Best way to dry pods?

b3rnd

b3rnd

Hey guys,
 
I was wondering what the best way to dry my pods is. I want to process some Lemon Drops into powder, and maybe some other varieties as well.
I don't have access to a food dryer unfortunately, but if you know any good budget dryers, please share!
 
sicman said:
Removing the water is the best way to dry the pepper.
Click to expand...
 
I've tried using a straw, but that was pretty hard! How do you do it?
 
The Hot Pepper said:
https://www.google.com/search?q=dehydrate+in+oven&oq=dehydrate+in+oven&aqs=chrome..69i57.4032j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.google.com/search?q=light+bulb+dehydrator&oq=light+bulb+dehydrator&aqs=chrome..69i57.7832j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Click to expand...
 
Thanks THP! I've used the oven method before but I found the taste changes too much. I dried several varieties and they all tasted the same after drying in the oven. I'll give the light bulb one a go though!
 
If you don't have a dehydrator, and your oven runs too hot...you would either have to constantly alternate the oven from low to off(which would probably be a pain in the ass), or set the oven to low, and crack it open. But you would probably only want to do that during the winter, so if you want to freeze a bunch of pods, you can try that later.
 
I only sun dry , yes I don't have a dehydrator and I live in a arid area with 36-45 degree Celsius summer afternoons.
 
Choose your peppers for drying , like Guajillo, Cayenne and thin walled Baccatums like lemon Drops.
 
IMG_20170213_133457.jpg

 
 
 
 
Based on years of posts here I can tell you, for budget, Nesco is the brand, and top, Excalibur is the brand (unless going stainless steel then LEM).
 
So here is the Nesco, and looks like Lowe's has the best price. Maybe you live by one. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Nesco-5-Tray-Food-Dehydrator/4759694
 
I've got an electric turkey roaster that works well.  Just spread them out and set the dial near the bottom of the temperature range.   Leave the top off, of course.  ~120f+ is enough to dry pods in a day or two, particularly if you split them lengthwise.  A pan and electric hot plate will do much the same...
 
 
 
There's some oven tips with keeping the door cracked open to not only reduce heat but displace humidity. Try it out on sheet pans, set the oven to 200 or less if possible, and crack door. Cutting in half reduces dry time, plus allows you to deseed.
 
Thanks for all the tips people! Aki is indeed one of our local chains, I will go check if they pack what I need! The oven thing I really can't try in this house, as we have an old gas oven. Very hard to control the temperature in it. We burn stuff all the time hehe. I've tried it with the oven door opened a bit back in Holland, and it worked fine except the taste part.
 
The taste can be off if too hot because you are cooking them as well as drying so yeah.
 
Yep, that's why I don't prefer the oven method. It's hard to regulate the temperature if the oven doesn't go low enough. It (the knob) went to 60 degrees C (140 F) and I had no idea what it was inside with the door opened a bit. Hope I can find a nice dryer! A friend of mine back home in the Netherlands makes jerky so I know he has a high quality one. Maybe he'll let me use it when I come back. Not that that helps me now  :party:
 
The Hot Pepper said:
Based on years of posts here I can tell you, for budget, Nesco is the brand, and top, Excalibur is the brand (unless going stainless steel then LEM).
 
So here is the Nesco, and looks like Lowe's has the best price. Maybe you live by one. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Nesco-5-Tray-Food-Dehydrator/4759694
Click to expand...
 

Thanks for posting that link - Lowes makes it real easy in my area, as they have free shipping or store pick-up, and the same product is $7 cheaper than Walmart's price.
 
Just hoping my pods will finish ripening before the nasty weather gets here!
 

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