Question from Jhaen
Hi Debra,
I’m amazed at how often I end up on your blog when I’m searching for answers about toxic chemicals. Thanks for what you do.
I just bought – and sold – an Excalibur dehydrator because of outgassing (it’s plastic). I suppose I thought the relatively low operating temps would not cause excessive outgassing, but it doesn’t take much for me. Fortunately I found someone to sell it to at my cost, since it was brand new.
Now I will be buying a stainless dehydrator (by TSM) – the housing is stainless. TSM offers the option of stainless steel or chrome shelving. The stainless shelving is considerably more expensive than the chrome (I have very limited financial resources at the moment). I’m wondering if you feel that chrome is safe as long as it doesn’t come in contact with the food. I would always have a screen and/or a sheet on top of the chrome shelf. I think I saw mention on your blog that chrome doesn’t outgas particularly – that is good news. But I’m concerned with toxic metal leeching into the food. I’m trying to get the metals out of my body – not put more in.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
~Jha’en
Debra’s Answer
My understanding is that you have to have contact with the food for the metals to get into it. It’s not like plastic that offgasses plasticizers into the air.
Hi – if I place fruit to dehydrate directly on stainless steel or chrome coated shelves, would either method leech metal into the fruit through the drying process? Thank you !
Either could. I suggest a sheet of unbleached parchment paper on the shelves then put the fruit on the parchment.