Tips on dehydrating fruit (helping the rabbit rescue) UPDATE

[AbbyGirl]

The rabbit rescue I work with has run out of treats.  They had a post on facebook the other night asking if anyone had a dehydrator to make bunny treats for them.  They even offered to provide the fruit.  I happen to have a dehydrator in the basement that I bought a few years ago that has never been used.  So I offered to make them some.  Not that I have ever used it before…..lol…… but I love to help those beautiful bunnies!

So I did some grocery shopping this morning.  I found fresh strawberries for 99 cents a pound!  I bought a few for the buns. I also bought a whole bunch of bananas for them and I’m going to do apple slices too.  I know to wash well, slice and put in the dehydrator.  I haven’t really found anything about how to know if they are dry enough though and the only time guidleine I found says 6-12 hours.  Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to do this?

Also, this is a great way to help out the local rabbits in shelters.  They don’t get much of anything for treats and this is a healthy and inexpensive way to donate to them (if you already have a dehydrator).

[AbbyGirl]

OK. I experimented. I thinly sliced 2 lbs of strawberries (7-8 slices per berry) and it filled all 4 of the dehydrator trays. 3 – 3 & 1/2 hours later we had nice crisp strawberry slices! I had some that had to go back in and started 3 trays of banana slices with it. I’m hopeful to do the apple slices tomorrow and if my knees feels up to after therapy some pineapple too. I think we’re going to have 35 very happy bunnies and 2 guinea pigs next weekend! =)

[Michelle&Lolli]

I didn’t think dehydrating fruit was very difficult, but I wasn’t sure. I could’ve been like blah blah blah and then it turns into a major ordeal. LOL I’m they turned out well for you and the bunnies!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Hmmmmmmm I’ve heard people talk about this before-but I’m going to have to look into one of those…Sounds great! Especially since we aren’t keeping raisins in the house anymore (dog) I’d like to make them myself because dried fruit without anything added is hard to find…where did you buy yours?

[AbbyGirl]

I got mine at Walmart for $40.  It’s a Nesco brand.  Here are some pics of the finished bananas and strawberries. 

That’s 2 lbs of sliced strawberries.

This isn’t even half of the 5 bananas that fit on the 4 trays.  They aren’t all finished yet.

[mrmac]

Here is a thread I made a while back about my dehydrating ventures! https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/5…fault.aspx

For the apple slices, they will take a biut longer to dry. I usually take them off the dehydrator when the apples are a little chewey still, sometimes if they get too thin and are on too long they can burn. Make sure you blanch the apples too! They get brown really quick in the dehydrator. I have dried all kinds of things for my bunnies! Apples, papaya, mango, banana, strawberries, pineapple, lettuce, carrots, celery, etc. Obviously the thinker the slices and the more trays you use it will take longer. What a great idea to help the bunnies out at the shelter! I am sure they love it!

[Author]

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