OT - Food dehydrator

[CW2V]

I got a dehydrator over 10 years ago as a present. I did not once plug it in until today. The heating coils lit up and glowed, and I could smell the dust burning off. A while later I checked on it and the coils were not lit. I assumed that the thermostat had shut them off. The temperature setting goes from 95 to 155 degrees. After running it dry for a few minutes I shut it off. After about 20 minutes I cut up some peppers and loaded a tray and turned it back on. The coils now do not light up at any temperature setting (the fan runs). I checked it periodically, and I did not seen the coils light up once. The dehydrator is rather warm inside, but I don't know if it is just the fan motor heat. Since this is over ten years old (can't find operating manual) I can't find much info on it on-line.

Anyone have any thoughts? I have a bumper crop of peppers that I either need to dry or freeze or throw away - today.

TIA

CW2V

[The UnDoug]

I have one (a Ronco that someone was giving away for free), and its "coils" don't ever glow, or anything, and the lid on it is certainly never too hot to touch. It just gets warm, and then you let it dry whatever you put in it for 8 hours or so.

[CW2V]

It does seem warmer than what a fan motor would put out. Maybe the glow of the coils was the dust burning?

Thanks for the reply. We'll see what we get in a few hours.

CW2V

[artie67]

My unit is similar to The UnDougs. Heat is adjusted by vents in the bottom and top. It has five trays you stack as needed in the middle. When I do hot peppers I rotate the trays, run my shop exhaust fan and wear a respirator mask.
I think I'll freeze the bell peppers and seed and dry the "Fresno" hot peppers I have in the garden.
Hope it works out for you.

[Trouble]

CW2V wrote: Anyone have any thoughts? I have a bumper crop of peppers that I either need to dry or freeze or throw away - today.

Roasting or caramelizing them will keep them for another week.

[The UnDoug]

I'm pretty sure you can dehydrate/dry stuff in the oven just fine, too. Just set it on about the lowest setting, and let it go for hours.

There are lots of instructions online, if you look for a jerky recipe.

[CW2V]

Looks like the dehydrators working OK. First time trying this. Been running about 10 hours now. How dry should the peppers get? I've got red jalapenos and cayennes along with some other thin walled peppers.

Do I want beef jerky-like dry peppers?

CW2V