Don't forget about dehydration! It's energy-efficient and saves space.
A good dehydrator is a worthwhile expense. You can use it for years, and it is versatile. Dehydrating saves space if you live in an apartment or small place. It is also a low-energy way to preserve; the dehydrator uses very little electricity. A dehydrator skirts the need for a big freezer. It also takes less TIME than canning. The dehydrator can be left alone to do its work while you are doing other chores or working. So buy, borrow, and share your dehydrator. Start with fruit! Later, we can explore other crazy possibilities...
RECIPE FOR DEHYDRATING STRAWBERRIES:
Clean, cut off the tops, slice into half-inch pieces and place on the dehydrator sheets. Dehydrate at 130 degrees for about 8 hours. Check them after 4 hours and 6 hours if you can. When they are dry, but still pliable, put them in a glass jar with a lid to store.
Tip: Put the end pieces of the strawberry cut-side up to make dried strawberry removal from the tray easier.
