And it turned out GOOD! Tonight I am going to try a szechuan stir fry, and I am kind of kicking myself for not using my dehydrator for more than jerky over the years.

Chili was the first thing I tried too. Turned out way better than I thought it would.

I made a batch of chili last night too!

Sounds like a good plan. Just make chili and dehydrate it? What did you place it on? In my dehydrator it would end up all over everything.

I just spread it out on parchment paper. I made the chili a little thicker than I normally would to make it easier to dehydrate and just add a little extra water when rehydrating.

quote RaisedByBears99: "
Sounds like a good plan. Just make chili and dehydrate it? What did you place it on? In my dehydrator it would end up all over everything."

I have an American Harvest Snackmaster Pro (with round trays), and I went online on found what are called fruit roll sheets which are basically plastic discs that set on top of each tray. Fruit Roll Sheets

The szcehuan turned out really good as well.

Frenchy - I'll bet if you try just cutting rounds of parchment paper you'll not use the tool up trays. I did a test with same things on each roll up trays and paper - paper from now on for me.

BC01-I will give that a try. On a separate note, I just tried using my new GSI Dutch Oven...ABJECT FAILURE!! Way too much heat, and my cinnamon cake was very, very black!!

JMOs are great for cake. Did a big moist chocolate one only Dragonfly - the Scouts couldn't get over it.

quote Frenchy19: "

quote RaisedByBears99: "
Sounds like a good plan. Just make chili and dehydrate it? What did you place it on? In my dehydrator it would end up all over everything."

I have an American Harvest Snackmaster Pro (with round trays), and I went online on found what are called fruit roll sheets which are basically plastic discs that set on top of each tray. Fruit Roll Sheets

The szcehuan turned out really good as well."

Good point. That's the brand I have too. Aren't they great! I've had a couple of other brands, over the years, and these are just the best. Picked up a second one (not sure why) cheap at a yard sale.

quote Frenchy19: "And it turned out GOOD! Tonight I am going to try a szechuan stir fry, and I am kind of kicking myself for not using my dehydrator for more than jerky over the years."

Whenever I plan a trip to the BWCA the people that come with me all RAVE over the food I bring and prepare. Why? It's because I do exactly what you did, I test out recipes and food packs before heading in. Sure food always tastes better in the BWCA but if a meal tastes good at home it will be even better in the BWCA. With planning like this you are on your way to having a great trip!

quote gilmansean: "

quote Frenchy19: "And it turned out GOOD! Tonight I am going to try a szechuan stir fry, and I am kind of kicking myself for not using my dehydrator for more than jerky over the years."

Whenever I plan a trip to the BWCA the people that come with me all RAVE over the food I bring and prepare. Why? It's because I do exactly what you did, I test out recipes and food packs before heading in. Sure food always tastes better in the BWCA but if a meal tastes good at home it will be even better in the BWCA. With planning like this you are on your way to having a great trip! "

Agreed. My kids are ungodly picky eaters, and I want meals to be enjoyable for them up north. I am quickly learning that just about anything they will eat at home can be dehydrated. Still trying to figure out the Dutch oven thing...a couple of total failures over the weekend! Might me one of those purchases that I turn around and sell quickly.

Frenchy next time you want to cook something in the DO give me a shout. I'll walk you through it. Been doing it for years and I'm sure I can help you with it.

Frenchy, how long did you dehydrate it?

Frenchy19 with a Dutch Oven you need to make sure to place more heat on the top than the bottom. Another good trick is to rotate the bottom a quarter turn every 15 minutes while rotating the top a quarter turn the other direction at the same time at least that is how I do it.

Another must for me is a pair of leather gloves, my Boy Scout Hot Pot Tongs along,and U Dig it shovel.

For cooking at home using charcoal, do this trick. Take the diameter so say its 10” and subtract three from that number. That is how many to place under the oven. Put three more on the top side. This will give you approximately a 350 deg oven.

See tip number 3 from here. Also have other tips.

quote bbrown6057: "Frenchy next time you want to cook something in the DO give me a shout. I'll walk you through it. Been doing it for years and I'm sure I can help you with it."

Thanks! My DO is the 10" GSI anodized aluminum with no legs. I set it right on the coals, which is pretty dumb, but I figure it'll take awhile to get it right.

chesapeakes-about 20 hours for both the chili and szcehuan.

KevinL-Thanks for the info! I think the biggest problem was that I put it right on the coals, and I use real hardwood, not charcoal when I grill, so it was REALLY hot. Kind of embarrassed to admit this...!

quote Frenchy19: "

quote bbrown6057: "Frenchy next time you want to cook something in the DO give me a shout. I'll walk you through it. Been doing it for years and I'm sure I can help you with it."

Thanks! My DO is the 10" GSI anodized aluminum with no legs. I set it right on the coals, which is pretty dumb, but I figure it'll take awhile to get it right.


chesapeakes-about 20 hours for both the chili and szcehuan.


KevinL-Thanks for the info! I think the biggest problem was that I put it right on the coals, and I use real hardwood, not charcoal when I grill, so it was REALLY hot. Kind of embarrassed to admit this...!


"

Here is how I get around the no legs thing.....

!$/a

KevinL, this maybe a dumb question. Why do you have the coals covering the lid?

Not a dumb question. A few underneath and that heat rises to cook the bottom side, but most of the heat on top to cook with a Dutch Oven. Need more heat to get the top side done.

quote KevinL: "Not a dumb question. A few underneath and that heat rises to cook the bottom side, but most of the heat on top to cook with a Dutch Oven. Need more heat to get the top side done.





"

Yep, after I burned the cake beyond recognition, I re-read a few threads on here about DO cooking and learned that I should have used something to prop up the DO. I am going to try again later today...hopefully I will have something I can photo and post that dose not look like tree bark!

Well had my dehydrated chili last week and it was good on a cold rainy day. To add a twist to it, I took along a just add water cornbread and mixed it up and put it on top of the chili and left it simmer for 15 minutes in the GSI Dutch Oven without taking a peek at it like dumplings and it turned out very well. Going to be a staple from now on.