RE: [CH] dehydrator question

Pieters, Rob (Rob.Pieters@honeywell.com)
Thu, 27 Jun 2002 03:06:10 -0500 

Hi

Be careful to dry hot peppers indoors when heating them up.
Just like Rael I have tried the microwave, I have to say not completely
unsuccessful but I don't risk it any more.
But if you do, my advice is to cut them in half always! they can explode and
specially when you open the door (keep your eyes protected), and be careful
not to heat them up to long they can catch fire too.
And I noticed that even very mild peppers can take your breath away when you
open the MW. 

I'm using our oven on about 60-70 deg C with the door on ventilation stand.
I only dry one kind per time as they need all different drying times, and
even than I need to ventilate the kitchen.
Last year when I tried to dry a bunch of rocoto's it when wrong, my fault,
as they dry not easy due to the thickens I turned the head a little higher
and went out to do some shopping....
You understand that this was a bad idea, when coming home the house was
filled with a very nice smell... but when I came in the kitchen, boy I
almost died there due to the cap in the air.
I lost a kilo of rocotos and it took about two days to get the air to normal
again.

My other advice is that the best place to dry, and grind, peppers is outside
(or in someone else there kitchen =;-))

Hot regards
Rob NL




  -----Original Message-----
  From: VoodooChile [mailto:rael64@qwest.net]
  Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 5:36 PM
  To: Marianne Meisels
  Cc: Chile-Heads@globalgarden.com
  Subject: Re: [CH] dehydrator question
  
  
  >Does anyone have any input on something called the
  >QuickMinute(tm) Microwave Food Dehydrator?
  >Lack of money and kitchen space make most dehydrators
  >impossible for me, but this looks small and is cheap.
  >The question is does it work?
  >
  >All the best,
  >Marianne
  
  All I can say, not knowing about the product you speak of, yet having 
  "experience" with microwaving chiles, is NO NO NO!!!
  
  Granted, maybe someone has come up with a means to safely dry chiles 
  in the Nukomatic.  I don't know (but I doubt it).  But I would NOT be 
  the one to try it out.  I told my tale years ago, and probably once 
  or twice since, but the short version reads as:
  
  *Habaneros
  *Microwave
  *Basement "apartment" of (ex) sister-in-law's house
  *Chile Fumes From Hell
  *SIL, MIL, screams (between coughing fits) down the stairs "what are 
  you *doing!?!?"
  *Tears enough to rehydrate Mars.
  *Coal, my blue Himalayan, spread-eagled against the screen door, not 
  purring, not meowing loudly, but screaming like a banshee...OUTSIDE, 
  LET ME OUTSIDE !!!
  
  As for kitchen space, I've only had such in one apartment, and at 
  that time I was cooking 70ish hours a week and didn't have time, nor 
  want, to cook.  I digress.  Pardon.  Consequently, having no kitchen 
  space either, I often put my dehydrator in the tub and plug it in in 
  the bathroom (cheap air freshener) or plug it in in the "hall" of my 
  apartment, sitting on the previously mentioned sheet pan.
  
  Anywho, trust me.  You don't want to Nuke chiles.  Take some chiles 
  to the store and try the product out first <g>.
  
  -- 
  Peace, Hendrix, and Chiles.......
  Rael64
  
  "All are lunatics, but he who can analyse his delusions is called a 
  philosopher."   -Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) American writer-