ROMMELSBACHER DA 350 Food Dehydrator Instruction Manual

ROMMELSBACHER DA 350 Food Dehydrator

Product description

• Running time
• Temperature
• Heating symbol

For your safety

WARNING:
Read all safety instructions and directives!
Non-observance of the safety instructions and directives may cause electric shock, fire and/or serious injuries and burns!

General safety advices:

•  Always keep children under 8 years away from the product and the power cord.
• Children from the age of 8 must be supervised when cleaning or maintaining the appliance.
• Children from the age of 8 and persons not having the knowledge or experience in operating the appliance or having handicaps of physical, sensorial or mental nature must not operate the appliance without supervision or instruction by a person who is responsible for their safety.
• Never leave the appliance unattended during operation.
•  Children should be supervised in order to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.
• Keep away packing material such as foil bags out of the reach of children.
•  Do not operate this unit with an external timer or a separate tele control system (e.g. so called smart or remote plug sockets)
• Prior to each use, check the appliance and the attachments for soundness, it must not be operated if it has been dropped or shows visible damage. In these cases, the power supply must be disconnected and the appliance has to be checked by a specialist.
•  When laying the power cord, pay attention that no one will get entangled in or stumble over it in order to prevent that the appliance is pulled down accidentally.
•  Keep the power cord away from hot surfaces, sharp edges and mechanical stress. Check the power cord for damage, wear and tear on a regular basis. Damaged or entangled power cords increase the risk of electric shock.
•  This electrical appliance complies with the relevant safety standards. If the appliance or the power cord is damaged, unplug the appliance immediately. Repairs must only be executed by an authorised service center. Improper repair works can cause substantial danger for the user.
• Improper use and non-observance of the instruction manual void all warranty.
  Always disconnect the appliance from the power supply by pulling the plug. Never pull at the cord!

Safety instructions for operating the appliance

WARNING:
Hazard of injury and burns!

•  The surfaces of the appliance, drying racks and dried food become hot during operation!

• Hot surfaces are still hot after switching off!
  Thus, act with care!

•  For protection, we recommend the use of heat-resistant pot cloths when removing the drying racks!

• Never cover the fan and the lateral ventilation slots with aluminium foil or similar during operation! The air inlet and outlet must not be obstructed!

•  Do not place the unit on tablecloths, paper, newsprint or similar! These can be sucked in by the fan on the underside of the appliance and block the ventilation slots. The supply and exhaust air must not be obstructed!

•  Use the original drying racks only.

•  Appliance and accessories must have cooled completely before cleaning or moving them!

• Caution: Danger of fire! This appliance is not suitable for installation!

• Observe the following when setting up the appliance:

  •  Place the appliance on a stable, even and non-slip surface (no painted surfaces, no tablecloths, etc.) and do not operate the appliance near heat sources (stove, gas flame, etc.) or in a potentially explosive environment containing flammable liquids or gases!
  •  Leave a distance of at least 10 cm around the appliance and at least 60 cm upwards to avoid damage from heat or steam and to work unhindered!
  • Place it beyond children’s reach!
  • Make sure that there is no heat- or moisture-sensitive furniture above the appliance that could be damaged!
  •  Ensure that the heat or steam can escape unhindered!

• Do not operate or store the appliance outdoors or in damp rooms!

• Never immerse the appliance, mains cable or mains plug in water for cleaning!

• Do not use the appliance as a radiator!

ATTENTION:
For a permanent and safe switch-off, disconnect the power plug after each use!

Introduction

We are pleased that you have decided for this appliance and thank you for your confidence. The simple and easy handling and the various possibilities of use will surely inspire you. In order for you to enjoy this appliance for a long time, please read and observe the following information carefully. Keep these instructions safely. Hand out all documents when passing on the appliance to third parties. Thank you very much.
Intended use

The appliance is designed for drying food in the normal household setting (in the kitchen, at the table, in the office) and similar areas, like for example:

• in kitchens for employees in shops, offices and other small commercial areas,
•  by guests in hotels, motels bed and breakfasts and further similar living environments. Other uses or modifications of the appliance are not intended and may constitute considerable risks of accident. For damage arising from any improper use, the manufacturer does not assume liability. The appliance is not designed for commercial use.

Technical data

Only connect the appliance to an isolated ground receptacle installed according to regulations. The rated voltage must comply with the details on the rating label. Only connect to alternating current.
Nominal voltage: 220 – 240 V ~ 50 – 60 Hz
Nominal power:   320 – 380 W
Protection class:   II
Standby consumption: < 0,5 W
Dimensions: approx. 34 x 26 (max. 33) x 31 cm
Scope of supply

• Base unit
• 5 drying racks, adjustable in height
•  Lid
• 2 silicone moulds for muesli bars
  Check the scope of supply for completeness as well as the soundness of the product and all components immediately after unpacking

Prior to initial use

CAUTION:
Please remove any protective films, tapes, advertising and packaging material from the appliance and accessory parts!

•  Before first use, heat the appliance and all drying racks for 30 minutes at maximum temperature to remove any production odour.
• Please do not be disturbed by the short-term, slight and harmless development of smoke and odour.
• Ensure good ventilation in the room during this time. Avoid that the resulting odour move to other rooms.
•  After the appliance has cooled down, clean the surface with a damp cloth.
•  Please clean all removable accessories (drying racks, lid) in warm water with a little detergent.

How the appliance works

•  This appliance works quickly and effectively. The air flow drawn in from below is heated according to the set drying temperature. The warm airflow is evenly circulated by a fan inside the appliance. There it removes the moisture from the food.
•  Occasional relocation of the drying racks, e.g. halfway through the drying time, can improve the drying result. To do this, put the appliance in pause mode.
• The progress of the drying process can be easily checked thanks to the transparent drying racks. Depending on the type of food to be dried, the temperature can be adjusted if necessary, the drying process can be stopped earlier or can be extended if needed.

IMPORTANT:
The appliance is equipped with a fan which distributes the air evenly inside the appliance. After completion of the drying process, the fan continues to run for a short time depending on the set temperature/time. This is not a defect of the appliance!
Tips for success
For a perfect and even drying result, we recommend occasional relocation of the drying racks from top to bottom (e.g. halfway through the drying time). Activate the pause mode to do this.

Operating the appliance

The appliance is equipped with push buttons allowing an easy operation. By slightly touching the corresponding button, the respective function is activated and an acoustic signal is given.

Button ON/OFF for switching the appliance on and off. An acoustic signal sounds when the appliance is switched on. The standard setting appears in the display (10:00 h, 70 °C). If there is no further action within 60 seconds, the appliance automatically switches back to standby mode. You can stop the ongoing drying process at any time by pressing this button. This is indicated by a long acoustic signal.

Button TIME/TEMPERATURE for temperature and time selection of dehydration process. Pressing it once activates the runtime setting. This is indicated by the flashing time display. You can now set the desired runtime with the rotary knob in steps of 30 minutes. Pressing the button again switches to the temperature setting. The temperature display flashes. You can set the desired drying temperature in steps of 5 °C using the rotary knob. The maximum temperature is 75 °C. For less than the minimum temperature of 35 °C there is the setting FA, at which there is no heating, only the fan runs.

Button START/PAUSE to start and stop the drying process. When starting, two short acoustic signals sound and the heating symbol will appear in the display next to the temperature display. The runtime counts down. This is indicated by a flashing colon.

The ongoing drying process can be stopped by pressing the button again: A short acoustic signal sounds, the runtime stops, the colon stops flashing. The heating symbol flashes and the fan switches off after approx. 10 seconds.

To continue the drying process , press the button again. A short acoustic signal sounds, the colon flashes in the runtime display and the heating symbol lights up continuously. After the set runtime has ended, an acoustic signal sounds three times and the display End flashes for 3 minutes. Then the appliance automatically switches to standby mode, indicated by a long signal tone.

Adjust the height of drying racks

Depending on the size of foods to be dried, the levels of the appliance can be installed at two heights. To change the distance to the next floor, rotate a drying rack clockwise or counterclockwise (horizontally) by 180 degrees before placing it on the appliance or on the previous level. Make sure that the lettering on the handles on the drying rack is legible.
NOTE:
Make sure that the drying racks are correctly positioned! Incorrectly stacked drying racks are unstable and can fall! An optimal drying result is only guaranteed if the individual levels snap into one another!

General information on drying food

• Desiccation and drying are the oldest preservation methods known to man. Drying reduces the water contained in food to a minimum and thus removes the breeding ground for spoilage by microorganisms. Properly dried and packed food can be stored for years.
• The removal of water concentrates the aromatic substances. This is why dried foods are often very intensive in taste. Vitamins, nutrients and minerals are retained to a large extent. Sulphur and other preservatives can be avoided.
• Even if you are already preserving or freezing food, dehydrating brings an additional culinary enrichment to your kitchen.
• Drying in the sun is often a matter of luck. Drying in the oven often takes a very long time due to its relative closeness and insufficient air circulation and therefore leads to less satisfactory results.

Preparing the food for drying

• Place the appliance in a place where it does not disturb during the entire drying process (also observe the instructions for installation in this manual!). During the drying process, a pleasant, aromatic, fruity or spicy smell can spread, depending on the food to be dried.
• For safe and appetizing preservation, all foods should be washed thoroughly.
•  Only use perfect food or cut out damaged areas generously. Fruit should have its core and, if necessary, its shell removed.
•  Fruit should be well-ripened, but not overripe.
•  Pay attention to the respective pretreatment according to the table from page 27.
•  If the natural browning of the cut surfaces is to be avoided, the fruit can be briefly dissolved in a solution of a tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water. Then let it drip off on kitchen paper. Instead of lemon juice you can also use commercially available vitamin C.
•  The drying result becomes more even if you cut pieces of about the same size. Thin slices dry faster. Remember, however, that the pieces become much smaller when you dry them.
• The food to be dried should be filled or distributed as evenly as possible and only in a single layer.
•  Dry herbs very carefully! If the smell is too intense, the temperature level is too high. Remove the stalks from the herbs and chop them coarsely if necessary. Herbs with leaves can be loosened in between the drying process to avoid sticking together.
• Do not fill the drying racks too full so as not to disturb the air circulation.
  NOTE:
  For a perfect and even drying result, we recommend occasional relocation of the drying racks from top to bottom (e.g. halfway through the drying time). Activate the pause mode to do this.

Storage

Allow the dried food to cool well before packing. Clean and tightly sealable jars are the best containers for dried food. Film-sealed or vacuum-sealed portion packs are also recommended. For dried foods with residual moisture, we recommend storage in air-permeable linen bags or similar. Dried products can be stored for years at any room temperature, but better in dry, cool, dark rooms. It has its optimal taste in the following winter months and in early spring. As with other preserves, an occasional visual inspection is recommended. Labels with a contents description and date provide an overview and complete the enjoyment of your own valuable product
Using dried foods
Fruits can be eaten as snacks when dried, but can also be used as varied ingredients for countless recipes. If dried fruit is to be used in recipes in the same way as fresh fruit, it must be soaked to re-add the water removed during the drying process. Give a part of water to a part of fruit, e.g. 1 cup of water to 1 cup of dried fruit, in case of doubt a little less water. The swelling time should be about 4 hours (in case of doubt also less, otherwise the fruits become too soft). Of course, you can also work according to the recipes in cookbooks, which have a variety of ideas from country to country.
Here are a few ideas for the use of dried fruit:

• Fruit pie and other pastries, fruit cake, alternative to raisins, etc.
•  Compotes for waffles and pancakes, topping for sandwiches, desserts, apple sauce, etc.
•  Ingredients for meat and wild game dishes, chutneys, etc.
• Ingredients for muesli, pudding, yoghurt, whipped cream, ice cream, fruit salads, fruits in Armagnac, etc.
•  You can candy or glaze various fruits as you like. Bananas are perfect for milk drinks and as an ingredient in baby food if you grind the dried bananas into powder.
• Various fruits can be well refined with honey and nuts. You can also mix fresh fruits and dried fruits after soaking. Depending on the recipe, they can be left whole or chopped more or less finely.
•  Early plums are not suitable for drying due to a lack of fructose.
•  A special product from the Himalayas is fruit leather from various pureed fruits with the addition of honey, nuts and spices, dried to a tough condition and then cut into rectangular pieces. You can also fill the flat cakes, roll them up and cut them into slices.
  Vegetables
  usually have to be soaked before preparation. Add a part of cold or lukewarm water to a part of dried vegetables. Please never use more water than is needed for the dish. The soaked vegetables should also not have been left for a too long time before preparation. Soaked vegetables need about as long to cook as frozen vegetables. Soup vegetables, which have been dried relatively finely chopped, can be added directly to the cooking pot without soaking. For soup vegetables, sauce ingredients, salad dressings etc., the dried vegetables can be chopped to the desired grain size in the food processor. For baby food, cream soups, sauces etc. the grinding of dried vegetables is recommended. You should grind a maximum of a month’s supply, as grinding reduces the shelf life. After soaking, dried vegetables can also easily be prepared together with freshly harvested vegetables. Herbs are ground or crushed immediately before use. Make sure that no hard stems are contained. Mushrooms are soaked and used like fresh mushrooms. For soups and sauces a part of it can be added when ground. Paprika and hot peppers can be chopped or ground in the food processor and kept as a spice in an airtight glass.
  Here are some suggestions for the various possibilities using dried vegetables:
  Vegetable soup like Minestrone, stews, ratatouille, Irish stew, vegetable goulash, mushroom gou-lash, artichokes wrapped in dough and deep-fried, special herbal mixtures, herbal teas, herbal oils, celery salt, garlic salt.

Required drying times

The drying time depends considerably on the type, humidity, ripeness and thickness of the material to be dried, the humidity and temperature of the ambient air and the number of drying racks. The indicated drying times are therefore to be regarded as a guide only and may vary widely. If in doubt, choose a shorter drying time and carry out several sight and grip tests towards the end of this time. The prepared food should be dried immediately. The drying process should not be interrupted. Too long drying allows too many flavors to escape from herbs and similar aromatic goods. Fruits that are eaten as snacks without soaking (or as light, space-saving mountaineer’s provisions) should not be dried too much in order to be easily chewable and not too crumbly. The manual test is most reliable when the dried sample has cooled down. Dried vegetables should not become too tough, but rather crumbly and brittle. Onions and parsley become like paper.
Preparation of raw food
The raw food diet aims for a high proportion of unheated food. Drying in the lower temperature range is ideal for preserving, preparing and refining meals as part of this diet. In general, raw food preparation is defined below a maximum temperature of 42 °C. With the DA 350, a drying temperature of 35 °C to 40 °C is ideal in order to meet these requirements. The drying results differ from those listed here in the higher temperature range and the drying times must be significantly extended. Regular checking of the desired drying results is necessary and the drying time can be increased to up to 24 hours.
Please note:
With the following table we give recommended values which may differ considerably for the reasons already explained above.

thick).

Tip: If necessary, dip in a little lemon water to

prevent browning.

| 55 °C – 60 °C| 5 – 9 hours
Apricots| Wash and remove stones. Cut into 2 or 4 pieces. Place with the cut side facing upwards.| 55 °C – 60 °C| 20 – 24

hours

Bananas| Peel and slice (2 – 5 mm thick).

Tip: If necessary, dip in a little lemon water to prevent browning.

| 60 °C| 7 – 12 hours
Pears| Wash, peel and remove cores. Cut into slices or rings (3 – 7 mm thick).

Tip: If necessary, dip in a little lemon water to

prevent browning.

| 55 °C – 60 °C| 8 – 16 hours
Fruit leather| 400 g strawberries + 1 banana + icing sugar as required.

Remove the leaves from the strawberries, peel the banana, purée everything together with the sugar and spread on baking paper (the quantity

stated above is sufficient for 2 drying racks).

| 60 °C| 4 – 8 hours
---|---|---|---
Oranges| Wash and slice (5 – 10 mm).| 55 °C – 60 °C| 5 – 12 hours
Peaches| Wash and remove stones. Cut into 2 or 4 pieces. Place with the cut side facing upwards.| 60 °C – 65 °C| 8 – 20 hours
Plums| Wash and remove stones. Cut into 2 pieces. Place with the cut side facing upwards.| 60 °C – 65 °C| 8 – 20 hours
Grapes (seedless)| Wash and cut in half.| 55 °C – 60 °C| 8 – 20 hours
Vegetables| Pretreatment| Temperature| Time
---|---|---|---
Carrots| Peel and cut into sticks (approx. 5 – 7 mm thick) or slices (2 – 5 mm thick).| 55 °C – 60 °C| 4 – 10 hours
Mushrooms| Wash or clean. Cut into strips (approx. 5 – 10 mm thick).

Tip: for small pieces of mushrooms use the

additional drying grid.

| 50 °C – 60 °C| 4 – 10 hours
Celery| Wash and cut into slices or strips.| 50 °C – 60 °C| 4 – 10 hours
Soup vegetables| 2 parts carrots + 1 part celery + 1 part leek. Prepare vegetables (wash, peel if necessary) Grate carrots and celery coarsely, cut leek into slices (approx. 1 cm thick).| 60 °C| 8 – 16 hours
Tomatoes| Wash, remove seeds and cut into pieces (5 – 10 mm thick).| 50 °C| 4 – 8 hours
Courgettes| Wash, peel if necessary and cut into slices or strips.| 50 °C – 55 °C| 6 – 12 hours
Herbs| Pretreatment| Temperature| Time
---|---|---|---
Basil Stinging nettle Tarragon Marjoram Oregano Parsley Thyme| Wash, pat dry and chop if necessary.

Tip: For the herbs, use the drying grid additio- nally.

| 40 °C| 2 – 8 hours
Meat| Pretreatment| Temperature| Time
---|---|---|---
Beef Jerky| Cut lean meat into strips about 1 cm thick. Lea- ve to soak in a marinade for about 8 – 12 hours. Dab lightly before drying.

Our tip for a delicious marinade (for approx. 1 kg meat):

–  150 ml Worcester sauce

–  250 ml soy sauce

–  1/2 tsp salt (use smoked salt as alternative)

–  2 tsp pepper

–  3 tbsp ketchup

–  3 tsp rebelled oregano (optional)

–  Garlic to taste Mix all ingredients.

| 40 °C – 45 °C| 7 – 14 hours
VERY IMPORTANT

When handling raw meat, best possible hygienic precaution is required! This will avoid that germs (coliform bacteria, salmonella) can proliferate on the meat or marinade:

è Wash hands thoroughly first!

è Interrupt the cooling chain of the meat as short as possible.

è Cutting tools must be absolutely clean.

è All objects that got into contact with the meat (knifes, cutting boards etc.) must be cleaned thoroughly with boiling water afterwards!

è DO NOT touch raw meat with hands that show open wounds as bacteria might cause a serious infection!

Preparation of muesli bars

You can make your own muesli bars in the supplied silicone mould and enrich them with various components such as nuts, seeds, cereal flakes or dried fruits. The recipes serve as exemplary suggestions. Vary the ingredients according to your taste and creativity!
Fruit bars

100 g of dates (soaked overnight) 60 g of nuts

1/2 apple (peeled, grated)

|

•  Mix the dates in a blender to make puree.
• Add the nuts and chop them up.
• Mix in the grated apple
•   Press the mass firmly into the mould by using the back of a moistened spoon.
• Remove the bars after 4 hours drying process and let it dry for another 4 hours without the mould.

| 70 °C| 10 hours

(5 h with mould,

5 h without mould, directly on the

drying rack)

You can achieve particularly good results by adding coconut oil. Liquid ingredients such as honey, date or rice syrup are more suitable for sweetening than dry ingredients such as granulated sugar or xylitol. Store finished muesli bars in the refrigerator.

Muesli bars with coconut oil

100 g of fruit muesli 60 g of nuts

15 g of coconut oil 1 tbsp rice syrup

|

• Put the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix them with the melted coconut oil and rice syrup.
•   Use a spoon to spread the mixture over the moulds.
• Press the mass firmly into the mould by using the back of a moistened spoon.
•   Let cool down briefly after drying.
•   Let it harden in the refrigerator.
• Only then press the muesli bars out of the moulds.

| 70 °C

Fridge

| 4 hours drying

at least 1 hour in the fridge

Cleaning and maintenance

ATTENTION:
Risk of injury and burns! Always disconnect the mains plug before cleaning!
ATTENTION:
Risk of injury and burns! Do not immerse the appliance, mains cable or mains plug in water or clean them under running water!
ATTENTION:
Risk of injury and burns! Always let the appliance and accessory parts cool down completely before cleaning!

• Clean the inside and outside of the appliance with a damp cloth and wipe it dry.
•  Clean the drying racks and the silicone mould in hot water with a little detergent.
• All accessories and parts of the appliance must be completely clean and dry before using them again.
•  Do not use any abrasives or solvents!
•  Never use a steam cleaner to clean the appliance!
• Do not clean any parts of the appliance in the dishwasher!

Disposal/Recycling

Packaging material
Do not simply throw the packaging material away but recycle it. Deliver paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard to waste paper collection points. Also put plastic packaging material and foils into the specific collection containers. The printed or embossed markings indicate the materials which were used: PE stands for polyethylene (code 02 means high-density PE, 04 stands for low- density PE), PS stands for polystyrene and CPE for chlorinated polyethylene. PAP 20 means corrugated cardboard and PAP 21 other cardboard. All plastics are thermoplastics which are very easy and efficient to produce. They are also very easy to recycle and therefore can even have a smaller ecological footprint than comparable cardboard packaging.
NOTE:
It is not always possible or reasonable to avoid using plastic packaging. These often have great advantages compared to cardboard because less material has to be used which saves weight which in turn reduces CO2 consumption. The protective effect in case of impacts or shocks is usually better.
Disposal information
According to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (2012/19/EU), this product may not be disposed of with other household waste at the end of its service life. Therefore please submit it e.g. at a municipal collection point (e.g. recycling center) according to the laws of your country of residence for the recycling of electrical and electronic appliances. Your municipality or city administration will inform you about the disposal options.
Tip:
Give appliances that are no longer required but still functional to a charitable purpose (e.g. as a donation). This does not only improve the environmental balance and ensures more sustainability, but also testifies to a welcome social commitment. Rommelsbacher ElektroHausgeräte GmbH is a member of the German “ElektroAltgeräte Register” (EAR) foundation, which is responsible for ensuring that the German electrical and electronic equipment law is implemented. The foundation is entrusted by the German Federal Environment Agency with the task of ensuring that old appliances are properly recycled and negative effects on the environment are avoided. Better environmental compatibility through professional disposal and recycling of valuable resources is also part of the focus – this underlines our commitment for extensive sustainability.

References

• Startseite - ROMMELSBACHER ElektroHausgeräte GmbH

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