Drying Chillies
We are now at the stage in the season, where most of us harvest our Chillies. It is the time of year when we need to decide how we will use them. We can make pickles, jams, relishes, Chilli oils, and Chilli sauces. Alternatively, we can preserve them either by freezing or drying
Drying Chillies is a particularly good way to preserve Chillies. This can be done in a dehydrator or alternatively in an oven. Electric dehydrators are a particularly good way to dry Chillies. A dehydrator can be purchased relatively inexpensively
online for between £50 and £60. They generally consist of a dehydrating unit, which has a fan, and multi-tier drying trays with metal or plastic mesh bases, which are used to dehydrate Chillies
To use this type of dehydrator, simply place whole Chillies in dehydrating trays on top of the dehydrator and place the lid on. Set the temperature to about sixty degrees Celsius, and turn on the dehydrator. After between eight and twelve hours, the Chillies will be dry. Remove them from the tray and pack them into airtight jars for later use.
There are more expensive dehydrators that can be used to dry Chillles. They resemble mini ovens, complete with thermostats, drying shelves and a glass door. They are however somewhat more expensive and cost anywhere from £200 or more
