I'm getting set to do a bunch of dehydrating but I don't have as many smooth trays as I'll need for pasta sauce and some finely-cut veggies. So I'm thinking of using the oven with cookie sheets and waxed paper. My oven will hold 170 degrees, which is warmer than recommended for fruits and veggies. A test showed that the wax on waxed paper will melt at that temperature.

Questions:

If I put the waxed paper wax side down, are the sauces and veggies likely to stick?

Is 170 too warm to dehydrate things that are supposed to dry at 135?

Koda,
try parchment paper or a silicone mat instead of the waxed paper. Also if you have an electric range you could prop the door open to help reduce the temperature. We have done this before when making jerky. Good luck,
~MOgirl

Thanks for the tips, MOgirl. What if I have a gas range? Is it unsafe to prop the door open? Will I gas myself?

Depends on what your dehydrating.....gas yourself now or gas yourself latter........

quote Koda: "Thanks for the tips, MOgirl. What if I have a gas range? Is it unsafe to prop the door open? Will I gas myself?"

I do not believe it is safe to leave the gas oven door open. Good luck... you may just have to do a couple of days of dehydrating to get it all done.

~MOgirl

There isn't any issue with leaving the door open on your gas oven; you won't gas yourself. Notice the oven vent, which is probably located under the back left burner on your stovetop...you vent the oven every time you turn it on. :)

quote MOgirl: "

quote Koda: "Thanks for the tips, MOgirl. What if I have a gas range? Is it unsafe to prop the door open? Will I gas myself?"

I do not believe it is safe to leave the gas oven door open. Good luck... you may just have to do a couple of days of dehydrating to get it all done.


~MOgirl"

No problem with leaving the door open on a gas oven when it is on. The vent on mine is on the top of the range and vents to the outside anyway. Open away.

Please let me know how well that dehydrating goes and what you ended up doing to solve the wax paper problem.

Thanks for the feedback, folks. I got the dehydrator back today and will be using it instead of the oven.

Corndog, I decided to do it right so went out and bought some parchment paper.