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Need ideas for adding oven racks for dehydrating

7 years ago

I have been using my oven as a dehydrator I have three oven racks and rails for six positions I would like to add something that would provide light support for two to three more racks of food It is a wall oven so something 24" wide and 15-16" deep would work

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks

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Comments (7)

bcskye
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Unfortunately I misplaced my dehydrator racks so I went out and got some S hooks and am going to use them to support some cooling racks from the sides of the dehydrator. The S hooks come in several different sizes and I think they are stainless steel. Could you put a rack on your top rail then hang a cooling rack under it, another rack with a rack hanging under it and so forth? You could probably buy additional oven racks for your make and model, but I think the cooling racks hung from oven racks would be just as effective and a lot less expensive.

Madonna
cocaty
Original Author
7 years ago
Not a bad idea. That way, I wouldn't have to have something 24" long to stretch all the way across. i could sort of piece them together. I like it! Thanks.

What do you dehydrate?
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Ann_t is correct. Most new countertop ovens will bake steam, air-fry like your regular oven but may have some added fan or low settings for dehydrating, etc. All ovens are different so watch it. Don't watch the timer. 20 years ago it was the toaster oven, countertop . These new larger ovens are no different using a smaller heat box and smaller meals more efficient. These more efficient ovens are the 'in-betwinnie' of a basic toaster oven and the massive free standing oven w/cooktop. My parents use their oven maybe twice a year. I have none of it or need it here in NY, but am paying attention as one of the varieties will be purchased for my beach home. I have a wood fired cook stove and could use an alternative side oven/countertop. (renovation needs to happen soon). I would rather have it on a shelf above the counter. I replaced a 24" 70's double wall oven with an electric all glass side door at eye level, and a steam oven below. Broiler is kick a++ on low and I can serve thanksgiving for 20 no problem. It can be a dance at times but for every day it is a perfect combo. My oven is my toaster, and every day roaster being a smaller footprint. Eye level is so nice and side door swing is easy in and out. Counter space is free of appliances. High heat is 500, low starts at 150 so great for dehydrating small batches as well. Have not had a bend-over behemoth oven for 20 years and do not miss that. What I dislike about 'air frying' using packaged previously frozen fried foods is the horrid bad habits of junk foods. Nancylane is using it with fresh ingredients to possibly replace a diet that likes fried foods. Fine for a treat less 'fried'.
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Replacing the range with a double-oven model is a good idea. The one pictured above appears to have 2 ovens similar in size. I was worried that those would be too small for the holidays. (Full disclosure, my fear could be completely unfounded. I can't cook without recipes & get stressed quickly when something doesn't go as planned. LOL.) I chose a range with a traditional size oven and a small 2nd oven in place of the storage drawer. The 2nd oven has a limited temp. range and has limited space since it is replacing the drawer. I believe it can also be used as a proofing drawer. I haven't used the smaller oven yet, because I use my speed oven when I need a small oven. Another option would be to replace your microwave with a GE over-the-range Advantium speed oven. I have an Advantium wall oven and love it. I use it more than the range oven. It works as a microwave, convection oven, and speed oven. There is a 120V model and a 240V model. I have the 240V model, so my opinions are based on it. The 240V would likely require electrical work, whereas the 120V would plug into the existing microwave outlet. If you won't use the speed oven function, I'd do as others suggested and upgrade the range to a 2-oven model simply because the GE Advantium costs $1200-$1600.
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bcskye
7 years ago
You're welcome. I had planned on dehydrating a lot of things from the garden last year, but did none of it. Since I'm now alone and live in the boonies, I froze and canned a lot last year. My freezer, pantry and cupboards are still pretty full. I will dehydrate a lot this year. I have a Harvest Maid 8 rack dehydrator, circa late 1970s, my oven has a dehydrating setting and I have one of those little round dehydrators Think its about time to start using all of them again. In the past I did lots of fruit for snacks and onions. Oh, I will have to do up a lot of goodies to feed the chickens next winter.

Madonna
annie1992
7 years ago
Madonna, that's a really good idea. I used "s" hooks to put bungee cords in the door of my old fridge in White Cloud, too, when the plastic rack fronts broke. The bungees actually worked better than the rigid fronts did, although it looked terrible, LOL.

I'm still working on getting beef jerky that doesn't lose its flavor in a couple of days. I don't care much for jerky, but the kids love it.

I also dehydrate the garlic that I grow, slice it in the food processor and into the dehydrator. Sweet peppers, hot peppers, leeks, onions, garlic and apples seem to be the most popular items, the ones that get used up regularly.

Annie
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
7 years ago
If your oven can get down to 170F, You can get a small cheap electric fan and put it inside the oven and make your oven into a very effective dehydrator.

Small fans use induction "shaded pole motor" and they can take a lot of heat. The wire can also take 170F without problem.

dcarch
cocaty
Original Author
7 years ago
Went to hardware store today to get "S" hooks. Ran across 24" metal bars that are used in garment moving boxes. On sale for less than $1 each. The ends will hang on the side rails of the oven and with two or three across, there should be plenty of support for a cooling rack, cookie sheet or dehydrating mat.

The store employee said they were a galvanized metal and suggested heating them to 500 degrees and then letting them cool to assure any fumes are released.

Thanks for for the ideas. Hopefully this will work.
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
7 years ago
"---The store employee said they were a galvanized metal and suggested heating them to 500 degrees and then letting them cool to assure any fumes are released.---"

Important! Important!!

Do not heat galvanized metal to high temperature. Zinc fume is toxic.

Please do your research first.

Stainless steel hooks are cheap and plenty on eBay.

dcarch

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