Thursday, August 30, 2007

The Great Dehydrator Experiment

I finally put my dehydrator to work this past weekend. I got all of the supplies ready. Non-stick spray, garlic powder & papertowels (to dry the meatables before going on the grates).


I used organic beef liver...Mmmmmm, looks yummy, huh?


Chicken hearts, gizzards, chicken pieces & a salmon fillet.


The smell wasn't too bad while it was cooking. I let the machine work for 12 hours and ended up with a bunch of shrivelled up meat.


My mistake was putting it in the fridge in zip-close bags. It got really sticky & hard to work with.

So then next day I spread it out on papertowels and let it air dry for another 8 hours.

Dried gizzardables & chickenables..



Dried Liverables...



It still was really sticky and hard to work with. I pitched the Salmon because while it was dry on the outside, it was moist and flaky when I went to cut it. I should've eaten it.

We don't care! Give us those dried up Meatables!!!!


Really, the Dogs loved all of the meat. Even picky Penny. So at least I have goodies for them for a while.

The conclusion...next time, I will let the meat dry longer (probably 18 hours). And I will let it air dry before putting it in the fridge.

I didn't think it smelled too bad while it was cooking...but the lingering effects (BAD) are still in my kitchen 4 days later. I will also put the machine outside next time.

I'm going to try & dry stuff for ME next...apples, bananas, apricots, tomatoes, etc and see how they turn out. I kind of prefer my old method of making dried treats for the Dogs (email me if you'd like the details). The smell isn't as bad & it only takes about an hour & a half.

It was worth a shot!

40 comments:

FleasGang said...

Mmmmm. Nothing like chicken pieces, gizzards and a good movie. So do you think you'll have a "herd" of cats outside your house if you put the hydrator outside next time? I know we would. Plus the Gang would know it was out there and pace for 18 solid hours. :-)

The FleasGang

2shibas said...

Hmmm...four days of lingering liver and gizzards? Our mom is a little wary but it sounds absolutely DELICIOUS to us! Beats the heck out of Meaty Bones - which our mom BREAKS IN HALF before giving to us!!! Are we in prison? Let us know if you have any rooms available on Jackman Ave!

xo,
Wiley & Fievel

Stanley said...

I want the details on other drying methods, even if my girl doesn't end up using them, I will find someone who will!!!

WooHoo!! Can't wait to hear the details!! Jen, if you give me the details, I'll give you a goober name. What d'ya say? You could go with Jenoober or Gooberfer (or something else, if you prefer).

Goober love,
Stanley

Luckie Girl said...

Those treats look really HEALTHY and YUMMY. :)

Lorenza said...

It was a good experiment! The best thing is that at the end Sherman, Penny and Lola enjoyed their treats!
Let us know about your treats too!
Have a good night
Lorenza

Joe Stains said...

Mom has a steamer and does veggies like cauliflower and brocolli and Dad says it smells like FEET. I bet meatables smell WAY better.

Girl Girl Hamster said...

Hum those meat really look shrivelled up after drying. But I'm sure it's yummy coz Sherman got a big smile there. hee


~ Girl girl

Asta said...

Why do you guys loook so vewy sad..your Mom made you the bestest yummylicious tweats. We have no outside, and ouw kitchen has no window..if me made those yummies the house would week fow momfs
You awe vewy lucky puppies
smoochie kisses
Asta

Goofy said...

wow..that seems real delicious... 3 of you should love your mommy more more and more

Huskee and Hershey said...

Your dried meatables and liverables had me salivating.. I love dried slamon too.. maybe you can cut the salmon and liver into smaller peices before you start the drying process cos it will be faster.
By the way, I am taking the first flight over to Jackman Ave.. save some of the food for me!!

Boo Casanova said...

don't worry, there's always first time. now you know what to do the next time!

wet wet licks

Boo

Simba and Jazzi said...

Please adopt me please.

Simba xx

Amber-Mae said...

..... I think my jaw's dropped all the way to the ground now.....*puts it back up* All I can say is YUUUUUUUMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! I want those chickenables, liverables, fatables, slamonables, all of them!

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Jessica said...

Looks like your experiment turned out pretty good....the dogs sure think so.

My Mom had a dehydrator when we were kids and she always made us really great snacks

Have fun with it.

Jessica

umekotyan said...

It is a wonderful conception.
When a dry thing is burnt, it is felt that it is more delicious. :)

Enjoy the weekend.

from loved ume tyan

Anonymous said...

Wow, look at all of that meat! I sure hope that you enjoyed it. Mom has never tried to dry out stuff for me. Humm....

Hugs,
Sitka

Tadpole said...

Hi my BFF Lola Sprout Beyonce! You look fabulous in the picture!

Jackson's J1 and J2 said...

I know I've said it before and I know I'll say it again. Can I come and live with you please? J x

Randi said...

Wow! Your mom is a dehydrating Genius! mmm...I wonder what dehydrated wallymelon would taste like...maybe you can try that next time...tell your mamma!
Love & Licks,
Randi

Anonymous said...

My girl would never do that in a million billion gazillion trillion years. My life just isn't fair.

wally said...

Oooooh--look at all those meatables! YUM! My ma ape is curious about our other dehydrating method because she does not like the sound of four days of meatable smells. I say I'd may good money for that! We're also curious about how your vegetable and fruitable drying will go. As I said, my ma ape wants one of those things bad!

wally.

ps. Dehydrated Wallymelon! Randi may be a genius.

Snowball said...

Those dried meatables looks delicious. I must talk to jie jie about getting a dehydrator machine. In the meantime, can I have some of yours, please?

Luv
Snowball

Ruby Bleu said...

ohhhhhh those look yummy! I think my Mom needs to try that. She doesn't have one of those machines so if you wouldn't mind sharing the 'other way' recipe that would be cool!

Thanks! Lots of Licks, Ruby!!!

The Brat Pack said...

All those meatables look sooo good. I don't think Mom would ever cook us organ parts. Hmmm. Can we have your other method? She will be grumpy smelling animal parts for 4 days so maybe the other would convince her.

Love,
Tucker.

Deanna said...

Yummy! You must be the best mom in the world!

Marvin -The Hollow Hound said...

Adorable!

Frasier said...

That looks good!!I need to try it out and will remember to do it out side the house !!!
Have you tried making home made beef jerky.Hubby works hard on selecting the right cut of meat,seasoning etc and then eats it in 5 sec flat!

The Army of Four said...

My mom thought that looked "icky". We thought it looked AWESOME! Can we come over?!?!
Zim asked for "the soup" recipe. He meant "eggplant". Sigh. Anyroo, if your mom wouldn't mind, we love eggplant!
Tail wags,
Stormy

Casper and pals said...

Wow, look at all those awesome meatables! (drool drool)

Molly the Airedale said...

OMG, those treats look so yummy! We're back from our vacation! We missed you guys!

Love ya lots,
Maggie

Scruffy, Lacie and Stanley's Place said...

Yinz sent Joe some pawsome Stiller stuff an 'at!!! Does he need some Terrierble Towels?? Pretty good pre-season, don't ya think?? More thoughts on goobering your name, Jen. Our big sister's name is Jennifer and we call her Niffy. How 'baht Niffygoob or Goobernifferous?? Typing burg is wearing us aht.
Steeler licks,
Scruffy & Lacie
PS That dried meat looked amazing...can ya serve fries on it????

Kien said...

mmmm..mmmmm... yum yum... that is superbly well done!...

Cheers
Rossi

Urban Smoothie Read said...

i also wan 2 line up for that

Balboa said...

I think I'm gonna break out of the vets office and come over to your place, that dried meat looks mighty good.

Frenchie Snorts
Balboa

PreciOus said...

Mmmmm, it looks good enough for me though. I won't mind the stickiness too.

Snuggle,
Precious

MaPaw said...

Yum yum yum!
-Magnum

Lizzy said...

Mmmm, those looks good! Can you make some for me please?

Sparky

coco said...

wow all this hard work must mean you're opening a doggie bed & breakfast, right? i'm sure that must be it, because i'm sure that you want to invite me over to help eat all that delicious stuff so all your hard work isn't taken for granted by the regulars at the tavern on jackman ave!

i'll be right over... coco

Miss Reina said...

WOw,

this is so cool!!!!

My mum should invest in something like this!!!

I love meat too!!!

Love,
Reina

Eddie N Peaches said...

Oh our dogness! Get me a towel. I've drooled all over looking at those pictures. Slurrrp.
Barooooo,
Bella