Easy sweet potato dog treats that are simple to make and cheaper than store-bought goodies. You can just bake or dehydrate the potatoes as a healthy treat for your dogs and they will absolutely love them. Simply slice the sweet potatoes and bake. That’s it!
The dehydrated sweet potato dog treats can be dried in the oven or a food dehydrator. Both options work great! The timing will vary depending on how thick the potatoes are cut and if you prefer softer or crunchier treats. When baking in the oven; start checking at the two-hour mark to see if theyre done, then every 15 minutes until they reach your desired crispness.
One or two sweet potatoes can easily be made at a time. I prefer to make two at once for easy clean-up, but I also have two large sweethearts who will gobble them up.[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Sweet potatoes should be pretreated before being dehydrated, otherwise, they will retain a raw “uncooked” taste when rehydrated. The most common way to pretreat vegetables is to blanch them for a few minutes, using either steam or boiling water.
How to cook sweet potatoes for dogs
Preheat the oven to 250˚ F, wash the sweet potatoes, and slice the potatoes at least ½ cm thick. Place the sweet potato rounds on a silicone mat or parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
Cook the sliced potatoes for 2½-3 hours, turning them halfway through. Check at the two-hour mark to see if theyre done, then every 15 minutes until they reach your desired crispness. Some dogs prefer them softer and some prefer them a little crisper.
How long to dehydrate sweet potatoes for dogs
These treats are just one ingredient and easy, but they do take a while in the oven and even longer in a food dehydrator. For the oven it will take 2 ½-3 hours, in a food dehydrator set at 135 F it will take about 6-7 hours. So they’re not quick, but besides slicing, it’s a hands-off recipe.
- I use a mandoline slicer for my potatoes so they are all the same thickness, but they can also be sliced with a knife. I use the medium setting for my mandoline, which cuts the potatoes ½ cm thick.
- Cut the potatoes width-wise for small pieces and length-wise for larger pieces. I also cook the little bites from the end of the sweet potato. The small pieces get crunchy and the big pieces will be softer.
- The time will vary on how thick the sweet potato slices are and your personal preference. Some dogs prefer a softer sweet potato and some prefer them crispier. Also if you slice them too thin they will cook faster and get too crispy, resulting in sweet potato chips. If they’re too thick the potatoes may be more rubbery or take longer to cook.
- For smaller dogs, the potatoes can be sliced into rounds. Larger dogs that want larger treats can be accommodated by slicing the potatoes lengthwise.
- I’ve read conflicting information about leaving sweet potato peels on for dogs, I’m not a vet so if you have concerns I suggest asking your veterinarian. I leave the skin on and my pups haven’t had any issues.
Dehydrating Sweet Potatoes for Long Term Storage ~ Homestead Corner
FAQ
Can you dehydrate raw sweet potato?
Do I need to cook potatoes before dehydrating?
Should potatoes be blanched before dehydrating?
Can you cure sweet potatoes in a dehydrator?
Should you rehydrate sweet potatoes before cooking?
Rehydrate them before cooking as you typically would with regular sweet potatoes. Dehydrating sweet potatoes is a very healthy alternative and delicious way of preserving this nutrient-packed vegetable for long-term storage while also opening up new culinary possibilities for cooking at home.
What is the best way to cook sweet potatoes for nutritional value?
Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying. However, boiling potatoes can lower their nutritional content like vitamin C and B vitamins if they are boiled without skin. Boiling them with skin can save nutrients that may lost in cooking water. Try to use minimal water like with steaming for maximum nutritional value.
Do sweet potato slices need to be dehydrated?
The sweet potato slices should be crispy and brittle when fully dehydrated. Once the sweet potato slices are completely dehydrated, remove them from the dehydrator and let them cool to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container. Store them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
How do you dehydrate sweet potatoes in a dehydrator?
I try to slice them as evenly as possible — about 1/4 inch thick. Any thicker and they take much longer to dehydrate completely. Then, on to the trays of my dehydrator, leaving just a bit of space between each slice. In my Excalibur dehydrator, sweet potatoes should be dried at 125°F / 52°C for 7-11 hours.