Before Using For The First Time - Clas Ohlson SBL-1215 Manual

Dehydration
Drying or dehydrating is one of the oldest methods of food preservation. Food contains
a certain amount of water which can be removed by dehydration. Removing the moisture
from foodstuffs prevents the growth of bacteria and moulds which would otherwise
cause the food to deteriorate. This makes it possible to keep foodstuffs for several
years under favourable conditions. Dehydration concentrates the aromatic substances
in foodstuffs and intensifies the flavour. Dehydration is an environmentally friendly
method of preservation which uses no preservatives and one in which the foodstuffs
retain most of their vitamins and minerals. Dehydration is suitable for fruits, vegetables,
mushrooms, herbs and teas.
The air is warmed up and blown through the drying racks, causing most of the moisture in
the food to evaporate and be blown out through the openings in the lid. The contents
of every drying tray will be dried but the trays must be swapped around in order
for their contents to be dried as efficiently and evenly as possible. The contents of
the lowest tray will be dried the most efficiently, so the trays should all be circulated
through the different positions at regular intervals.
Operating instructions
Before using for the first time
1. Remove all packaging.
2. Place the dehydrator on a flat stable and heat-resistant surface. Bear in mind that
it is unwise to move the dehydrator during the drying process. Make sure that
there is at least 15 cm free space around the outside of the dehydrator to ensure
adequate air circulation in and around the dehydrator.
3. Fit all the (empty) drying trays and then the lid onto the base unit. Switch the dehy-
drator on and let it run empty for about 30 minutes before switching it off and
letting it cool down (this only needs to be done prior to initial use). Wash the drying
trays and the lid, rinse and dry them thoroughly. The dehydrator might emit a slight
odour of burning the first time it is used, but this is quite normal. Wipe the exterior
of the base unit with a damp cloth.
Preparations
1. Wash or clean the raw ingredients before drying to cleanse them of any traces of
chemicals, dirt, insects, etc.
2. Inspect any fruit or veg before placing it onto the drying tray. Remove any food that
is discoloured, overripe, or damaged, otherwise it could ruin everything on the tray.
3. Slice the food to be dried into 6 mm thick slices. Thinner slices will dry quicker
but they will shrink more. Slices of unpeeled fruit should be laid with the cut side
facing up. Lay each piece separately so that it does not overlap any of the others
on the tray.
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