dehydrators Who runs their dehydrator outside?

Husker21

Husker21

I just took delivery of a Nesco FD80.  I have a freezer full of pods and want to play.  Before I load it up I was wondering who runs their machine outside.  The manual specifically says to not do this.  I have a covered porch.  After this afternoon there is no rain in the forecast for a few days.  I was hoping to run it outside as to not mace my wife and young kids.
 
I can do it in the basement.  But we run our dehumidifier down there just about daily.  I am worried it would be a tad to humid down there and worry about musty basement smell getting into my pods.
 
Thoughts?
 
I knew JHP would jump in on this.  lol
 
Think the basement would be better?
 
I have a quart size bag of thai red and oranges that will take up one rack.  :)  Thinking of doing a smoked 7 pot rainbow pow as well (mixed red orange and whites).
 
I have mine sitting on top of the washing machine, which is against a wall with a window behind it. I put a box fan in the window. Works great.
 
i run my fd80 in my garage, just finished a batch of french tarragon, was planning a batch of oregano until we were blanketed in snow over the last 2 days.
 
yes, i do frozen peppers as well and jerky. i use -10C/14F constant as my cut off temperature during winter months, so if just the nighttime temp hits -10C that is okay as long as daytime temps creep back up. i find the fd80 struggles to dry consistently in lower outside temperatures, so if i have to dehydrate in winter i watch the long range weather forecast before using. my garage is not heated nor attached to the house, is drafty as the north facing doors don't line up with the frame anymore and have gaps and on a cold, windblown snowy night can leave snow strips around the door openings.
 
If you have a plastic fruit leather tray, put that on an empty rack below the rack with the frozen chiles.  When the frozen chiles thaw out, they will release a lot of moisture. 
 
salsalady said:
If you have a plastic fruit leather tray, put that on an empty rack below the rack with the frozen chiles.  When the frozen chiles thaw out, they will release a lot of moisture. 
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lady you rock.  My unit came with one of those trays.
 
I'm assuming you have them in plastic freezer bags or some sort of freezer-safe container. You might consider thawing them and draining as much liquid as possible before putting them in the dehydrator.
 
geeme said:
I'm assuming you have them in plastic freezer bags or some sort of freezer-safe container. You might consider thawing them and draining as much liquid as possible before putting them in the dehydrator.
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Interesting.  They are all bagged up.  I kinda want to cut them frozen so I don't have to slice mushy pods.  Maybe half them and then toss them back in the bags or a strainer to drain?
 
You are further north and humidity should be going away for sure. Environmental temperature also plays a role as it does with using a smoker. The best way to know is to try and keep detailed notes for the first run, adjust and do it again. I personally make sure to always be in the process of drying a tray of super hots in my house during this time of year to keep sales people away! 
 
I just cleaned up the area and made a little platform for the dehydrator to sit on.  After tonight's rain the humidity drops.  I will have a couple of trays of my naga/bhut mystery peppers in that thang by lunchtime tomorrow.
 
 I run mine the middle of summer 100 % humidity in the garage . Works fine . Takes a little longer but I am in no rush :) Wife and kids like  to breath so have no choice :) 
 
I've been running mine outside under our covered porch for the first few hours. After most of the initial pepper smell dissipates I bring it inside, set on the stove and run under a vented hood. Seems to work fine so far.
 
romy6 said:
 I run mine the middle of summer 100 % humidity in the garage . Works fine . Takes a little longer but I am in no rush :) Wife and kids like  to breath so have no choice :)
Click to expand...
See I like to teach them to hold their breath for water and the peppers are a good exercise in control of breath!
 
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