Sunbeam DT5600 User Manual

Food Dehydrator

Healthy food dryer with 5 drying racks

Instruction/Recipe Booklet

DT5600

Please read these instructions carefully
and retain for future reference.

Contents

Sunbeam’s Safety Precautions 1
Features of your Food Dehydrator 2
Using your Food Dehydrator 4
Care and Cleaning 6
Important Guidelines and Hints 7
Storage of Dried Foods 8
Rehydrating Dried Foods 8
Use of Dried Food 9
Drying Fruits 9
Drying Chart for Fruit 10
Drying Vegetables 12
Fruit Rolls 14
Drying Herbs and Spices 15
Drying Chart for Herbs and Spices 16
Drying Meat 17
Drying Flowers 18
Recipes 19
Drying Record Chart 29

Important instructions – retain for
future use.

Sunbeam’s Safety Precautions

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR YOUR

SUNBEAM DEHYDRATOR.

• Ensure your dehydrator is used at least 50cm
(half a metre) away from a gas flame or
electric element.

• Do not operate the dehydrator on an inclined
surface.

• Do not move or cover the dehydrator while in
operation.

• Do not immerse the top of the dehydrator in
water or any other liquid.

• Use your dehydrator well away from walls,
curtains and cupboards that may be affected
by steam.

• Do not use your dehydrator in confined spaces.

Sunbeam is very safety conscious when

designing and manufacturing consumer products, but
it is essential that the product user also exercise care
when using an electrical appliance. Listed below are
precautions which are essential for the safe use of an
electrical appliance:

• Read carefully and save all the instructions provided
with an appliance.

• Always turn the power off at the power outlet before
you insert or remove a plug. Remove by grasping the
plug - do not pull on the cord.

• Turn the power off and remove the plug when the
appliance is not in use and before cleaning.

• Do not use your appliance with an extension cord
unless this cord has been checked and tested by a
qualified technician or service person.

• Always use your appliance from a power outlet of the
voltage (A.C. only) marked on the appliance.

• This appliance is not intended for use by persons
(including children) with reduced physical, sensory
or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and
knowledge, unless they have been given supervision
or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a
person responsible for their safety.

• Children should be supervised to ensure that they do
not play with the appliance.

• The temperature of accessible surfaces may be high
when the appliance is operating.

• Never leave an appliance unattended while in use.

• Do not use an appliance for any purpose
other than its intended use.

• Do not place an appliance on or near a hot gas
flame, electric element or on a heated oven.

• Do not place on top of any other appliance.

• Do not let the power cord of an appliance hang over
the edge of a table or bench top or touch any hot
surface.

• Do not operate any electrical appliance with a
damaged cord or after the appliance has been
damaged in any manner. If damage is suspected,
return the appliance to the nearest Sunbeam
Appointed Service Centre for examination, repair or
adjustment.

• For additional protection, Sunbeam recommend
the use of a residual current device (RCD) with a
tripping current not exceeding 30mA in the electrical
circuit supplying power to your appliances.

• Do not immerse the appliance in water or any other
liquid unless recommended.

• Appliances are not intended to be operated by
means of an external timer or separate remote
control system.

• This appliance is intended to be used in household
and similar applications such as: staff kitchen areas
in shops, offices and other working environments;
farm houses; by clients in hotels, motels and other
residential type environments; bed and breakfast
type environments.

If you have any concerns regarding the performance and use of your appliance,

please visit www.sunbeam.com.au or contact the Sunbeam Consumer Service Line.

Ensure the above safety precautions are understood.

1

Features of your Food Dehydrator

Lid with drying motor

Acts as a lid for the Food Dehydrator and
contains the motor and power switch. Air
vents on the lid allow air to be circulated.

5 large drying racks

Holds the food in place for easy drying.
Your unit includes 5 drying racks. You can
purchase more drying racks from retail
outlets and Sunbeam service centre.

Rubber feet

Holds the Food Dehydrator
in place and prevents it from
scratching the bench top.

2

On/Off switch with three heat settings

Enable the user to choose the type of drying
needed with three heat settings.

Removable Filter

The filter is removable for easy cleaning.

Fruit Roll Tray

Makes delicious fruit rolls naturally.

3

Using your Dehydrator

How it works

Dehydrating food is an ancient method of
preserving food. It is a gentle, natural process
which removes moisture from food.

Using a controlled heat temperature, air is
circulated from the top of the unit to each
of the five trays and base. This method of
drying seals in the flavours and nutrients of
the food, leaving a high food nutrient and
vitamin content.

Storage of dried food

Drying fresh, ripe fruit and vegetables allows
you to enjoy these luxuries all year round.
Storing of food is easy and takes up little
storage space. Dried foods have a longer
shelf life of approximately 3-6 months when
stored in air-tight storage jars depending on
type of food and climate.

No preservatives added

Fruit and vegetables dried using your
Food dehydrator, will differ in colour and
appearance from produce purchased from
Health food stores and supermarkets. This is
due to these stores adding artificial colouring
and preservatives to the produce. Whereas
your Food dehydrator uses no preservatives
and only natural additives.

Versatility

You can dry herbs and spices and flowers
to make potpourri. You can even enjoy the
advantages of rehydrating foods to make
instant additions to soups, sauces and
casseroles. The choice is endless.

Healthy snacks

Natural healthy snacks can easily be created
using your Food dehydrator. A variety of fruit
rolls such as pear, berry and apple rolls, to
name a few. You can make tasty, muesli bars,
using all natural ingredients. These snacks
are great for picnics, camping and at snack
time.

4

Using your Dehydrator (continued)

Before using your Food Dehydrator

• Wash the drying racks, base and fruit roll
tray in warm water using a mild detergent.
Rinse and dry each part thoroughly before
use.

• Before you assemble the food dehydrator
ensure that the power cord is unplugged.

Settings

Approximate Temperatures Uses

Using your Food dehydrator

1. Arrange the food on the drying racks,
ensuring the pieces of food are not quite
touching, to allow air to circulate freely.
Place drying racks onto the base, ensuring
that all racks are securely positioned in the
grooves.

2. Place the lid on the top drying rack.

3. Plug the power cord into a 230/240V AC
power outlet, and push the power to the
desired heat setting.

NOTE: If only using base of Food Dryer ensure
an empty drying rack is inserted between the
Lid and Base, to avoid restriction of air flow.

Setting 1 35ºC Herbs, Flowers

Setting 2 55ºC

Fruits, vegetables, muesli bars,
fruit rolls

Setting 3 75ºC Drying meats

5

Care and Cleaning

Drying racks, fruit roll trays and base

To clean the drying racks, fruit roll trays and
the base, soak in warm soapy water. A soft
bristle brush can be used to loosen stubborn
food particles.

Lid

Do not immerse the Lid with Drying Motor in
water. To clean, use a damp, soft sponge with
a mild detergent.

Do not use steel wool, scouring pads or
abrasive cleaners.

Do not place any parts in a dishwasher.

6

Important Guidelines and Hints

Use quality food

Best results are achieved when quality food is
used. Select produce at the peak of ripeness,
colour and flavour, for the highest nutritional
content.

You can dry overripe produce successfully, as
long as you remove any spoiled areas.

Wash food

Food should be washed and dried thoroughly,
removing soft or spoiled areas. Be certain
that your hands, cutting utensils and food
preparation areas are clean.

Cut food uniformly

Produce can be shredded, sliced or diced,
5mm slices are best for efficient drying.

Variation in drying times

Check produce drying chart times can vary.
Drying times are affected by the size of
the load, thickness of the sliced produce,
humidity, air temperature and the moisture
content of the food itself. (Therefore, broad
drying times have been given in the drying
tables).

NOTE: The food dryer may be left on
overnight, however this may not achieve
optimum result.

We recommend the rotation of drying racks
every 3-4 hours throughout drying time to
achieve even drying.

Fruit Roll Trays

Non-stick baking paper can be cut to fit
rocks, if you want more roll up trays.

Rotate Racks

Rotate racks while drying foods, this ensures
even drying of produce and air circulation.

Testing for dryness

Be sure to let the produce cool before testing
for dryness. To test for dryness, cut a piece
open – there should be no visible moisture
inside.

Uneven drying

If you notice uneven drying, rotate the drying
racks, i.e. move the bottom rack to the top
and the top racks down.

Keep records

Records of humidity, weight of produce
before and after drying times, will be helpful
in improving your drying techniques for the
future. Use the Drying Record Chart provided
on page 29.

7

Storage of Dried Foods

• Containers should be moisture and insect
free.

• Glass jars with metal screw lids are ideal
containers. Food stored in plastic bags,
should be stored inside an insect proof
container.

• The storage area should be cool, dry and as
dark as possible. The ideal temperature for
storing dehydrated food is 5-20ºC.

• Dried food can be covered in plastic wrap
and stored in a container in the freezer.

See tips on Beef jerky for correct storage on
page 17.

Important

Check for moisture by shaking the content of
your storage container several times during
the first week after the food has been dried.
If moisture appears on the inside, the food
has not been sufficiently dried and should be
returned to the food dehydrator, for further
drying.

Do not place warm produce into storage
containers, as condensation will form causing
mould and mildew. Allow food to cool on
racks before storing.

Rehydrating Dried Foods

Rehydration is the process of putting the
moisture back into foods that have been
dried.

• Dried foods can be partially rehydrated by

soaking in water or cooking.

• To conserve the nutritional value of the

rehydrated food, use the liquid remaining
after soaking or cooking, in the rehydration
recipes.

• One cup of dried vegetables generally
reconstitutes to two cups of vegetables. See
soup mix on page 18.

• One cup of dried fruit reconstitutes to one
and a half cups of fruit.

8

Use of Dried Food

Dehydrated fruits and vegetables can be
used in a variety of dishes that can be used
to make: sauces, casseroles, marinated
vegetables, cakes, salads, pies, soups,
cereals, pasta dishes and poultry dishes
stuffing.

Foods such as garlic, chillies and tomatoes
can be bottled in olive oil and stored in a
cool dry place for several months.

Drying Fruits

• Wash food and pat dry with paper towels.

• Remove any blemishes, pips and stones.

• Slice as recommended.

• Pre-treat where recommended.

NOTE: Food may be peeled or unpeeled when
drying. Try drying both ways to distinguish
preferred outcome. Unpeeled fruits will take
longer to dry.

Pre-Treatment

The pre-treatment of food where
recommended helps retard browning while
the food is drying.

• Where recommended use a natural pre

treatment of pineapple or lemon juice. Soak
fruit for 3-4 minutes in the juice before
placing on drying racks.

Blanching

• Some fruits with natural protective wax
coatings e.g. figs, grapes and prunes, need to
be blanched to speed the drying process.

To Blanch

1. Soak fruits in boiling water for 1-2
minutes.

2. Plunge into ice cold water. Dry well.

3. Slice and commence drying.

Dryness Test

• Cool fruit before testing for the final degree
of dryness.

• Most fruit will be soft and pliable when
properly dried.

9