What to Dehydrate First (Beginner-Friendly Foods That Actually Work)

It’s kind of wild to say this out loud…

It’s been almost two years since I started dehydrating.

And what started as a “let me just try this” moment turned into something I now use all the time.

Not occasionally.
Not as a hobby.

But as part of how my kitchen actually works.

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It Started Simple (Like Everything Else)

I didn’t jump in with a plan.

No big system. No long-term strategy.

I just wanted to see if I could preserve a few things and not waste food.

That was it.

But once I saw how easy it was to:

• extend shelf life
• reduce waste
• and build a pantry that actually gets used

I was in.

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The Dehydrator That Changed Everything

I’ve been using the Cabela’s Pro Series 12-Tray Dehydrator for most of that time—and I love it.

Here’s why it works so well:

• Rear-mounted 1,100W heater → everything dries evenly (no tray swapping)
• 2,525 sq. in. of space → you can do big batches at once
• 12 trays (12 7/8″ x 15 1/8″) → plenty of room without feeling cramped
• Plastic trays → lightweight, easy to clean, no fuss

It’s not complicated.

It just works.

And that’s what you want when you’re doing this regularly.

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What Changed for Me

The biggest shift?

I stopped thinking in terms of:

“What can I make today?”

…and started thinking:

“What can I save for later?”

That’s a completely different mindset.

Now when I see:

• produce on sale
• leftovers that would normally get tossed
• herbs before they go bad

I don’t rush to use them.

I preserve them.

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What I Actually Use It For

This isn’t about making fancy snacks all the time.

It’s about practical, everyday things like:

• drying onions, garlic, and herbs
• making fruit snacks without preservatives
• prepping ingredients for pantry mixes
• building shelf-stable meal components

Things that make cooking easier later.

Not harder.

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It’s Not Just About Food Storage

Yes—dehydrating helps with:
✔ shelf life
✔ pantry building
✔ reducing waste

But it also does something else.

It gives you options.

And when life gets busy (which it always does), having options matters.

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The Part No One Talks About

Dehydrating slows you down—in a good way.

It’s not instant.
It’s not rushed.

You prep, you load the trays, and then you let time do the work.

And when it’s done?

You’ve got something that lasts.

Something you made once… that keeps working for you.

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So… What Should You Dehydrate First?

Let’s keep this simple.

Start with foods that are:
✔ easy
✔ forgiving
✔ things you’ll actually use

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🍎 Apples (Your First Easy Win)

Cheap, simple, hard to mess up.

Slice them, dry them, done.

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🍌 Bananas

Sweet, quick, and honestly addictive.

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🌿 Herbs

This is where you stop wasting money.

Dry them once—use them for months.

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🧅 Onions & Garlic

This is where your pantry starts working for you.

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💡 If You’re Thinking About Starting

You don’t need to go all in.

Start small.

Try:

• apples
• bananas
• herbs

See how it feels.

Because once it clicks?

It sticks.

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Two Years Later…

I don’t use my dehydrator every day.

But I use it enough that I can’t imagine my kitchen without it.

It’s part of how I prep.
Part of how I store.
Part of how I think about food.

And honestly?

That’s the goal.

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🏁 The Bottom Line

This didn’t start as a big plan.

It started as curiosity.

And now—almost two years later—it’s one of the most practical things I’ve added to my kitchen.

Not flashy.
Not complicated.

Just useful.