SUNBEAM KN-128E (01) PDF Document

When using the SUNBEAM KN-128E Food Dehydrator, basic safety precautions should always be followed:

1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS, PRODUCT LABELS AND WARNINGS BEFORE USING THE SUNBEAM® FOOD DEHYDRATOR.

2. Do not touch hot surface.

3. To prevent electric hazards, do not immerse cord, plug or other electrical parts in water or other liquids.

4. Close supervision is always necessary when this or any appliance is used near children.

5. Always unplug the appliance from wall outlet when not in use and before cleaning.

6. Do not operate appliance if cord has been damaged, or if the appliance malfunctions or suffers serious damage.

7. The use of accessory attachments is not recommended by the appliance manufacturer and may cause injury.

8. Do not use outdoors or for commercial purposes.

9. Do not let the cord dangle over the edge of a tabletop or countertop or touch hot surfaces.

10. Do not place the Food Dehydrator near a hot gas or electric burner or in a heated oven.

11. To disconnect, turn the control to “OFF” before removing the plug from the outlet.

12. Do not use this Food Dehydrator for other than its intended use.

13. Do not run this Food Dehydrator for more than 40 hours in one single use. After 40 hours, turn to “OFF” position, unplug and allow to cool down for at least 2 hours before operating again.

14. Do not pour liquids into the appliance.

15. Do not operate near combustible or pressurized spray cans.

16. To clean the heating base, unplug from wall outlet and wipe with damp cloth or sponge and mild soap. Do not immerse base or cord in water. Top lid and trays may be submerged in warm water and washed with mild soap or washed in TOP rack of dishwasher only.

17. A short power supply cord is provided to reduce risks. Extension cords may be used only if the electrical rating is as great as the electrical rating of the appliance (120 V). If an extension cord is used it should be arranged so that it will not drape over the counter or tabletop where it can be reached by children or tripped over.

18. To reduce the hazards of potential shock, this item has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). If the plug does not fit, contact a qualified electrician for assistance. Never use this plug with an extension unless it fits properly. Do not attempt to defeat this safety feature.

19. Do not operate this Food Dehydrator on a non-heat resistant glass or wood cooking surface, or any tablecloth. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT A HEAT RESISTANT COOKING SURFACE SUCH AS TILE, OR ANY SURFACE PROTECTED WITH A HEAT RESISTANT FINISH BE PLACED BENEATH THIS UNIT.

1. Before first use, wash the trays and top lid thoroughly in warm, soapy water or on the TOP RACK ONLY of your dishwasher. Wash the fruit roll-up sheet in soapy water only and never place it in the dishwasher.

2. Prepare the food according to its type, as indicated in the Timetables.

3. After loading your food on the trays, plug in the Food Dehydrator and push the “ON/OFF” switch to the “ON” position. The light will illuminate to indicate that the unit is in operation. Remember that it is the hot air circulation that dries the food, so do not overload the trays and never overlap the food.

4. Make sure the top lid is always in place when operating the Dehydrator.

5. Dry for the period of time suggested in the Timetables, keeping in mind that the times listed are approximate.

6. Once the food is dried to your satisfaction, push the “ON/OFF” switch to the “OFF” position.

7. Unplug the unit. Once dried, allow the food to cool. Immediately store the food items in bags or containers and place in the refrigerator.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The 5 trays must always be stacked, whether you have food on them or not. If you are only using one tray of food, it should be stacked in the top position with 4 empty trays stacked below. Make sure the top lid is in place. Depending on how many trays you are placing food on, load the ones with food from the top level down.

1. Prior to any cleaning operation, always unplug the unit from the wall outlet.

2. To clean the trays and top lid, wash them in warm water and soap. DO NOT USE SCORING PADS OR ANY ABRASIVE CLEANERS. The trays and top lid can be safely washed in the TOP RACK of the dishwasher, BUT NOT THE FRUIT ROLL-UP SHEET, as it will not withstand the high temperature reached by today’s dishwashers.

3. Wipe the base clean with a damp cloth. DO NOT IMMERSE IN WATER.

4. Use paper towels or napkins to remove any excess marinade.

The 5 trays on the SUNBEAM KN-128E are adjustable to 2 heights. They are generally meant to fit flush on top of each other in the lower height position. To achieve the higher position, lift and rotate a tray 1/4 turn in either direction. To drop trays back to the normal level, rotate it 1/4 turn in either direction.

Choosing Food:

Always use good quality foods. Fruits and vegetables in peak season are more nutritious, have more flavor and cost less. Meats, fish, poultry and game should be as lean and fresh as possible. Check food for blemishes and bruises. Food in bad condition may spoil the whole batch. Remove pits, peel or core food before dehydrating. Pretreated foods often look better and achieve better results. Proper storage is also essential to maintain the quality of foods.

Drying Tips:

We suggest that you keep records when first using your dehydrator with different foods, in order to help you have a better idea of how your machine works and improve your drying technique. Drying times listed are approximate and will vary according to several factors:

1. Thickness of pieces or slices.

2. Number of trays with food being dried. (Always stack 5 trays)

3. Volume of food being dried. (Never overlap pieces)

4. Moisture or humidity in your environment.

5. Your preference of texture for each type of dried food.

Additionally:

• Check your food every few hours to make sure it does not “over-dry”.

• Rotate and/or re-stack your trays if you notice uneven drying.

• Label food with contents dried, date and weight before drying. It will also be helpful to note the drying time for future reference.

• Spray trays with non-stick cooking spray before placing food on them to allow for easier removal of food.

Pretreating fruits is optional. You do not have to pretreat fruits to get good results. But some fruits become dark or colorless when dried and stored, therefore we recommend a few suggestions to pretreat fruits:

1. Use 1/4 cup lemon juice to 2 cups water and dip fruits for approximately 2 minutes, or

2. Use 1/2 tablespoon “Fruit-Fresh” (found in most grocery stores) to 2 cups water and dip fruit for approximately 2 minutes, or

3. Use any natural fruit juice, such as pineapple or orange and dip fruit for approximately 2 minutes. Keep in mind that these may impart a hint of the flavor of the juice and may not always prevent discoloration of food.

NOTE: If you don’t mind the change in color of your dried fruit, there is no need to pretreat. Fruits like bananas turn brown without pretreatment; however they become very sweet and bursting with pure banana flavor when sliced and placed directly into the dehydrator.

1. Blanching is recommended for green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, potatoes and peas. Since these vegetables are often used in soups or stews, blanching will ensure that they retain a desirable color.

To Blanch: Place prepared vegetables in a pot of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes only. Strain and pat dry and place vegetables in the dehydrator.

2. Placing vegetables in lemon juice for approximately 2 minutes will add a hint of lemon flavor to such vegetables as green beans and asparagus, etc.

IMPORTANT Note: Cooking all meats and fish before drying is recommended to ensure safety. Use only very lean meats and cut away all fat.

The reason to marinate meat before drying is to add flavor to the meat and also to tenderize it. The marinade should contain salt, which helps extract water from the meat and also helps preserve it.

Slicing: Slicing meat while partially frozen will be easier, especially if you want a very thin slice.

Poultry: All poultry MUST be cooked before drying. Steaming or roasting are the best methods.

Fish: A good idea is to steam the fish before dehydrating or, if you chose to bake it, pre-heat your conventional oven to 200°F and bake for 20 minutes or until fish is flaky.

Meat or Game for Jerky:

Dehydrating meat without prior cooking will produce the rigid, chewy style meat known as JERKY.

– Marinate meat strips or slices for at least 3 hours in your favorite marinade, or overnight in a sealed container.

– Place Fruit Roll-Up Sheet on bottom tray to catch the juices from upper trays and then place meat on the trays.

Dry until it snaps when bent, approximately 6 to 16 hours.

This type of meat must be cooked prior to drying. Cook, cut into small cubes and place in the dehydrator. Dry until all moisture has been removed, approximately 2 to 8 hours. When ready to use in your favorite stew, simply rehydrate by soaking in water or broth for at least 1-1/2 hours.

Flowers: The flowers should be picked after the dew has dried and before the evening dampness. Flowers should be dried as quickly and as soon as possible after picking. Discard any damaged or brown leaves. Place in trays without overlapping. Drying times will vary depending upon size and type of flower. Dry for approximately 2 to 36 hours.

Herbs: Rinse and shake off excess water. Pat dry. Remove dead or discolored leaves. If using seed, pick when pods have changed color. You should leave herbs on the stem and remove when drying has been completed. Spread herbs loosely on tray. Drying times will vary according to size and type. Dry for approximately 2 to 6 hours.

Nuts: Shell and rinse with hot water. Spread in a single layer onto trays. Allow nuts to cool before storing. Nuts contain a lot of oil and the oil could cause the nuts to become rancid, so you should freeze them to guarantee freshness. When ready to use the nuts, bring them to room temperature. Dry for approximately 18 to 26 hours.

There are several ways of rehydrating or replacing moisture in dried food. Do not add seasonings, especially salt or sugar, before or during this process because they may change the flavor of the food and slow the process. You may add them afterwards.

– As a general rule, the quantity of liquid is 1 cup for each cup of dehydrated food. (Liquids can be water, fruit or vegetable juices, or broth.)

– For stewed fruits, add 2 cups of water for each cup of dehydrated food and simmer until tender.

– Fruits and vegetables can be soaked in cold water for 2 to 6 hours in the refrigerator. (Room temperature can create an environment for harmful bacteria to grow.)

– Fruits and vegetables can be immersed in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes or until desired consistency.

– Foods like dried meats can be rehydrated while cooking in stews and soups.

– Steaming will prevent the loss of nutrients. Place the dried food in a steaming basket over boiling water and allow between 5 to 35 minutes depending on the size of pieces.

– Microwaving is fast and efficient. Place 1 cup of dried food in a microwavable dish with 2 cups of liquid. Place lid on top, allowing some air to enter and microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Remove and check for doneness. Repeat process for 2 minutes each time until desired consistency is reached.

Your SUNBEAM® Food Dehydrator comes with a Fruit Roll-Up Sheet. This is to be used to dry all your “leathers”.

Preparing Fruit:

– Choose any fresh, ripe fruit.

– Wash, remove stems, pits or seeds and peel and cut out any bruised sections.

– Purée in a blender or food processor until very smooth.

– Sweeten to taste by adding honey, fruit juice concentrate or corn syrup. DO NOT USE SUGAR AS IT WILL CRYSTALLIZE THE PURÉE.

Preparing Vegetables:

– Wash, peel, steam blanch, chop and purée until smooth.

– Add water as needed to make it blend easier.

– Add spices to taste before drying.

Making a Leather:

– The desired consistency of the purée that works best for leathers is that of applesauce.

– The amount of pectin in any food being dried into a leather is of significance if you want the leather to maintain its body. If the pectin level is too low, it will crack while drying.

– Add approximately 1 tablespoon of powdered pectin per 1/2 cup of purée to thicken it, and the leather should easily hold together.

– Before spreading the purée onto the Fruit Roll-Up Sheet, spray it with a non-stick cooking spray, as this will allow for easier removal of the leather.

– Spread 1/2 cup of the purée onto the Fruit Roll-Up Sheet.

– Place the Roll-Up Sheet on the top tray of the dehydrator, with 4 empty trays stacked below.

Dry for approximately 5 to 15 hours or until it peels easily from the Sheet.

• Wait until food is cool before storing.

• Foods can be kept longer if stored in a cool, dry and dark place.

• Remove all the air you possibly can from the storage container and close tightly.

• Ideal storage temperature is 60°F or lower.

• Never store food directly in a metal container.

• Avoid containers that “breathe” or have a weak seal.

• Check the contents of your dehydrated food for moisture during the weeks following dehydration. If there is moisture inside, you should dehydrate the contents for a longer time.

• For best quality, dried fruits and vegetables should not be kept for more than 1 year, if kept in the refrigerator or freezer. Dehydrate your produce in the summer when it is at optimum freshness and replace it annually.

• Dried meats, game, poultry and fish should be stored for no more than 3 months if kept in the refrigerator, or 1 year if kept in the freezer.

Note: Vacuum sealing can help to extend storage life by several months, if food has been properly and thoroughly dried. Heat and light will cause food to deteriorate. Always keep food in a dry, cool and dark place.

For ultimate efficiency, 5 trays can be used at one time on the SUNBEAM KN-128E Food Dehydrator.

Yes, you can use only 1 tray with the SUNBEAM KN-128E, but you must stack the 4 other empty trays below it. All 5 trays must always be stacked for the unit to function correctly.

The Fruit Roll-up Sheet is used to make fruit, vegetable and other types of “leathers”. It is also used as a drip tray on the bottom tray for meat jerky.

No. The base does not come apart. Simply wipe the exterior surfaces to clean.

For legal purposes due to possible improper consumer use, we simply state indefinite time if dehydrated food is frozen; otherwise it all depends on the type of food dehydrated, climate, where stored, etc. The more humid, the shorter the time of storage.

The SUNBEAM KN-128E Food Dehydrator blows air from the bottom up (vertical airflow). This process may mix the flavors between trays if you are drying different foods at the same time.

The SUNBEAM KN-128E uses 250 watts.