Dehydrated Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• At home: Mix all the ingredients together. Store in a tightly sealed container. Keeps for up to 4 months, keep away from heat and for best long term storage, store in your refrigerator. To use: Each serving is about 7 Tablespoons. To make s sauce combine 1 serving mix with ¼ cup water. You can cook up 4-ounces pasta, drain off all but ¼ cup water and mix the sauce in, adding a Tablespoon of oil if desired, for a homemade mac and cheese. Also use the powder in any number of recipes calling for 'cheese sauce powder' for a natural version (some commercial brands contain artificial dyes).

Steps:

• Spread the Cheddar in a thin, even layer on a microwave-safe plate lined with parchment. Microwave in 30-second intervals until the cheese has melted into a firm disc and the fat has rendered out, about 2 minutes.
• Allow the cheese disc to cool slightly, then peel from the parchment and place on a paper towel to cool completely. It will crisp as it cools.
• Once the cheese disc is completely cooled, break it into pieces. Pulse it in a food processor until finely and evenly ground, about 45 seconds. Add the cornstarch and pulse again just to incorporate.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Use to flavor popcorn, vegetables, noodles or anything else you would add cheese to!

Steps:

• 1. Hard Cheese Cut cheese into small pieces. The exact size of the pieces does not matter. They can be as wide or long as you choose. The smaller the pieces, the faster and evener they will dry. The thickness of the slices are important. The cheese slices should be no more than 1/4 inch thick. Thicker slices take too long to dry. Lay the cheese pieces directly on the rack in the food dehydrator. Leave space around each piece of cheese, so that they are not touching each other. Turn the dehydrator on. If the dehydrator has a temperature setting control, choose the lowest setting. Flip the cheese pieces over every three hours. If the food dehydrator does not have a fan, rearrange the trays every few hours. This provides more air flow for more even drying of the cheese pieces. To rearrange the trays, move the top tray to the bottom tray spot and move the other trays one spot up from where they previously were. Remove the cheese pieces from the dehydrator when the cheese is fully dry. Dry cheese appears even-toned in color and is a shade or two darker than fresh cheese. Store the dry cheese in an airtight package.
• 2. Soft Cheese Cover the food dehydrator trays with plastic wrap. You will have to cut a hole in the center of the plastic wrap to allow air flow through the center of the food dehydrator. Spread a thin layer of soft cheese over the plastic wrap covered tray. The layer should be no thicker than a 1/4 inch. Turn the dehydrator on. If the dehydrator has a temperature setting control, choose the lowest setting. Rearrange the trays every three hours if the food dehydrator does not have a fan. To rearrange the trays, move the top tray to the bottom tray spot and move the other trays one spot up from where they previously were. If the food dehydrator is equipped with a fan, it is not necessary to rearrange the trays. Check the cheese every three hours. The cheese is done dehydrating when it is dry to the touch. Remove the cheese from the dehydrator and store in an airtight package.

Steps:

• 1. Slice hard cheeses into thin pieces. The thinner the slices, the faster the cheese will dehydrate. Try to make each cheese slice the same thickness so that all of the pieces dehydrate at the same speed.
• 2. Place single layers of cheese slices in a food dehydrator. Leave room between the pieces of cheese so that none of the pieces are touching each other. If you want to dehydrate soft cheese, such as cottage cheese or ricotta, line the food dehydrator with a piece of wax paper or plastic wrap. Spread a thin layer of the soft cheese on top of the wax paper or plastic wrap.
• 3. Dry the cheese in the food dehydrator, turning the cheese over every few hours. When you turn the cheese, blot up any grease with a paper towel. Dry the cheese in the dehydrator until it is fully dry. When the cheese is dry it will have a hard texture and a darkened color. Make sure the cheese is completely dry in all spots before taking it out of the dehydrator
• 4. Set the dehydrated cheese slices on a plate and allow them to cool to room temperature.
• 5. Place the dehydrated cheese pieces in a food processor and process into a fine powder.
• 6. Store the powdered cheese in an airtight and watertight package, away from light.