The Dehydrator Chef is a place to find information about dehydrating and hydrating foods for hiking, camping, and the outdoor lifestyle. But let’s not forget about food preparedness, homemade jerky and good-for-your-pet treats, we also have those here.
Dehydration, or drying, has been used to preserve food for thousands of years. It’s the process of removing water through evaporation to extend the accessibility of seasonal food and make it last longer. Fish, meat, and plants were dried and stockpiled for the times when hunting and gathering were at a minimum. Dehydrating food knowledge was and should be an essential skill for storage and preparing for the unknown.
Today, we have a wide range of modern-day options for this centuries-old technology. The technology we use here on this website is the electric food dehydrator. Preservation of food has never been more accessible than it is in our modern-day lifestyle.
We are constantly experimenting and trying new things with our food dehydrator and dehydrated ingredients. You can add many of the dehydrated ingredients we have here to supplement your favorite store-bought freeze-dried food pouches. We have had our share of freeze-dried food, but who wouldn’t like a bit more spice or protein items?
Here you will find the been-there-done-that information and how-to food dehydrator recipes and methods for your dehydrated meal planning.
This site not only shows you how we dehydrate food items. We will also combine those items into delicious self-contained camping and hiking eats. Think of an MRE. Optionally, take your favorite dehydrated ingredients and add them, plus extra water, to your prepackaged freeze-dried food pouches.
Besides a pack load of dehydrated ingredients and meal ideas, other topics include:
- Dehydrated camping food recipes
- Recipes using dehydrated food
- Make your own dehydrated meals
- What to look for in a dehydrator
- Research on dehydrated food
- Using oxygen absorber packets
- Vacuum sealers and accessories
- Camping stoves
- Useful indoor and outdoor kitchen accessories
- Links to our favorite products we use
- And anything else we find interesting