INTRODUCTION
The dehydration of fruits and vegetables
is
one of the
earliest methods of food preservation. Since their discovery
and cultivation, plums and grapes have been sun-dried into
prunes and raisins. These dried fruits and vegetables make
great snacks or desserts, and it's easy to dehydrate
different meats to make jerky. Dehydration
is
a healthy way
of preserving food because bacteria growth
is
inhibited by
the removal of moisture.
You
can even use your food
dehydrator to dry flowers and make potpourri! Before
using your food dehydrator, be sure to take time to read
the "Important Safeguards" and
all
other instructions
in
this manual.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
This appliance
is
meant for household use only. First,
place it
on
a level surface, and then insert the plug into a
120V
rated electrical outlet.
Do
not use any other rated type
outlet. This food dehydrator has a polarized plug
(one
blade
is
wider than the other).
To
reduce risk of electric shock, this
plug
is
intended to fit into a polarized outlet only one
way.
If
the plug does not fit fully into the outlet, reverse the plug and
try again. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician.
Do
not attempt to modify the plug
in
any
way.
Attempting
to defeat this safety feature may result in damage to the
plug or the outlet.
The food dehydrator
is
equipped with a short power-supply
cord, reducing the risk of tangling or tripping over a longer
cord. Extension cords can be used with the proper attention
paid to safety concerns. When using a longer, detachable
power-supply cord or extension cord, the marked electrical
rating of the extension cord should be the same or greater
as
the electrical rating of the appliance, and the longer cord
should not drape over the countertop or table where children
could pull it or it could be tripped over unintentionally.
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BEFORE USING
1. Unpack the food dehydrator with care.
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sh
all
of the dehydrator trays and lid
in
warm,
soapy water. Rinse well and dry completely.
3.
Wipe the dehydrator base with a clean and dry soft
cloth or sponge. Never immerse base, plug or cord
in
water or any other liquid.
USAGE
1.
First, ensure the unit
is
turned to the
OFF
position and
unplugged before preparing to use.
2.
Wash the trays and lid before each use to prevent
food contamination.
3.
Place the base
on
a flat, smooth countertop surface.
4.
Prepare food to be dehydrated
as
instructed, depend-
ing
on
the type of food; never overlap food or overload
trays.
5. Arrange food
on
trays, stack up the trays, and set
them aside.
6.
Trays can accommodate a variety of food sizes with
small adjustments.
7.
Plug unit into electrical wall outlet. Set control knob to
desired setting.
8.
Place stacked trays
on
base and cover the top tray with
the lid. Then allow the food to dry for the recommended
length of time (drying time depends
on
the food type).
9.
Top lid vent holes must be kept clear of any objects.
10
. Monitor the food while it
is
dehydrating and check it
for desired doneness. It may be necessary to rotate
the rac
ks
during drying
as
bottom racks will dehydrate
faster than top racks. Once cooled, remove individual
pieces and store
in
food-safe containers or plastic
bags, preferably airtight. Leave the pieces that are not
yet done
in
t
he
dehydrator and monitor them until done.
11
. Store the pieces that are not going to be eaten
in
the
next
fe
w days
in
the refrigerator. When storing food
in
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