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How to make your own Dehydrated Sweet Potato dog chews!

12/22/2012

84 Comments

 
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Dehydrated sweet potato chews for dogs are the newest chew treat to hit the pet stores and they have become almost instantly popular among pet parents. These chews are healthy single ingredient treats that are a favourite among dogs. They are an excellent source of vitamins, antioxidants and beta-carotene.  Plus, they are super easy and inexpensive to make right at home!

Unfortunately these treats are quite expensive in pet stores. 680g of these delicious chewy treats can run a pet owner nearly $30, which is a bit ridiculous when you consider the cost of sweet potatoes at the grocery store. If convenience has you running back to the shelves at your local pet store, hold on a minute! Making these awesome chews is easier and MUCH less expensive then you think! You can buy a pound of sweet potato at the grocery store for $1 - $2 in most locations, which makes a good amount of sweet potato chews! The savings are HUGE! In comparison, a $30 bag of store brand sweet potato chews can end up costing you $5 or less if you decide to make them yourself at home.

I decided to make my own for the first time, so allow me to guide you through the process so that you can make your own as well!
The first step was to get a large sweet potato and wash it with some warm water, I also scrubbed it with a vegetable brush to get off any debris. At the same time, I turned my oven on to 170 degrees - the lowest setting my oven goes to. Once my potato was washed, I put it on my cutting board and got to work.

I sliced the sweet potato length-wise, approximately 1/4 of an inch thick. 1/4 of an inch to 1/2 an inch is ideal for these chews, since they shrink quite a bit when they lose their moisture.
Once they were cut into appropriate length and thickness, I set them up on a wire rack to be put inside the oven. If you don't have access to a wire rack, just put them on a cookie sheet with a bit of oil or cooking spray to keep them from sticking. If you use the cookie sheet method, you'll need to flip the potato slices over in approximately 3 hours.

If you have a dehydrator, use that! Since I don't have one, the oven works just as well. This is a great treat to make several batches at a time on a Sunday morning when you won't be needing the oven for awhile.
These treats should take approximately 6-8 hours to dehydrate. Check on them half way through at 3-4 hours to see their progress. They should be cool enough to pick up and feel. You want them to be dry and soft, cooking them for too long at too high of a temperature results in a crunchy snack as opposed to a soft, chewy treat.

They should shrink in size and look shriveled in appearance as they lose their moisture. Thinner pieces will be ready faster and thicker pieces may take a bit longer to dehydrate. The thicker, the better... a thick chewy treat will last longer!
Once they are done, approximately 6-8 hours later, take them out and set them on a wire rack or plate to cool down. Cool down time should be about one hour. Once they are cool, store them in a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container. To preserve them for longer store them in the refrigerator; The refrigerator will keep them at their best for approximately three weeks.
Freezing them will also prolong their "shelf life". Regardless, they keep very well for a few weeks. With these delicious snacks, that is probably more than enough time to get through them. They are a great chew to give your dog every single day!



Do-It-Yourself Sweet Potato Dog Chews


  1. Slice sweet potato length wise, approximately 1/4 -1/2 inch thick.
  2. Preheat oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit or lowest heat setting.
  3. Place slices on wire rack or greased cookie sheet.
  4. Turn slices over approximately 3-4 hours after putting them in the oven.
  5. Check them at 6-8 hours in, they should be done.
  6. Cool on wire rack or plate for one hour.
  7.  Store in Tupperware container, Ziploc bag - in refrigerator or freezer.
  8. Give one to your dog!



And the result...
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A very happy, satisfied dog!

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84 Comments
Katie Baird
1/15/2013 12:07:11 am

I love this idea, you inspired me, I just put a batch of two sweet potatoes in the oven for the dogs! I am very careful about what I have them eat and love wholesome healthy treats and foods for them.

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K9 Instinct link
1/15/2013 12:10:22 am

I am so glad that you are inspired by this, let me know how they turn out!

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Joanne Hanson link
2/11/2015 03:32:22 am

I do a low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat yogurt, chopped strawberries, mix in a few beef jerky small bites freeze in cupcake containers ice trays. You can also instead of strawberries use blueberries or bananas. My boys love them.

Ada
5/18/2018 06:21:35 am

We are going to try this out soon, I am so EXITED!!!

Rusty
1/20/2013 01:47:56 am

any ideas for pumpkin cubes or chews??

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K9 Instinct link
1/20/2013 02:28:18 am

My husband makes pumpkin cubes for our boy, he buys a whole pumpkin in the fall, cuts the inner flesh into cubes and freezes them. Hunter gets several cubes a week!

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Jennifer
6/6/2013 12:29:40 am

Do you cook the pumpkin cubes before freezing?

Tony
9/26/2013 06:43:42 am

Do you peel the pumpkin before freezing or do you just leave the skin on?

Marylin
1/3/2015 01:16:33 am

Love this idea as well as the above. just managed to try out today and they loved it. but i did it with carrots. had to tweak it a little cos i used baby carrots as they r very very sweet n my babies r a little fussy.. yes i'd like to know as Jenny below, did you cook the pumpkin before freezing em? thanks... God bless!!

Patricia
1/28/2015 11:15:40 am

Mix pure pumpkin, Greek low-fat no sugar yogurt, and peanut butter put in ice cube trays to freeze or use little Dixie cups like frosty paws. My guys love them especially in the heat of summer

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Marylin
1/28/2015 03:08:43 pm

awesome! thank you so much! will definitely try this out :)

Elsie
1/21/2013 12:22:49 am

Great idea, I have a batch in the oven right now.

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Lisa
2/18/2013 12:40:10 am

This is great. Thank you

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Reneè
2/18/2013 04:31:07 am

I can't wait to try making these, I know my boy will love them....I wonder if you could do the same with carrots.

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Alice Clark link
4/12/2014 10:52:54 am

I have never tried drying veggies but my dogs love raw carrots cut in smaller pieces. They also love any left over carrots or broccoli left from dinner.

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nancyBe!
2/25/2013 09:07:01 pm

you can dehydrate a lot of veggies and fruits that you dogs will LOVE as a snack instead of commercial sthuff! Fruits will turn brown but this does not hinder their eatability. IF you have a wood stove, you can put slices in pie tins, lightly cover with foil and dry away. It takes ~ 4 hrs for sweet potato chips and the heat is "Free". working on something for summer that does not require the oven...

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Tootsie Mouse Power!
11/4/2013 04:53:57 am

Great idea! I no longer live in the northeast nor do I have a wood stove, miss those, but this is a great idea for my friends who do.

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Josh
3/3/2013 11:36:23 am

Sweet! (Pun fully intended) I will have to try this. I will get "sweet" potatoes next time i'm in town.

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Kimberly
3/3/2013 11:44:27 am

Would you slice the same width (1/4 - 1/2") apart for much smaller dogs or would you maybe slice each slice in half... which do you think would work better? I have 2 little 10# dogs and I am thinking that one of the slices might be a bit much for them. What are your thoughts?

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Debra
5/10/2014 08:01:53 am

Yes, I would make them smaller for a small dog.

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kira
3/3/2013 12:08:50 pm

does the dehydrator take just as long as the oven? (still new at this)

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Rayvin link
11/28/2013 01:23:43 am

The dehydrator takes longer because it's a lower temperature but it's healthier cause it doesn't kill off add many nutrients. You could just put it in overnight.

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karen dodd
12/7/2013 07:25:45 am

I have a dehydrator but haven't used it much yet. My question -- is it okay to put raw sweet potatoes in the dehydrator or must they be cooked for best results? And what about chicken gizzards/hearts? (I usually bol the gizzards and then freeze - my dogs love them - and the water they are boiled in.)

Johnetta
12/16/2014 02:05:39 am

I just made my dogs sweet potato chips in the dehydrator. Depending on what kind of dehydrator you have (convection or not) they take about 8=12 hours,again I made chips .I have carrots chips dehydrating now. My 3 dogs love them and the chips are great for all sizes and ages (mine are 10-100lbs and 5-16 years of age)

Carol
1/5/2015 08:25:13 am

I throw the sweet potatoes in the dehydrator - works excellent and does not tie up the oven

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Debbie
5/5/2015 11:34:19 pm

I use a dehydrator when I make the sweet potatoes treats for my dog. this is how I do it and it only is in the dehydrator 3 hours max I wash and slice into quarters i par boil for approximately 5 minutes you don't want them to get soft but you don't put him in really hard pat dry them arrange them in your dehydrator and there you go about 3 hours later they're ready to go. my two big dogs love them I also make smaller treats for my chihuahua. I've also dehydrated pumpkin the same way as well as carrots sale of the raw carrots but the dehydrated ones are good too.

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Michele
3/3/2013 12:59:16 pm

You can do the same with chicken to make chicken jerky. Two breasts makes quiet a bit for a fraction of the cost of store bought but you have to cut it a lot thinner

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Art
7/2/2013 01:53:11 am

Make sure you cook the chicken for approximately 20 minutes at 200 degrees before dehydrating this will reduce the risk of salmonella bacteria being present in the chicken

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Asta
4/30/2017 07:15:13 am

Dehydrators running at or set at 160 degrees will kill salmonella. Check your unit's preset temp or crank that dial to 160.

Lisa link
3/3/2013 09:38:14 pm

What a great idea! Thanks for posting. With so many dog treat recalls lately it's nice to know there is a way to spoil our dogs without fear of tainted treats!

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linda
3/4/2013 02:04:40 am

Heck with the dog, he'll only eat meat. I'm going to make these for myself. Thank you!

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Johnetta
12/16/2014 02:07:08 am

My dogs don't like raw sweet potatoes or carrrots but love them dehydrated. (They think they're getting potato chips)

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Pat
5/2/2015 07:18:07 am

That's what I say, Linda! :-)

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fiona link
3/16/2013 11:46:43 pm

Hi Angel do you use farenhiet or celceus for the oven temperature as I only know

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fiona link
3/16/2013 11:49:16 pm

Sorry celcius

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Sherry Hazlett
3/24/2013 11:30:48 pm

Thank you! This is a fantastic idea!

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Kelly
3/30/2013 12:22:22 am

Since we lost a dog to acute renal failure due to jerky from China, I have been looking for healthy, inexpensive ways to give my 5 rescues treats. I just put a big batch in the dehydrater!

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Sandi Baker
3/31/2013 10:57:19 pm

I made these this weekend! Sweet Potatoes are hard to slice! I felt like I was trying to cut a brick!! On my 2nd batch, I put about 5 large ones in the microwave for 3 minutes and then sliced them. It was much easier to cut to the sizes you want. I cut several length wise, but I also cut several about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick and made sweet potato chips. I like the chips for a quick treat and then the longer ones for the chewies. :) All 4 of my dogs LOVE them!!

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David
10/31/2014 04:04:37 am

Difficult even in a sharp mandoline. A cleaver finally worked to slice them up. I spread liver pate on midway through drying -- just for something extra!

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Pat
5/2/2015 07:21:46 am

I bet you could ask your grocer to Slice them up at the deli counter if your store has one.

Nikki
4/4/2013 01:47:21 am

I made these at the weekend and can i just say wow. Jack is a fussy eater but when i gave him one these he went mad for it. After he finished he spent about another 30mins licking his lips. So cheap to make and he LOVES them. Thank you so much for all these nice healthy recipes you post.

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Tori
4/28/2013 05:35:18 am

I have cut grain out of my dogs diet so I have been making these for a bit now, to replace cookies. They love them ... I mean LOVE them, Worth the pain of cutting these tough buggers.

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Penny D. Lindsey
5/12/2013 04:11:03 am

I've been making these for awhile...my GSD loves them...I usually slice them thinner because she loves the crunch! I'm going to make a few thicker ones and see how she likes those. Thanks for the info.

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Holly
5/12/2013 05:20:37 am

A food dehydrator at Wal-mart is under $50.00. We use ours for game jerkey...and the dogs are in heaven. Never thought about veges. Im hitting the market for some large carrots and sweet taters. Tx.

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Rachelle
5/12/2013 07:01:03 am

Made some of these with my dehydrator, if you do them for about 6 hours they come out chewy, but I left them go all night, and they come out really crunchy and my 10 month old Pit and my 14 year old Pug LOVE them! Better than Milk Bone type treats!

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Eunice
6/5/2013 07:01:09 pm

Hi, we don't get yellow sweet potatoes here in South Africa, only white ones with pink skin, could I use butternut or pumpkin instead, we also don't get deer antlers but we do get cow hooves!

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Carolyn
6/28/2013 01:12:53 am

I used an electric meat slicer to make consistent thick slices. I put mine in the 250 F oven on a greased cookie sheet. Check after 3 hours.

I also make them and take them to my local animal shelter.

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Ljelgin
6/28/2013 03:24:43 am

I have made these for my pups in the dehydrator I cut the sweet potatoes in the thin strips. I have also made chicken jerk in the dehydrator. I have found several recipes for grain free dog cookies that I have made for my dogs.

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Sam foster
7/9/2013 06:20:42 pm

Hi I made these but they mostly turned out as burnt on the inside crunchy chew. I cooked on 170 degrees for 3 1/2 - 4 hours :(

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Tom link
7/19/2013 11:47:38 pm

been making them for years my pup loves them and now giving them away to friends for their pups, love all your stuff

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dexter
7/30/2013 07:26:28 pm

if i do not have a oven, can i bbq it slowly to let it dry ?

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Marilyn
9/10/2013 07:40:37 am

Anxious to try this, and I think I'll use coconut oil to coat the cookie sheet for added goodness ! thanks

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Divas Momma
11/5/2013 09:17:51 am

I make about 7 LARGE sweet potatoes for treats every month and my 2 LOVE them! Diva will literally drool when I pick up the bag!
I would rather know that what I'm feeding my "kids" is healthy and safe than wonder about the stuff we buy in the store! My 14 year old Pug got a sweet potatoe cake for his birthday dinner last week! Just took 1/2 of a sweet potatoe, boiled it, cooled and mixed it with a raw egg and his meat put it in a small loaf pan till it set. Then took it out of the pan and crumbled some of the dehydrated sweet potaoes on top. He LOVED it!

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Rachelle
11/5/2013 09:18:22 am

I make about 7 LARGE sweet potatoes for treats every month and my 2 LOVE them! Diva will literally drool when I pick up the bag!
I would rather know that what I'm feeding my "kids" is healthy and safe than wonder about the stuff we buy in the store! My 14 year old Pug got a sweet potatoe cake for his birthday dinner last week! Just took 1/2 of a sweet potatoe, boiled it, cooled and mixed it with a raw egg and his meat put it in a small loaf pan till it set. Then took it out of the pan and crumbled some of the dehydrated sweet potaoes on top. He LOVED it!

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Ginny
11/20/2013 03:12:10 pm

I've been making dehydrated treats for my dogs for almost 7 years now. My little girl got really sick from the chicken jerky from China and I've been preaching against them ever since then. I make mini turkey burgers, chicken jerky, beef jerky, sweet potatos, carrots, berries...lots of goodies and my kids LOVE them. I use a dehydrator not the oven. I have had much better results than my friends that have used their ovens. You can get one pretty cheap with a 30% off coupon at Kohl's. They usually put them on sale during the holidays.

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GeriR
11/25/2013 08:24:34 am

If you use a dehydrator they will come out very pliable if you boil them first. My guys don't seem to like them as much uncooked and just dehydrated. Great treat for any size dog.

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Asta
4/30/2017 07:20:27 am

Great tip, will try this! Tried to recreated chicken wrapped sweet potato sticks in my dehydrator ( I usually then dice them & use as a topper for a picky Sheltie), but they were a little stiff to dice.

Do you stop just short of fully cooking them (before they fall apart) or do you only par-boil them a few minutes?

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Cheryl Ann
11/30/2013 04:42:58 am

I'm making them for my dogs today. Can't wait to see how they love them tomorrow! And, yes, they ARE hard to slice!

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Tori
12/7/2013 03:15:58 am

I have been making these for my dogs for a while now. They love them ... My only tip is this ... buy a Mandolin slicer! They run about $25-30 at Bed Bath and Beyond and make slicing a breeze. One potato takes 30 seconds to slice and they come out even thickness (you can adjust thickness of slices) Oh side note ... My brother and sister in law both think these are great snacks =/

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Rebecca
1/4/2014 04:44:46 am

We just put a sweet potato in our dehydrator. I gave my husband one doggy bone shaped cookie cutter for Christmas. My plan may work because of this no fuss idea. I hope my pups love them!! I'm so sneaky aren't I? Buy him the cookie cutter, go in and make this recipe while I handed him my laptop he was reading treat recipes I had up on the screen! Sneaky for my Puppy Loves... all 150lbs of them, My sweet lap dogs at heart!

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Alicia
3/7/2014 01:18:33 am

My Kitchenaid oven has a dehydrater built on. Never had used it till last summer for peppers. My kids will love these. Thank you and for your other treat recipes. Mine don't get chews anymore since my fox terrier died from pancreatitis caused from a rawhide.

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Dave Britton
3/10/2014 07:43:51 am

I'm doing up a batch for my Beagle -- smeared with liver pate, both sides. For Beagles, it's pretty much all about smell.

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Phyllis Thomas
4/12/2014 11:05:06 am


can I make the sweet potatoes for my cats,they are both over 3yrs













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Suzzanne
4/16/2014 02:09:15 pm

I've been making these in my dehydrator for a few years now. Extremely inexpensive and so very healthy. I use a mandoline to slice them - so worth the cost. I also par boil them before I put them in the dehydrator - around 4 minutes just to get some of the starch out which if not done will discolor the treats. It's worth the extra step. I'm so happy to see so many others doing this for their dogs. No treats from China!!!!!!!

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Debra
5/10/2014 07:59:27 am

I have been making these treats for many years, and I use a hydrator.

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raine
10/3/2014 11:15:26 am

Have you done chicken feet in the dehydrator? Just wondering how many hours? Right now I'm at 5 but they are still moist inside

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MyBestFriendsToo
10/30/2014 12:41:12 pm

I made some sweet potatows & put them in a ziplock bag...they molded! do u have to refridgerate them?

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Debra
10/30/2014 12:58:13 pm

I keep mine in the fridge.

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Clinton Randall
12/17/2014 06:21:01 am

Great snack and soooo easy, I sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on them before they go in the oven my Greyhound just loves them, I do the same thing with Apple Slices too :-)

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Duane Goudy link
1/19/2015 07:02:25 am

Interesting. Love to learn.

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Anke
1/21/2015 06:53:20 am

They're great! The dogs love them and I do too

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Carol
4/28/2015 06:32:57 am

I just can't get those suckers sliced!

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Debra
4/28/2015 11:44:19 am

Carol,
I microwave the sweet potatoes for about 4-5 minutes. Then you can slice them.

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Asta
4/30/2017 07:23:19 am

Pro tip, thanks! Are they softer/ more pliable after dehydrating than unmicrowaved?

Holly
4/28/2015 11:56:29 am

Mine came out really crunchy rather than chewy but, they're still apparently very yummy! How long do they last in a baggie on the counter?

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Susan
4/29/2015 12:19:40 am

I make dog cookies out of oatmeal and suet - beef fat trimmings which is free from the supermarket. I start by 'rendering' the trimmings - cook gently in a medium oven, pouring off the fat as it gathers then chill in a basin with some water (the messy bits go to the bottom of the fat and top of the water so it can be scraped off) Cut the cold fat into sections and freeze. Cook the oatmeal with water and add a chunk of suet - I also add a small dash of Garlic powder (not salt) as the dogs like the smell! Put teaspoons of mixture on a cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake 350f for about an hour turning half way through. Cool on a rack. I can't tell you quatities, it's all by eye but our four dogs love them! One is gluten intolerant so most store treats are bad for him. It's worth the work to have a guaranteed 'go in the kennel' bribe!

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Rhonda
4/29/2015 10:18:15 am

Susan, Just so you know, garlic can be toxic for dogs!

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Bernice Massardo
4/29/2015 10:28:45 am

Great idea. When they are purchased in the store, they are very costly.

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Heide Taylor
5/5/2015 12:44:33 pm

Just put on my first batch of sweet potato chews, in my dehydrater. found hard to slice so went over to neighbour and he cut them for me. I'd love to start doing my own jerky as have only recently found out how bad some bought ones are in making our babies sick and mine just love jerky. Id love some recipes for the dehydrater. I've thrown out every doggie treat made in china. .

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Debra Gross
5/5/2015 01:02:22 pm

Heide,
I make my own jerky. You can buy the beef already cut into strips, but it's much cheaper just to by thin cuts of meat. I slice and pop it on the dehydrator for several hours. My guys love it!

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Brenda
10/4/2015 10:51:18 am

My dog loves a snack made by Vitalife that is a sweet potato wrapped with duck that is dehydrated. The sweet potato is about the size and shape of a baby carrot and the duck is wrapped around the length of it. Could I do a similar snack using thin chicken breast or thighs? Duck would be expensive to buy and I thought chicken would be a good substitute.

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Nancy Wilson
12/20/2016 07:15:12 am

I am in the process of making these in my dehydrator and am finding that they are taking a lot longer than the recipe states. They've been going at least 12 hours and the thicker ones aren't done yet. Any hints.

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David B
12/20/2016 07:38:25 am

Patience. Beware of jacking up heat to speed drying -- can form a tough rind that actually prevents drying.

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Saramcinky
8/21/2018 08:52:52 am

A mandoline makes quick work of slicing raw potatoes into very uniform pieces. And if making jerky from raw meat, freeze the meat for 2-3 hours and it is so much easier to cut into thin planks. Obviously if using game meat you want to freeze for quite a while to kill off any parasites, etc. I make 100% chicken breast jerky, dehydrated gizzards, hearts, chicken livers, beef liver and tongue... as well as sweet potato chews, zucchini, yellow squash, pumpkin. Blanching the sliced vegetables prior to dehydrating creates an even better 'chew'. Such fun, so easy to load 9 trays and then vacuum seal all the goodies in combo packs and toss in the freezer.

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