THE PURPOSEFUL PANTRY RECOMMENDS...
These are my recommendations on products that I use or I know are the best on the market for the things we do all the time. I'll share my affiliate links below, but nothing on this list is something I don't use or wouldn't recommend.
DEHYDRATING TOOLS
- Excalibur Dehydrator (usually around $200-250)
- Nesco FD-80 (under $80)
- Cabela's 10-tray Dehydrator (usually around $150, but goes on sale for $99 often)
- Mandoline
- Mini-mandoline (not necessary - but great for garlic and ginger and other small slices.
- Cutting Gloves (if you use a mandoline - use this, even if you do use the cutting guard) I have a beefy hand and this pair works great for me (I ordered medium).
Cuisinart Coffee Grinder -I can no longer recommend this machine. My old one worked great, but it seems newer versions don't like the fine powder that is created from dehydrated foods and it leaks and makes a mess now. Here is the one I use now, and Mr. Coffee grinder is popular with the people in my Dehydrating Tips & Tricks group on Facebook.- Nutri Ninja - grinding on a larger scale than a smaller coffee grinder, but not using a whole blender.
- Vegetable/Onion Chopper - this device let's me dice, chop and prep veggies for dehdyrating or canning easier and faster than doing it with a knife for large quantities. There is a larger bundle with more blades and options, but I prefer this more simplistic unit.
- Stainless steel funnel with mesh strainer
- Salad Spinner (helps remove excess moisture after washing produce). I also use this collapsible salad spinner.
- Mushroom, Strawberry & Egg bladed slicer
- • Silicone Mats
• Excalibur Silicone Mats - expensive, but heavy-duty and my favorite mats- Off-Bradnd Mats - these mats are like the Paraflexx mats, and can be cut to fit just about any size dehydrator tray on the market. This is a less expensive brand that I've used, but I do prefer the above linked mats more.
- Off-brand Mesh Sheets - These can also be used to cut down to seize for many other brands.
- Bright Kitchens silicone lipped trays (comes in a variety of shapes and sizes)
Dehydrating Books
- The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook
- Prepper's Dehydrator Handbook (don't let the name fool ya - it's a good book, but be warned, the print is light, so if you have site issues, this isn't the book for you.)
- The Dehydrator Bible
- Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Book
- National Center for Food Preservation Website is a good free tool
- Quick & Easy Dehydrated Meals in a Bag
- Just Add Water Meals in a Bag
- Recipes for Adventure - Backpacking Meals
STORAGE TOOLS
- Vacuum Sealer -
- Mueller | Foodsaver | Compact Foodsaver |
- Vacuum Sealer Jar Attachments
- Hand-Held Vacuum Sealer - requires the jar attachments, but lets you make quick jobs of vacuum sealing jars for everyday use.
- *White older version: But check around for prices on this one. Walmart actually has it for a better price right now.
- *Newer Black version Foodsaver 31161370 Cordless
- Desiccant packs
- Oxygen Absorbers
- Mylar Bags + O² absorbers
CANNING TOOLS
- Presto Pressure Canner - also for use on glass top stoves
- All-American Pressure Canner
- Canning Starter Kit
- Prepworks Canning Scoop
►QUESTION: Can I use a canner on a glass top stove?
Canning Books
- Complete Guide to Home Canning
- Complete Guide to Home Canning (the free .pdf version)
- Ball Canning Book
- Bernardin Guide to Home Preserving
ORGANIZING TOOLS
FREEZE DRYING TOOL
This company has a layaway program that you can put $250 down on a machine, pay as you can until half of the machine is paid for, then they'll ship it to you make monthly payments until it's paid off.
If you need a budget-friendly version of this list:
