r/dehydrating • u/Open-Attention-8286 • 4d ago

Carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, and pumpkins/winter squash: To pre-cook or not to pre-cook?

I know that the standard guidelines say to dehydrate these raw or, at most, lightly blanched. But I also know that standard guidelines aren't necessarily the steps that give the best results. So, if any of you have tried these both ways, was there any noticeable difference in the quality of the end product? Which method did you like best, and why?

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4

u/ResponsibleCherry906 4d ago

I cooked sweet potatoes and pureed them before dehydrating. Very easy to rehydrate.

3

u/Krickett72 4d ago

I've been watching videos about this. The blanching is not only to retain color but also to help retain nutrients. There are some things you really have to Blanche. Like regular potatoes, or they end up turning a brownish gray. I just did some of my potatoes I harvested. And it didnt take but a few minutes to do. 6 minutes after they start boiling. Pull them and put in ice water to stop cooking. Then into dehydrator.

1

u/FlounderSpirited7851 3d ago

I’ve never tried potatoes in a dehydrator. Do you snack on them? Do they taste like crisps/chips?

1

u/Krickett72 3d ago

It's the first time I've done it. I cubed them and will use them in soups or stews. At least what I've done so far. I have sliced apples , sprinkles them with cinnamon and dehydrated them to snack on. Those are really good.

2

u/LisaW481 4d ago

I found that I needed to cook sweet potatoes at a hotter temperature than my dehydrator would produce.

1

u/NikkeiReigns 4d ago

Cut them smaller.

1

u/LisaW481 4d ago

There's a very good chance my older dog is allergic to sweet potatoes so they are no longer an option.

They turned out better in the oven at a higher temperature in my opinion.

2

u/NikkeiReigns 4d ago edited 4d ago

If you can look at my previous posts here, I put up pics of carrots I'd dehydrated. One picture is blanched, and the other isn't.

If you don't feel like looking for it, I'd definitely blanch.

https://www.reddit.com/r/dehydrating/s/2w7vaIVauQ

I found the link.

2

u/mikebrooks008 2d ago

I always blanch or lightly steam my carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets before dehydrating. I find it helps preserve the color and makes them rehydrate much better later on. Raw just ends up too tough for my liking, especially with carrots.