linda and guinness
Active Member
Does any here use a dehydrator for making their cat treats. If so, how do they turn out and what brand dehydrator do you use? Thanks in advance for your replies!
Dehydrator for chicken...
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beggargirl
Active Member
I want to know the answer to this too! 
squeem3
Very Active Member
This old post has a suggestion: http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/read.php?18,854069,854674
And these sort of recent threads:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?p=302830
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?p=216566
And http://www.felinediabetes.com/homemade-treats.htm
And this from a members-only section of the old FDMB. I copied it here:
Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 06:11PM
I recently purchased a Ronco dehydrator as I want to learn how to make treats for Snickers in it. (and well maybe beef jerky for hubby). I am slicing lean white chicken, and wondering could it be marinated in anything that would be safe for a diabetic cat? Should I just put the chicken in the dehydrator without any marinating? Can I use spices? Just not sure?
There's a heating coil on the bottom of this dehyrator, but from the looks of it.. no fan. Ronco brand $30 @ Target.
How long do I cook it for? 12-14 hours?
Re: Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 06:33PM
Your appliance should come with an instruction manual for various meats and veg.
DON'T marinate your meats in anything...cats don't need the extra salt/spices or garlic/onion etc. Plain meat is just fine.
I dehydrate lots, including cat treats (well, not for MY cats...picky brats!smiling smiley Other cats love them though!)
I have never used a Ronco, so check your booklet or online for timing, but the basics are to:
Slice the meat thin whether raw or cooked.
With raw, dry according to appliance directions til firm and free of moisture, but not hard or brittle (My brand takes 6-10 hours for thin chicken)
Place in single layer on a baking sheet and place in regular oven on 275 for about 25 minutes. Cool, then store in tightly sealed containers in the fridge until used.
For cooked chicken, drying time is shorter and it is not always stated that you need to add the extra oven heat, so again, check with your dehydrator manufacturer.
They can be stored in the freezer as well if you don't use them very fast and to prolong their life.
I love using my dehydrator...I swear it never stops running!
Re: Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Venita and The Boyz (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 06:57PM
Sadie. What brand do you use. Do you dry fruits/vegies/herbs with it. If so, how does that work out?
Re: Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 07:58PM
Ok, I have the thinly sliced chicken in the Ronco dehydrator.. and I can't wait until they are done!
I have some awesome recipes this past week on the web, and can't wait to try fruit, beef jerky etc. It also said on the web that you can put stale chips, crackers in to freshen them up! hmm? Have to try that!
I have 3 trays of chicken, so I am thinking I have use more time and rotate the trays. This dehydrator doesn't have a fan, just the coils. Most recipe sites say that the fan makes it cook/dehydrate faster, so I suppose this is the slow method.. but that's ok.
I'll post back as soon as they are done- maybe tomorrow morning?
Can't wait!!!
Trish
Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:03PM
I have a Nesco. I love it. The company makes several different "levels" of the dehydrator so you can get the basic, up to the larger, more powerful one meant for doing lots of work.
I have the big one but I have used the 'regular' one from them as well. Same performance.
With each one you have the option of ordering more trays plus fruit roll trays and herb screens as well. Worth the investment I think.
I dry just about everything I can get my hands on.
Apples, berries, herbs, cherries, fruit puree, fresh herbs, flowers, peppers, etc. etc. etc.
I even can make dehydrated soup mixes for camping, powdered gravy mix (no chemicals, yay!) and my own yogurt.
I even use it to fast dry my royal icing flowers for my work, and for melba toast/zwieback.
I have dried meats for cat/dog treats and made tons of different jerkys for my DH and friends, even from fish.
I love saving the chemicals that come in processed foods, and most of these store for a very long time, and can be refrigerated to prolong life.
I grow and dry all my own herbs and even make salt-free spice blends with dried onions/garlic and herbs.
Some of the fruits and veggies turn out differently than they would from store packages, usually because of the processed added sugar, so many come out more brittle or firm than what you may be used to.
There are ways to cure fruits and such to make them more "snack-like", softer and sweeter if you prefer as well. I do some each way so I can use the sugar-free for baking/cooking, and the sweetened softer ones for snacks/cereal/trail-mix.
Here is the link-
[www.nesco.com]
It really is fun, and I have actually lost weight using it rather than buying the chemical and sugar filled foods from stores, and it saves money in many (but not all cases). I really do keep it running all the time, and we eat up what I make very fast! I can't wait for berry season this year!!!
[color=#408040F]Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:06PM
Hope your kitties like the treats!
Wish mine would!
I have never used a Ronco product, and have only ever used a dehydrator with a fan.
Especially with poultry do be sure to give it the extra cure in the oven to @#$%& bacteria...very necessary safety precaution.
I have done cooked meats and then I use them later in soups and stews...great for the crockpot or slow cook.
I really could not live without mine!
Let us know how it goes![/color]
Re: Trish-
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:21PM
Hi Sadie, what do you mean by extra cure in the oven? Should I then bake them all in the oven after they are done in the dehydrator? Just asking as this is my very first time using this thing. lol.
please advise.
Thanks!
Trish
Re: Venita-
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:23PM
Wow I am totally impressed! I would love some recipes!! You sound like a dehydrator expert-
what dehydrated fruit would make "kids" favorite? ok- 'teens' favorite?
what other things have you dehydrated for your cats?
Thank you so much!
Trish
Re: Trish-
Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 11:15PM
Yup.
With Jerkys you will find that you have to add a few tablespoons of "cure" a salt and other additive mix that helps @#$%& bacteria soften and cure the meats. Naturally you would not want that for your kitties, so when you skip that step on any meat it is smartest to put them in the oven at about 275 for about half an hour after drying to @#$%& any lingering bacteria that may be there.
Also to then store them in the fridge for longer keeping (though they can sit out for awhile and be fine)
With most fruits and veggies it really is just 'slice and dry'. I toss things that brown easily (like apples) in lemon juice before drying to keep them whiter.
Kids love the "fruit-roll-ups" made from pureed fruit, and you can do those with just about any kind of fruit.
With any sliced fruits you can brush them with honey, or sprinkle them with sesame seeds or colored sugar to add kid appeal, or cut them in kid-friendly shapes.
Check out the site I gave above for good tips and tricks too, and if you google dehydrator recipes you get TONS.
If you want some of my personal faves, let me know, and I will PM them to you tomorrow afternoon.[/color]
And these sort of recent threads:
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?p=302830
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?p=216566
And http://www.felinediabetes.com/homemade-treats.htm
And this from a members-only section of the old FDMB. I copied it here:
Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 06:11PM
I recently purchased a Ronco dehydrator as I want to learn how to make treats for Snickers in it. (and well maybe beef jerky for hubby). I am slicing lean white chicken, and wondering could it be marinated in anything that would be safe for a diabetic cat? Should I just put the chicken in the dehydrator without any marinating? Can I use spices? Just not sure?
There's a heating coil on the bottom of this dehyrator, but from the looks of it.. no fan. Ronco brand $30 @ Target.
How long do I cook it for? 12-14 hours?
Re: Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 06:33PM
Your appliance should come with an instruction manual for various meats and veg.
DON'T marinate your meats in anything...cats don't need the extra salt/spices or garlic/onion etc. Plain meat is just fine.
I dehydrate lots, including cat treats (well, not for MY cats...picky brats!smiling smiley Other cats love them though!)
I have never used a Ronco, so check your booklet or online for timing, but the basics are to:
Slice the meat thin whether raw or cooked.
With raw, dry according to appliance directions til firm and free of moisture, but not hard or brittle (My brand takes 6-10 hours for thin chicken)
Place in single layer on a baking sheet and place in regular oven on 275 for about 25 minutes. Cool, then store in tightly sealed containers in the fridge until used.
For cooked chicken, drying time is shorter and it is not always stated that you need to add the extra oven heat, so again, check with your dehydrator manufacturer.
They can be stored in the freezer as well if you don't use them very fast and to prolong their life.
I love using my dehydrator...I swear it never stops running!
Re: Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Venita and The Boyz (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 06:57PM
Sadie. What brand do you use. Do you dry fruits/vegies/herbs with it. If so, how does that work out?
Re: Making cat treats in dehydrator question
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 07:58PM
Ok, I have the thinly sliced chicken in the Ronco dehydrator.. and I can't wait until they are done!
I have some awesome recipes this past week on the web, and can't wait to try fruit, beef jerky etc. It also said on the web that you can put stale chips, crackers in to freshen them up! hmm? Have to try that!
I have 3 trays of chicken, so I am thinking I have use more time and rotate the trays. This dehydrator doesn't have a fan, just the coils. Most recipe sites say that the fan makes it cook/dehydrate faster, so I suppose this is the slow method.. but that's ok.
I'll post back as soon as they are done- maybe tomorrow morning?
Can't wait!!!
Trish
Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:03PM
I have a Nesco. I love it. The company makes several different "levels" of the dehydrator so you can get the basic, up to the larger, more powerful one meant for doing lots of work.
I have the big one but I have used the 'regular' one from them as well. Same performance.
With each one you have the option of ordering more trays plus fruit roll trays and herb screens as well. Worth the investment I think.
I dry just about everything I can get my hands on.
Apples, berries, herbs, cherries, fruit puree, fresh herbs, flowers, peppers, etc. etc. etc.
I even can make dehydrated soup mixes for camping, powdered gravy mix (no chemicals, yay!) and my own yogurt.
I even use it to fast dry my royal icing flowers for my work, and for melba toast/zwieback.
I have dried meats for cat/dog treats and made tons of different jerkys for my DH and friends, even from fish.
I love saving the chemicals that come in processed foods, and most of these store for a very long time, and can be refrigerated to prolong life.
I grow and dry all my own herbs and even make salt-free spice blends with dried onions/garlic and herbs.
Some of the fruits and veggies turn out differently than they would from store packages, usually because of the processed added sugar, so many come out more brittle or firm than what you may be used to.
There are ways to cure fruits and such to make them more "snack-like", softer and sweeter if you prefer as well. I do some each way so I can use the sugar-free for baking/cooking, and the sweetened softer ones for snacks/cereal/trail-mix.
Here is the link-
[www.nesco.com]
It really is fun, and I have actually lost weight using it rather than buying the chemical and sugar filled foods from stores, and it saves money in many (but not all cases). I really do keep it running all the time, and we eat up what I make very fast! I can't wait for berry season this year!!!
[color=#408040F]Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:06PM
Hope your kitties like the treats!
Wish mine would!
I have never used a Ronco product, and have only ever used a dehydrator with a fan.
Especially with poultry do be sure to give it the extra cure in the oven to @#$%& bacteria...very necessary safety precaution.
I have done cooked meats and then I use them later in soups and stews...great for the crockpot or slow cook.
I really could not live without mine!
Let us know how it goes![/color]
Re: Trish-
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:21PM
Hi Sadie, what do you mean by extra cure in the oven? Should I then bake them all in the oven after they are done in the dehydrator? Just asking as this is my very first time using this thing. lol.
please advise.
Thanks!
Trish
Re: Venita-
Posted by: Trish & Snickers (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 10:23PM
Wow I am totally impressed! I would love some recipes!! You sound like a dehydrator expert-
what dehydrated fruit would make "kids" favorite? ok- 'teens' favorite?
what other things have you dehydrated for your cats?
Thank you so much!
Trish
Re: Trish-
Posted by: Sadie & Pixie(GA) (IP Logged)
Date: April 2, 2008 11:15PM
Yup.
With Jerkys you will find that you have to add a few tablespoons of "cure" a salt and other additive mix that helps @#$%& bacteria soften and cure the meats. Naturally you would not want that for your kitties, so when you skip that step on any meat it is smartest to put them in the oven at about 275 for about half an hour after drying to @#$%& any lingering bacteria that may be there.
Also to then store them in the fridge for longer keeping (though they can sit out for awhile and be fine)
With most fruits and veggies it really is just 'slice and dry'. I toss things that brown easily (like apples) in lemon juice before drying to keep them whiter.
Kids love the "fruit-roll-ups" made from pureed fruit, and you can do those with just about any kind of fruit.
With any sliced fruits you can brush them with honey, or sprinkle them with sesame seeds or colored sugar to add kid appeal, or cut them in kid-friendly shapes.
Check out the site I gave above for good tips and tricks too, and if you google dehydrator recipes you get TONS.
If you want some of my personal faves, let me know, and I will PM them to you tomorrow afternoon.[/color]
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