Hi,

I hope you have been dehydrating some new foods.  I have been busy dehydrating 5 different kinds of fruit.  I have done them all many times before, with the exception of KIWI.  I thought it would be an interesting fruit to dehydrate.  Boy was I right!

See all of my 32 videos here – http://www.youtube.com/efooddehydrator

Kiwi is delicious fresh or dehydrated.  It makes a great snack and is packed with vitamins and nutriets*.  I first bought my load of kiwi at the market.  I washed them thoroughly, dry, peeled & then sliced.  You get better every time you peel and slice your kiwi.  Just slice them and lay them on your tray.  They take about 11-14 hours to dry.  We live on the East Coast, so humidity does have an effect on drying times.
(* I have a great fruit chart article that shows all of the vitamins in all kinds of fruits.  I will be sharing with you soon!)

I then wanted to show you how easy it is to dehydrate 5 different kinds of fruit and then dry them all with your Excalibur food dehydrator (which is sell on my website www.efooddehydrator.com). 

Strawberries, kiwi, apples, nectarines and bananas can all be in the dehydrator at the same time.  It is easy and so tasty to get your kids eating right.  I also think apples need just a little lemon juice, but none of the other fruits need any kind of pre-treatment.  Just do not leave them out in the air for any significant length of time. 

With nectarines & apples, I always wash the skin but I do not peel it.  I use my mandolin slicer to cut beautiful, 1/4″ or thinner slices.  Then I spread on my dehydrator sheets and go about my business.  For nectarines, it takes only about 6-8 hours or so.  Same with apples.  Let them cool on the tray for about 30 minutes.

Dehydrated strawberries are my children’s favorite.  They are easy, fast and delicious.  I buy fresh and local strawberries, wash, cut out the top and then peel.  With a fairly large strawberry, I get about 7 slices.  Spread them on your tray and surprise!  An awesome, healthy treat in about 10 hours or less.  I like to flip mine over about 4-5 hours into the drying process.  (I think that makes them so crispy!)

Bananas are a dream to dehydrate.  I do not use any kind of pre-treatment for bananas.  (Such as lemon juice, sodium bisulfate, vitamin C).  I like to get the slighly green bananas, and slice away.  I use a sharp knife, but some use an egg slicer.  I have used the egg slicer and I think it is too messy.  Just slice, spread out on tray so they do not overlap, and wait about 8-10 hours to dry.

I love using my Excalibur food dehydrator.  There are many models to choose from including,
Excalibur 2400- 4 trays, economy model (5 year warranty)
Excalibur 2500- 5 trays, economy model ( 5 year warranty)
Excalibur 2900- 9 trays, economy model  (5 year warranty)
Excalibur 3500- 5 trays, deluxe model (10 year warranty)
Excalibur 3900- 9 trays, deluxe model (10 year warranty)

I always tell people, all of the Excalibur models are AWESOME!  I would highly recommend the Excalibur 3900 food dehydrator.  For the cost, you get 5 extra years and upgraded plastics & electrical components, and a free copy of Excalibur’s book, Preserve It Naturally.  For $40 +/-, you get a lot for your money!

Please see me at my site www.efooddehydrator.com or ask me any questions at 518-618-4442.  THANK YOU!!