September 2026

Pure fats, honey, syrup and jam will not dry - there is no free water to sublimate. High-fat foods dry then go rancid, wasting the cycle.

Chilli, stew and pasta sauce rehydrate almost perfectly. Trim the fat before cooking, spread no thicker than 15 mm, and write the water quantity on the bag.

Strawberries at 10 to 12 mm are the best first batch. Pierce waxy skins, acidulate pale fruit, and blanch most vegetables before drying.

Raw meat dries well and stores for years but must be cooked after rehydrating. Choose lean, slice 10 to 12 mm, and expect a second dry.

Blend eggs raw, pour to 8 to 10 mm on mats, then powder. Eggs keep 5 to 10 years, whole milk 2 to 5. Fat content is what limits every figure.

Skittles, taffy and Jolly Ranchers puff dramatically and turn crunchy. Chocolate and gelatine gummies do not. Silicone mats are essential.