Nesco Snackmaster Encore Food dehydrator, Gray review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | NESCO |
| Material | Plastic |
| Color | Gray |
| Wattage | 500 watts |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 13.5 x 13.5 x 9.25 inches |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- 500 watts of drying power provides even heat distribution
- Adjustable temperature control (95°F - 160°F)
- (5) BPA Free trays with 0. 8 sq. ft. of drying area per tray - Expandable to 12 trays
- Proudly made in the USA of global and domestic components
- Includes (1) Jerky Gun with three tip attachments, (2) Fruit Roll Sheets, (2) Clean-A-Screens, (5) Jerky Seasoning & Cure samples, and a recipe & instruction book
This fits your .
From the manufacturer
Patented Converga-Flow system ensures even drying
The Best Food Dehydrators in the World.
NESCO/American Harvest has been the leader in food dehydrators for over 30 years! These units feature patented technologies that dry your food faster and more evenly than any of the competing models available, we know, because we've tried them all! Our Converge-a-Flow air flow assures even drying from top to bottom, without the tray rotation required by others.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced 'pro', making beef jerky, drying fruits, vegetables, herbs, or flowers, NESCO/American Harvest offers the best units available.
Nesco Snackmaster Express Dehydrator with Jerky Gun
Model FD-61WHC
Introducing the Snackmaster Express All-In-One Kit. It's sleek, contemporary design features 500 watts of drying power, and generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating fruits, vegetables, beef jerky, and venison jerky.
Helps dry food in hours, not days like ordinary food dehydrators. The top mounted fan eliminates the worry of liquids dripping into the the heating chamber!
It contains everything needed to dry all types of food including top mounted fan, 5 trays, 5 jerky spices and cures, a jerky gun with 3 tips, 2 Fruit Roll Sheets, 2 Clean-A-Screens, and a recipe book/care use guide.
- Patented Converga-Flow drying system
- No need to rotate trays
- Dries food in hours, not days
- 500 watts of drying power with top mounted fan
- Adjustable thermostat to dry foods at proper temperature
- Dishwasher safe (except powerhead)
product description
Product Packaging:Standard Packaging
The NESCO FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator is designed to be the ultimate kit for beginners or experts. Accessories include a jerky gun with three tip attachments, two fruit roll sheets, two clean-a-screens, five jerky seasoning & cure samples, and a recipe & instruction book. This dehydrator comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 12 trays so you can dry large quantities at once, with no tray rotation needed. Additional Add-A-Trays sold separately. The adjustable temperature control (95°F -160°F) gives you the flexibility to achieve the best results when drying different foods that need varying temperature settings. The quiet, powerful Converga-Flow fan forces heated air down the exterior pressurized chamber, then horizontally across each individual tray. The air flow then converges in the center for quick, consistent drying that is four times faster than other dehydrators. The top mounted fan eliminates liquids dripping into the heater chamber. The NESCO FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator is great for dehydrating fruit rollups, banana chips, apple chips, jerky, and other healthy snacks.
product details
important information
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Questions about Nesco Snackmaster Encore Food dehydrator, Gray
Q:
I find some models proclaim BPA free, and others do not. I am looking for a model that is BPA free. FD-61 Snackmasters Encore Food Dehydrator?
Answer: Is the nesco 1018 bpa free also
Answer: I just called the company and they said all the food contact surfaces are BPA Free.
Q:
what are the dimensions?
Answer: 13x11x13 inches. If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the item it has the dimensions and a bunch of other stuff that is helpful.
Answer: Rebecca O. The diameter (distance across) is 13 ½", the circumference (distance around) is 42 ½", the height depends on how many of the trays are used - with 5 trays the height is 10". I set it in a counter corner; therefore, it takes a square space of 13 ½" x 13 ½" of counter space. I hope that this helps to sufficiently answer your question.
Answer: The box is 13x13x11 and the dehydrator in the box in the side. I think while in use it is about 12" high and about 13" wide.
Answer: 13.5 in wide and 11 in tall. Each tray is 1.5 thick.
Answer: 12 inches in diameter, and 5 trays and about 9 inches high
Q:
Is this anodized aluminum ?
Answer: I find this question and the answers very humorous since the product comparisons list the material as aluminum. Should't Amazon remove the product for false advertisement then?
Answer: I dont think so? Its some type of plastic.....but will not melt or rust. Easy to clean with a small scrub brush, soap and water.
Answer: No it is not. It is made of a very hard plastic type of material. I like it and it works well for our family.
Answer: No it is plastic
Q:
what is the jerky gun?
Answer: The recipe book calls for ground beef to make the jerky. Once you mix it together you pack it in the gun and squeeze it. The ground beef comes out a slit in the end. It helps you get uniform pieces so you don't have some done and some not done.
Answer: It if for creating jerky out of ground beef or ground meat of any kind. You load it into the "gun" and you pull the handle and you can make round jerky lengths (like Slim Jims) or you can spread it on the rack in flat strips. It works just like you were using a caulk gun.
Answer: It works sort of like a cake decorator. It is used to extrude ground meat and seasoning on to the trays for making jerky. I use it for extruding fruit pulp for fruit leather when not filling the whole tray.
Answer: You pack your meat into it and it's squeezes it out into nice even stripes to dehydrate just like you buy at the store
Q:
I live now in Europe. Will it work here since it's 220volts?
Answer: You can buy a transformer that steps the 220V down to 110/120V (looks like a block with the standard European plug on one side and 110V outlet on the other side). Look in the electronics section/travel section of stores. These are pretty common and run around $20.
Answer: My guess would be no. It is marketed as 120v. 220 might burn out the motor.
Answer: I wouldn't think so. It isn't like a laptop, which has a power supply that can adapt for the different voltages. I think the motor would just burn up.
Q:
This is the only one that has 'ALUMINUM' listed as material but on the pictures it just looks like the plastic ones. Is it ALUMINUM?
Answer: No aluminum it is just plastic. Maybe part of the motor inside could be but I do not see any.
Answer: it is plastic, the only aluminum I see is the fan blade
Answer: No aluminun that I'm aware of. All trays are plastic, and lid.
Answer: Its plastic
Q:
Is there an adjustable thermostat? Is there automatic on/off timer?
Answer: yes on my FD-61WHC there a adjustable thermostat, but there is not a timer, 95 to 155 degrees F the unit is 500 watts and works great..
Answer: Yes there is an adjustable thermostat, 95 to 155 degrees F. the unit is 500 watts and its works great for beef jerky and veggies. There no auto timer
Answer: The temperature control is adjustable (~95-155 degrees). There is no auto shut off or timer on this dehydrator.
Answer: Yes, there is an adjustable thermostat. No, there is not an automatic on/off timer
Answer: There is an adjustable thermostat. It's a great machine and pretty much foolproof and NESCO is a reliable and helpful company. You won't need a timer for the drier, but if you wanted to you could just plug it in to one of those outlet timers you can buy at any hardware store.
Answer: No to the timer. Yes to the adjustable thermostat. I agree that it makes great jerky and is very easy to use and to clean. I liked it so well that I bought one for my son.
Answer: Yes you can adjust temps. It even tells you what temps to use for seeds, fruits, veggies, spices, jerky, etc. There is no on off timer though. I've never found a need for that.
Answer: Yes ther is a dial to control the temp. No there is not an automatic on/off timer.
Answer: There is no on/off automatic timer on this model. It still works great without it and is one less part to break.
Answer: And yes there is an adjustable thermostat. The machine is very easy to use and clean.
Q:
what is the average length of time for sweet potatoes
Answer: Are you looking to make sweet potato chips, or to dry them as flakes to rehydrate as mashed sweet potatoes later?
Q:
Has anyone dried chicken tenderloins? If so, how did they turn out? My vet recommends using chicken we as humans eat vs the chicken jerky for animals.
Answer: OHHH my little one loves them. I do this every week. I usually buy chicken breast, freeze it so it is easier to slice, then I slice it nice and thin, and use my dehydrator to make the jerky. He goes nuts for it and will actually wait by the machine till its done. Its great for drying liver for treats to!
Q:
can you dry nuts such as filberts in this unit?
Answer: I soak raw cashews for two hours and drain, then I place them in the dehydrator. It takes about 12 hours to dry them properly for the recipe I use to make kale chips. Google recipes will all say 12-24 hours, if I remember correctly.
Answer: Why would you "dry" nuts? Raw nuts are fine on their own. Or you can roast them on a pan with the door of the oven slightly open.
Answer: I've never dried nuts, but I don't see why you couldn't. It might take a while though, since thin slicing of most foods makes for timely dehydrating.
Q:
Up to how many trays can you use? I see it comes with 8, can you add more?
Answer: For 2 lbs of meat, I use 4 or 5 trays
Answer: Ours came with six trays then we ordered three extras online. I would also highly recommend ordering liners for the trays. You can add extra trays.... just number them and rotate them during the dehydrating process. We really have enjoyed our dehydrator! Good purchase!
Answer: Mine came with five trays and 2 screen liners. You can purchase extra trays and screen liners, and have a maximum of 12 trays at a time for this unit. (It also says to use a minimum of two trays.) I also highly recommend buying the extra screens. I love this dehydrator!
Answer: The most I ever used was 7 trays and it worked fine.
Answer: do the trays rotate out or do they have to be picked up to check different trays?
Answer: Yes! You can add as many as you like.
Q:
Does it come with seasoning mix
Answer: Yes, it comes with 3 packs seasoning and 3 packs of cure. You will need to order extra seasoning, you use 1 package seasoning and 1 package of cure for each 1 lb of meat. The machine is very nice, I also bought several addtional trays and all together made 3 lbs of jerky. The 93/7 ground beef works great!
Answer: Yes, Mine came with 6 packets of original seasoning, and 6 packets of cure. Tasted really good when I made it.
Answer: can i order extra liners
Answer: can't say for sure but I think it came with 4 packages. Maybe three.
Answer: YES IT DOES A SMALL AMOUNT .
Answer: Yes, it did.
Q:
Can you buy extra trays? Thank you.
Answer: I believe you can buy extra trays. I haven't looked them up myself, seems like somewhere I did see them. Sorry I couldn't be more specific. I do love my dehydrator. I make chicken jerky treats for my dogs.
Answer: Yes, of course! The unit comes with 5, and you cannot use less than 4 or the fan will burn out from the heat.. But you can purchase extra trays and use up to 8 I believe. It is a great unit, makes excellent dried fruit and beef jerky. I'm very happy with it.
Answer: Yes. Search for trays for your model # on Amazon.
Answer: Yes you can. Saw the option when I bought mine. Patricia's right, you can use up to 8 trays. Would take a little longer, have to rotate the ones on the bottom to the top, since the top dries faster (closer to the fan).
Answer: Definitely here on this site
Answer: Not really sure. It would seem like you could add more but I'm not really sure.
Q:
Can you make vegetarian jerky with this, with or without the gun (using TVP, tofu, seitan, etc.)?
Q:
My friend owns and recommended me a Nesco dehydrator rated at 700 watts. I see this one is 500 watts. Does this mean it'll take longer to dry food?
Answer: I dont know if it will take longer than a 700. I'm very happy with the dry time of mine. The average dry time is 8 hours, give or take for food types.
Answer: I'm not entirely sure, but I've filled all 5 trays with meat, and it only took about 3 hours for it all to dry. I've heard of people having to dry theirs for 10+ hours.The instructions said it would take 6 hours and the jerky was burnt.
Answer: It will probably take longer if you are dehydrating a large quantity of food or craft supplies at once, because this one is lower power. I'd check the guide which goes along with each dehydrator (you can google them) and see how long they think items will take. This one was plenty fast for my needs, and a good value for the price.
Q:
What is the highest temperature on FD-61WHC ?
Answer: 160 degrees
Answer: 160 degrees F
Q:
Has anyone made deer jerky and had good luck?
Answer: Yes. We have ground it up and also used strips of the deer sirloin. We used the prepackaged jerky mix, add garlic, soy sauce,Worcester sauce, pepper flakes to taste. It is very good and lean. Healthier than buying beef.
Answer: I myself don't know of anyone who has done that, but I can't see why it wouldn't turn out just as good as beef jerky.
Answer: Yes. I also have ground it up. Used the package mix and added a little hot sauce and it was great. Not as greasy as beef.
Answer: I have it was great!
Q:
How many watts?
Answer: 500 watts
Answer: 500 watts
Answer: 600. Works quickly for beef jerky. 3-5 hours.
Q:
trays are very hard to clean after making jerky, can you spray them with pam first
Answer: If you are using the tray liners with the small holes, stop doing it. We used those those liners once and found they are not needed and were tough to clean after jerky. We don't spray with anything, just soak for a while in hot soapy water and a quick wipe with a brush gets them squeaky clean.
Answer: After Using them to make jerky I try to soak them first then use an old tooth brush or bottle brush to clean them. Seems to work pretty well. Im not sure if I would add more fat(oil) to the tray before Drying. Also the Pam or anny vegetable oil when dried to something is very difficult to remove. Vincent Z.
Answer: I agree with Robert in using a light coat. I have not used any spray on mine and have not found them hard to clean. Hot soapy water and a dish cleaning brush are what I use.
Answer: Directly from the Nesco site, Helpful Hints page:
Answer: I have never experienced any difficulty cleaning the trays, regardless of what I have dehydrated so far. I use a bit of extra warm soapy water on a cloth, and they clean right up.
Answer: It isnt recommended.. I soak them in a sink full of hot water, Dawn dish soap and 1/4tsp diluted bleach (1 part bleach 6 parts water). I turn the trays in that so every part gets to soak. I keep the trays wet while washing them with a soapy non-abrasive sponge. The clean up is much easier this way.
Answer: Yes, you could spray the trays with Pam first.
Answer: These folks say yes: meatprocessingproducts.com/how-to-make-jerky.html
Answer: I spray mine with vegetable oil and it lasts for a few batches of jerky even after rinsing them.
Answer: Instructions say no. I would suggest good soaking in warm soapy water, more than just a few minutes. A brush might also help. Although I've not made jerky yet...
Q:
What is the difference between this 61whc and the 61?
Answer: fd61whc is All-In-One Kit with Jerky Gun
Q:
Are the trays the same as those used in nesco model fd 60 ?
Answer: I think so
Q:
Is there room in this to make yogurt?
Answer: I don't know. I think it might be possible but might take more than one tray! They come two to a pack!
Q:
What is in the box?
Answer: Read the description but I think all the things that are pictured here. My son received it as a gift but I know that the box included a lot of stuff. Reread the description on Amazon.
Answer: It comes with the base, five trays, the dehydrator head unit, the jerky gun and the tips, and instructions/recipes.
Answer: Everything in the pic
Q:
how many watts is it?
Answer: 510w
Q:
Did I cut strawberries too thin? Very difficult to peel them off! How do you slice strawberries and how long do you dry them
Answer: I would not slice thin and can use liner for the racks I think the time length was about 8- 10 hours on 135 temp. I want my the book recommendations if this helps also.
Answer: MICHAEL, i SLICED THE SMALL STRAWBERRIES IN HALF. THE LARGE ONES WERE CUT INTO THIRDS. YES, THE BERRIES WILL STICK IF THEY ARE SLICED THIN.
Q:
Does this have an on/off switch?
Answer: No it does not, but for a couple of bucks I bought in in-line switch at the hardware store and it took me about five minutes to install. Problem solved.
Answer: No, it does not. When you plug it in it turns on. When you unplug it, it turns off. You adjust the temp with the dial on top
Answer: No it does not. It has temperature setting knob but you have to unplug it to turn it off.
Answer: No, the only control on it is the temperature dial.
Answer: No... Once it's plugged in, it's running! It really doesn't cause a problem at all though, in my experience.
Q:
Could you make fish jerky, like with salmon?
Answer: I am sure you can. You just need the right recipe. I made everything from dehydrated pasta sauces, fruit leather, dehydrated chicken, sweet potato flakes, etc. It comes with a handy guide that has a section about fish. Here is info on their website too...
Answer: I've never tried fish jerky, but apparently you can make it. The NESCO booklet provides some tips, including the advice to use fresh fish. Salmon is not mentioned specifically.
Answer: Sorry we can't help you there. We have not yet tried the jerky equipment. We've only done fruit and mint. We love the heat settings that allow excellent drying of various things.
Answer: do not know never tried it, sorry could not help you.
Q:
is there any dehydrator that is stainless steel?
Answer: Yes, but they're much more expensive, and all the ones I've seen are front loading and thus not expandable. TSM has a 5-tray one for around $400. LEM has a 10-tray one about the same price. Unless you're using it for industrial purposes, I would stick with the plastic ones. This Nesco says it's BPA-Free, which is why I chose it, even though other manufacturer's *claim* the low temperatures mean BPA doesn't leach out even when they do use it.
Q:
Does this make dried fruit similar to that of freeze dried fruit?
Answer: I would say dried fruit is more like a prune or a raisin as opposed to being dehydrated, kind of chewy with some moisture and softness to it.
Q:
Can I use trays from my old dehydrator - model FD50/30 with this dehydrator? After many years of use, it died
Q:
se pude usar con 220 volts?
Answer: No, es para 120V
Answer: No es para110v
Q:
Does the jerky need refrigerated after you make it with this machine or is it shelf stable like what you purchase at the store?
Answer: Don't honestly know about open shelf life...we vacuum seal ours
Q:
What is the total amount of recommended trays? I have 6 or 7 now and wanted to add more
Answer: For this size of motor/space it is not recommended to go over 8 trays. Anything over 8 and the food does not dry well and can have wet spots or issues.
Answer: I believe the maximum number of trays for proper drying would be about 11 or 12, but this is perhaps a question better asked of the NESCO company itself. If you are willing to rotate the trays (not hard to do), the maximum would be higher.
Answer: RTFM (Read the Fine Manual): there you will find it says should use a minimum of two trays and can have a maximum of 12 trays.
Answer: You can stack as many trays as needed, but once you get over 5 or so it really starts to affect the drying time.
Q:
I'd love to make some dried veggies in this. Does anything come out crispy? (Think kale chips) Or is this best for just fruit and meat?
Answer: Yes. My kale chips come out super crispy if I leave them in for a little longer. Same for fruit but you need to slice it thin. I'm not sure about other veggies thou
Answer: can't see y any vege wouldn't work ,make sure you cook it long enough.let us all know how it comes out ekd
Answer: stuff can get dry and possibly crunchy but you could do most of kale in dehydrator and then put in oven to finish
Answer: Yes,
Q:
how long do the dehyraded foods last?
Answer: It depends very much on what food you have dehydrated, of course. I have a jar of apple slices that I dehydrated back in April - it's September 1 tomorrow - and they are in great shape and still tasty. Follow the directions and check to make sure your items are really "dry" and most of the time a little bit crispy. If you have already stopped the process I have found that you can put foods back into the dehydrator if you decide they aren't quite ready yet without any problems.
Answer: I googled the question, it said meats last up to three months, fruits and vegetables up to a year.
Answer: We only use the dehydrator for beef jerkey and it usually lasts two weeks.
Q:
What is the difference between this and the nesco model fd-75a (excluding the extras like the jerky gun)?
Answer: I do have but never try it yet don't know
Q:
Do you find having the jerky gun makes a big difference?
Answer: I don't know. We bought the dehydrator to make chicken jerky for our dog. My husband just uses 100% chicken tenders, he doesn't add any additives, preservatives or liquids to marinate it.
Answer: Yes, especially if you make healthy jerky. By removing all saturated fat from the meat.. Be healthy & creative add sea salt
Answer: Its good for marking the pieces the same size. Also good for making the jerky sticks.
Answer: We have never used the gun.
Q:
Is this unit noisy and does it generate heat if used indoors?
Answer: "Noisy" is a relative term. You can hear the fan, but I run it all night occasionally in the kitchen, and it doesn't affect my sleep. As for heat, yes, it does generate some heat. The trays are gently warm to the touch, but certainly don't put out a lot of heat in the room.
Answer: It's not very noisy--about the loudness of a portable fan set on low. I keep it in the living room on a table while I watch TV and it's fine. The heat is minimal. It does produce some, but not enough to really affect the temperature of a room.
Answer: I keep mine in the kitchen, which is open to my living room. It is not at all noisy. It produces a low, white noise, not even at the decibels of a bathroom ceiling fan - much lower sound. The walls of the counter around the unit do not get warm or if they do, it's not really noticeable.
Q:
What is the range of temperature that this dehydrator has?
Answer: Hello,
Answer: 95-160F
Q:
how much electricity does it use
Answer: Not as much as your bathroom lights. It is very efficient and quite fast. The other day I made some jerky and it took only about 4 hours.
Answer: It use 110 v
Q:
How much drying space
Answer: The FD-61WHC comes with 5 trays that are 13.5 inches in diameter, but can be expanded up to 12 trays (extra trays sold separately) for additional drying space.
Answer: You have 5 trays that are 13" diameter with a 2" empty circle in the center of each one. I've only used mine for making beef jerkey out of hamburger and it will hold 2 lbs of hamburger meat laid out in strips which results in several strips of great jerkey.
Answer: Have used mostly for jerky and my only rule is do not allow touching. The few times I have done fruit or vegetables the same rule would apply. As far as I can tell the Nesco Dehydrator provides good air flow / circulation and that is what I think is critical.
Answer: Doesn't appear to be an issue, with food touching at least mine does good. I fill all the trays with vegetables.
Q:
Can you use the included spice without the cure for the jerky?
Answer: My opinion is, that besides not lasting as long without the cure, the cure itself has salt in it, so the jerky may not be salty enough
Answer: You can cook the meat slices in a brine or marinade to an internal temp of 160 and then dehydrate or dehydrate and refrigerate. if you are storing at room temp, use cure. Botulism is bad news...
Answer: Using a cure is important if you are going for long term storage. Otherwise, there really is no need. I use my own marinade without a cure...jerky doesn't last long in our house.
Answer: The cure is to prevent bacterial growth during dehydrating. So there may be alternatives like salting, etc. The spice mix and cure don't necessarily need to be used together, spice just adds flavor, but you will want to research and make sure your cure-alternative is safe so you don't risk food poisoning.
Answer: Sure can, it just won't stay good for as long. No harm in not use the cure
Q:
Can you make bacon jerky in this.
Answer: I am not sure, I did smoke some ham and slice it thin and make jerky with it. This came out real good. If I was going to try it I would cook the bacon some first to render as much fat as possible. Also for long term storage keep it in the fridge or freezer. Thanks for the idea! I will have to try it now.
Answer: You could, although there is too much fat in bacon. Fat is what spoils the meat. The best jerky is made with the cuts of meat with the least fat marbling...the cheap cuts of meat actually make the best jerky.
Answer: we've only tried venison and beef
Q:
What comes in the box? How many fruit roll sheets and clean-a-screens? This answer seems to be from zero to a few. Thanks to all that answer.
Answer: Sorry for my slow response. Been away. :) I think that there is one fruit roll sheet and 2 clean-a-screens. I am not sure of your names for the items, but I receives one smooth tray with no holes and two trays that had holes, but were closer together, like a net. The drying trays have wider spaces. Hope I could help!
Answer: If I'm not mistaken, i got 2 fruit roll sheets and one flexy screen (currently away from home otherwise i'd check box). I guess the flexy is the clean-a-screen? I have used the dehydrator very successfully for a bumper tomato season (4 times - full drying screens) and I have made jerky once using sliced beef (not needing the gun). I use fruit roll sheet as a drip pan.
Answer: The description of it is what comes in the box.
Answer: I'm not sure what "clean a screen" means. I got 2 solid sheets and 2 tightly meshed screened sheets and 5 shelves that are somewhat loosely screened.
Answer: When I ordered this package deal I also ordered additional items, but, if I'm not mistaken two fruit roll sheets/liners were included. I simply love this little machine and when I see produce on sale I dehydrate the extra vegie's as soon as I get home - you will really appreciate having this machine around too! It's a good machine and price! Love it! :0)
Answer: The description says it comes with one of each, but mine came with two of each.
Answer: You're welcome and I can assure you that you will really enjoy using this machine.
Answer: One of each.
Q:
What is the voltage of this air dryer
Answer: This is run on 120 Volts
Q:
does this have a timer on it
Answer: No, it does not have a timer. You have to time things yourself. It's not a big problem, however, as I like to check periodically for readiness. Sometimes things are done long before the time on the recipe.
Answer: No. It doesn't have a timer. It varies so much as to how long it takes to dehydrate any particular type of food. I've used mine 4 times now, I realize that the 4-8 hour drying window can be much longer depending on how much I load the trays and how thick I slice the pieces. You really have to get to know it first. It is the fastest, easiest dehydrator I've ever used. I don't have to move trays around. I love it
Answer: No Linda it does not have a timer. That is one thing I have notices I would have liked.
Answer: No timer
Answer: No timer
Answer: I bought this updated version for a gift to my daughter-in-law because I love my old one. I don't believe it has a timer. I don't think a timer would be beneficial because if you cut slices too thick it could change the amount of time required. I have
Q:
what are Clean-A-Screens? do you use them with lets say apples or any fruit I should ask?
Answer: Yes you can. They are different than the the hard plastic round trays that have bigger openings. The screens are cool. They have small diamond shaped openings and are flexible.
Answer: A trays is what u place whatever you want to dehydrate
Answer: I truthfully don't know.
Q:
Where can I get replacement trays for Della dehydrator , the 9 tray blue trays ?
Answer: You can purchase them from the manufacturer.
Q:
Is this BPA free? TIA.
Answer: I just checked Nesco's website and it indicates that it is BPA compliant. Hope this helps. I am really enjoying mine and gave beef jerky away with our Christmas cookie plates we give to friends and neighbors every year. I plan to order two additional trays.
Answer: I have no idea. I'd check the Nesco website first. If the answer isn't there, call customer service. They're very helpful.
Answer: My best friend Google told me it was
Answer: Sorry, unsure. I would assume that it would be. I guess you could contact Nesco.
Q:
Any idea why this won’t ship out for over 2 weeks?
Answer: No essential things seem to be taking longer due to covid
Product reviews of Nesco Snackmaster Encore Food dehydrator, Gray
DJsGrl : I'm so happy with this dehydrator and it's a great deal!
I have to admit, this was a bit of an impulse purchase because I suddenly decided that making my own dried fruit and beef jerky was a great idea. After reading tons of reviews for different dehydrators, I went with this one because you got so many accessories included in the great price! So far, we've made dried apples with cinnamon, dried bananas and beef jerky. I made the jerky using ground beef and one of the seasoning packets included. Everything has been great! My family has loved everything I've made and I love the ease of using the dehydrator. Everything is easy to clean, easy to set up, easy to do. Making ground beef jerky is especially easy! The jerky gun works great and my jerky was done in about 4 hours. I'm very pleased with this purchase!
Jax : Shrinkydinks for adults!
Love it! We've been working ours nonstop this past month: jerky, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, onions, potato soup, tomatoes, herbs, onions, apples, oranges, banana chips, lemon, lime, fruit leather and more. We bought extra trays, tray guards and fruit trays as well. Works incredibly well, we ought this to make our own MREs for camping. We were able to convert 2 cases of cucumbers into chips in 3 days. Best dehydrator I have ever owned!
UPDATE: I really did love this dehydrator...until it melted down, destroying the entire unit, a batch of jerky and my kitchen wall due to the subsequent fire. Buyer beware
UPDATE: I really did love this dehydrator...until it melted down, destroying the entire unit, a batch of jerky and my kitchen wall due to the subsequent fire. Buyer beware
RandomSybil : It has been very easy to make healthy all natural dog treats instead of ...
This dehydrator stays out of the box and ready for use in our house. With a 13 year old chocolate lab and a neighborhood full of dog friends, we use this dehydrator for making lots of dog treats. We buy the bogo bags of chicken tenderloins and make jerky for the pups and lots of other flavor varieties of jerky using the extruder. It has been very easy to make healthy all natural dog treats instead of buying mystery ingredient products for our dog and his friends. I have recommended this product to friends and neighbors.
David Bohlen : Love it!
Love our dehydrator! We our beef jerky nuts and we have been making it for awhile. We decided to upgrade our dehydrator. This dehydrator is perfect! Easy to use, easy to clean. Anyone can do it! Everyone should try it! It will save you money if you are like us!
Vic : Easy peasy!
Having never done any dehydrating i choose an inexpensive way to get started. The packaging is easy, the shipping was fast, and the instructions are pretty clear.
What's missing is the time needed for each type of dehydrating. This is probably left out because there are to many variables for each item that can be dehydrated. Thickness and sizes of the pieces being the major variable. My advice, fruit takes a long time 10 hours or more and still ends up gummy...probably because i am a beginner but it does take longer than expected. Jerky can be done in 4 hours for a good result.
What's missing is the time needed for each type of dehydrating. This is probably left out because there are to many variables for each item that can be dehydrated. Thickness and sizes of the pieces being the major variable. My advice, fruit takes a long time 10 hours or more and still ends up gummy...probably because i am a beginner but it does take longer than expected. Jerky can be done in 4 hours for a good result.
David : Does not fit together very well.
This is a perfect example of going cheap on a dehydrator. Does not keep an even temp. because the trays DO NOT FIT TOGETHER. If you end up buying this product, it will end up in living on the shelf till you toss it.
Jess : Good quality at good price
It is quiet and very, very easy to use. I haven't made jerky yet but I have made tons of yummy Apple chips, banana chips, and grapes. The only reason why I didn't give 5 stars is that the dehydrating times in the guide book should be longer. If I would have removed the fruit at the suggested times they wouldn't have been done. I just 'eyeballed' and they turned out great.
Mad Jenny Vane : Excellent Way to Make Prep Food for Emergencies!
You will never buy beef jerky in a store ever again! I only use ground turkey when I make jerky, and it's perfect. Only lasts a few days in my house! Warning: it will make your house smell wonderful as long as the dehydrator's on. I have yet to dehydrate vegetables, but it works so well with jerky, that I'm sure it does wonders for everything else. Get the extender pack if you plan to make a lot of any 1 thing, as 1 pound of turkey can take up all five racks depending on which attachment you use (flat, round small or round large).
Luetac : Dries Apples & Pears like a Dream!
We have had this for 4 years.
Pros:
* It has a blower/fan that blows the warm air around, so you don't have to rotate trays.
*Does have a Temp. Control
*Everything dries pretty evenly
* The Plastic is a Quality Material. They have not cracked or broken.
* I put one of the "fruit roll-up" trays on the very bottom, as a Drip Tray for Easy Clean-Up
*Has Two Fruit Roll up Trays...I love making Fig Fruit Roll Ups!
*You can purchase an Expansion pack/ extra trays
Cons:
-No timer
-Does not automatically shut off
-wished it came with a couple more trays
-Wished it had a storage bag to keep all the trays and accessories from falling all over the place
I have never used the Beef Jerky Set.
I would definitely buy this again, or give it as a gift
Pros:
* It has a blower/fan that blows the warm air around, so you don't have to rotate trays.
*Does have a Temp. Control
*Everything dries pretty evenly
* The Plastic is a Quality Material. They have not cracked or broken.
* I put one of the "fruit roll-up" trays on the very bottom, as a Drip Tray for Easy Clean-Up
*Has Two Fruit Roll up Trays...I love making Fig Fruit Roll Ups!
*You can purchase an Expansion pack/ extra trays
Cons:
-No timer
-Does not automatically shut off
-wished it came with a couple more trays
-Wished it had a storage bag to keep all the trays and accessories from falling all over the place
I have never used the Beef Jerky Set.
I would definitely buy this again, or give it as a gift
Leslie : Great product
We use this to dehydrate garden veggies and it works great. We put the shelves in the dishwasher to clean them with no problems.
machine_punk : Wow! Who knew jerky could be this good?
I've only had this a couple of weeks, but the jerky you can make with this machine is absolutely amazing! I haven't had as good of luck with fruit leathers yet, but I didn't particularly follow any tried-and-true recipe, either.
This unit is well built. It is a bit annoying that they supply an 'odd' number of trays (5) with this unit. You can only buy add-on trays in units of 2, so you have to either max out at '11' trays, or buy an extra (it recommends you don't use more than 12 trays at one time).
I actually just went ahead and bought another dehydrator and a couple of extra trays (5 + 5 + 2 = 12). So, I can either max out one unit, or run both units at the same time for quicker results. I got the whole extra machine and two trays for the same price it would have cost to add 4 more sets of trays.
Anyway, I'm wondering why I waited so long to get a dehydrator. I love the jerky it makes and I cannot wait to figure out what else it can do.
This unit is well built. It is a bit annoying that they supply an 'odd' number of trays (5) with this unit. You can only buy add-on trays in units of 2, so you have to either max out at '11' trays, or buy an extra (it recommends you don't use more than 12 trays at one time).
I actually just went ahead and bought another dehydrator and a couple of extra trays (5 + 5 + 2 = 12). So, I can either max out one unit, or run both units at the same time for quicker results. I got the whole extra machine and two trays for the same price it would have cost to add 4 more sets of trays.
Anyway, I'm wondering why I waited so long to get a dehydrator. I love the jerky it makes and I cannot wait to figure out what else it can do.
DSL : Decent but two very basic things missing
Only had this for a day. Seems like a decent product for the price. However, I couldn't agree more with one reviewer who said it needs two things, both of which seem very basic. There is no switch to turn it on or off. Instead, you have to pull the plug. I never assumed a product wouldn't have a switch. Every decent electrical product in my house has a switch so this one seems to me like a glaring oversight. Think about having to unplug your blender or hair dryer to turn it off. Also, a timer would be most helpful. Assuming some people go to bed and to work and will be away form their drying food for a number of hours. Both of these shortcomings are likely $2 options for which I think most users would gladly pay.
Erica : Awesome Dehydrator at an Awesome Price
I bought this dehydrator as a gift for my husband, primarily for making jerky- and I've found myself using it more often than him! I admit that we have no used the jerky gun, or the seasonings that came with it.
Just the dehydrator and the plastic mats. I've made dried fruits, dried herbs, jerky and have even dried flowers with it. Everything has turned out wonderful, and the instruction booklet is incredibly helpful if you're a beginner. I have found that more often than not we only use 3-4 of the available trays. The capacity of this dehydrator is impressive.
5/5, great purchase. Bought it two years ago and would buy it again.
Just the dehydrator and the plastic mats. I've made dried fruits, dried herbs, jerky and have even dried flowers with it. Everything has turned out wonderful, and the instruction booklet is incredibly helpful if you're a beginner. I have found that more often than not we only use 3-4 of the available trays. The capacity of this dehydrator is impressive.
5/5, great purchase. Bought it two years ago and would buy it again.
Wanda : Small but powerful
I’m so excited about this. The name is one that I truly trust too. Our last dehydrator was so big, bulky and heavy! We live in a little house and this is stored up in the attic and the size and weight is so great to get up and down the ladder. It works amazing, but we’ve only used it for jerky.
Ty : Had I realized it would work this well, I would have bought one years ago! I also reviewed the jerky gun
Dubious at first, but wow it really works!!! Immediately out of the box I put in some marinated beef strips, plugged it outside, and within a few hours I had perfectly delicious beef jerky. This is my new favorite toy!
I plugged it in outside in the shade, as I wanted to minimize the heat and smell inside the house. I live in southern California, and I think the heat outside helped to speed up the process as it was done much faster than I thought it would be. We did some veggies as well, and it was also much faster.
About the jerky gun: I thought it was a very silly thing until I read another reviewers comment about how it really worked, so I tried it. And it does work! I was amazed. I put in the seasoned ground beef, squeezed it out onto the trays, and in a few hours I had beef sticks! This comes with a few packets of seasoning, and I found them to be delicious.
I highly recommended this, especially for the price. It is easy to clean and easy to store. I'm thinking about buying some more for Christmas presents.
I plugged it in outside in the shade, as I wanted to minimize the heat and smell inside the house. I live in southern California, and I think the heat outside helped to speed up the process as it was done much faster than I thought it would be. We did some veggies as well, and it was also much faster.
About the jerky gun: I thought it was a very silly thing until I read another reviewers comment about how it really worked, so I tried it. And it does work! I was amazed. I put in the seasoned ground beef, squeezed it out onto the trays, and in a few hours I had beef sticks! This comes with a few packets of seasoning, and I found them to be delicious.
I highly recommended this, especially for the price. It is easy to clean and easy to store. I'm thinking about buying some more for Christmas presents.
DSL : Decent but two very basic things missing
Only had this for a day. Seems like a decent product for the price. However, I couldn't agree more with one reviewer who said it needs two things, both of which seem very basic. There is no switch to turn it on or off. Instead, you have to pull the plug. I never assumed a product wouldn't have a switch. Every decent electrical product in my house has a switch so this one seems to me like a glaring oversight. Think about having to unplug your blender or hair dryer to turn it off. Also, a timer would be most helpful. Assuming some people go to bed and to work and will be away form their drying food for a number of hours. Both of these shortcomings are likely $2 options for which I think most users would gladly pay.
BarbaraS34 : So glad we bought this one!
We really didn't know anything about a dehydrator or the brand to buy that was best for our needs. This one was perfect! We were afraid it would be another appliance that made its way to the basement for storage. But because it is so easy to use and big enough to make a nice quantity of whatever it is you want to make, we found we use it a lot! Our favorite thing to make is jerky. It came with the neatest dispenser that is so easy to clean, it makes making jerky a pleasure. The grandson's love jerky, too. And it is expensive in the stores, so we feel we got a great deal! Thank you Amazon!! You're the best!
E. Johnson : Bought in 2010 still works great!
I've made jerky, dog and cat treats, and fruit in it.
It holds 2 pounds of jerky at a time which is great because the Nesco jerky mix comes in 2 pound batch packets. I do rotate the trays during the dehydration process to make sure they dry evenly. It comes with 5 trays, 2 solid inserts and 2 mesh inserts for more delicate foods.
I'd recommend this product to anyone who likes to make snacks.
Chrissy : I love it. Easy to use
I bought this to make Jerky. I love it. Easy to use. Easy to clean. Jerky Came out great.
It actually comes with seasoning for your jerky. There's a lot of room so you can make a lot.
I haven't dried any fruits yet but I plan on doing that next. Over all, very happy with my purchase!
Would definitely recommend.
It actually comes with seasoning for your jerky. There's a lot of room so you can make a lot.
I haven't dried any fruits yet but I plan on doing that next. Over all, very happy with my purchase!
Would definitely recommend.
PermanentMarker : Great Product
I used this product for my recent camping trip. I used it to prepare food for my jet Boil cooking stove. The product literally ran for about 2 weeks straight, 20-24 hours a day and helped me prepare food for a 9 day trip. While I did like the attachments that came with it, I did not use them all. The jelly/fruit leather plates are nice, but i think for sauces and fruit purees that parchment paper worked better. The parchment paper items where always dry before the items on the jelly/fruit leather plates. I would actually have to peel items off the fruit leather trays and flip them over to completely dry. That is my reasoning for 4 stars.
John P. : Throw the jerky gun away!
The dehydrator I would give a four or five star to, but if you purchase this packaged, do NOT use the jerky gun. The jerky gun is dangerous! The metal trigger is sharp and does not properly engage with the ratchets. The first time I used the gun I almost cut the tip of my finger off. I probably should have had stitches, but my Wife and I got the bleeding stopped and bandaged up. To make the jerky I then had to load the gun and push the plunger through with my body and arms. We enjoy the dehydrator. Throw this gun away! It is dangerous!
Ted : OMG Raisins take a long time!
I love this machine. It has been running non-stop for two weeks now. Just about everything takes a shorter time than they say except raisins... and bananas (they take about 12 hours). Raisins, whole and un-blanched, take about 48 hours. They are the biggest, sweetest raisins I ever tasted. (I mean huge!) They took so long I decided to take them outside in the sun. When the bees started showing up, I put them back. This thing will be even better in the winter. It pumps out a lot of heat. Tomatoes are awesome! I get my stuff from the back of the fruit and veggie isle where the old stuff is packaged up for a quick cheap sale. It was costing me a fortune before that. Beef is still expensive. I had a hard time cleaning the trays until I got a boat bristle brush. No issues now. I cut the jerky mix in half and added a bit of salt, sugar and red peppers. That way I got two times as much for my money. My only complaint is with other members of my household yelling at me for shrinking all the food in the house.
Little Miss : Super fast transaction! Great product! I will order here again!
Super happy! This is my second one. My garden and herbs went bonkers this year. So one dehydrator was not going to keep up. I have had my first one for I'm guessing ten years I use it all the time. I save so many foods that would have gone to waste otherwise. I have not mastered the perfect fruit roll up yet. But jerky, tomatoes, green peppers, strawberries, celery, onions, and orange peel are so so so very easy! Herbs are fantastic! I save about $300 a year dehydrating my own spices and vegetables. I love this dehydrator and can not say enough good things about it!
Honest but true : Motor started smoking on very first use ruining all my fruit.
Would definitely give zero stars if possible. When I got the box it looked like it had already been used and returned but I wasn’t sure so tried it anyway. I prepped about $10 worth of fruit, loaded it up, and when I turned it on and it started smoking really bad and ruined all my fruit. The fan never turned on and I could never get a hold of their customer service. At least Amazon is returning it.
Joan Lambert : Easy to use and of good quality
I haven't had a dehydrator for several years, and am in love with this thing. I've dried kiwi, apples, mango, pineapple, and basil, and made beef/turkey jerky for myself and turkey/sweet potato jerky treats for my dogs. The things I like about this Nesco dehydrator are that I can use only the number of trays that I want to at any given time, all the electronics are in the top part so not subject to getting dripped on, the trays and the bottom part are very easy to clean. All the parts, including the screen and fruit leather tray that came with it, seem to be of good quality and durable. The jerky "gun" is easy to use--I do with it held a bit more (it holds about 1/4 pound of meat, so one jerky recipe requires that you fill it four times), but it's not that big of a hassle to refill, and it's also easy to clean. The jerky seasoning that was provided is delicious and can be used either with ground meat or as a marinade for sliced meat. There's a temperature control on the top that provides guidance about the correct setting for different things that you're drying. There was also a useful recipe book that I lost when I moved and haven't been able to find again...but there is a lot of information about dehydrating and jerky making on the Internet so I've gotten along okay without it.
I paid full for this unit, in case anyone is concerned that this could be a freebie review.
I paid full for this unit, in case anyone is concerned that this could be a freebie review.
Jax : Shrinkydinks for adults!
Love it! We've been working ours nonstop this past month: jerky, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, onions, potato soup, tomatoes, herbs, onions, apples, oranges, banana chips, lemon, lime, fruit leather and more. We bought extra trays, tray guards and fruit trays as well. Works incredibly well, we ought this to make our own MREs for camping. We were able to convert 2 cases of cucumbers into chips in 3 days. Best dehydrator I have ever owned!
UPDATE: I really did love this dehydrator...until it melted down, destroying the entire unit, a batch of jerky and my kitchen wall due to the subsequent fire. Buyer beware
UPDATE: I really did love this dehydrator...until it melted down, destroying the entire unit, a batch of jerky and my kitchen wall due to the subsequent fire. Buyer beware
RandomSybil : It has been very easy to make healthy all natural dog treats instead of ...
This dehydrator stays out of the box and ready for use in our house. With a 13 year old chocolate lab and a neighborhood full of dog friends, we use this dehydrator for making lots of dog treats. We buy the bogo bags of chicken tenderloins and make jerky for the pups and lots of other flavor varieties of jerky using the extruder. It has been very easy to make healthy all natural dog treats instead of buying mystery ingredient products for our dog and his friends. I have recommended this product to friends and neighbors.
Mad Jenny Vane : Excellent Way to Make Prep Food for Emergencies!
You will never buy beef jerky in a store ever again! I only use ground turkey when I make jerky, and it's perfect. Only lasts a few days in my house! Warning: it will make your house smell wonderful as long as the dehydrator's on. I have yet to dehydrate vegetables, but it works so well with jerky, that I'm sure it does wonders for everything else. Get the extender pack if you plan to make a lot of any 1 thing, as 1 pound of turkey can take up all five racks depending on which attachment you use (flat, round small or round large).
Happy Brosnahan : If it had an off button, would have gotten 5 stars
So much better than my ronco. I love that it actually circulates the air and that it has different temperatures (the low worked wonderful for drying flower petals. They always ended up brown with my ronco). Only thing that is a real hassle is having to unplug every time I'm done using it. I have it set up on a "dresser" in my back room, and needing to reach behind the dresser to unplug is a major pain.
CaptainBlackton : It's very easy to load up
This product seems to work fairly well, although it's the first time I've used a food dehydrator, so I don't have much to compare to. It's very easy to load up, and it fits a lot of food at once. You just load the food on, stack it up, set the temperature, and turn it on! Then just let it sit there until it's done! I haven't used the meat accessories yet. The only two downsides I can say are that It can be a little annoying to clean because there are so many tiny slats for the food to fall into and get dried on to, and the drying times have always seemed to be about half again as long as the manual says. But I usually try to run it several times in a row, then just wash it once.
Jax : Shrinkydinks for adults!
Love it! We've been working ours nonstop this past month: jerky, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, onions, potato soup, tomatoes, herbs, onions, apples, oranges, banana chips, lemon, lime, fruit leather and more. We bought extra trays, tray guards and fruit trays as well. Works incredibly well, we ought this to make our own MREs for camping. We were able to convert 2 cases of cucumbers into chips in 3 days. Best dehydrator I have ever owned!
UPDATE: I really did love this dehydrator...until it melted down, destroying the entire unit, a batch of jerky and my kitchen wall due to the subsequent fire. Buyer beware
UPDATE: I really did love this dehydrator...until it melted down, destroying the entire unit, a batch of jerky and my kitchen wall due to the subsequent fire. Buyer beware
BR : Best way to get your jerky fix.
the noise is very minimal, sounds like a bathroom fan
fits about 1.5lb of jerky on all supplied trays (using ground meat and gun) . My timings were waaaaaaay off from what the instructions and reviews say. Id be able to throw 1.5 lbs in and have it done in 3 hours tops. The product is great, ive used venison, beef, turkey, pork and bison. the best combo ive done so far is Berkshire ground pork, Nesco original seasoning, red pepper flakes to taste, and a couple shots of pure Grade B maple Syrup. its insanity, you gotta try it....maybe one day ill try dehydrating something healther. but till then, thank you Nesco Meat Jerky Machine.
fits about 1.5lb of jerky on all supplied trays (using ground meat and gun) . My timings were waaaaaaay off from what the instructions and reviews say. Id be able to throw 1.5 lbs in and have it done in 3 hours tops. The product is great, ive used venison, beef, turkey, pork and bison. the best combo ive done so far is Berkshire ground pork, Nesco original seasoning, red pepper flakes to taste, and a couple shots of pure Grade B maple Syrup. its insanity, you gotta try it....maybe one day ill try dehydrating something healther. but till then, thank you Nesco Meat Jerky Machine.
David : Does not fit together very well.
This is a perfect example of going cheap on a dehydrator. Does not keep an even temp. because the trays DO NOT FIT TOGETHER. If you end up buying this product, it will end up in living on the shelf till you toss it.
David : It would still take a while for those savings to pay for the unit but at least you can enjoy your own marinades and rubs in the
Made tons of jerky, dries quarter inch slices in 4, sometimes 5 hours (3lb undried spread over 2 trays). The spice and cure packs are very salty, you can probably use half what they say though it might shorten jerky storage life. Usually not a problem since it's gone in less than a week. I used lean roast from butcher at $5/lb and this still comes out way cheaper than buying jerky in store. It would still take a while for those savings to pay for the unit but at least you can enjoy your own marinades and rubs in the meantime.
Also did some dried strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, filing all trays at once; did the deed in 17 hours which seems long, but not really considering it was jammed full of high water content food.
Also did some dried strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, filing all trays at once; did the deed in 17 hours which seems long, but not really considering it was jammed full of high water content food.
SweetiePieMarie : So many more food options
I bought this dehydrator because I wanted to make healthy food choices for my family. I make spinach chips (so yummy), jerky and fruit rolls in giant batches. This dehydrator works very well and the jerky kit included is very helpful (although we don't use the spices). I bought more trays and fruit roll sheets to expand my dehydrator. My only complaint would be the fact that this doesn't have a timer. Do yourself a favor and order a plugin timer with this dehydrator - it will save you sleep and time so that you don't have to get up in the middle of the night to turn the dehydrator off.
billie krecskay : This machine is great. Lightweight
We read reviews on multiple sites and about multiple products before deciding on this one. We are beginners and only doing the dehydrating for pleasure. This machine is great. Lightweight. Easy to use. Easy to clean. Works great. We have used it four times now and are having fun as a family coming up with different recipes. The only con is the meat tube gun. Plastic and doesn't work well but that's not why be bought the machine so no big deal to us. Get this and have fun with it.
GLOCKer : Glad this one works!
I received one of these as a Christmas present from my in-laws, and I was VERY excited to use it. Unfortunately, it was dead-on-arrival, and going through Amazon, it took over a month to get a replacement! I was crushed!!!! This was a present I had been looking forward to a lot! It really sucked because I prepared 3 lbs of meat to load into the dehydrator just to find out it was not working.
Eventually I was issued a refund for the gift, and I ordered another one immediately. I had a slight disappointment when the replacement arrived and found the jerky gun didn't work; the trigger wasn't engaging the bar so it wouldn't extrude the jerky unless you constantly pushed on the back of it. It was a royal pain in the rear! But I was still able to get my batch of jerky out and it was good!
I contacted Nesco's customer service via phone and spoke with a very nice woman about the jerky gun issue, and she took care of it! I had to wait a couple of weeks for the replacement to process, ship, and arrive at my house, but I'm not sore about that. I am just happy to have a working dehydrator and I was thrilled with the results; great homemade jerky!
Eventually I was issued a refund for the gift, and I ordered another one immediately. I had a slight disappointment when the replacement arrived and found the jerky gun didn't work; the trigger wasn't engaging the bar so it wouldn't extrude the jerky unless you constantly pushed on the back of it. It was a royal pain in the rear! But I was still able to get my batch of jerky out and it was good!
I contacted Nesco's customer service via phone and spoke with a very nice woman about the jerky gun issue, and she took care of it! I had to wait a couple of weeks for the replacement to process, ship, and arrive at my house, but I'm not sore about that. I am just happy to have a working dehydrator and I was thrilled with the results; great homemade jerky!
Honest but true : Motor started smoking on very first use ruining all my fruit.
Would definitely give zero stars if possible. When I got the box it looked like it had already been used and returned but I wasn’t sure so tried it anyway. I prepped about $10 worth of fruit, loaded it up, and when I turned it on and it started smoking really bad and ruined all my fruit. The fan never turned on and I could never get a hold of their customer service. At least Amazon is returning it.
Michelle : Great price, Great Dehydrator
I have never used a dehydrator before, but grew up watching my mother use hers and hearing my sister rave about hers. So I was on a mission to find a good one that was easy to use for first time users. I looked at many dehydrators and reviews and settled on this one. When I opened the box and began to wonder what to do it became intimidating, but I was determined to figure it out and start using it.
I am very excited to report that the manual was a breeze to understand and I had the dehydrator together and was ready to use it. I went out and bought a bag of oranges, since that was my favorite from my sisters dehydrator and cut them as thin as I could manage and placed them on the racks like the manual said to do. I then set the temperature and plugged it in to start it. It was not exactly quiet, but it was not overly loud either. It was just a mid sounding hum. I check on them after about 3 hours just to see where they were in the drying process and they still looked like they had quite a while to go. I ended up having to run it for about 10 hours to get them to the proper dehydration for storing. But it said it could take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours depending on the humidity level in your house. I was very pleased with the end results. I did find a couple of slices that I had not managed to get quite thin enough and were still just a little chewy but only a few, so I just put those few back in and finished them up separately. I didn't have to store them long because my family wouldn't stop eating them. I'm just glad I got a few.
The next thing I attempted was jerky. First off let me tell you that the seasoning that comes with it is very good. My kids and husband were very impressed with its flavor. Of course, tastes are a matter of personal opinion, so you will have to decide for yourself. But here is a tip, the spice is very strong for the salt. The first batch I made I did with a very lean roast. I followed the directions to the letter and the jerky was delicious, but a little heavy on the salty side. I like salty jerky, but this was even a little to much for a salt aholic like myself. So I made another batch with burger that was 98% lean. But this time I used only 3/4 of the package of seasoning and followed the rest of the directions to the letter again using the tool for making flat strips. My husband and I loved the second batch, but my kids preferred the first batch made with the roast. So it just goes to show how different palettes prefer different flavors and consistancy. Also, I am not a experienced dehydrator user and recipe maker, so I don't know if it is actually ok to use only 3/4 of the package for 1 pound of meat, but I did and we ate it all and we did not get sick. We ate it up within about 4 days though. Now as far as the attachment goes, it worked perfectly. I did have a little meat left in the bottom, but I simply took the press apart and (after washing my hands) molded the remaining meat into a strip and placed it in the dehydrator. I guess if you are the type of person that doesn't like to get your hands dirty or touch meat, that might not appeal to you, but I am fine doing it that way and I didn't lose any meat. I was very pleased with just how fast it drys the meat. After only 4 1/2 hours per each of my batches, one batch being the roast and the second being my ground beef, they were both done and dried completely. I had checked on both of them after 2 hours and dabbed off the excess oil like it says to, but there just wasn't much oil in the first place. Then after checking again 2 hours later they actually looked done at that point, but I left them for another 1/2 hour anyway.
Over all it has been working great and has performed extremely well. I have had it for 4 months now and use it almost every week for so many different foods from drying herbs, fruit, vegies and meat. I would recommend this dehydrator for anyone starting out or even for those who have lots of experience drying food. As long as you follow the manual and all its tips and advice and recipes for drying times, you can't go wrong.
I am very excited to report that the manual was a breeze to understand and I had the dehydrator together and was ready to use it. I went out and bought a bag of oranges, since that was my favorite from my sisters dehydrator and cut them as thin as I could manage and placed them on the racks like the manual said to do. I then set the temperature and plugged it in to start it. It was not exactly quiet, but it was not overly loud either. It was just a mid sounding hum. I check on them after about 3 hours just to see where they were in the drying process and they still looked like they had quite a while to go. I ended up having to run it for about 10 hours to get them to the proper dehydration for storing. But it said it could take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours depending on the humidity level in your house. I was very pleased with the end results. I did find a couple of slices that I had not managed to get quite thin enough and were still just a little chewy but only a few, so I just put those few back in and finished them up separately. I didn't have to store them long because my family wouldn't stop eating them. I'm just glad I got a few.
The next thing I attempted was jerky. First off let me tell you that the seasoning that comes with it is very good. My kids and husband were very impressed with its flavor. Of course, tastes are a matter of personal opinion, so you will have to decide for yourself. But here is a tip, the spice is very strong for the salt. The first batch I made I did with a very lean roast. I followed the directions to the letter and the jerky was delicious, but a little heavy on the salty side. I like salty jerky, but this was even a little to much for a salt aholic like myself. So I made another batch with burger that was 98% lean. But this time I used only 3/4 of the package of seasoning and followed the rest of the directions to the letter again using the tool for making flat strips. My husband and I loved the second batch, but my kids preferred the first batch made with the roast. So it just goes to show how different palettes prefer different flavors and consistancy. Also, I am not a experienced dehydrator user and recipe maker, so I don't know if it is actually ok to use only 3/4 of the package for 1 pound of meat, but I did and we ate it all and we did not get sick. We ate it up within about 4 days though. Now as far as the attachment goes, it worked perfectly. I did have a little meat left in the bottom, but I simply took the press apart and (after washing my hands) molded the remaining meat into a strip and placed it in the dehydrator. I guess if you are the type of person that doesn't like to get your hands dirty or touch meat, that might not appeal to you, but I am fine doing it that way and I didn't lose any meat. I was very pleased with just how fast it drys the meat. After only 4 1/2 hours per each of my batches, one batch being the roast and the second being my ground beef, they were both done and dried completely. I had checked on both of them after 2 hours and dabbed off the excess oil like it says to, but there just wasn't much oil in the first place. Then after checking again 2 hours later they actually looked done at that point, but I left them for another 1/2 hour anyway.
Over all it has been working great and has performed extremely well. I have had it for 4 months now and use it almost every week for so many different foods from drying herbs, fruit, vegies and meat. I would recommend this dehydrator for anyone starting out or even for those who have lots of experience drying food. As long as you follow the manual and all its tips and advice and recipes for drying times, you can't go wrong.
Parrot Bill : I had a good verity of fruits
I had about a bushel of food dehydrated just before Hurricane Hermine hit and knocked out the lights for 6 days. Lost everything in the freezer and fridge, but the dehydrated food saved the day. I had a good verity of fruits, veggies and meat put away and 15 to 20 minutes in hot water and you couldn't tell the difference between frozen and dehydrated.
Lisa : Received the Nesco dehydrator pretty fast. I have used it and it seems ...
Received the Nesco dehydrator pretty fast. I have used it and it seems to do a good job. Like all dehydrators it's dependent upon the a lot of conditions on how fast your item of choice drys. I sliced potatoes 1/8" thick and they dried well and did not turn grey or black. I chose bananas and sliced then from 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick. They were a little ripe and did not dehydrate as well. They tasted really good though and can't say they went bad because they were eaten fast. My husband has only two concerns... that is it takes so long to dehydrate and how much is our electric bill going to raise. He doesn't seem to think this is going to be cost effective over already dehydrated backpacking food. I guess we both will have to see since I just started using it.
Mrs. L : Not quite what I was expecting
I must first start off by saying that this product does work, however it takes FOREVER! I was really excited to try this product as I have been learning different ways of preserving and storing food. I tried a few of the different recipes that were listed in the enclosed product paperwork and I followed the temperature and time settings, but the foods were no where close to being dehydrated. I found out by trying several different food items that I almost always have to use the highest temperature setting and it takes way longer than the recommended drying times. I don't mean that it takes a few hours longer... it actually takes a few days longer. I'm not sure if this is because I live in Alabama and it tends to be quite humid here, but I have learned to be very patient when using this dehydrator. The dehydrator does do the job, but I must say that I am disappointed with the overall experience.
Mike D : Good dehydrator for the money
1st time user and I had no idea that it takes forever to dry whole jalapeños (even small ones). No where near the hours in the guide that shipped with the unit. They make an accessory tray that's deeper than the very shallow trays provided, but that's an additional $20. it was not possible to dry whole hatch peppers (even the smallest ones) on the standard trays.
I had mixed results dehydrating strawberries & bananas following the instructions exactly
I called customer service with a few questions and they were outstanding.
Overall it's a good unit with a lot of rave reviews. I guess my expectations left me a little underwhelmed.
I had mixed results dehydrating strawberries & bananas following the instructions exactly
I called customer service with a few questions and they were outstanding.
Overall it's a good unit with a lot of rave reviews. I guess my expectations left me a little underwhelmed.
Keith Sharp : Love it!
We just got it, and it seems like a screeming deal for the price!
First thing I made was "beef" jerky using about 8 oz of Lite Life's Sausage, a soy meat substitute. The beef jerky gun worked fine. The seasonings that came with the dehydrator were OK but I probably put a little to much seasoning it, so came out a little salty, but otherwise great considering we've got zero fat, zero sugar, high protein "jerky" that tastes nearly identicle to store bought beef except for the lack of grease. It dehydrated in just a few hours.
Next tried drying a banana and blue berry fruit roll. These took much longer to dry. The banana was ripe but not mushy when we sliced it up. It tasted much sweeter than the packaged banana chips without the corn syrup and other additives. However, it never got real hard like the store bought banana chips, so I put a piece in the microwave on low and it hardened up like store bought quickly. I think we are going to try green bananas sliced thin on a mandoline next.
The blue berry fruit roll also took longer than expected to dry but came out delicious, again with none of the additives found in the store bought fruit rolls.
I'm trying to make thin protein jerky wraps now and looking forward to other wraps and home made vegy chips as soon as the manoline arrives.
Healtier eating for our family is looking good!
First thing I made was "beef" jerky using about 8 oz of Lite Life's Sausage, a soy meat substitute. The beef jerky gun worked fine. The seasonings that came with the dehydrator were OK but I probably put a little to much seasoning it, so came out a little salty, but otherwise great considering we've got zero fat, zero sugar, high protein "jerky" that tastes nearly identicle to store bought beef except for the lack of grease. It dehydrated in just a few hours.
Next tried drying a banana and blue berry fruit roll. These took much longer to dry. The banana was ripe but not mushy when we sliced it up. It tasted much sweeter than the packaged banana chips without the corn syrup and other additives. However, it never got real hard like the store bought banana chips, so I put a piece in the microwave on low and it hardened up like store bought quickly. I think we are going to try green bananas sliced thin on a mandoline next.
The blue berry fruit roll also took longer than expected to dry but came out delicious, again with none of the additives found in the store bought fruit rolls.
I'm trying to make thin protein jerky wraps now and looking forward to other wraps and home made vegy chips as soon as the manoline arrives.
Healtier eating for our family is looking good!
Shilo : The right choice for me.
Very happy with this unit. Only using it to make beef jerky, though will likely branch out at some point and try drying fruit, etc. Works perfectly. Well-made. Now that I've used it several times, I do agree that a timer would be a nice feature, though as others have pointed out, you can buy an external timer for $10 or so. Jerky is pretty forgiving regarding how long you dry it (I like mine very dry) but for other foods, a timer would help fine-tune how long you dry your stuff. (The option is to set your alarm clock for 2am and get up and unplug it then). Which brings up another feature that I would enjoy having (though again, not a deal breaker). An on/off switch would be nice, since I try to never unplug an appliance when it is on, especially a heat-producing appliance, because sparks jump from the outlet to the plug and can be a safety hazard. All of that being said, I'm glad I bought this item, definitely worth the price and works beautifully. I also bought a separate 2-pack of extra trays, and the batch of jerky I made using all 7 trays came out beautifully. Good product.
Brandon : ... diet and are big outdoors enthusiasts so its a perfect way to have yummy
My husband and I bought this because we eat the Paleo diet and are big outdoors enthusiasts so its a perfect way to have yummy, healthy snacks on our outdoor adventures. We have used this A LOT since we bought it a month or two ago. We have basically dehydrated a batch of food at least once a week since buying it. We have loved it! We go on a lot of hikes, camping, and backpacking trips and bring dried apples, kiwi, bananas, peaches and beef jerky with us every time. It comes with five trays which have been great but we are going to buy more trays in order to dry more at a time. The top tray dries a little more quickly (as expected) so sometimes we rotate the trays part-way through dehydrating. The jerky we have made with it has especially been a hit! The flavoring packets that come with it are really yummy and we've shared with some friends and family who are always asking us for more. This buy was definitely worth it.
Amazon Customer : Great product..
The shelves stay stacked securely and offers several temperature ranges with drying suggestions right on the lid. I use this for drying mushrooms and spices such as cayenne peppers and it works wonderfully. The only rather silly thing about this dehydrator is that it doesn't have an "off" setting. It starts running right when you plug it in and the only way to turn it off is to unplug it which is slightly annoying, but not enough to deduct a star. This is my first dehydrator and am pleased with the purchase. I recommend it.
isaytomatoyousaytomahto : Love this!
Been researching dehydrators to make jerky and healthy dog treats, this Nesco was the best rated without spending a fortune.
I have had it for over a month and love it. It takes some time to figure drying times, as with any dehydrator but it does what it is supposed to very well.
PROS:
Faster than the bottom element dehydrators because of the top heating fan.
Comes with jerky gun and atrachments to form ground meat jerky sticks (flat or round).
Comes with 2 easy clean and two fruit roll tray linings.
Not as noisy as most.
Didnt burn or brown my countertops from the heat.
Comes with 5 trays.
Does an excellent drying job for the money and even if I had paid more.
Recipes included are basic but a good introduction if this is new to you.
Temperature settings.
CONS:
No off switch. (That is why I gave it 4/5 stars)
No internal thermometer to check actual tray temps.
All in all, very worth while. Does the job well. Would recommend.
I have had it for over a month and love it. It takes some time to figure drying times, as with any dehydrator but it does what it is supposed to very well.
PROS:
Faster than the bottom element dehydrators because of the top heating fan.
Comes with jerky gun and atrachments to form ground meat jerky sticks (flat or round).
Comes with 2 easy clean and two fruit roll tray linings.
Not as noisy as most.
Didnt burn or brown my countertops from the heat.
Comes with 5 trays.
Does an excellent drying job for the money and even if I had paid more.
Recipes included are basic but a good introduction if this is new to you.
Temperature settings.
CONS:
No off switch. (That is why I gave it 4/5 stars)
No internal thermometer to check actual tray temps.
All in all, very worth while. Does the job well. Would recommend.
Keith Sharp : Love it!
We just got it, and it seems like a screeming deal for the price!
First thing I made was "beef" jerky using about 8 oz of Lite Life's Sausage, a soy meat substitute. The beef jerky gun worked fine. The seasonings that came with the dehydrator were OK but I probably put a little to much seasoning it, so came out a little salty, but otherwise great considering we've got zero fat, zero sugar, high protein "jerky" that tastes nearly identicle to store bought beef except for the lack of grease. It dehydrated in just a few hours.
Next tried drying a banana and blue berry fruit roll. These took much longer to dry. The banana was ripe but not mushy when we sliced it up. It tasted much sweeter than the packaged banana chips without the corn syrup and other additives. However, it never got real hard like the store bought banana chips, so I put a piece in the microwave on low and it hardened up like store bought quickly. I think we are going to try green bananas sliced thin on a mandoline next.
The blue berry fruit roll also took longer than expected to dry but came out delicious, again with none of the additives found in the store bought fruit rolls.
I'm trying to make thin protein jerky wraps now and looking forward to other wraps and home made vegy chips as soon as the manoline arrives.
Healtier eating for our family is looking good!
First thing I made was "beef" jerky using about 8 oz of Lite Life's Sausage, a soy meat substitute. The beef jerky gun worked fine. The seasonings that came with the dehydrator were OK but I probably put a little to much seasoning it, so came out a little salty, but otherwise great considering we've got zero fat, zero sugar, high protein "jerky" that tastes nearly identicle to store bought beef except for the lack of grease. It dehydrated in just a few hours.
Next tried drying a banana and blue berry fruit roll. These took much longer to dry. The banana was ripe but not mushy when we sliced it up. It tasted much sweeter than the packaged banana chips without the corn syrup and other additives. However, it never got real hard like the store bought banana chips, so I put a piece in the microwave on low and it hardened up like store bought quickly. I think we are going to try green bananas sliced thin on a mandoline next.
The blue berry fruit roll also took longer than expected to dry but came out delicious, again with none of the additives found in the store bought fruit rolls.
I'm trying to make thin protein jerky wraps now and looking forward to other wraps and home made vegy chips as soon as the manoline arrives.
Healtier eating for our family is looking good!
Erica : Awesome Dehydrator at an Awesome Price
I bought this dehydrator as a gift for my husband, primarily for making jerky- and I've found myself using it more often than him! I admit that we have no used the jerky gun, or the seasonings that came with it.
Just the dehydrator and the plastic mats. I've made dried fruits, dried herbs, jerky and have even dried flowers with it. Everything has turned out wonderful, and the instruction booklet is incredibly helpful if you're a beginner. I have found that more often than not we only use 3-4 of the available trays. The capacity of this dehydrator is impressive.
5/5, great purchase. Bought it two years ago and would buy it again.
Just the dehydrator and the plastic mats. I've made dried fruits, dried herbs, jerky and have even dried flowers with it. Everything has turned out wonderful, and the instruction booklet is incredibly helpful if you're a beginner. I have found that more often than not we only use 3-4 of the available trays. The capacity of this dehydrator is impressive.
5/5, great purchase. Bought it two years ago and would buy it again.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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