Posted: Fri Apr 01, 05 9:42 pm Post subject: Fruit Leathers help needed please!
I am planning on making some strawberry ones for Mike tomorrow but am a bit stuck as to what to use to line the trays of the drier with.Searched a few sites but as usual they are american and say use plastic wrap..surely this would melt??(I'm assuming they mean clingfilm) I have greaseproof,rice paper,foil,clingfilm, easyleave wrap and a partridge in a pear tree !!Any suggestions?? Or can I buy something to fit in the dehydrator ??
sally_in_wales Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 20809 Location: sunny wales
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 6:28 am Post subject:
Jerky Meister uses those reusable teflon coated baking sheets, you need something that will let the air circulate a bit, so maybe greseproof is the best out of your current options? PM him and if he's online I'm sure he'll advise, I think he tried all sorts before settling on those.
Looking in my "preserved" book, they mention fruit leathers, but have you bake them at 70c for 6 hours, on a baking sheet as Sally says. I think that sounds ideal for a dehydrator, but though they cover dehydrators in that section it doesn't seem to occur to them to write about using them for leathers.
In TKG a couple of years ago, they've had articles on (a) drying with a dehydrator and (b) fruit leathers, I'll have a look later and see if they come up with any advice.
I agree with Sally, of your alternatives the greaseproof sounds best, although it might stick . What's easy leave wrap? If it's waxed I would definitely not use that but if it's silicone paper/baking parchment you could try one tray with that.
Deedee, just another note to point out how useless I am. Found both the articles, but neither of them had anything in to help with your dilemma. Would like to hear how you get on though!
alison Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 12918 Location: North Devon
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 05 8:38 pm Post subject:
I am sure I have watched an infomercial for one of these in the states. They used cling film with the fruit leathers.
Why not try putting some in, with greaseproof underneath, just to see about it melting.
yes, they do use cling film in the states (same thing as plastic wrap or saran wrap)
i never made it myself but i'm curious to see how yours turn out because we are going to build a dehydrator soon. if you're using the round stacking trays i should think the cling film would be ok as long as you don't cover the tray all the way to the edges, if you're using the excalibur type dehydrator but without the fan (like ours will be as it will be homemade) then you'd have to only cover part of the tray with cling film to allow air circulation,with the excalibur type that have the fans iwouldn't think you'd have any problem at all.
. What's easy leave wrap? If it's waxed I would definitely not use that but if it's silicone paper/baking parchment you could try one tray with that.
Would like to hear how you get on though!
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