Making a dehydrator

[s10sleeper]

I’ve come up with some ideas on making a dehydrator. I had the thought of using a small space heater attached to the side of some sort of box, with a hole or holes in the top to allow airflow.

I measured the air temperature of the small forced air heater I have, and on high, the temperature reaches 240 degrees, which I would think is hot enough for beef. For grates, I’ve got 1/4” expanded steel.

My next thought is for the cabinet. My first preference would be some type of small steel cabinet, but I’ve also thought about making it from wood, lining the inside well with aluminum foil and making sure that the heater has enough space that it’s not close enough to the wood to catch fire. I’d definitely test it outdoors just in case.

Does anyone have any experience or opinions on this idea? Would it work?

 

[geostriata]

Does anyone have any experience or opinions on this idea? Would it work?

I think the approach you're thinking of (high heat + high airflow) wouldn't work out that well. If you added something for temperature regulation, it might get the job done for jerky, but it wouldn't work well for things that should be drying more slowly.

Of course, if you just want to dry jerky, you can use your oven for that just fine.

Take a look at this thread and the biltong/droewors drying barrel. Just a little airflow via the fan and a little heat via the bulb will do the trick. A dehydrator that can operate more gently is more versatile, imo.

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

Search for "Alton Brown Food Dehydrator".
He only used a standard box fan (2) standard furnace filters.
He says no heat is required, since you're only trying to remove the moisture.

 

[geostriata]

Search for "Alton Brown Food Dehydrator".
He only used a standard box fan (2) standard furnace filters.
He says no heat is required, since you're only trying to remove the moisture.

That's a good recommendation for jerky. It'll work fine with MERV-1 filters.

Unfortunately, won't work for anything that needs a gentler drying (I've tried).

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

That's a good recommendation for jerky. It'll work fine with MERV-1 filters.

Unfortunately, won't work for anything that needs a gentler drying (I've tried).

Good info.

 

[s10sleeper]

I think the approach you're thinking of (high heat + high airflow) wouldn't work out that well. If you added something for temperature regulation, it might get the job done for jerky, but it wouldn't work well for things that should be drying more slowly.

Of course, if you just want to dry jerky, you can use your oven for that just fine.

Take a look at this thread and the biltong/droewors drying barrel. Just a little airflow via the fan and a little heat via the bulb will do the trick. A dehydrator that can operate more gently is more versatile, imo.

You’ve got a good point, and I’ve thought about that. The little space heater has 3 temperature settings and 3 fan speed levels. I’ve only checked the temperature at it’s highest setting, but as I’ve thought more, with it being outside of the box, there wouldn’t be a way to regulate the temperature because the thermostat would be showing the temperature outside of it

 

[chopsaw]

He says no heat is required, since you're only trying to remove the moisture.

I remember he ate a strip raw after the cure .

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

I remember he ate a strip raw after the cure .

So we shouldn't take Alton too seriously. :)

 

[chopsaw]

So we shouldn't take Alton too seriously. :)

I love the guy . I take him as a great source . I just remember that episode . To your point he was talking about the heat not needed part of it , and ate a strip raw .

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

I love the guy . I take him as a great source . I just remember that episode . To your point he was talking about the heat not needed part of it , and ate a strip raw .

Alton does come up with good information.