Dehydrating Carrots for a Prepared Pantry

I thought it would be a good idea to have some pantry staples that aren't readily available in the store. I thought carrots would be a good food to start with. Dehydrating them takes up a much smaller footprint than buying the same amount in cans. I'm also able to use organic, and there aren't any other ingredients -just carrots. It was a simple process! I thought it might be helpful to take you through it, but please forgive the amateur photos. Hey, this is my life & my family camera, I'm just keeping it real!

I bought a giant bag of organic carrots at Costco & then peeled them, cut off the ends, and chopped them into half-moons. I took care to make sure the pieces were cut to about the same size.

In the spirit of full disclosure, this is a side effect:

I boiled a large pot of water & parboiled them in two batches, for just 3 minutes.

I used a large strainer to get them out, drain them over the pot, and then spread them out on the mesh screens of the dehydrator.

I prepared about 4 pounds of carrots & they took up 4 trays, with plenty of room on the tray. I dehydrated them for about 24 hours at 125 degrees.

I knew they would get smaller, but wow! These are SO tiny in comparison!

4 pounds of carrots, all peeled, chopped & ready for soups, stews, or pot roast! And they fit in a quart mason jar!

Next up are potatoes, celery, and possibly tomatoes. Hmm, mushrooms might be a good one! Have you dehydrated foods for your pantry? I'd love to hear your suggestions!

This post has been linked to The Homestead Barn Hop.