Cloths Dryer Repurposing.

ben awes

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Hey all, since dandelion season is about to kick into gear, I’m wondering about gathering a bunch and drying them for storage. Obviously folks will have opinions about that but my real question is if you think you could use a cloths dryer to do this? (Not the one I dry my own cloths in, but a second one used only for grasses and leaves and dandelions). Sounds crazy I know, but necessity is the mother of invention!
 

ZenHerper

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A tabletop food dehydrator would be waaaaaay cheaper.

And work better.

FYI: most dandelion flowers will turn to fluff when dried, so stick with the more nutrient-dense leaves.
 

Relic

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Some clothes dryers come with an insertable rack used to dry tennis shoes without having them flop all around inside the drum. You could possibly lay the plants you want to dry on one of these, but it does seem extreme. Why not just place them on a cookie sheet and slip them into a warm (150 degree or so) oven until they reach the desired condition?
 

Kapidolo Farms

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Cost to run and productivity would make me think a food dehydrator would be a better bet. I use a Garden master like this
. AND https://www.enasco.com/p/NESCO®-American-Harvest®-Gardenmaster®-Food-Dehydration-Kit+C32194

I am running upto five of these at ounce. Watch Craig's list for the really good deals. Sometimes a Amazon return will be steeply discounted. You can buy from nasco, sometimes misspelled nesco.

I'd suggest using the lowest heat setting @ 95F.

I use these for all the cactus chips.

Even better for leafy things are simple pot drying hangers like this https://www.zenhydro.com/ipower-gld...ng-rack-net-w-clips-storage-carrying-bag.html which can be smaller or larger depending on your throughput. These in a room with a fan will work well. Last year I dried about 500 pounds of fresh mulberry on just two of these. https://kapidolofarms.com/product/mulberry-loose-leaf-16-oz/
 

Maro2Bear

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Cost to run and productivity would make me think a food dehydrator would be a better bet. I use a Garden master like this
. AND https://www.enasco.com/p/NESCO®-American-Harvest®-Gardenmaster®-Food-Dehydration-Kit+C32194

I am running upto five of these at ounce. Watch Craig's list for the really good deals. Sometimes a Amazon return will be steeply discounted. You can buy from nasco, sometimes misspelled nesco.

I'd suggest using the lowest heat setting @ 95F.

I use these for all the cactus chips.

Even better for leafy things are simple pot drying hangers like this https://www.zenhydro.com/ipower-gld...ng-rack-net-w-clips-storage-carrying-bag.html which can be smaller or larger depending on your throughput. These in a room with a fan will work well. Last year I dried about 500 pounds of fresh mulberry on just two of these. https://kapidolofarms.com/product/mulberry-loose-leaf-16-oz/


I use a Nesco dehydrator as well, the lower option one with 5 trays. But, it works like a champ. I routinely dry dandelion & kale leaves.

Here I’m drying spinach, to a nice super dry state.

Loading the Trays
782386A6-F380-4C85-B7E6-4931E467B868.jpeg

Trays Loaded
02202618-4D82-4DE3-920B-E11FBDEA5643.jpeg

All Dried & Bagged
9C46DE2F-C9C6-44D9-9410-95118AC15346.jpeg

Lots out there to choose from....

 

wellington

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Either bundle them and hang or put them in a mesh laundry bag and hang them turning daily or so to get the ones on the inside to the outside of the bundle.
My yard is filled with dandelions. Mine dont grow very tall though, it would be almost impossible to tie in a bundle.
 

AgataP

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Oven very low temperature. I use to froze them for my Russian torts.
 
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