Blender or dehydrator?

[Leyla]

Hi, I'm new here and relatively new to the concept of raw foods, but my experience so far has been great. I have been learning about raw food diet and recipes for over a month now.

I would like to invest on appliances such as a high speed blender and a dehydrator.

My question is, if you can buy only one of these at the moment, which would you recommend to buy first, a blender or a dehydrator? I wonder what would give me more range as a beginner.

I already have an old Osterizer blender...

[Mamabird]

 First a Blender for those healthy green smoothies,  then Food processor for all kinds of veggies dishes and pate's, and last, a dehydrator for when you start getting more creative.

[Jason Littlewolf]

Blender and knife and chopping board and grater..thats all you need..then a dehydrator later...I have made amazing food without for a long time (I do lust after a dehydrator mind you..)..but you dont NEED one..:)

[Debbi Smyth]

If you can afford the vita mix is the best. Try and get 1 piece of equipment at a time. I had my vita mix before I went raw I got as a gift a juicer and now am in the process of looking fir a dehydrator

[katelynn courtemanche]

It really depends what you think that you will be using more. I do admit that the high speed blender is amazing; I have a vitamix, but a dehydrator is also great as well for making snacks, warming your food up. When I started my journey into raw foods my first purchase was the 9 tray excalibur dehydrator which is great! You can make all sorts of things and put it in the dehydrator at the same time. 

I would say the dehydrator first, just because when you're first walking into the raw food world, it is a great idea to have prepare snacks made in advance to avoid any temptation (plus its lower in cost)

Then I would suggest purchasing a high speed blender such as the vitamix. Considering that you already have a blender, I would wait a little bit longer. While the Vitamix is well worth the money, i would get the dehydrator first since you already have an appliance for blending. 

[Kati S]

Blender is definitely most important!

It's best not to eat dehydrated food too often, anyhow (obviously, its dehydrating); best to just use such foods as a treat (raw "junk food" if you will);

however, smoothies are DELICIOUS, and encourage fruit consumption - I ALWAYS  feel best when eating just fruit; loads of fruit! I start every morning off with a yummy smoothie - I just don't feel as good having had anything else!

In my opinion, a blender is the most important kitchen tool out there; dehydrators are just good for a fun treat once in a while. (;

Peace!

[Mary G]

I was in your shoes some time ago. I chose the Excalibur dehydrator and am very happy with it, but I also make smoothies daily and I wish I had spent my money on a Vitamix first. I suppose it depends on which appliance you will use the most first. After a year I was able to afford my Vitamix and I am very happy with it, too.  In my experience I use the dehydrator less than the Vitamix but it depends on what you'll use the most.