Sure, they make great fruit roll-ups and great dehydrated mushrooms and jerky, but what else can you use your EziDri food dehydrator for?

BE CREATIVE! Or heed the old adage that necessity is the mother of invention. The best way to get your money’s worth from any kitchen appliance is to actually use it! Read on for other helpful ways you can get your EziDri food dehydrator up and running.

1. DRYING THE PASTA: If you make your own pasta, you know that if it has any moisture on it before storage, it will go moldy pretty quickly. You can dry it efficiently and quickly in your EziDri dehydrator. Dry for 2 to 4 hours at medium heat and store in airtight containers. Remember, you can make the most wonderful pasta dough by hand, or even with a bread machine, and instead of using water as the moisture content, use vegetable juices like carrot, spinach, or bell pepper. Or, add homemade vegetable powders for flavor and interest. Use the extrusion nozzles for spaghetti or fettuccine on the Samson 6-In-1 or Oscar Vitalmax juicer… how easy is that?

2. COOKED PASTA: You can dry cooked pasta in your EziDri dehydrator and break it into small pieces before storing in airtight containers. When you need it, simply rehydrate in a pot of boiling water and it only takes 2-3 minutes. Great for when you have leftover meals and want to stretch them out a bit more without a lot of extra effort. Or take it with you on camping trips and hikes. Big carbs, no complicated prep!

3. REFRESHING THE BISCUITS: Don’t waste money on crackers, biscuits, chips, or even cereal that aren’t fresh anymore. If you find they are a bit stale, re-roast them by placing them in a single layer on the EziDri drying trays and turn them on for about an hour on medium heat.

4. HUMIDIFIER – If you find the air in your home to be quite dry, especially during the colder months, you can use your EziDri dehydrator to humidify it and return it to a more comfortable condition. Place a few containers of water on the trays of your EziDri and turn it on to full. As the water evaporates, the air becomes more humid.

5. AIR FRESHENER: You will notice when using your EziDri dehydrator that the air is filled with the aromas of whatever you are drying. Did you know that you can deliberately use your EziDri to scent the atmosphere in your home? By simply placing fragrant fruits or botanicals in the dehydrator, you can create a beautiful perfume, without any of the chemicals used in commercial air fresheners. Try citrus, lavender, or a variety of herbs.

6. AROMATHERAPY: Yup, it’s even an aromatherapy diffuser! Place some non-toxic twigs or aromatic plants on the trays of your EziDri dehydrator and turn it on to medium heat. Old bread moistened with water will help spread the aroma of the vanilla essence. Lavender, rosemary, and rose petals are delicious.

7. CRUMBED BREAD: Whenever you have bread that is not eaten, it is a shame to throw it away. Dry it in your EziDri Food Dehydrator and once crisp, shred it by hand or give it a quick taste in your food processor. While you’re at it, you can add herbs or citrus peels that you dried earlier, or vegetable powders to add more flavor. Flavored breadcrumbs are perfect for chicken, fish fillets or veal chops, and excellent for filling recipes.

8. POT POURRI: Customize your own potpourri combinations to suit your tastes and the materials you have on hand. The EziDri Food Dehydrator is the best tool for the job, perfectly drying all your items and still allowing them to retain their beautiful perfumes. Try various flower petals, fruit peels, pine needles, herbs, grasses, woods, and spices.

9. FIRE STARTERS: Turn citrus peels into the best, most aromatic fire starters you’ll ever use. Citrus does not break down in compost piles due to its antibacterial properties and actually inhibits the breakdown of other matter. When peeling citrus fruits, simply cut the skins into strips and dry until crisp. When you turn them on, the oils will ignite and burn for a decent amount of time. With no water content, they will burn beautifully.

10. PET TREATS: Don’t overlook your dog or kitten. Pig trotters and snouts and other meats are very welcome when dehydrated; Pets love them!

11. FLAVORIZED VEGETABLE POWDER: Chop the vegetables coarsely, spread on a mesh sheet, and dehydrate until the vegetables are dry and crisp. Then spray and store in airtight containers. Imagine what you can do with these! Try carrots, whole heads of celery, garlic, onion, red or green bell peppers, and more. Add the powders to soups, salad dressings, bread dough, your favorite jerky marinade, or anything else your imagination conjures up.

As you can see, EziDri food dehydrators are very valuable appliances. You will have a lot of fun trying out new ideas and seeing what new things you can create. Available in three models: the Classic Everyday, the Snackmaker and the big brother of them all, the Ultra FD1000.