Did you think I forgot to update my previous post? lol I wish it was that simple. No, I have been spending the last two days learning a few interesting facts regarding the dehydration of marshmallows... completely by accident.
First, my guessing for processing the marshmallows was way off. Waaaaay off! In trying to double check this error, a trip to a local DG was necessary to purchase more marshmallows. Instead of getting the store brand, they had Jet Puffed on sale. So, two bags were thrown into my cart with hopes of pinning a correct dehydrating time down. All internet info suggests dehydrating at 151 degrees. The Magic Mill has 149 or 159 degrees. I have been going with the closest at 149 degrees. Knowing this would throw off the time, the suggested time of 3 to 5 hours probably wasn't going to hold true for my minis. Which is fine. Interestingly enough, mine keep coming in at 9 to 10 hours. I wish I could tell you the second run confirmed my results to 9 or 10, but an interesting issue arose to keep me from pinpointing an exact time. Either way, my earlier guess was wrong. Although I can unequivocally say this, 9 to 10 hours works for my Magic Mill. Honestly, I would try another around, but my house is overfilled with these crunchy puff balls right now. lol
This brings me to my second discovery; A fine wine may get better with age... not so with a sugary marshmallow. My observant spidey senses were taking a brake during my shopping excursion. The sale was a "two for", and I grabbed two bags only looking at the top bag. Ugh! When I got home, the first bag had bouncy marshmallows. The second bag had sticky, going yellow marshmallows. In fairness to the DG, the best buy date was October of 2022, but I am here to attest... They were past their prime. I loaded the dehydrator anyways, after physically pulling most of the marshmallows apart in the second bag. The dehydrator was loaded with 20 ounces (2 bags). My time test was ruined by spot checking marshmallows from the bottom three shelves. The shelves which held the October marshmallows. Their decomposing state (I was soon to find out. Insert smacking of forehead.) threw off any possibility of dehydrating properly. At any rate, I kept extending the time, got tired (for real, it was after my bedtime... lol), and on the last round jumped 2 1/2 hours making the full dehydrating time 10 hours total. In the morning, I awakened to the process being complete... But now, let me show you the finished marshmallows...
Exhibit A: Look at the fresh marshmallows once finished. They literally burst with crunchy exploding flavor. Seriously, if you're on a diet, a few of these would calm any sugary craving. Look at their dusky yet puffy exterior... Dehydrated perfection!
Exhibit B: (Brace yourself) It was hard to get the right angle on these, but this is what the others turned out like. They had a glassy, wavy, bubbly exterior. I am assuming was caused by the sugar becoming more hydrated in the breaking down process. Am I picky about outward appearances? Absolutely not. The problem came when they were bit into. Slightly underdone crunchy turning into major teeth sticking chewy. Nasty! They tasted like old marshmallows. Not all of marshmallows on the three bottom trays were bad. Those handful of marshmallows in the bag which had still retained a soft powdery exterior were perfect. So please, learn from my purchase, watch the dates and make sure you shake the bags you buy. Loose, powdery dull, white marshmallows are the ones to dehydrate. Just because the date is within selling fresh doesn't mean the product is viable. It is a taste test you don't want to endure... Trust me! Blaaaah...
So, what have I learned from this experiment? First, my hubby thinks I am nuts after dehydrating so many marshmallows. Well, nothing new there! lol Second, marshmallows for sure take about 9 to 10 hours to dehydrate in a Magic Mill at 149 degrees. Third, a six shelve Magic Mill will hold 2 bags (20 ounces) of marshmallows easily using mesh underneath. And finally, the resulting dehydrated marshmallows can be vacuumed sealed in 7 pint jars... Well, more likely 7 1/2, but they were rolling everywhere, and I kept eating the stray ones! ;)
Onward to the 20 pounds of potatoes I just bought. :)
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