Sunbeam DT6000 User Guide

MASTER
SERIES

Food Lab™
Electronic
Dehydrator

Healthy food dryer with
8 temperature settings

User Guide

DT6000

Contents

Sunbeam’s Safety Precautions 1
Features of your Food Dehydrator 2
Dehydrator Overview 4
Using your Dehydrator 5
Care and Cleaning 6
Important Guidelines and Hints 7
Storage of Dried Foods 8
Rehydrating Dried Foods 8
Uses of your Dehydrator 9
Drying Herbs and Spices 9
Drying Chart for Herbs and Spices 10
Drying Flowers 11
Making Dough 12
Culturing Yoghurt 13
Drying Vegetables 14
Drying Citrus Peel 16
Drying Fruits 17
Drying Chart for Fruit 18
Drying Fish 20
Drying Meat 21
Making Fruit Roll Ups 22
Recipes 23
Drying Records Chart 35

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 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

Countdown Timer

19 and a half hours with 30 min increments
with safety auto off. Perfect for overnight use.

6 large drying shelves

Remove shelves to dry thicker foods –
apricots, bunch of grapes, tomatoes etc.
This also allows for leavening bread or
culturing yoghurt. Do not exceed 500g
of food per tray.

Rubber feet

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

User Panel

2

Horizontal Air Flow

Rear fan allows for horizontal air flow,
so no shelf rotation is required.

8 Temperature Settings

35°C to 70°C. Set the best temperature
for each drying use.

Fine Foods Mesh Tray

Use for smaller items such as herbs and
berries; and sticky items such as banana
& tomatoes.

Fruit Roll Tray

Makes delicious fruit rolls naturally. When not
using as Fruit Roll Tray, store at the bottom
of the unit as a crumb tray.

3

Dehydrator Overview

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 rear of the unit to each
of the six shelves 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
the type of food and climate.

No preservatives added

Fruit and vegetables dried using your
Food Dehydrator may differ in colour and
appearance from produce purchased from
health food stores and supermarkets.
Pre-dried store bought produce often contains
artificial colouring and preservatives.

4

Using your Dehydrator

Before using your Food Dehydrator

• Wash the drying shelves, fruit roll tray, fine
foods mesh tray and door 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.

Using your Food Dehydrator

1. Arrange the food on the drying shelves,
ensuring the pieces of food are not quite
touching, to allow air to circulate freely.

2. Place the shelves into the machine, and
close the door.

3. Plug in the unit. The unit will beep to show
it's in standby mode.

4. Press the power button, and the screen will
illuminate and the Dehydrator will default
to a time of 10:00, and temperature
setting of 70°C.

5. To select the time, press the TIME button,
and then press the
your desired time appears in the screen.
Each button press will adjust the time by
30 minutes up to 19 and a half hours.
You can hold down the arrow button to
speed up the selection.

and buttons, until

6. To select the temperature, press the TEMP
button, and then press the
buttons, until your desired temperature
appears in the screen. Each button press
will adjust the temperature by 5°C, from
35°C to 70°C. You can hold down the
arrow button to speed up the selection.

7. During the drying process, you can check
the time and temperature setting, by
pressing the TIME or TEMP button.
To adjust the setting, use the arrow
buttons.

8. After the time has elapsed, the screen will
show 0:00 and the heating element will
turn off. The fan will continue running
for 20 seconds, and the unit will beep
20 times to signal that the drying time
has finished and the heater element has
switched off.

8. Unplug the unit at the power outlet.

NOTE: The maximum drying time is 19 and a
half hours. If you wish to run for longer, you
will need to allow the unit to cool down before
restarting. Turn the power button off, then
unplug and let the unit cool down for at least
2 hours before operating again.

and

Temperature Settings

35˚C Herbs, Flowers, Dough

40˚C Yoghurt

45˚C Soft Vegetables

50˚C Hard Vegetables

55˚C Citrus Peel

60˚C Fruit

65˚C Fish

70˚C Meat Jerky, Fruit Rolls

Uses

5

Care and Cleaning

NOTE: The maximum drying time is 19 and a
half hours. If you wish to run for longer, you
will need to allow the unit to cool down before
restarting. Turn the power button off, then
unplug and let the unit cool down for at least
2 hours before operating again.

Drying shelves, fruit roll tray, fine foods mesh
tray and door.

To clean the drying shelves, fruit roll tray,
fine foods mesh tray and door, allow them
to cool down, then soak in warm soapy water.
A soft bristle brush can be used to loosen
stubborn food particles. Do not place in
dishwasher.

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.

Drying Shelves

Place produce evenly on each shelf, without
overlapping. Do not exceed 500g of produce
per shelf. If you wish to dry thicker foods
such as a bunch of grapes, or to leaven
dough or culture yoghurt, remove shelves to
allow for greater height between shelves.

Keep Door Closed

Keep the door closed so that the produce
dries more efficiently.

Variation in drying times

Check the produce drying charts, as 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).

Check your Drying

Check the progress every hour to ensure it's
drying as you wish.

Fruit Roll Trays

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

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.

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 35.

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 21.

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.

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

8

Uses of your Dehydrator

The Sunbeam Food Lab™ Dehydrator can be
used for the following:

1. Drying Herbs and Spices

2. Drying Flowers

3. Making Dough

4. Culturing Yoghurt

5. Drying Vegetables

6. Drying Citrus Peel

7. Drying Fruit

8. Drying Fish

9. Drying Meat

10. Fruit Roll Ups

Drying Herbs and Spices, 35°C

Drying your own herbs and spices is an easy,
economical way to make the most from your
herb garden.

Hints

• Pick leaves when young and tender.

• Pick seed pods before they open.

• Most herbs and spices can be dried on the
plant stalk or stem.

• The leaves and seeds are easily stripped off
once they are dry.

• Do not store herbs in paper bags as the oils
will be absorbed by the paper leading to
less flavour.

• Store in a cool, dark place in an airtight
container.

9

Drying Chart for Herbs and Spices

Herb/Spice Preparation Setting Drying time Use

Wash, pat dry with paper

Basil

towel. Place leaves
onto drying racks

35ºC 2-4 hours Soups and sauces

Chives

Chilli, long
fresh red,
halved,
deseeded

Coriander

Garlic

Ginger

Marjoram

Mint

Oregano

Wash, pat dry with paper
towel. Slice into desired
lengths

None 35ºC 6-8 hours

Wash, pat dry with paper
towel. Place whole stems
onto drying racks

Peel and chop,
dry in the base

Grate or slice, place
onto drying racks

Wash, pat dry with paper
towel. Place whole stems
onto drying racks

Wash, pat dry with paper
towel. Place whole stems
onto drying racks

Wash, pat dry with paper
towel. Place whole stems
onto drying racks

35ºC 2-4 hours

35ºC 2-4 hours

35ºC 4-6 hours

35ºC 4-6 hours Cakes and curries

35ºC 2-4 hours Casseroles and soups

35ºC 2-4 hours

35ºC 2-4 hours

Salads, casseroles
and soups

Add to curries and
stirfries, pound in a
mortar and pestle and
sprinkle over bread
mixtures

Curries, Thai dishes
and soups

Casseroles, soups
and pasta

Thai dishes and
sauces

Soups, casseroles
and pasta

Wash, pat dry with paper

Parsley

Rosemary None 35ºC 3 hours

Thyme

10

towel. Place whole stems
onto drying racks

Wash, pat dry with paper
towel. Place whole stems
onto drying racks

35ºC 2-4 hours Soups and casseroles

35ºC 2-4 hours Soups and casseroles

Add to scone and
bread mixes and
casseroles

Drying Flowers, 35°C

Using your Food Dehydrator, you are able to
dry your own flowers, blossoms and petals.

Hints

• As flowers darken when they dry, try to
select flowers which are several shades
lighter.

Preparation Directions

1. Cut flowers when they are dry and cool.

2. Choose flowers that are firm but only half
open. Full bloom flowers tend to lose their
petals.

3. Position flowers and petals sparsely on the
drying shelves.

4. Dry for 8-10 hours at 35˚C until flowers are
brittle.

5. Place in a large air-tight glass container
with 3-4 drops of perfumed oil, to enliven
the fragrance. After a month, shake
the petals or sprinkle more oil into the
container.

Potpourri

To make potpourri: use handful of flowers,
blossoms and petals and combine with
3-4 drops of perfumed oil e.g. tea rose or
lavender.

11

Making Dough, 35°C

Making dough for bread and pizza can be
difficult, but the stable temperatures from
the Food Dehydrator can make the process
easier.

If dough is kept too cold, this will limit the
gas production causing the dough to have a
hard, dark crust and an uneven crumb. On
the other hand if it’s too warm the dough
will be sour and you won’t be able to get a
beautiful golden crust. Making bread in the
dehydrator is great for those who want to
start making bread but are too worried that
it won’t work out.

There are many steps involved in making
dough including activating the yeast,
kneading, dough rise/ proofing and baking.
The Food Dehydrator can assist in activating
the yeast, and later in proofing the dough.

• Activating yeast / Fermentation Step.
Activating the yeast means placing
the water in a bowl and adding yeast,
sometimes with sugar or oil, and placing
it in a warm area. When the yeast is
moistened by a liquid, fed by sugar and
carefully warmed, it produces gases that
power the dough to rise. Activating the
yeast can be difficult depending on your
climate. If the water is too cold, the yeast
will not be activated. If it’s too warm it
will die. Set the Dehydrator to 35°C and
remove the shelves to allow the bowl to fit.
When the unit has reached temperature
place the bowl inside the Dehydrator until
the yeast begins to foam. This should take
no longer than 10 minutes.

• Proofing / Rising Dough Step.
Proofing is the process after kneading and
requires placing the dough in a warm area
and allowing the yeast to feed on the sugar
so that the dough increases in size. Set
the Dehydrator to 35°C to warm up. Once
the Dehydrator has reached temperature
and the dough has been formed into your
desired shape, place on a piece of baking
paper and then onto a dehydrator shelf
until doubled in size. This should take
around 30 - 40 minutes. Depending on the
type of dough you are making, sometimes
you will have to proof the dough twice.

12