How I started dehydrating fruits and vegetables (and why I never want to do it any other way)

It’s funny how some things start without you really having a plan for them. My journey with dehydrating fruits and vegetables actually originated from something very simple: I wanted to waste less and eat healthier — for myself and my family.

What started as a small experiment with a cheap dehydrator eventually grew into something I work on daily. And yes, even into Mayns Kitchen.

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The moment I decided to start

I noticed that fruit was regularly left sitting in the fruit bowl. Apples that were getting just a bit too soft, bananas turning brown, vegetables in the fridge that wouldn’t make it to the end of the week… You might recognize this.

One day I thought: surely there is another way?

I looked for a way to make healthy products last longer without artificial additives. That’s when I turned to dehydrating. And honestly: I never expected it to be so much fun and so addictive.

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My very first attempt (with mixed success)

My first experiment was with zucchini and apple.
The apple turned out great — such a delicious, sweet scent throughout the house.
The zucchini… let’s just say that at the time I didn’t quite know exactly how thinly you need to slice it or how long it needed. But even those failed slices felt like a victory.

Because I thought: if I can improve this, I can do so much more.

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Then the urge took hold

I bought better natural and pesticide-free products, learned more about temperatures, slice thicknesses, and drying times. Every batch got a little better. And my children were my tasting panel. If they didn’t want it, I knew enough.

And soon enough they started asking for themselves:
“Do you have any of those dried strawberries left?”
“Can I have those crunchy carrots in my lunchbox?”

That really gave me a boost to keep going.

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From hobby to passion

At a certain point, my dehydrator was on almost every day. I started making mixes, testing combinations, and found more and more joy in the process. It felt calming and creative — as if you’re making something special with very simple means.

Besides that, I noticed:

• less waste

• more variety in our snacks

• healthier choices that happened naturally

• children who ate more vegetables without the fuss

That’s when the idea to do more with it started to grow.

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How Mayns Kitchen came to be

I really wanted to share my love for dried fruit and vegetables. Not as a “perfect parent,” but as someone who tried something small and noticed that it worked. And that others might benefit from it too.

I started making small batches, experimented further, and slowly the plan for my webshop took shape. Organic, pure, and dried with love — exactly how I do it at home.

Mayns Kitchen is essentially an extension of my own kitchen table.
A place where I show what is possible with simple, healthy ingredients.

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Why I never want to do it any other way

Dehydrating fruits and vegetables has truly changed things in my household.

It provides:

• healthy snacks without a struggle

• less food waste

• always something in the pantry

• children who eat more fruits and vegetables

• a sense of calm and control

And honestly: it’s just wonderful to do.

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In conclusion

What started for me as a curious experiment has grown into a passion — and a way of life. And the beauty is: everyone can do this. Whether you start dehydrating yourself or use dried products, it simply makes your life a bit easier and healthier.

👉 Curious about the mixes I’ve kept on making? Take a look around Maynskitchen.nl and discover the flavors where it all began.