an airtight container.
Place the strips or slices onto the tray. Dry until it cracks when
bent, about 8-15 hours. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. To
maintain the best flavor, refrigerate. Use within three months.
BABY FOOD
Baby food is easy to make and it is nutritious and inexpensive. Simply choose
your favorite dried vegetables or fruits, rehydrate by soaking 1 cup of dried pro-
duce in 1 cup of warm water for a few minutes or until tender. Place into a
blender to chop to the desired consistency, or a fork to achieve the
same results.
Make or into leather/rolls. Blend the fruit or vegetables, then
pour onto your fruit roll tray insert. Dry as described in the ‘Fruit Leather/Roll’
Section” on page 21. Seal the rolls into airtight bags. When ready to use, add
hot water to the bag and rub bag with your fingers until the contents are “mushy”.
Place in plastic bags in the whole form, then store in a cool, dry place. Crush or
rub leaves when ready to use. This helps to keep the flavor intact.
Make sure herbs are totally dry. Any hint of moisture will spoil the herbs. Be
especially careful when drying basil.
FLOWERS
Select flowers that are unblemished and fresh. Cut so that the stem or stalk can
be arranged on the tray without bending. If it is bent, it will remain bent once
dried.
POTPOURRI
Flowers or herbs offer a wide variety or choices for potpourri. Choose your
favorites and experiment with mixing your own potpourris. Keep records so that
you can duplicate the scent the next time. Place flower heads on trays, without
overlapping. Dry, then mix together to form the potpourri. Your whole house will
smell great as the flowers are drying. Scented oils can be added to your pot-
pourri to help rejuvenate the scent.
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Storage and Labeling
PACKING
Freezer bags with the zipper-type tops are excellent for storing dried foods.
Place foods inside, squeeze out as much air as possible, then seal shut.
sealed, vacuum bags can also be used. Vacuum sealing will extend the shelf life
even longer. Glass jars that seal tight can also be used.
STORAGE
Store packaged foods in a dry, dark place. Cooler is better. Keeping foods in a
refrigerator or freezer will greatly extend the shelf life. Light and heat cause the
deterioration process to accelerate. Remember to label and date all food to be
stored. Check food periodically for moisture beads or mold. If these appear,
redry food on trays to remove the remaining moisture. If mold appears, scrape
off and then pasteurize the contents. Pasteurizing involves speading the food on
a cookie sheet, then baking at 175°F. for 15 minutes. Repack and store as
before.
SHELF LIFE
Most fruits, if properly dried and stored, will maintain a shelf life of up to 1 year.
Vegetables should be eaten within 6 months. Jerked meats should not be stored
for more than 2-3 months refrigerated. Jerky should be placed in the freezer for
long-term storage up to 1 year. Fish should be stored in the refrigerator or freez-
er up to 3 months.
FRUITS
! If using cold water, soak in refrigerator to keep fruits free of molds
or bacteria. Soak for a few hours until fruits reach desired consis-
tency. Use enough water to just barely cover fruits.
! One cup of dried fruits will yield about 2 cups of rehydrated fruit.
VEGETABLES
! Wash vegetables in clean water. Soak in clean, unsalted water
for 2-10 hours in a covered pan.
! Add seasonings at the end of rehydrating, not during.
! A rule of thumb:
vegetables.
! Use water that has been used for rehydrating in our recipes, this
METHODS OF
Boiling Water:
Place 1 cup of fruit into 1 cup of water, simmer until tender. Place 1 cup of veg-
etables into 1 cup of boiling water. Set aside and let soak for 5 to 20 minutes.
This varies depending on the After soaking, use the vegeta-
bles for soups, stews or casseroles.
making fruits for pie, the mixture may need to be thickened. Add more
water toward the end of mixing the ingredients. Adding the extra water too soon
will make the pie filling too thin. You will be able to tell by looking and experienc-
ing how much water is needed.
Steaming:
Fruits can be softened by steaming for about 35 minutes. This method is ideal
when using fruits for milkshakes or baking.
Cooking:
Simply add the vegetables to the desired recipe. Be sure to add enough extra
water sufficiently rehydrate the produce.
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GLAZED BANANA CHIPS
Slice bananas into slices, place into lemon juice. Soak for a few minutes,
drain, then place on tray.
Sprinkle with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Dry until crispy and shiny. For
best results, use almost green bananas.
APPLE PIE
2 cups water teaspoon allspice
2 cups dried apples 1 Tablespoon mace
cup sugar 1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 unbaked pie shell
2 Tablespoons flour
Simmer apples in water until tender. Add sugar, flour and spices; mix. Pour into
pie shell. Dot with butter.
Topping:
cup butter or margarine
cup brown sugar
cup flour
Mix ingredients fork until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of apple mixture.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, reduce heat to bake for
35 minutes until slightly browned and bubbly.
Makes 1 pie.
Substitute peaches for apples to make peach pie. Eliminate topping and use a
second pie crust on top. Cut slits into pie crusts to let steam escape.
FRUITSAUCE
Ideal for pancakes, waffles, or even as a jam for toast.
3 cups dried
1 cup warm water
cup dried banana chips
1 cup dried blueberries or raspberries
Simmer above until tender. Add cup maple syrup and cup oat bran.
Place all ingredients into blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add
more water to reach desired consistency. Heat, if desired, serve over pancakes
or waffles.
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CINNAMON BLUEBERRY OAT BRAN MUFFINS
Makes 12 muff ins
1 cup of dried blueberries
1 cup warm water
Soak blueberries until tender. Drain off water.
Preheat oven to Spray 12 muffin tins with non-stick coating. Mix the but-
termilk with the baking powder, salt, oil, cinnamon, brown sugar and water.
Allow this mixture to sit for 3 minutes until bubbly. Fold the egg whites into the
buttermilk mixture. Fold the oat bran into the mixture just until blended. Stir in
the drained blueberries.
STRAWBERRY LEATHER
Puree about 2 cups of fresh strawberries. Strain through cheesecloth to remove
some of the seeds. Pour onto tray. Spread to thick. Dry 8-15 hours.
Add apples to the strawberries. Sprinkle cinnamon or coconut to fruit puree after
it is on the tray insert.
Place into saucepan any combination of your favorite vegetables. Add dry rice
or noodles and your favorite dried meat. Place into an airtight container until
ready to use.
INSTANT SOUP PREPARATION
Pour 2 cups of dried mix, from the recipe above, into 2 cups of boiling water.
Cover and simmer until tender. Add seasonings to taste.
NATURAL GRANOLA
5 cups rolled instant oats 112 cup honey
cup wheat germ cup firmly packed
cup chopped dried apples brown sugar
cup raisins 1 teaspoon vanilla
cup chopped dates 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup chopped nuts
Mix all ingredients together. Dry with a paper towel. Spread out on the fruit roll
tray insert. Dry until hard, then store in an airtight bag. Ideal for snacks anytime
of the day.
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Meat
MARINADE FOR BEEF, FISH OR TURKEY JERKY
3cupssoysauce
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup liquid smoke
Mix together, let stand for 5 minutes. Add 1-2 pounds of meat and let marinate
for 3 hours or overnight in an airtight container. Drain, place on trays to dry.
To Order Accessories
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Handling
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$7.00 per item outside U.S.A.
TOTAL
Prices subject to e without notice. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. For addi-
tional information, call -800-W COFFEE
State and Local Taxes
Ohio Mass. Ill. Minn. Ariz. Nev. 6.5%
of Payment Credit Card Number
astercard Expiration Date
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Money Order
Do Not Send Cash
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7005 Road Cleveland, Ohio 44139
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Record Keeping
All repairs must be made by Mr. Coffee or an authorized Mr. Coffee Service
Center. Please call us for assistance or for the location of the nearest authorized
Mr. Coffee Service Center. Please do’ not return this appliance to your store.
We welcome your questions, comments or suggestions.
Please include your complete name, address and telephone number.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state. Any implied warranty is limited in duration
to the one year provided in this, the only, expressed warranty. Some states do
not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limita-
tion may not apply to you.