Let’s talk about something we’ve all experienced—throwing away slimy spinach, wrinkled bell peppers, or something so moldy you can’t even identify it. We’ve all been there, and honestly, it’s frustrating (and expensive!).
But what if I told you there’s an easy way to extend the shelf life of your food for months instead of days?
Enter: dehydrating.
After years of trial and error, I’ve nailed down five dehydrated foods that give the biggest bang for your buck.
These are the ones that save me the most money, take up the least space, and make meal prep a breeze.
If you’re just getting started with dehydrating, these foods are a great place to start!
1. Potatoes
Potatoes are a pantry staple in my house, and dehydrating them means I always have a shelf-stable supply on hand. I prepare them three ways: shredded, sliced, and diced. Each serves a different purpose, and trust me, you’ll want all three in your kitchen!
- Shredded: Perfect for hash browns and breakfast casseroles.
- Sliced: Great for homemade scalloped potatoes.
- Diced: Ideal for soups and stews.
Money-Saving Tip: When potatoes go on sale for as low as $0.09 per pound, I stock up and dehydrate them. A single 5-pound bag gives me about 2 quarts of dehydrated potatoes. Compare that to store-bought dehydrated potatoes at $12 per quart, and you’re looking at serious savings!
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2. Cabbage
This one surprises a lot of people, but cabbage is a fantastic food to dehydrate! It’s incredibly versatile and rehydrates beautifully—especially when using boiling water.
- Use dehydrated cabbage in:
- Fried cabbage with bacon (one of our favorite side dishes!)
- Unstuffed cabbage casserole
- Soups and stews
Money-Saving Tip: Around St. Patrick’s Day, cabbage prices drop to as low as $0.39 per pound. I used to buy 20 pounds at a time to dehydrate! Considering pre-dried cabbage costs around $8 per ounce, making your own saves around $30 per batch.
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3. Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Frozen mixed vegetables are a dehydrating dream! They’re already blanched, chopped, and ready to go—just spread them out on dehydrator trays and let the machine do its thing.
- Best uses for dehydrated mixed veggies:
- Quick pot pie filling
- Easy rice pilaf (just toss into the rice cooker or Instant Pot!)
- Soup and stew add-ins
Money-Saving Tip: When frozen vegetables go on sale for less than $1 per bag, I buy in bulk. Dehydrating 20 bags at a time gives me a year’s supply of mixed veggies at a fraction of the cost of fancy freeze-dried versions, which can run $5–$20 per can.
4. Tomatoes (Tomato Powder)
Dehydrated tomato powder is a total game-changer! It takes up hardly any space and eliminates the need for all those little cans of tomato paste that always seem to go bad in the fridge.
Get our step-by-step tomato powder tutorial here.
- Just add water to make:
- Tomato paste (thick consistency)
- Tomato sauce (medium consistency)
- Tomato juice (thin consistency)
Money-Saving Tip: If you buy tomatoes for $1 per pound in peak season, 10 pounds will reduce down to a single pint of tomato powder. That same amount of commercial tomato powder would cost you around $20—meaning you save 50% by making your own.
5. Mirepoix (Onions, Carrots, and Celery Mix)
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Mirepoix is the foundation for so many soups and stews, but chopping fresh onions, carrots, and celery every time you need it is a hassle. Dehydrating this mix saves both time and money!
- Best uses for dehydrated mirepoix:
- Instant soup starter
- Quick rice pilaf
- Any recipe that calls for sautéed onions and veggies
Money-Saving Tip: When these veggies are in season, I dehydrate a quart of mirepoix blend for around $5. Compare that to store-bought versions at $15 for just 8 ounces, and the savings are massive!
If you’re just starting out with dehydrating, these five foods are the best place to begin. They’re incredibly versatile, easy to store, and can save you hundreds of dollars each year.
Plus, they’ll probably pay for your dehydrator within the first few months of use!
