Nesco FD-37 Food Dehydrator, NO SIZE review and price compare 2025
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you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
Brand | NESCO |
Material | Plastic |
Color | White/Clear |
Wattage | 400 watts |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 14.12 x 14.25 x 9.2 inches |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- 400-watts of drying power
- Expandable to 7 trays and the warranty for this item is 1 year
- Clear top to monitor the drying process
- Fan forced radial air flow means no tray rotation needed
- Made in USA
From the manufacturer
NESCO, FD-37 Food Dehydrator, White Speckled/Marbled, 400 watts
NESCO, FD-37 Food Dehydrator features an innovative top mounted powerhead that dries food quickly and evenly with superior results. Detaches to make dehydrator dishwasher safe for easy clean up. Fan-Flow technology means faster, more even drying with no tray rotation necessary. Make great tasting beef jerky or venison jerky! Also makes delicious turkey jerky, fish jerky, homemade trail mix, apple snacks, banana chips, dried soup mixes. Dry tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupes, papaya and many other fruits. Additional Add-A-Trays (SKU: WT-2SG) sold separately.
Features
| | |
400 Watt Powerhead Generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating foods safety. | On/Off Switch With Fixed Temperature Continuously regulated temperature setting that makes dehydrating easier. | Clear Top Cover Allows for convent viewing of dehydrating food. |
Features
| | |
Expandable Up To 7 Trays Increase the overall drying area by expanding your dehydrator with additional trays. | BPA Free Drying Trays Made of high-quality food grade plastic. Each tray provides 0.75 sq. ft. of drying space. | Seasoning and Cure Sample starter pack for immediate jerky making. Try our full line of flavors. |
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Watts | 400 | 400 | 600 | 700 | 1000 | 1000 |
# Trays | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 |
Max Tray Capacity | Expandable Up To 7 | Expandable Up To 7 | Expandable Up To 12 | Expandable Up To 8 | Expandable Up To 30 | Expandable Up To 20 |
Temperature Control | Fixed | Fixed | Digital Controlled | Adjustable Thermostat | Adjustable Thermostat | Digital Controlled |
Additional Accessories (By Sku) | LM-2-6, LSS-2-6, WT-2SG | LM-2-6, LSS-2-6, WT-2SG | LM-2-6, LSS-2-6, LT-2SG | SQM-2-6, SLD-2-6, SQT-2 | MS-2-6, SLD-2-6, TR-2 | MS-2-6, SLD-2-6, TR-2 |
Approximate Size, Inches (L x W x H) | 13.5 x 13.5 x 9 | 13.5 x 13.5 x 9 | 13.5 x 13.5 x 9.25 | 14.5 x 14.37 x 9.75 | 14 x 14 x 10 | 15 x 15.5 x 9.5 |
product description
The NESCO FD-37 Food & Jerky Dehydrator is perfect for a beginner or an experienced jerky maker! This dehydrator comes with four (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 7 trays so you can dry larger quantities, with no tray rotation needed. Additional Add-A-Trays sold separately. The fixed temperature control takes the guesswork out of finding the optimal drying temperature when making jerky and the quiet, powerful fan forces heated air down the center chamber, then across each individual tray for consistent drying. The clear top cover lets you conveniently watch the drying process. Sample seasoning and cure packs are included to get started. The NESCO FD-37 Food & Jerky Dehydrator provides the drying power for dehydrating great jerky snacks for the active lifestyle.
product details
important information
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Questions about Nesco FD-37 Food Dehydrator, NO SIZE
Q:
Temp of the 400 watt nesco dehydrator FD 37
Answer: I used a ThermoPop stuck in the middle vertically from the side, it takes a while to stabilize and get an accurate reading because it draws air from the sides. But it settles in around 140-145.
Answer: I believer 160 is the set temperature, but mine is running between 180-190 now. (One I've had for a while, not brand new out of the box)
Answer: I believe the temperature is 90 degrees or better, I can dry fresh mint leaves in one hour with the racks full as can be. Drying is simple, but this unit does not shut off automatically. so I bought a timer that turns it off for me.
Answer: I really don't know. However, I find it works faster than my last one (Ronco).
Q:
Are the trays made of plastic, aluminum, non-stick or other harmful materials?
Answer: The trays are made from good quality plastic.
Answer: Hello, the trays are made of plastic material. Hope that helps!
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Plastic
Answer: Just a thin plastic like mesh it's a nice I've had no problems
Q:
how big are the trays
Answer: The entire device is 14" in diameter and 8" tall. Each tray is 14" in diameter by about 1.5" tall.
Answer: The trays are 14-16 in diamenter with the circle approx 4 in diamenter. They hold a large amount of food.
Answer: The trays are approximately 12" to 15" in diameter and plenty big for our needs, especially since there are so many trays.
Answer: About 14 or 16 inches in diameter. Between the five trays, they will hold four apples sliced up.
Answer: Trays are a very nice size and are big enough to hold tons of fruits and veggies
Answer: The trays are about 14 inches in diameter with an inner circle of about 3 and a half inches cut out for the cylinder motor which drops down through the trays to the bottom of the unit. I like to make my sheltie, Bailey, chicken jerkey strips with the hydrator. I know then that there are no preservatives, etc. on them and it's less expensive than store packaged chicken jerky treats. It's a very good product.
Answer: I dried some apples and it holds about one and a half apple (medium sized) slices in each tray.
Answer: The trays are approx 16 in diameter and the center is approx 4 in diameter. I tend to spread out my food and still have plenty of room for apple, carrots, and other larger slices of fruit and veggies.
Answer: They are 13 1/2 inches across from edge to edge with a 3 inch hole in the middle to accomodate the motor/dryer.
Answer: As Elizabeth said, they are about 13 1/2 inches across with a 3 inch hole in the middle.
Q:
Is there an option to use it with no heat? So just air
Answer: No, it has an off/on switch that powers both.
Answer: No there is not
Answer: No.
Answer: No there isn't.
Q:
have been feeding my dog jack links jerky - vet says all the salt is killing him. have never used a hydrator but he must have his jerky! is it hard to make? do i slice meat thin first? does this hydrator come with instructions? thanks for any help - new to this dehydrating idea.
Answer: It makes excellent jerky. Instructions are included about jerky but we found our favorite marinade on line. Most jerky has salt in it as part of the curing. My recipe uses soy sauce. It must be cut in strips 1/4 inch thick or less. Time consuming but worth it. I do 20 pounds of meat at a time and it lasts 6 months without spoiling. Just be sure it's dry and look out for fatty deposits.
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Answer: I remove the excess fat from a boneless/skinless chicken breast, slice it thin and make jerky for my dog. No seasonings at all. The dogs absolutely loves it!!
Answer: I have 2 Jack Russell's who would LOVE healthy jerky from our Nesco. I've been jerking meat & fish for years so know exactly how to make it for the dogs. First, in answer to your question about 'is it easy'..YES, and YES it comes with a recipe book but I agree with the others who responded to your question: I would NOT use ANY seasonings. Too much salt in them and Dogs don't need anything other than the taste of the meat in it's natural form. I'll bet we can even find other suggestions on the web! Good luck, I'm going to make some for my two boys very soon..
Answer: My husband slices the beef 1st then marinates it before dehydrating. He does use quite a bit of salt but you have the ability to adjust the recipe it a variety of ways. We did receive instructions with the dehydrator.
Answer: I use Bottom or top round meat. Cut it thin and marinate in Soy sauce as well as liquid smoke. For a dog, I wouldn't marinate in anything because of the high salt content. It comes with instructions as well:)
Answer:
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Q:
does motor overheat and shut off
Answer: I have had this run for 8-12 hours a stretch, a few times a week. I've been using it for a few months and have not had a problem with overheating of the motor. As far as I am aware (and I admit I have only had it a few months, but it gets great use), there are no motor problems, and mine is still going strong.
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Answer: I have used it back to back with very little time in between and it has never over heated.
Answer: have not experienced that issue so far with the machine.
Answer: I bought it as a gift
Q:
are the plastic trays BPA free?
Q:
how many kilos of fruit I can put in a cycle of dehydration?
Answer: With four trays, I say 4 to 5 kilos. At one time. It does depend how you slice the fruit. Or if you are making leathers, it could take more. Also making jerky uses a lot of meat. But it is good.
Answer: I'm really sorry it took me so long to answer. I'm not sure in kilos. But I've only used it for beef jerky. It can hold at least 4 lbs. Others have commented about the noise. And the fan is a bit loud.
Answer: I only done 2 kilos of meat
Answer: I haven't done fruit yet
Answer: About 1 kilo
Answer: It holds a good amount. I do a bundle of sliced bananas at once
Q:
bpa free?
Answer: You also need to be concerned with BPF and BPS, chemicals replacing BPA in some products.
Answer: According to NESCO BPA-free, and dishwasher safe trays
Answer: I'm sorry, "BPA"? a product chhemical question should go to manufacturer.
Answer: I don't know. Sorry. But the answer below is probably right, you should ask the manufacturer.
Answer: yes
Answer: Yes
Q:
Are the FD-35 trays interchangeable with this unit?
Answer: I'm sure they are. After purchasing the D-37 I wanted more then the 4 trays it came with. I bought a pack of two trays that are for the 30's series which would include the 35.
Q:
Might be a stupid question, but I assume this works for any food items I want to dry, right? like , eggs?
Answer: It's a dehydrator. You put something in it and it moves warm air over the item inside to remove moisture. You can put anything in there. Eggs, beef, an old shoe, etc, and it will dehydrate it.
Answer: I use mine to make beef jerky and to dehydrate fruit. I really don’t know how you would do eggs on it.
Answer: Yes, but why eggs???
Answer: Yes. Just keep in mind the trays have small holes for the air to circulate.
Q:
This did not include any type of instructions or paperwork,just the dehydrator itself in box,(not even plastic or bubble wrap) is this normal or did I get a used machine instead of new that I ordered?
Answer: mine came with a "cookbook"/instructions. Yours may still be considered "new" if the person never used it. But they just didn't include the paperwork.
Answer: Mine came with instructions/ jerky mix but no plastic wrap. Ask your shipper.
Answer: Not normal. Mine came beautifully packaged and with instructions and a recipe guide etc.
Answer: I received mine complete with instruction book, parts list and recipes. I ordered it from Amazon.
Answer: No it is not. We received instructions, wrapper, etc. You should bring it up to them.
Answer: You are definitely missing the instructions.
Answer: Mine came complete with manuals jerky mix packed in plastic looks like you got a used one.
Answer: Mine also came with the jerky mix
Q:
does it works whith 220 v?
Answer: no it is made to operate on 120 volt a/c current
Answer: 110 v
Q:
Are fd-37 & fd-37a trays interchangeable?
Answer: Yes, the trays are interchangeable between these units.
Q:
Can you add more trays
Q:
what is no size means
Answer: No size means just that. It is standard. It is not small, medium or large. It comes in one size.......standard.
Answer: Its just part of the description. Not sure why it was added but the dimension's given are correct. Don't let the words "NO SIZE" keep you from buying it. Its a great dehydrator and you can't beat the price. I use mine a lot to dry herbs from my garden I then turn into powders. Great product.
Q:
How loud is the unit? Say compared to a blender...
Answer: Compared to a blender, it makes no noise at all. The fan is very quite. My house is small, the bedroom is only about 30 feet from the kitchen, when I run the dehydrator at night I am still able to have a good sleep.
Answer: It isn't as loud as a blender. It is more like a window fan which runs steady for as long as you have the dehydrator on. In the other room you can't hear it too much. It is kind of like a refrigerator in that you know it is running but forget it. You let your refrigerator run when you leave don't you?
Answer: It's the same loudness of your bathroom fan, so if you have it on, there is a lot of white noise. The unit doesn't have a timer, so we plugged it into a timer for our Christmas lights and then we could set it to run at night so it wasn't too loud while we were up.
Answer: It is quieter than a blender. In my experience blenders are really loud and you have to stop talking or talk louder. With the dehydrator you can talk with the dehydrator on, even have a phone conversation. You can't talk on the phone with a blender.
Answer: Probably between a fan on high speed and a blender....plus you had better watch out, it might catch fire. I threw mine out after just using it once.....it was red hot and the room that I had it in was totally hot, i.e., well over 100 degrees..............just be careful that's all........use it outside if you have a covered area........good luck....I was glad to get rid of the thing!!!!
Answer: Not loud at all. sounds like a computer fan.
Answer: It's about as loud as a floor or box fan.
Answer: The unit is actually really quiet. It is like the box fan you have in college, you can hear it but you don't really notice it. It just becomes background whitenoise.
Answer: About half or more less loud as my blender. Sometimes I forget it's going....:(
Answer: A blender is louder. Its not that bad...
Q:
Is it dual voltage?
Answer: It is not dual voltage. I am happy with the product myself.
Answer: If you mean more than one speed, no it isn't. If it is usable in a country other than the United States, it has the standard 110 V plug for the U.S. so it would also be a "no."
Answer: No
Q:
What size ad on tray do i buy for my FD60?
Answer: Nesco LT-2SG Set of 2 Add-A-Tray for FD-61/FD-61WHC/FD-75A and FD-75PR. This set of two trays fits Nesco 60 series. You can buy the set right here on Amazon for $13.99.
Answer: Only come in one size.
Q:
Can the heat be shut off?
Answer: With ours it goes down to 95 degrees, a cool heat with the fan blowing!
Answer: No. The switch turns both the fan and the heating element on and they DO NOT work interchangeably.
Answer: Nope. It's either on and heating or off
Answer: the blower and heat are on together.
Answer: There is a switch that turns the unit on and off. Heat is not separate from the blower.
Answer: No, you cannot shut off the heat. Hope this helps
Answer: And run only the fan, no.
Q:
What are the two plastic handles for?
Answer: If you mean the two white plastic stays, they snap all the trays together on the sides to keep everything stable and together.
Answer: The handles hold the top to the unit....
Answer: these lock down the top of the unit. if you are drying some items that are slightly taller than the normal space, the clips hold the whole thing together,
Answer: They are to keep the trays and lid tightly in place during shipping. I actually use them while drying because it keeps the trays aligned and sealed tightly. Can't use them though if you use more trays. They aren't really a necessity
Answer: People use them for different . Some people use them when drying incase they need to move the dryer around the kitchen. You can also use them to keep everything together if you need to take your dryer to someone elses house whether in the middle of drying or just loaning it someone it makes it safer transport. I know one lady who uses them when she stores it away on her shelf so it makes it harder to knock off the shelf and to keep the trays from getting lost. It's up to you.
Answer: They are just 'holdowns' for shipping, I think because you don't need them. Absolutely not necessary to hold trays in place or seal them. Can't use them anyway if you get more trays.
Answer: You clip them top to bottom to keep the unit together. I carry the filled unit from my kitchen to my basement so I don't hear it.
Answer: To hold the trays together.
Answer: We use them to secure all of the baskets during and to keep a tighter seal.
Q:
Would someone please tell me why it would cost $53.85 shipping to Oregon?
Answer: Mine was shipped free to WA because it was over $25. Check the different sellers that offer this item. They may have different shipping rates.
Answer: I don't know why. We shipped this to Oregon and the shipping was free.
Answer: yikes - am in oregon too, gonna read fine print
Answer: Maybe u live in a rural area. It should give free shipping if u buy it with amazon prime.
Q:
Is the fan supposed to run constantly? I started using this for the first time today to make some jerky. After about an hour of drying the fan just turned off completely, like nothing was happening anymore. 45 mins later it flicks back on. Is this normal? or is it overheating? Thanks everyone for your replies. Turns…
Answer: I haven't used it to make jerky. But if I had to guess I would say no it is not normal. So far I have only dehydrated crackers, nuts and kale in it. When I start to dehydrate something I plug it in and turn the switch on. It has a loud fan but I have never have had the fan turn off and later turn back on again. It stays on until I switch it off. I think it was made to handle jerky. It sounds like it isn't operating like it is supposed to.
Answer: Yeah the fan is supposed to run constantly. I don't know what to tell you. This doesn't sound good. Does turning it off or taking the plug out and replugging it work? Usually when overheating happens I see smoke or smell a burning smell. I hope that everything turns out ok.
Answer: Sounds like it is overheating. I've never had a problem with mine "shutting" off. The fan should constantly be on, when it is plugged in and turned on.
Answer: The fan on our dehydrator runs constantly throughout the entire process. I would check out your connections. Warranty time.
Answer: i have used mine atleast a hundred hours and the fan and heater run constantly.
Answer: We are also having trouble with our dehydrator. It just stopped working in the middle of making jerky. We had to throw out our meat. The next day it worked fine. STRANGE!!!!
Answer: as an after thought the fan might be shutting off on thermal overload which indicates a fan problem. better get your warranty papers out.
Answer: The fan on mine has never turned off by itself.
Answer: I was getting on to answer your inquiry but it seems as though you got your answer! That's good! (FYI-Mine never stops running until I turn it off) I hope you're enjoying yours as much as I do mine! God bless!
Answer: Oh I am sorry I can't answer that, I just know that the one I purchased heated up the whole room and did not do what it was supposed to.....I followed instructions, however, was too scared to use it again in case of a fire.....threw it out!
Product reviews of Nesco FD-37 Food Dehydrator, NO SIZE
MissKurin : Treat Yourself - Great Price and great product!!!
I was very hesitant to purchase a dehydrator... I have wanted one for so long but I didn't want another kitchen gadget sitting in the basement. Ultimately, it was the price that pushed me to buy. I looked at Kohl's and other stores and Amazon's was at least 15 dollars cheaper. I looked everywhere and found this to be the best price.
It is lightweight and is very easy to clean. I hand washed everything easily. I would call it dummy proof because there is a one switch to turn it on and off and that is it - easy breezy. It is easy to assemble and is okay to touch while using - there is little to no heat to it's exterior. I received this last week and have only made some jerky and it was awesome. There is a light hum to it. I would compare it to the air pop popcorn maker.
It does push the aroma out and we could smell it upstairs all night while we cooked the jerky (10 hours total). The jerky came out great and husband is more excited now that I purchased after trying the finished product. I got this mostly to make dried fruit and I am looking forward to try it.
For this price, I think that this is a steal. I would recommend this to anyone interested.
Bettye : A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR KITCHEN
I really like this dehydrator! I think it's going to come in useful many times throughout the years. So far I have made beef jerky (which was delicious) and banana chips (which I'm going to have to work on). It's easy to work and easy to clean - I just need to learn how long to leave my items in. It comes with guidelines but I think it can be different where you live (dry, humid, mountains, valley climates). I am happy with this purchase and would do it again. I do recommend the Nesco American Harvest Dehydrator!
Amazon Customer : Does the job well
Very loud but does a great job. No temp control but not really necessary. Great value for the money but I plan to set it on the patio or deep freezer in the garage while using it just because of the noise. Still very happy with the product and value!
Ajax Dahgue : Great machine, but what a racket.
I got one of these as a gift and had a grand time making jerky, chicken strips for my dogs (good idea since the Chinese started poisoning our dogs) and dried herbs from my garden. I even wrote my own jerky recipe that friends now ask for.
I used it for a couple of years and the motor gave out. Only complaint I have it that it is noisy as hell. Had to banish it to my shop in the basement to make stuff. A bit of a pain, but for $35 this is a pretty good buy.
When it died, i replaced it with the Nesco FD-80 square model. It is about two-and-a-half times the price, but well worth it. It is whisper quiet and holds a ton of stuff - six racks about 12 inches on a side, which means six square feet of drying space. I also prefer the temp control. This one here - FD37 - runs at a constant temp around 170 degrees F. The FD-80 has a control you can set from 90 to 160/
My conclusion is if you're tight on cash this will do just fine. If you can afford the extra cost, the FE-80 is like having a Lexus dehydrator.
Pros:
Inexpensive. works fine. enough rack space for small to medium size production
Cons:
makes a crazy-loud racket.
Ajax Dahgue : Great machine, but what a racket.
I got one of these as a gift and had a grand time making jerky, chicken strips for my dogs (good idea since the Chinese started poisoning our dogs) and dried herbs from my garden. I even wrote my own jerky recipe that friends now ask for.
I used it for a couple of years and the motor gave out. Only complaint I have it that it is noisy as hell. Had to banish it to my shop in the basement to make stuff. A bit of a pain, but for $35 this is a pretty good buy.
When it died, i replaced it with the Nesco FD-80 square model. It is about two-and-a-half times the price, but well worth it. It is whisper quiet and holds a ton of stuff - six racks about 12 inches on a side, which means six square feet of drying space. I also prefer the temp control. This one here - FD37 - runs at a constant temp around 170 degrees F. The FD-80 has a control you can set from 90 to 160/
My conclusion is if you're tight on cash this will do just fine. If you can afford the extra cost, the FE-80 is like having a Lexus dehydrator.
Pros:
Inexpensive. works fine. enough rack space for small to medium size production
Cons:
makes a crazy-loud racket.
Amazon Customer : Does the job well
Very loud but does a great job. No temp control but not really necessary. Great value for the money but I plan to set it on the patio or deep freezer in the garage while using it just because of the noise. Still very happy with the product and value!
OAlpha : No complaints
Made delicious jerky, tomato chips, and jalapeno chips. Have plans for more no complaints.
billiesbaby : AWESOME!!
My Husband is permently disabled and he uses this weekly! He loves all the different things, especially jerky, that he can make with this! And it's something that he can do and it keeps him busy as he doesn't get around well! My favorite are the bananas! Would recommend to all!
Alula : Electronics
First order I never came. Had to make a complaint to finally get what I paid for. Works ok.
Wisnic : Great for small jobs.
My parents have a similar dehydrator to this one, design wise, but a good 15 years older. This guy seems to have improved circulation and drying time. I wish it were smaller, prettier, and easier to store, but for the options available I'd buy it again.
The top of it does get quite hot. I don't fear lighting our cats whiskers on fire or anything, but I don't *really* like leaving it on while I'm not home... for similar reasons that I always unplug the toaster.
For the money, this is a good deal. I feel like it will last for many years-- and the dried pineapple and peaches were worth it!
Harley : Love It
I have had several dehydrators over the years, this has got to be the best one yet. 6 hrs and my beef jerky was done.
Tim C : Very pleased
Very good product, used to make some venison jerky and it does a great job. Made 3 trays of jerky in just over 4 hours. Nice tender and flavorful jerky without getting to dry. I recommend cleaning this right after usage, once it dries on there it's very hard to clean the small grates on the trays. Overall great item, should have bought one years ago.
LucyBug33 : Love it!
I got this last week and love it! I've already dried apples & peppers and made jerky with the enclosed jerky seasoning. Everything came out wonderful and didn't take much prep time at all! I would recommend this for a first dehydrator to anyone, and as a bonus they are made in the USA!
**Update 27/November 2012**
Now that I've had this for several months I thought it was time to update my review. I have made jerky about 20 times and have dried more apples, squash, made the fruit leathers. This device is still going strong and I've been using it a few times a month. Everyone loves the jerky ( I picked up the Nesco jerky gun for use with ground meat) especially. I have recommended this to several co-workers who also love it.
**Update 20FEB2013**
Well, I killed it in January. It stopped mid-dry. But it's okay because I called Nesco and they replaced the motor (under warranty) for FREE.Their customer service staff were wonderful and really liked hearing about my use of the dehydrator. I now have a brand new motor to go back to making jerky and all the other wonderful things I dry in this.
CBS : Fantastic
I wanted to replace my old dehydrater and chose the Nesco. I also ordered the two-tray extension. I just wanted to say how very pleased I am with this product! I've only used it 4 or 5 times so far, but it is by far the best dehydrater I have seen. It does the job in half the time; evenly with great quality! It is very versatile, also. I need to order some of the fruit rolls so I can do fruit rollups, and I just found a way to do my own powdered eggs. I'm very excited!
T. Washington : Awesome Machine! Denitely recommend!
I'd gotten tired of wasting money buying Beef Jerky in the stores. It was a complete rip off. I've been meaning for awhile to buy a food dehydrator but always kept putting it off. Well a few weeks ago I was on Amazon looking, and I decided to check them out. I've read the reviews of the Ronco dehydrators, and they weren't good at all, so I knew what to avoid. On the flip side, the reviews for the Nesco dehydrators were very positive, so I decided to go with a Nesco unit. I was going to buy the 700 watt FD-75A, but I didn't know if my circuit breaker could handle that kind of power without tripping. I ultimately set my eyes on the FD-37 400 Watt unit, and it was a choice well made!!! Operation is easy, just flip on the button. I thought by me getting a lower wattage unit, that might would mean an extra long time to dehydrate, thankfully that hasn't been the case. Both time's I've used it, It's only taken about 6 hours to make my jerky. That isn't along at all. The jerky that comes from my dehydrator is better and by far CHEAPER then which is sold in the stores. This is a very good unit. One plus is that you do not have to rotate the trays. Just turn it on and go about your business. It doesn't have a timer, but I know when to come back to check on it. So it's not at big deal. Some people reviewing it talked about the noise. I've noticed it, but to me it's not a big deal either. All I care about are the results, and so far the results have been beyond my expectations!!
Amazon Customer : A little noisy but good beginner dehydrator
I was a little disappointed when it first arrived but I gave it a teat run and it worked well.
Even though it was not as quiet as i imagined it would be it was not too bad.
One thing I will get next time is a variable temperature control. This one only runs at about 145 degrees F so the herbs dried in about 2 hours and the peppers and tomatoes took about 9 hours.
All turned out well.
This is the lowest priced one on Amazon and you get what you pay for.
I will see how long it lasts...
chloemarie : A lot of fun, but def has hot spots
This thing is a hoot! So far I have dried peaches, apples and cherries and made beef jerky. That is more the function of how great dehydrators in general are though. THis one isn't ridiculously loud at all, as some people have said. You amy have to turn the TV up a few clicks if it is in the saem room, but you don't really notice it over a conversation or anything. Reasonable amount of space to dry stuff. My main issue is that it has major hot spots. I have to remove the fruit and stuff piece by piece every couple hours because some areas dry much mroe quickly. In retrospect, it would probably have been worth an extra $10 to find one without hotspots (but who knows, maybe that one would have them too and then I would have wasted $10). If this lasts through drying all of my produce this season, I will probably increase my review to 4 stars. Regardless, buy a dehydrator, even if it isnt this one!
Contemporary Reviewer : It works, but...
I was very excited to find and order a food processor. I read the various reviews provided by Amazon and decided to take a chance on this one. I found out that everything previous user's complained about applied to my food dehydrator. It is horribly loud... it sounds as loud as my bedside fan, well to more accurately describe it, I'd say it is equally as loud as my over the range microwave fan (hopefully this makes sense). I also saw some reviews that said it came with the fruit leather, it didn't. Also, the drying racks don't dry evenly so you do need to rotate the trays. It does the job and it was cost effective, though.
Lexy Caylor : Dried Fruit Turns Out Dry
So far have made jerky, dried fruit, and mint tea using this and they all worked great. Not too loud, but could get annoying if you have it in the same room for hours. Was worried it would be too small, but I often have problems filling it all the way. Really easy to clean so far. So far my favourite thing has been dried oranges.
Debra Macias : Mixed feelings.
This dehydrator is ok. I was just beginning to can and dehydrate when I purchased it. Now that I have become a passionate canner and preserver, I wish I had bought a higher quality model with a temp guide and so on. Like I said it you do beef jerky and some fruit and veggies this is fine. I do 5 pounds of garlic at a time and it took days to dry the cloves. But made AWESOME jerky. Think what you will use it for before spending money only to buy ANOTHER machine later.
infinitime : Works well, but make sure you use it in a well ventilated area, preferably somewhere far away
I've always wanted a dehydrator. All those infomercials I watched growing up instilled the unshakable belief that home-made raisins and apple chips are infinitely superior to store bought variants. After 20 years, I finally bought one!
The unit we bought is nicely designed, being easy to use and to clean. While I didn't expect it to be whisper quiet, I also didn't expect it to sound like a hairdryer on full blast. Upon reflection, it makes sense, as the construct is very similar to a hairdryer, with a heating element and a fan to circulate the hot air.
Thinly sliced apple chips are done in about 5 hours, banana chips in about 16 hours, and raisins... well, after 24 hours the grapes are still quite plump.
Overall, this is a good deal for $35, but unless you are comfortable with the constant drone of a spinning fan, this unit is probably best to leave in a faraway room, where it does its magic out of earshot.
I also question the longevity of the item, as the plastic trays are quite thin, and have began to warp already after two days of (constant) use.
Harley : Love It
I have had several dehydrators over the years, this has got to be the best one yet. 6 hrs and my beef jerky was done.
Blair : Pretty cool!
We have made two batches of beef jerky so far. My husband loves using this. I just bought 7 mangoes yesterday to try next. So far this is awesome. For now its only the two of us. If you have a big family, you may want to get the larger size, because this doesn't make a ton of quantity. It makes 1.5 lbs of jerky, which is about 2 Ziploc sandwich size bags full. Great product though!
scaredofspending : Exorbitant satisfaction for the product received and the price payed!!!!!
No tricks, no skimps, no scams, no loopholes, none of that. You get exactly what is advertised for exactly how much it's worth. Stack it up, plug it in and press the on switch. Very simple design, doesnt dirty up very easy, and durable; a baby could be taught how to use this in 30 seconds, don't let your baby cut the fruits haha.
The dehydrator's diameter is that of 1.25ish IPads. It consists of about 4-6 and a cover with a dehydrating apparatus built into it. Dehydrating efficiency and duration vary in different climates, here in Boston I cut up some fruits before I go to bed and let it run over night and then popem out in th morning and they come out chewy semi-crispy which is just how I like it. What your essentially buying is a closed tray mounted fan ventilating what looks like to be 3-4 rungs of heated coils; a blow dryer.
You'll have it forever, you'll use it forever and, if ur in a Boston type climate at least, you haven't had had banana chips until you've made your own they are DIVINE. granny smith apples don't go well for some reason shoot for the redder the better and cut them as thin as possible for the best flavor. ALL CITRUS FRUITS COME OUT ACRID MESSY AND TEXTURALLY UNPLEASENT SAVE YOUR CITRUS' AND TIME, KIWI'S ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME DEAL.
Matt : Dehydrator
Working good
Contemporary Reviewer : It works, but...
I was very excited to find and order a food processor. I read the various reviews provided by Amazon and decided to take a chance on this one. I found out that everything previous user's complained about applied to my food dehydrator. It is horribly loud... it sounds as loud as my bedside fan, well to more accurately describe it, I'd say it is equally as loud as my over the range microwave fan (hopefully this makes sense). I also saw some reviews that said it came with the fruit leather, it didn't. Also, the drying racks don't dry evenly so you do need to rotate the trays. It does the job and it was cost effective, though.
MTK : Basic but solid
Would like additional temperature control options, but has held up well over 8 years of intermittent use.
Richie Rich and The Valens : For the price it's a great device
If you manage to pick this up for under $35 then you will not be sorry. It delivers a decent amount of dried items after each run and it's easy to clean. Other reviewers are right though in the fact that it doesn't hold up well to multiple washes and uses and starts warping early on which may effect me being able to lock it in place over time. For now though strawberries, apples and oranges turned out perfect each time, crunchy or soft. Bananas, pineapples, and blueberries on the other hand were a disaster but that could have been the solution I soaked it in, how thin I sliced it or the cooking time which all vary. Do not hesitate if you want dried apples, strawberries, and pears this dehydrator is fast and consistent. It does run on the loud side but you can suffer for 4-10 hours a week and you won't ever waste any fruit or vegetables again.
iland99 : Still going strong!
I've only used the dehydrator a couple of times so far, drying morel mushrooms with it both times. Each time the mushrooms dried a bit quicker than was expected, but I kept a close eye on things so no problems there. The entire house smelled like morels as they were drying which to me was a HUGE plus! I started with 4 lbs of morels and was able to fit them all in a small airtight container once finished. This dehydrator will be getting more of a workout soon as we start harvesting our garden later this summer/fall.
*edit* This fall we dehydrated onion greens and several batches of tomatoes with it. Worked great every time!
*edit again* Almost 6 years of ownership and it's still going strong. Our usage has ramped up a lot over the years and have now used it to dehydrate literally hundreds of pounds of wild mushrooms plus tomatoes and other various veggies from our garden. If it quit working tomorrow I'd buy another one without hesitation!
L. Capell : Lightweight, easy-to-clean and effective!
Oh, why hadn't I ever dehydrated anything before? It is so easy! And what comes out is so delicious!
Before we purchased this inexpensive dehydrator, I read the reviews. A little noisy, yes. However, I put it out on my back porch and it doesn't bother anyone. It also puts off a little heat as it dries the food so I didn't want it inside the air conditioning. That being said, let me sing the praises of this little effective dehydrator. I love it! It is lightweight to carry and oh-so-easy to clean! We have tried bananas, pears, apples, tomatoes, eggplant and mushrooms so far. Wonderful tasting as dried. Easy to rehydrate later. So much easier than canning. And the shelf life is similar without similar mess and work. The enclosed booklet has a chart that will tell you how long each type of food needs.
By the way, I came online to order more trays... that should say it all!
sid'smom : works good, slight learning curve
I bought this to cut out some of the more processed snacks we eat and it works wonderfully at drying fruits. So far everything I have tried has turned out well. The reviews about it being a little loud depend on your tolerance for noise, we have our washer and dryer out in the open in the kitchen and it is about as loud as the wash cycle so not too bad. The one thing is it gives off a lot of hot air from the fan, so in our open plan kitchen/living room, it ended up making things very warm. I closed it up in a bedroom the next time I used it and there was no problem, the unit itself doesn't get excessively warm and I feel comfortable leaving it running overnight. I only wish it came with one more tray instead of having to buy an extra, but at an already great price, I can't complain.
Amazon Customer : A little noisy but good beginner dehydrator
I was a little disappointed when it first arrived but I gave it a teat run and it worked well.
Even though it was not as quiet as i imagined it would be it was not too bad.
One thing I will get next time is a variable temperature control. This one only runs at about 145 degrees F so the herbs dried in about 2 hours and the peppers and tomatoes took about 9 hours.
All turned out well.
This is the lowest priced one on Amazon and you get what you pay for.
I will see how long it lasts...
Christopher Bergstrom : Don't waste your money!
I bought this after reading the reviews. They didn't seem bad, just run of the mill stuff that people complein about. I received this and I was excited because I love to save money and what better way then to save money then to dehydrate fruit when it's in season? Geeze! This think is so loud I can hear it upstairs with my door closed. Even after having it on ALL night and a few hours into the next day, my apricots still weren't dry and spoiled! I have found that drying food in the oven is easier, faster, quieter! I should've spent the extra money and gone with the more expensive product. Think twice before ordering this.
A. Hockenberry : Great!
I have been looking for a food dehydrator to make my own dried fruit. Not only is it so much more expensive to purchase pre dried fruits, but they usually have added sugars and preservatives. I have been drying fruit in the oven, but I thought this would be easier and it is! I am looking forward to trying to make my own potato chips next! It was easy to use and clean as well. The noise level isn't too loud, but you can definitely hear it running. All in all I am very happy with my purchase!
MTK : Basic but solid
Would like additional temperature control options, but has held up well over 8 years of intermittent use.
Goodhousekeeper : This product has sustained many, many batches of food and still going!
I like everything about this product. Use it over and over and keeps running! We have added many trays over the years and then bought another unit and trays, that's how much we enjoy this product!
J. Marshall : So happy with this dehydrator!
You can not beat this quality for the price. I am one of those infamous people that watches a documentary and jumps on the bandwagon, only to quickly abandon my new goals within a month. Just ask my juicer that has been collecting dust for months ;)
For that reason, I did not want to spend too much but obviously no one wants to purchase a crappy product. I am happy to say that a year+ later, I still use this product! Banana chips, flax crackers, zucchini chips, fruit roll ups, kale chips, home made tortillas, and I have a to-do list of more things to try.
That said, it's a great size for someone who needs to store it away when it's not in use, who may use it once a month, but if you're already a dehydrator junkie and looking to dehydrate in bulk, I'd recommend spending a little extra so you can dehydrate more at a time.
SCTucker : Lasted 4 months
Bought April 2013, it burned out Aug 2013. Money down the toilet. There should be better customer service since few things die out within the 30 day allotment. There are some other reviews about it burning smell then fan quit working. Too bad that I wasn't one of the lucky ones. It is cheap. For 10.00 more I bought a Presto and it's outstanding and well made, hope it works as it should.
JW : Functional but super noisy
The machine works well for me, I have done a couple batches of beef jerky and apple chips. For beef jerky, 4 trays 3.5 pounds of beef take about 9 - 12 hours depending on the thickness. Apple chips take about an average of 6 hours. The thing that really kills the joy of making chips and jerky is the loud noise from the machine. It was so loud that my wife had demanded me to hydrate the jerky and chips in a separate room due to the noise.
I am seriously considering buy another more quiet machine..... I have already requested a return of the items to Amazon but am still contemplating if I should. Bottom line - functional but super noisy.
Becca : Really cool!!!
I have never used a dehydrator before and I didn't realize how many creations could be made using this simple device. There is no temperature control, but if you follow the booklet that comes in the box, there is no need to change temperatures, only the amount of time something is dehydrated.I contacted the Nesco company to see if it was safe to leave on all night and they said it was a personal preference. Apparently there are two safety mechanisms that prevent it from catching fire. I also questioned how long it can be left on without giving it a break and they said 48 hours. Just thought I would share that information since it is kind of important to know. I have been leaving it on at night since it seems pretty safe. The heat created isn't even hot enough to even burn you. I heard that it reaches between 90 to 130 degrees F. Oh, and I am making a peanut butter banana gram cracker tonight. I have never tried it before so I'm not sure how well it will turn out, but if you are interested, here is a link to the recipe ([...]).
One more thing. I have read many complaints about how loud the machine is. To give you an idea, it kind of sounds like one of those small handheld vacuums. It will get annoying if you are in the same room for a long period of time, but its not loud enough that you will have to shout to have a conversation. If you are in a separate room, you probably won't hear it at all and if you do, it will sound like a quiet buzz in the background.
MTK : Basic but solid
Would like additional temperature control options, but has held up well over 8 years of intermittent use.
Becca : Really cool!!!
I have never used a dehydrator before and I didn't realize how many creations could be made using this simple device. There is no temperature control, but if you follow the booklet that comes in the box, there is no need to change temperatures, only the amount of time something is dehydrated.I contacted the Nesco company to see if it was safe to leave on all night and they said it was a personal preference. Apparently there are two safety mechanisms that prevent it from catching fire. I also questioned how long it can be left on without giving it a break and they said 48 hours. Just thought I would share that information since it is kind of important to know. I have been leaving it on at night since it seems pretty safe. The heat created isn't even hot enough to even burn you. I heard that it reaches between 90 to 130 degrees F. Oh, and I am making a peanut butter banana gram cracker tonight. I have never tried it before so I'm not sure how well it will turn out, but if you are interested, here is a link to the recipe ([...]).
One more thing. I have read many complaints about how loud the machine is. To give you an idea, it kind of sounds like one of those small handheld vacuums. It will get annoying if you are in the same room for a long period of time, but its not loud enough that you will have to shout to have a conversation. If you are in a separate room, you probably won't hear it at all and if you do, it will sound like a quiet buzz in the background.
homeschoolX3 : All day process
I'll admit I only got this during a health kick that didn't last very long. I didn't want to spend a lot on something I wasn't sure I would use much. The price is reasonable but the fruits I dry take all day to finish. And that is even when I slice them VERY thin. If you have nothing but time and patience then this may be the dehydrator for you. Other reviews suggested the motor may overheat during drying but mine hasn't been anything but warm to the touch. I'm keeping this for when I want the occasional dried fruit. If you are a dedicated health nut (and I mean that in the best possible way) then look elsewhere for a better dehydrator.
B F : Nope
Never worked right. For what I paid for it, it should of worked better. Was hoping to make bananas and beef jerky.
Scottyy : So far...it's great!
I received this for Christmas 12/2012 and have since dried apples, strawberries, peppers, bananas, and made fruit roll-ups (with the purchase of extra trays). I am very pleased with this product! Not only does it do a great job drying, it also adds a wonderful aroma to my house (cinnamon apples). However when I do decide to make jerky, I think I'll plug the dehydrator in the garage.
Amazon Customer : Durability and cost are awesome
Never update this product it works as good as my old one did
Nirit Cohen : Great
I bought this one to make treats for my dog ,as we no longer buy anything made in china ,it works like magic ! I made full cans of chicken treats,the dogs love it and we feel like wer giving them the best treats,easy to clean.and ready for another round.love it.
RG : So efficient!
I bought this back in the beginning of April. I use it every week. Dried tomatoes, beets, apples, bananas, on and on...
I gave this product a 5 star rating because it is easy to clean. When I make beet chips, the plastic trays do not stain. It's super easy to clean - I haven't washed it in my dishwasher, mostly because I treasure this too much, but a simple wipe down and it's clean. Instead of waiting 5-6 days for my herbs to dry it now takes 2-3 hours!
The only con, this is the first dehydrator i've ever owned so it may be the "norm", is the noise. It kind of cancels out sounds in the house and I have to be a room away to talk on the phone.
Buy it! You'll love veggies and fruits again!
vivi : a bit loud, but a great purchase overall
I purchased this dehydrator to make jerky. I tried all kinds of jerky that can be found in grocery stores, and found all of them intolerably salty. I have tried oven baked homemade beef jerky, and always overcook them. I am so glad that I bought this dehydrator. Homemade jerky has never tasted better. I've tried all kinds of marinates. So far, my favorites are korean BBQ and pineapple teriyaki.
Now about the noise. It does sound like a blow dryer on low. You definitely don't want to be in the same room with this dehydrator running (unless with a top quality noise canceling headset, i guess.. ).. Also, it seems quite safe to leave it running all day without attending to it. The unit will stop automatically if it gets too warm.
It is very efficient. It takes about 3-4 hrs to make a batch of kale chips (humidity 60-70), and 6-7 hrs to make beef jerky (I sliced my jerky meat really thin though...) I have also tried apple chips. I read that you are supposed to pre-treat them by soaking them into lemon water to prevent them from browning - but honestly, that doesn't seem to make too much of a difference, my non-treated apple chips look just as good. But do remember to add a dash of cinnamon =) Strawberry and kiwi get sour after dehydrating (from the heating). I probably won't dehydrate strawberry ever again... But if you cut your kiwi a bit thicker (>=1/4 inch), it gets very chewy, yum. Bananas will turn out incredibly sweet, but they will also have that cooked banana after taste.
Kathleena Sammy : Amazing product!!!!
This machine is fantastic. I bought it to solely make Jerky. The trays are large, easy to clean, the motor detaches so you can clean the lid. I was expecting for the Jerky to take at least two/three days to finish, but with this machine, I was already eating it the next morning.
The motor is quieter than any I have had in the past. I would say its as loud as your stove oven fan on low.
Buy this machine, I promise you won't regret;)
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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