How to Dehydrate Lettuce - when it all goes wrong

[@StayGold711]

HI Darcy I'm so excited I finally have a real opportunity to do this. I was given five big long leaf romaine and I took all the outer leaves and got them ready for dehydration. I washed them really well, trimmed off the bad or dark spots and salvaged every good green part possible. No waste. I I have three trays of romaine greens, and I sliced out the center core of each leaf and cut them into 2 inch pieces and placed those harder pieces on a separate tray. I have one tray of baby arugula and one tray of baby spinach. I've done the arugula before it turned out so beautiful. The rest of my good leaves I wrapped loosely in flour sack towels and placed in the lower shelf if the fridge for fresh meals. Thanks Darcy! And I am happy that I have a old Waring food dehydrator that is shaped like a cake holder. No issues with any of my greens blowing around.

[@TheMartinSabel]

Darcy, I loved this video warts and all. It was honest and showed the real-life problems even well-seasoned pros contend with. I appreciate your effort to bring your knowledge to us and really liked that you didn't scrap this lesson because it wasn't perfect. It IS perfect because it shows how to cope with a situation that turns out wrong. Thanks for being you.

[@BostonBorn]

Since you’re only using half the trays, use the plastic screen from an unused tray on top of the lettuce. Essentially, you’ll be sandwiching the lettuce between two white screens, keeping it in place while it dehydrates. You’re welcome 😉😎

[@sandrainontario6710]

This was hugely valuable! I have spring mix in my fridge now that I was going to look up a way to dehydrate and bang there you are! If you had not had a problem and then I had that problem I wouldn't have known anything about it I would have just felt like a failure! Thanks for showing us and being honest.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

No problem! If I had been more patient and just let it all dry to crisp, I wouldn't have had the issue. but I was being impatient lol

[@NoMoreTears64]

I love that you had something else you could do with the "mess". I live in an apartment so don't have a garden where bunnies could access it, but using it for compost for the Basil is an awesome idea. Thank you for showing this even though it didn't turn out the way you intended. New subscriber here. :)

[@marciaparmeley3045]

Before I got an Excalibur, I had a NESCO. I found that it was taking longer and longer for things to properly dehydrate. In my case, the heating unit was failing. That was the impetus for the dehydrator purchase. At least you didn't spend 20 or more hours trying to dehydrate your produce. That's really discouraging. I got rid of the NESCO and the Excalibur moved in.

[@lnytita6763]

Life happens 🙃 That's how we learn.

[@angelsherbs311]

New sub! Great video!!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for watching & subscriing!

[@neetutomar2688]

Hats off to u for telling abt dehydrating food in so much detail👏👏👏. One doubt where we shd keep dehydrator, it's kitchen, room or outside, just asking whether there is any issue of moisture in surroundings during the dehydration process.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

The higher the surrounding humidity, the longer it will take for things to dry.

[@neetutomar2688]

@@ThePurposefulPantry thanks

[@R.96108]

Thanks, pretty helpful ! 🌷

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SuttonsDaze]

Great lessons for all of us. I'm so sorry about your Excalibur :-( But I LOVE those humidity strips! I appreciate you sharing this video.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thankfully they offered to take a look at it!

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

I love honest videos like these. I learn more from seeing what could happen and how to handle it. Thank you so much! I'm drying lettuce right now and it just won't fully dehydrate.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

You can do it! just keep drying!

[@loritanner4478]

If it doesnt dry completely. Spread it on a jelly roll pan and turn your oven on its lowest temp. Mine is 170. And I put the powder in the oven to finish drying it. Then you can grind it up. All lettuce drys. Just needs longer. But you can use your oven to finish drying it. That way you dont throw it away.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

However, drying it at that high of temp reduces any nutritional value. That's why greens are done at 95F to help keep those nutrients in.

[@fredanolden6085]

I find that putting a mesh tray on top of lettuce will keep it from flying around.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for your tip

[@JaniceCrowell]

I dried some last week and spring mix dried perfectly.

[@lindamack4352]

Thank you for sharing! Even though it didn't dry like you wanted, this was a great lesson for me.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful!

[@theresam567]

I'm not fan of purple stuff. That mix looked very fresh. No need to be so hard on yourself, sh*t happens. I've watched a minimum of 20 of your videos & think I like this one the best. I like how "human" (relatable) you are. Thanks for sharing your "failures" with us. It allows us to see that no one is perfect, that we can do it. 🙂❤

[@cassandracross-soto4133]

I have a dehydrator and use it for the bulk of my dehydration. But I always end up using my oven for the final few hours just as an added precaution. I need to be 100% sure everything I store is completely dried.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

There's really no need for that part, Cassandra - your dehydrator does the same thing without the excess energy use of an oven - but if it works for you - go for it.

[@jacquisaunders4952]

Thank you for sharing even the tasks that do not work. We all learn that things just do not work out all the time. For us newbies we learn to keep trying.

[@StJohn1.1]

Thanks for video. What about drying iceburg bags if salads?

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Works the same way any other green does but there are very few nutrients in iceberg other than fiber - it's one I don't bother to grow or buy, but if you want to add it to your green powder, go for it.

[@musicfromtheheart7236]

I love everything you do , thank you for all you do :) ♫

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for watching!

[@journeywithnichole]

Thank you so much friend! You have been my preserving angel!! 😇

[@grnddesign]

What do you use the dehydrated lettuce for? Just wondering how its used in recipes. Thank you

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Just as a I said - part of green powder that is added to anything.

[@JaniceCrowell]

Is the humidity indicator for one-time use or reusable?

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

One time and unnecessary - I showed it but if you fully dry and condition, you don't need them

[@deskueber1441]

Even add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to your vinegar water, extra safety step. I wance bought cut up broccoli from Costco, didn't wash them cause said was pre-washed. When I blanched them had a major scum in my pot, terrible. Washed the rest before cooking.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

NEVER trust the pre-wash..ever.

[@jamee6]

Could you have put it back in the dehydrator at 95 and dried it more?

[@loritanner4478]

I use all my trays when drying lettuce. I have a stacking dryer and never have that problem. I dried so much lettuce. And kale, chard and spinach. Some of the spinach I left in small pieces.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

A stacked dryer works different than the drawers - but you do what works for you! That's great that you can.

[@ubercatta]

such a good idea!!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad you think so!

[@privateprivate8366]

So, I have an idea and question. When I’ve dehydrated vegetables, I sometimes find myself at that point where, yeah, I question if it’s dry enough. Sure, I know it’s supposed to snap in your fingers, be crunchy and all that. But, some parts don’t always dry perfectly. So, I considered that, if the humidity in the air is low enough can I have a jar, with the ring on in and a circular piece of window screen in place of the lid, put together so it continues to dry, while I pop other items into the dehydrator? Obviously, the screen cutout would be to let dry air in and keep bugs out, at least for the short few hours or days it might take to continuously air dry the vegetables.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

You can, but I wouldn't do it if things are jammed on each other, but if they can be laid out and each get their own shot at the air. So a 1/2" layer of vegetables isn't going to dry because they aren't all exposed in the same fashion. Better, yet, just leave them in the dehydrator to run a little longer. It won't take much longer, and you aren't harming anything already dry to dry some more.

[@sandrainontario6710]

I would be worried that the humidity in the air might actually make them worse or at least prevent them from drying anymore