Ronco Food Dehydrator, Yogurt Maker and Beef Jerky Machine review and price compare 2025- fishinghub

Brand	Ronco Inventions
Material	Plastic
Color	Black
Item Dimensions LxWxH	13.4 x 13.2 x 11.6 inches
Item Weight	1 Pounds

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Dehydrates foods for snacks, camping, hiking
Operates silently with convection air flow; no motorized fan
Includes five trays for drying fruits, vegetables, jerky
Fruit rollup trays and herb/flower screens sold separately
Makes yogurt in eight hours

Product Description

As Seen On TV, the deluxe 5-tray electric Ronco Food Dehydrator is also a yogurt maker and beef jerky machine. No fan or motor is used; instead silent, powerful convection airflow dehydrates food. Includes a food dehydrator recipe book. No. 1876. Made in USA. 10-1/2Hx12-3/4Wx12-3/4D".

Amazon.com

This Ronco dehydrator dries everything from fruits and vegetables to meats and seafood to flowers and herbs to flour-and-water dough for crafts. It makes beef jerky (and other jerkies) and, with the aid of a little unpasturized yogurt as a starter, it also makes yogurt. This 5-tray model is a medium-size convection-air dehydrator, as opposed to the 10- and 15-tray models that use motorized fans, and runs silently. It can take a day or two to dry apple slices, which may be longer than a motorized-fan unit. Up to five trays can be stacked on the base, and then the unit plugs into a wall socket. The included trays are 12-1/2 inches in diameter, the unit is 12-3/4 inches high, and instruction/recipe booklets come with it. For fruit rollups and dried herbs and flowers, special trays and screens can be ordered separately. --Fred Brack

Q:

I just got my dehydrator. It doesn't say how to make yogurt anywhere in the instruction book. How do I make it?

Answer: Officially I do not know but I might be able to help as I do make yogurt. Turn on your hydrator an insert a temperature probe. Let it warm up, say 15 minutes and check the probe. If it is between 95 and 100 degrees F, that is the target. Down to 90 or up to 105 should work. You can try moving the probe higher or lower in the stack to try to get the ideal location. If you get a good zone then make up a milk and yogurt bacteria mix in a covered container, ideally glass and let it 'cook' for 6-10 hours. Longer cooking is thicker yogurt, too long and you get a curdled effect. Good luck.

Answer: Copy and paste this link, then go to page 19.

Answer: Yogurt isn't an easy make in this machine. You would need to pre-make and put into smaller containers that fit on the shelves, or purchase the rubber trays that are also used for fruit leather. I would think there are easier ways to make yogurt using your stove top and oven. If you are not drying herbs, fruits and making jerky, this machine isn't for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5NltUQJn3Q

Answer: You would be doing a lot of rotating of the yogurt. Better another method where the heat can be more evenly distributed at one time.

Answer: im not sure

Q:

How many watts is this unit?

Answer: Prolly 100. I would not buy this. You'll be a lot happier with the Nesco. The Nesco pushes heat from the top making it a breeze to clean. This unit has the heating coils on the bottom and has no fan to help with cooking. Get the Nesco. It's the superior product.

Answer: 125 watts

Answer: It is 120 watts. Thank you

Answer: The box says 600 watts.

Answer: 125

Q:

how to clean the base of the dehydrator where the drippings end up

Answer: It is extra difficult to clean. I'd stay away from this model. The Nesco that dries from the top down is so much better and is a cinch to clean. http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-FD-80A-Square-Shaped-Dehydrator-Frustration-Free/dp/B0090WOCM6/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1430534704&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=Nesbco+dehydrater

Answer:

Answer: My best advice comes in two parts. One, carefully. A little soap and water on a paper towel, let it soak and then wipe off. This takes a while. Two, try not to do that again, at least that's my current working strategy. You can put foil or a dish in the lower tray under the dripping pieces until they dry enough to no longer drip. Then pull out the foil and finish. Good luck.

Answer: virtually impossible!

Q:

Some of my trays were melted /deformed. Where do I get replacement?

Answer: I have had these Ronco dehydrators for many years and never had anything like this happen. To replace them I would contact Ronco company. I always bought extra trays from them.

Answer: I have been lucky and found some trays/dehydrators in second hand/thrift stores.

Q:

How do you know how to set the temperature on this one?

Answer: Their is no temperature setting has a manufactured setting but you have to rotate the trays every two hours or so while cooking . cooks the old fashion slow process way 11/2 days . the jerky turned out very good afterwards

Answer: Sorry I am not sure and the one I had listed sold.

Q:

is there an insert so you can use 8oz jars to make yogurt? I don't see how any container can fit on a shelf under the lid to make yogurt.

Answer: I would buy the https://smile.amazon.com/Euro-Cuisine-YM80-Yogurt-Maker/dp/B000EX16RY/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1490989227&sr=1-4&keywords=yogurt+maker or the https://smile.amazon.com/Instant-IP-DUO80-Programmable-Electric-Pressure/dp/B01B1VC13K/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1490989293&sr=1-1&keywords=instant+pot to make yogurt. This Ronco isn't the best dehydrator. I like Nesco FD-80 American Harvest Square-Shaped Dehydrator for jerky.

Answer: Top rack only you have about 2.5 inches of room. I guess it depends on your jars. Also, the temperature is somewhat able to be regulated as you can add a pan of water on a lower rack, more water is less heat due to slow evaporation. I use 4 oz jars.

Q:

should i be concerned about toxicity from heating the plastic?

Answer: I don’t and this is my second one over a 25 yr span. So they have been around a long time. That’s just my thoughts on it. Enjoy.

Q:

I got this at goodwill. Do i need to oil the plates , because my chicken jerky stuck very badly. I actually threw in tray out.

Answer: Never tried drying chicken. I have dried apples, bananas, and ground beef for beef jerky.

Jeyne : Good price, but you get what you pay for

I am not unsatisfied with my dehydrator, but after several years of use the tray are starting to warp/melt. It dries things fairly quickly, and having a large garden (3/4 acre) I use it all year long.

The only thing I don't like is the uneveness of the drying. Not haveing a fan makes this a problem. The stuff on the inside of the tray dries quicker than the stuff along the rim, and things on the bottom tray can sometimes burn in 8 hours (while I am at work) since it gets much warmer near the bottom than the top. Most of the time I use an empty tray on the bottom to act as a spacer between the food and element, which helps.

If you are looking to dry a few things for snacks or camping this is a good starter model. But if you are perserving a harvest that you rely on for your winter food I would suggest looking for a higher end model with a fan and thermostatic control. which is what I am looking for now.

Mary Z : Ronco FD5 - bad trays

I received the dehydrator as a Christmas gift and loved it. However, after only one month of continuous use, the trays began to break. I love dehydrating foods and am going to purchase another but not the Ronco. I would have to purchase the trays at $2.00 each and since they seem to last only a month with continuous use, the replacement cost over time would exceed the cost of purchasing a new one.

Trixie : Good product

Love this dehydrator. Have 2 others by Ronco. Use them for making beef jerky. Have all 3 of them going at Christmas,
for presents. Don’t like the dehydrators with fans.

JTA : Make darn good jerky

The jerky is great but sorta messy and the dehyrator is rather large. If you have room, this is a good jerky maker. The directions are a little off and you will have to figure out the best recipe and cooking times, but it is fun to have and much cheaper than buying storebought... Great bargin for under $20.00

Coleman Supply Inc : 1st product review; durability not function

Well, got my unit last night and open it to find two of the five trays had shattered, presumably during shipment. I was surprised as the shipping box showed no signs of crush or other damage. I requested a replace ment and shall review the next units condition as well as, hopefully, its function.

Margaret Whitsitt : love the product

This is the best dehydrator have used -- I do lots of venison jerky and the slow cooking I get from this dehydrator is excellent --- I plan to do vegetables and fruit when in season - living in the country as I do will be able to save on storage space -- canning in jars takes up lots of space and freeze canning takes up freezer space - I hunt and fish and utilize a dehydrator lots.

Pat Brummett : Ronco Dehydrator - great purchase

The Ronco dehydrator was one of my greatest purchases. We live on 3 acres and have 11 fruit trees, plus we always have a garden. The dehydrator makes great dried fruit for making fried pies (which my husband loves). By the way, this was such a great purchase, I bought another one. Tomatoes are another delicacy, it brings out the sweetness in them; plus, I dry bell peppers and mushrooms for pizzas and soups. There are hundreds of uses for vegetables and fruits. Zucchini is great dried, all you do is hydrate it again, and you can use it to make zucchini bread. I do not do jerky because I do not like it; although, my 2 grown sons do but since their wives have a dehydrator, I assume they can make their own jerky. If you have not invested in a dehydrator, please do. They are inexpensive and you will by far recoup your investment the first month. I did.

Susan S. Humphrey : Great Service, great product

I received the dehydrator in great time, have spent so much time looking for one in the stores. Got it at a great price. Now I have enough snacks around for young kids as well as adults. Fruit comes out tasty. I have also done many green peppers, tomatoes, parsley, onions, and more from the garden. It is so simple and I have all I need stored away for use. Can't wait for the garden to produce again next year.

I highly recommend this for healthy minded people who love fresh seasonings in the cooking and want to give the kids (and adults) something to snack on that taste good and still has great favor.

Teebar : Ronco Beef Jerky Machine

We are very happy with the Ronco machine, great value for money.

We have been making jerky for many years, this does the job overnight and is as good as anything we have used before, from oven to motorised machines. We will purchase this product again in the future when we need to replace from overwork!! :-)

Stephanie Manley : Good inexpensive model to start with

I have used my Ronco Dehydrator for quite some time now. I honestly love the beef jerky that you can create. You can spice to your personal preference. This dehydrators like many others has trays that you need to manually rotate. So plan to do this when you are going to be around the house to rotate your trays. The heating element like another suggested isn't protected, so you want to be sure to keep that extra clean, especially when working with herbs that may tend to crackle apart. The trays can be a little tough to clean, but generally nothing that your average dishwasher can't handle.
I have also used my dehydrator to dry vegetables, and banana chips. All in all I think its a great price to see if you enjoy making dehydrated foods. I have not used this machine to make yogurt, but I think it would be a bit cumbersome to make yogurt in this. But a couple of round of beef jerky and you have more than paid for this machine!

Teebar : Ronco Beef Jerky Machine

We are very happy with the Ronco machine, great value for money.

We have been making jerky for many years, this does the job overnight and is as good as anything we have used before, from oven to motorised machines. We will purchase this product again in the future when we need to replace from overwork!! :-)

Gina M. Lazzaro : broken merchandise

i had to return the item, it was broken up in pieces when i got it

William Igarta : Beef Jerky at its best

Simple to use. Works well

Mary Z : Ronco FD5 - bad trays

I received the dehydrator as a Christmas gift and loved it. However, after only one month of continuous use, the trays began to break. I love dehydrating foods and am going to purchase another but not the Ronco. I would have to purchase the trays at $2.00 each and since they seem to last only a month with continuous use, the replacement cost over time would exceed the cost of purchasing a new one.

nmart : love this

I've had this now for a few years, use it all the time and love it. The only down side is the trays wear out over time. Depending on what you use (high acid type food) the trays become brittle. Overall, totally worth the price. Long lasting heating element.

Kemme Keen : great for the $$!

Some reviews refer to this machine as being less than perfect. However, I'm very pleased. It is a perfect price for a person just starting out. I can always purchase another one that has a fan, has "sheets" for certain types of dehydration, etc. I don't mind flipping the layers and rotating the meat. It's sort of like having a plain coffee maker that just brews the coffee--who wants that when you can be a barrista in your own home and have fun making coffee in a very involved and special way? I ENJOY being involved in the things necessary to use this machine. I think it adds to the fun of the whole concept of "making your own." I am recommending it to several friends!

Nerf Herder : Great tool for learning the ropes

So many people have written great reviews, so I won't parrot what is pretty unanimous here. Maybe a piece of advice for potential buyers that hasn't been covered:
This is a great product for the money, but if you have a larger family, eat jerky/dehydrated foods as a staple, or are impatient, I would recommend moving up to the 10-tray motorized fan version - the manual claims it will make jerky (and more of it) 400% faster. Even if it's only twice as fast, it's worth the price of admission to me.
Oh, and if you're a big jerky eater, get Mary Bell's book - it's full of great jerky marinade recipes. Seriously - people are trying to pay me for jerky instead of buying it in the store!

Blondie : Love it!

I am absolutely delighted with this product! I had been using my oven to dehydrate liver for dog treats. After I gave some to a friend she mentioned that her dog liked them so well she had purchased a dehydrator to make some herself. I shopped around a little and chose this one mainly just because Ron Popeil is so successful I figured he must be selling good stuff. This little unit made beautiful dehydrated liver in half the time it took in my oven. I can't wait for summer to try it with my home-grown herbs and flowers!

Joanna D. : Gardener's friend

If you garden and raise fruit of any kind, this is a useful device. It's also good if you have kids. Here's why:
You can take apples, peaches, strawberries or other fruits and make candy-like healthy snacks. It's a nice alternative to canning, which uses a lot of sugar. So you can preserve your crop rather easily. All you need to do is slice the peeled or unpeeled fruit. To prevent browning due to an enzymatic reaction, you can dip each slice into a solution of ascorbic acid (available at the pharmacy) or in lemon juice. You can also make yogurt in this, using the gentle heat as the incubator to keep the milk with yogurt starter warm in jars overnight.
The trays feel a bit flimsy; this is a lightweight device and it is a bit large. So you'll probably have to find a place to pack it away unless you have a lot of counter space and use it all the time.

Gerald Oleson : Wonderful machine...A+

I have used Ronco dehydrators for 10 years. For the fellow who had trouble with his beef jerky burning. The only thing I can thing of is that maybe he did not leave the top and bottom vents open...I have run tons of meat through the dehyrdrator and never had a bit of trouble....Try deer, moose, and bear jerky. Yumm.

Amazon Customer : Nice.

I've been careful not to overload this and therefore found it easy to clean.
There aren't too many instructions so you just have to putz around, but it's pretty intuitive.
Most remarkable feature is that it's really really quiet.

jollen j gibbs : Ronco won't stand behind their product

I have a Ronco food dehyerator that the heating element has gone on steroids & has melted 2 of the plastic trays. I called Ronco & unless I bought it directly thru them, they refused to do anything about their product. I was shocked and said "you mean you won't back up the product you made". Their response was "Unless you purchased it thru us directly, I won't be able to help you".

I own 7 dehydrators and until today would have reccomended the Ronco. I teach dehydration classes! My opinion of the company has just plumeted! This STINKS!

Coleman Supply Inc : 1st product review; durability not function

Well, got my unit last night and open it to find two of the five trays had shattered, presumably during shipment. I was surprised as the shipping box showed no signs of crush or other damage. I requested a replace ment and shall review the next units condition as well as, hopefully, its function.

Susan S. Humphrey : Great Service, great product

I received the dehydrator in great time, have spent so much time looking for one in the stores. Got it at a great price. Now I have enough snacks around for young kids as well as adults. Fruit comes out tasty. I have also done many green peppers, tomatoes, parsley, onions, and more from the garden. It is so simple and I have all I need stored away for use. Can't wait for the garden to produce again next year.

I highly recommend this for healthy minded people who love fresh seasonings in the cooking and want to give the kids (and adults) something to snack on that taste good and still has great favor.

Georgia : Terrible product

This is a terrible product. First time using it and two shelves melted and cracked. I compared it to my American Harvest dehydrator and the Ronco is made so cheaply. I am not happy at all with this product. It's like throwing away $40.00 on a pile of crap.
I do not recommend this to anyone.

msCalifornia : The Best Jerky

Four of these dehydrators have been making jerky for the past 15 years---the dehydrators are still running and several times a years they run 24/7 making beef jerky for friends, family and gifts. Occasionally I will drop a tray so must replace one or two. Wonderful machines!!!

J. Terborg : RONCO FOOD DEHYDRATOR

I just love Ronco Food Dehydrators for making beef jerky. I have three. I can't stand the dehyrators that have the fan!

William Igarta : Beef Jerky at its best

Simple to use. Works well

jollen j gibbs : Ronco won't stand behind their product

I have a Ronco food dehyerator that the heating element has gone on steroids & has melted 2 of the plastic trays. I called Ronco & unless I bought it directly thru them, they refused to do anything about their product. I was shocked and said "you mean you won't back up the product you made". Their response was "Unless you purchased it thru us directly, I won't be able to help you".

I own 7 dehydrators and until today would have reccomended the Ronco. I teach dehydration classes! My opinion of the company has just plumeted! This STINKS!

Blondie : Love it!

I am absolutely delighted with this product! I had been using my oven to dehydrate liver for dog treats. After I gave some to a friend she mentioned that her dog liked them so well she had purchased a dehydrator to make some herself. I shopped around a little and chose this one mainly just because Ron Popeil is so successful I figured he must be selling good stuff. This little unit made beautiful dehydrated liver in half the time it took in my oven. I can't wait for summer to try it with my home-grown herbs and flowers!

Molnar : Ronco Food Dehydrator, Yogurt Maker and Beef Jerky Machine

No blower. Very slow. I would recommend a dehydrator with a blower over this one. It works with heat only.

Ronco Food Dehydrator, Yogurt Maker and Beef Jerky Machine review and price compare 2025

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