I have a tip that I think is so good, I just had to pop in here, not on a Saturday, to tell you about it! I'll try to have my normal bits & pieces post tomorrow, don't worry.
I had done my first podcast on the subject of approaching possible shortages with a sense of peace and calm preparedness: The Reasonably Stocked Life. I can see, on social media, that this is a hot topic; but I haven't seen this one particular strategy and I am really excited about it and excited to share a simple tutorial with you.
Many people are aware that you can stock up on a lot of things by canning, freezing, smoking, salting, liming, freeze-drying, or dehydrating them, but there is one big obstacle to the essential item, the must have, the “that without which, nothing” of the well prepared pantry, and that is water.
Because of course, up until my discovery — more on that below — water is just water and does take up a lot of room. People put a lot of effort into its storage — keeping it sanitary and so on.
But I suddenly realized that with my little yard-sale dehydrator, I can overcome this problem!
I can dehydrate water and store it in jars that don't even have to be sealed (this is like maple syrup or honey — it just keeps on its own).
I have done a lot of experimentation, and I have found that if you start with ice, it can sit on the dehydrator's racks — unlike liquid water, which obviously would run right through them and probably damage your little machine, maybe even causing a short or something.
So my method is to place the ice on the racks, fire my trusty little dehydrator up (I did it at 130℉), and then, after about 18 hours (your time may vary, I find that these appliances work differently and even the different racks take various times), you can jar up your product and — yay! — put it right on your shelf in the pantry.
Then, when you need water in an emergency, there it is!
Isn't that a beautiful sight, all those jars there? Gives me a warm sense of preparedness and of security! I plan to do more this weekend! Do you think you would try this?
Just add water the way you would with any dehydrated product (try it with your fruits and veggies — they are like just-picked, really!) and voilà! It rehydrates beautifully and you are good to go with fresh H₂O!
I hope this tutorial has helped you, and I wish you a very fun April Fool Day!! MWAH!
Angela says
I finally made it here ON April Fool’s. God’s gift of creativity is very pronounced in you. Thank you, Auntie Leila 🙂
Terri says
You never disappoint Auntie Leila! I was about half way through before I remembered the date.
Gabrielle Browne says
You know people are trying this as they read!!! Ha!
lp says
This honestly got me!!!! I was questioning it all the way through but my sleepy morning brain thought this akin to somehow preserving water. 🤦🏻♀️ Well done, Mrs. Lawler, well done!
Julie K Whitmore says
But you know , Leila, if anyone could dehydrate water it’d be you.
Leila says
LOL 😘
houseofgraham says
I am embarrassed to say that it took until the picture of the empty jars for me to realise I’ve been played. I really wondered what does this dehydrated ‘product’ look like?!
MargoB says
Houseofgraham, don’t feel bad; I saw those jars and it told myself that that’s what it *would* look like and didn’t even catch on until Leila mentioned the date at the very bottom of her post.
You’re a crack shot, Leila! 😁😅😄
Lindsey Gallant says
Hahahahahaha…. I love April 1 on the blog!
Michele says
It’s the pictures for me — so helpful!!
Leila says
I’m glad because I worked hard on them. I hope you appreciate that the dehydrator is so clean LOL
Victoria says
Love it! Such a good laugh! 😀
Vera says
I only remembered the date when you said to just add water at the end! Thank you for keeping us laughing.
Molly says
Ha ha!! Should I wear leggings and a crop top while I dehydrate my water, also?? Important to look trendy while prepping!
Leila says
Brilliant, so on point!!
Catherine says
So clever to start with ice!
Leila says
I thought so too!
Judith says
Happy April Fools! Took me reading to the picture of the dehydrator box to remember the date!! I think this is one of your best! 🙂
Jennifer says
Lol! Good one!
Gwen M. says
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!This is the 2nd time I’ve fallen for your April fools jokes🤣😅You had me for a minute😅
Mrs. Bee says
People, this method really works – but I am so excited to be able to improve on Auntie Leila’s brilliant idea! If, like me, you have a kitchen stove with a Dehydrate function, you do not have to wait 18 hours!! In the oven, you can simply double the temperature Auntie Leila used and in 9 hours at 260 degrees you have that same amount of water stored up for when you need it! And if you do not have 9 hours, just fire up the oven at 500, and watch how quickly you can fill those jars with your dehydrated water!
Leila says
I need that kind of oven! But I just looked at my fridge and I see that *it* has that — you just have to press “reverse” to get it fired up!
Mary Ann Van Atta says
I am embarrassed to say it took me a minute as I tried to figure it out. I like to think my hesitation just speaks to my faith in your ingenuity which, even once I realized the date, didn’t disappoint!
Clara says
Lol 😆😆. Well done Auntie Leila!
Madison Zahaykevitz says
It’s even better if you just use a space heater to dehydrate your well. It fills up again quickly, and the dehydrated water takes up hardly any space at the top!
Leila says
ooh, great idea. We have town water so this didn’t occur to me, but maybe I could trudge up the hill to the water tower and see what I can do!
Danielle LajoieDanielle says
I love you and you get me every time! Even though, as I read, I thought this the craziest idea ever. Thank you!
Maurisa says
Oh my goodness! You got me! I had to
Bribe my boys with Sunday cinnamon rolls to not play any pranks on me today. I thought I was in the clear. 😂
Natasha says
Bahahahaha! 😄😂 You had me there for a minute, Auntie Leila! Till you put the ice cubes in the dehydrator… The empty jars were a nice touch. 🙃
Carla says
This is great! You got me. I’m so gullible though. My kids tell me this all the time. 😂😂
Lisa Beth W. says
Haha, when I got to the word dehydrator, I realized! I HAD been forgetting that it is April 1! Very clever.
James Anderson says
At first I thought that you had finally cracked up, but it was me as you had me going all the way to the bitter end.
Kelsey Joy Beason says
You get me every year!! Just after I finished fooling my kids, too!
mimiathereader says
I was beginning to think you had gone crazy! Then, I remebered the date.
Just a few hours ago I thought I had came out of this day unscathed. Not so much anymore… :’D
Kerry says
Love it!!!! I actually thought “wait, you can dehydrate water?!” Hahahaha
Cami says
I caught on quickly on this but still got a good laugh. You so effortlessly throw together a good tutorial, prank or not! Immediately after I read this, I proceeded to serve my 5 children peanut butter and pickle sandwiches as a little prank of my own. 😉
Teresa Praasterink says
As I was reading this I thought “You can’t dehydrate water; She has gone nuts. I may have to stop reading this blog and get BOOKS, which I love by the way.” Great joke and so glad you haven’t fallen off your rocker. God bless.
Leila says
Well, you never know… it could still happen 🤪
Juanita says
And if you’re really short on time and have extra cash, you can always purchase some on Amazon… seriously. 😄
julesfor5 says
I just love this. I will definitely be dehydrating my water too! My plan is to distill with a steam trap, kind of like moonshine, but waaaaay healthier.
Lisa G. says
I never trust you on April first!
Kelly H. says
The fact that you took time to photograph the steps….🤣
Leila says
THANK YOU FOR NOTICING LOL
P says
I joyfully anticipate the 4/1 post every year. So funny. My favorite is the the one on toast.
Carol C says
Hi Auntie Leila,
You did get me, but not the way you think. I thought, oh my gosh, Leila has lost it. I did think you were serious, seriously crazy. Then I realized the date you posted. Ha ha you had me worried.
Auntie Carol
Leila says
You weren’t the only one with that concern! But yes, the danger is ever-present…
Mignon says
This is one of your best ones yet! My favorite part of the post is at the end, “just add water.” Voila! Wait, wasn’t the whole point to prep for when there is no more water??? The “just add water” is totally awesome. And the photos of the ice cubes.
Nobody does April Fools’ Day blog posts better!!
Leila says
Well, I’m glad you liked that part, because I wasn’t sure how to extricate myself from this scenario LOL!