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Drying Winter Hats and Gloves
Fun in the snow is a classic winter activity, but when the kids (or kids of all ages!) retreat inside after a snowball fight, there’s often a mound of wet hats and gloves left by the door. Slow to dry and unpleasant to put back on, what’s to be done with these soggy artifacts of winter? You guessed it: your food dehydrator can come to the rescue!
Place your hats and gloves in the dehydrator tray, and the moisture will be wicked right out of them. This is far cheaper that revving up a dryer to full heat for a few gloves, and it will keep you and your loved ones warm and toasty all through the season. Of course, not all winter clothes and equipment will fit into a food dehydrator, so you’ll want to have another plan for how to dry out and store things like your winter sports gear.
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DIY Kiln
If you’ve ever worked with water-based clays, then you know that letting your creations dry in the open air can cause them to crack or split. But unless you’re a serious artisan, chances are you don’t want to dedicate the money and space to a kiln. Luckily, your food dehydrator is essentially an ad hoc kiln for water-based clays. Simply put your finished clay piece inside the dehydrator and it will harden quickly and evenly. It doesn’t take the place of a true kiln, of course, but if you are a hobbyist or enjoy craft time with the kids, this might be the next best thing.
In the photo, you can see clay ornaments, shaped with a cookie cutter, with small holes for a ribbon. This article is loaded with more great ornament creation ideas.
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Soup!
Well, dry soup.
If you’ve ever had prepackaged, dry soup either in a package or microwavable container, then you’ve essentially had bullion. Bouillon is condensed, dehydrated soup and it’s perfect for meals on the go or for flavoring a recipe you’re trying to bring to life. And you can make your own bullion with a food dehydrator! Boil down a simple broth until it forms a gel in the bottom of the pan, then spread that gel out on a tray and place it in the dehydrator. The resulting dry sheet will grind into a powder that can be stored for soup on demand.
Add your homemade bouillon to recipes for additional flavor, or take it with you on hiking or camping trips. If you enjoy hiking and camping this is a real game changer, as it lets you have quality food with almost no carry weight.
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