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 10 Dehydrating hamburger (Read 19337 times)
Carl_Rogers
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Dehydrating hamburger
Jul 7th, 2006 at 11:57pm
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Dehydrating hamburger is easy enough, I'm thinking, but I've got a question about rehydrating it. How much liquid? How long does it take? Is it worth doing?

Anyone have answers? I've never bothered but someone in our group wants to do it this year and I've been volunteered as the "resident expert". I need your help.
Thanks
  
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asmjock
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #1 - Jul 8th, 2006 at 2:12am
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I'm not sure how you want to use it...

I dehydrate precooked meats for most trips, including hamburger and turkeyburger. I suggest that you use the leanest stuff you can find, cook and season it, then pat it down (some people rinse with hot water) to get rid of as much fat as is possible, then dry it at a high heat (145F). If you dehydrate the stuff just before your trip and use it early into the trip, then the fat content is less of an issue. Even so, I have never had to throw any out...

I only use stuff like hamburger for adding to chili, or stew, or similar dishes. I don't expect to get "fryable" hamburger back by rehydration.

I start rehydration around lunch time (when I remember) by placing the stuff into plastic jars and adding just enough water to completely cover the meat. Later, several times during the day, I add a little more water and shake the jar to keep the stuff wet. By just adding only the water necessary each time you can end up with an end product that is very much like what you started out with (and not have water with meat floating in it).

Good luck!

-aj
  
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DentonDoc
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #2 - Jul 8th, 2006 at 2:19am
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Keep in mind that I dehydrate hamburger until it is about the consistency of Grape Nuts breakfast cereal.  And if you've had any experience with dehydrated chicken, you should estimate at least twice the amount of time to re-hydrate.

It doesn't take a lot of water to rehydrate hamburger, but it does take either a fair amount of time or some heat.  

Typically, I use dehydrated hamburger mixed with other ingredients.  For example, on my last trip I had beef and bean burritos.  The dehydrated hamburger was added to the dehydrated refried beans with only a little extra water added because of the hamburger.  However, I slow-simmered so the hamburger would have ample time to rehydrate.  You can shortcut the simmer time by placing the hamburger in water prior to adding other ingredients.  I'd let the hamburger set for at least 20 minutes (length soak time by as the actual cooking time is lessened) before moving on to other steps in the food prep cycle.  I'd recommend the minimum cook/soak time to be not less than 1 hour.

dd
  
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flpaddler
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #3 - Jul 8th, 2006 at 5:10am
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Carl_Rogers wrote on Jul 7th, 2006 at 11:57pm:
Dehydrating hamburger is easy enough, I'm thinking, but I've got a question about rehydrating it. How much liquid? How long does it take? Is it worth doing?

Anyone have answers? I've never bothered but someone in our group wants to do it this year and I've been volunteered as the "resident expert". I need your help.
Thanks


Here is a (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) that you maybe intrested in.

flp
« Last Edit: Jul 9th, 2006 at 4:46am by flpaddler »  
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Carl_Rogers
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #4 - Jul 9th, 2006 at 3:24am
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Thanks. I was figuring on just throwing it into boiling water while cooking, but it sounds like I need to give it more time than that. Thanks for the help.
  
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ToothFairy
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #5 - Jul 12th, 2006 at 1:12am
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I just use hot or boiling water to rehydrate my hamburger.  It only takes 15-20 minutes, not hours.  I dry my cooked and rinsed hamburger to the consistency of grape nuts also.  Kim
  
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dlk
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #6 - Aug 25th, 2006 at 4:55am
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The ground round that I dehydrated has a smell to it, not much but a little.  I don't think I'll use it.  I did what everyone suggested - cooked it thoroughly, rinsed it well with hot water & then dehydrated it to grape nuts consistency.  I was extra careful with cleanliness during the process.  Unfortunately all I have is one of those older dehydrators with just a heating coil and vents, no fan or thermostat.  Don't think I'll risk it Lips Sealed.

On a more positive note, the apples - bananas - lima beans - potatoes all have turned out great.  Next is broccoli and carrots Smiley.  

dlk
« Last Edit: Aug 26th, 2006 at 2:51am by dlk »  
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Beavers
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #7 - Aug 26th, 2006 at 2:05am
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dlk,

You might give your oven a try.

I used my oven to make beef jerky before I got my dehydrator.  Set the oven to the lowest temp and use a wooden spoon to prop the door open a couple of inches.
Should work for drying ground beef.
  
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butthead
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #8 - Aug 26th, 2006 at 2:55am
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Used my oven to do some burger and some Italian sausage [ground]. Cooked in a frypan till browned, rinsed with boiling water, into the oven on cookie sheets layered with paper towels. Set on warm I got 165 degrees, and it took about 6 hours, a little longer for the sausage. Grape Nut consistency when done. Rehydrated in about 30 min. in boiled water. Tasted GREAT in a spagehtti dinner and beef stroganoff!

butthead
  
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dlk
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Re: Dehydrating hamburger
Reply #9 - Aug 26th, 2006 at 4:16am
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SmileyMaybe I won't give up so soon.  I'll give the oven a try first.  I was counting on ground beef for the spaghetti dinner that's on the menu.

dlk
  
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