One day I had a crazy idea. I thought to myself that drying blueberries was a great idea. I mean, why not?
To buy dried blueberries in the store or online can cost $13-16 for 8 ounces. OUCH! That is an expensive addition to my granola! So I thought I would try to dehydrate my own blueberries. By doing this, I would have them ready to add to trail mix and granola.
I thought I was a genius. What followed proved I still have a lot to learn.
I did my research. Some people recommended poking a hole in them to dry them faster and a bit flatter. Some people recommended just drying them as they were. I choose option 2.
At the grocery store, I bought three pints of blueberries on sale for $1.99 (normally $3.99 a pint). Perfect. I am doing a project that will save me money and I am saving even more money with my initial purchase!
I filled the trays on my ancient dehydrator with the lovely blueberries after giving them a quick rinse.
I plugged in the dehydrator before bed and went to sleep. I woke up the next morning to barely wrinkled blueberries. That is okay because I knew from my research that this process could take at least 24 hours because blueberries hold a fair amount of juice.
I checked the dehydrator before going to bed and removed a few blueberries that had dried on the bottom rack. I switched racks because the bottom appeared to be drying faster. I put the dehydrator back together and went to bed.
I woke up the next morning to more blueberries being done and I removed those. I had a half tray left of blueberries that needed more drying time. However, I thought that running the dehydrator for only a half rack of blueberries was a waste of time and energy. I sliced up some apples to dry while the remaining blueberries dried.
By the time supper rolled around, the blueberries were done. Wow! That took a long time! If you try this, you will be looking at a 24-48 hour drying time. Is it worth it?
Take a look at the jar:
Three pints of fresh blueberries fills only one 1/2 of a pint jar. I got one cup of blueberries which is what I need for the granola recipe I like to use. However, I am not sure the time, cost, and effort is worth that.
I take that back, the cost is worth it. Remember $13 for 8-ounce bag. OUCH!
I did just receive a gift of a new-to-me dehydrator that has 5-6 trays and would do more at a time, but the cost of buying and/or picking them is still a factor until I get some blueberry bushes planted and established.
Overall I am glad I did take the time to dry blueberries. I have a new appreciation for the work and time that goes into the process. I am just not sure I will do it as a regular thing.
Thanks for reading!
Erica
One of the reasons I haven't "preserved" food for a long time is that unless I can get the food free, I can buy the stuff cheaper than I can preserve it myself. Lucky you to find blueberries on sale! Every little bit helps. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI have dehydrated these in the past and have discovered that unless I really keep an eye on them they can turn into rocks pretty easily; some get done and some don't, on the same tray. Strawberries, for me, are so much easier to control. When I get blueberries they get put on baking sheets in the freezer and then in bags. I love them so much but not enough to babysit!
ReplyDeleteI followed a tip from a youtuber who had to empty her freezer for an upcoming pork butchering. She put the frozen blueberries on the dehydrator and 12-13 hours later they were perfectly dry. I tried it and sure enough, 13 hours later, beautifully dehydrated berries. I set mine to almost the highest setting since the berries are full of water.
ReplyDeleteBlueberries are my favorites! I have blueberry bushes but they are not yet producing. I'd love to dehydrate some of them when the time comes. (Visiting from Frugal Days Sustainable Ways)
ReplyDelete~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Wolfe City, Texas