Nesco FD-37 Food Dehydrator, NO SIZE review and price compare 2025
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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.
Answer:
Answer:
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:
Answer:
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.
Answer:
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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
Holley A Nickels : Good bargain
It gets the job done fairly quickly, it is a hassle to clean but worth it , kinda noisy and there is only one temperature. But it is very cost effective. And it works great . The jerky comes out perfect
dgassaway : Good for the price!
I have always loved the idea of dehydrating food. Its great for the price. The only thing I wish there was, was an automatic shut off switch on a certain time but you do get what you pay for in many instances and this is one of these things. There is nothing I hate more than knowing its a 6 hour time and having to wake up to turn the machine off.
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!
Ayanami : Love it! Used it all summer!
Pros:
I've dried a wide variety of items this summer with my dehydrator. I absolutely love it! I joined a CSA for the first time, and the dehydrator was fantastic for most veggies that I could not use immediately.
Fantastic with herbs; dries in an hour or two!
Other things I've dried this summer: onions, leeks, any kind of pepper, squash, tomatoes (see comment below). Everything has come out wonderfully! Haven't tried jerky or fruit rolls yet!
Cons:
Herbs or veggies would sometimes turn brown if dried for too long. Basil in particular usually turned brown (probably due to its high moisture content). Onions as well were prone to turning brown when over-dried. This does not appear to affect their taste; only aesthetics.
There is no temperature or timer settings on this basic unit. This is not generally a problem, but makes it nearly impossible for me to make tomato leathers correctly with this unit. I almost always over-dry and end up with "tomato chips" instead. Of course, then I just throw them into the food processor and make tomato powder instead, so it's not really a big loss, but something to be aware of.
I purchased the optional fruit roll and screen trays to accommodate smaller veggies. I don't have any complaints about these extra trays, but it should be noted that using them will change the airflow in your unit, and you will need to rotate the trays more often to account for them.
Yes, it is a bit loud. About as loud as a moderately noisy fan. If it bothers you, just place it out in the garage or porch.
Bottom Line:
Cons are a minor, and can mostly be solved if you buy a slightly higher-end model. Only real issue is that if you don't want something COMPLETELY dry, you need to keep an eye on it. But for the cheapest dehydrator I've seen on the market, it works like a boss.
UPDATE: Five years later, this dehydrator is still going strong! I use it quite frequently every summer.
earltash : It came with a big dent in corner of box ...
It came with a big dent in corner of box. No protection inside at all. No Styrofoam or anything.
But at least there was no damage to the unit. I plugged it in and it works. Fan blows warm air.
I now have it drying some apple slices n orange pieces along with some hot peppers.
The test.....I'll add to this review after i see how it works.
Heather : Definitely one of the best purchases I've ever made
I use this constantly! I expanded it with 2 more trays and I have 2 clean a screens and also a leather insert for every tray. This has already paid for itself many times over! Definitely one of the best purchases I've ever made. The only thing I may have done differently is pay a little more for one with a temperature gauge, but I pretty much only dehydrate fruits, vegetables and herbs, so a temp gauge isn't entirely necessary.
De Anna L. Gullett : Newco American Harvest Dehydrator - Great Investment
Before I purchased this product, I checked the product out online through a lot of sites. The biggest complaint was the noise. I didn't find the noise to be a problem at all. It does have a "working sound", however the sound doesn't drown out any other noise so I found it tolerable. My first use for this product was for making jerky which came out perfect. I found this to be a simple machine for the person who is going to use it once or twice a month. If you are a person who plans on using your machine a couple of times a week, you might consider getting a more advanced version with control settings. This machine has the simple on/off setting and works great for me! Great investment on my part. Very glad I purchased this and definitely have encourage others to purchase this item as well.
MattRids : Great affordable dehydyator.
this is a great dehydrator, nothing fancy but it certainly gets the job done. As far as the other review that say it is noisy, i have to disagree. It make as much noise as a fan so unless you plan on spending the entire time in the same room as this I really don't see how it would be too noisy. It doesn't have a thermostat but I have used it so far for beef jerky and fruit rolls and had no problems (just make sure to keep an eye on it), though I could see it cooking herbs i little bit. If you are new to dehydrating or just on a budget this is definatly a winner.
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.
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.
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!
De Anna L. Gullett : Newco American Harvest Dehydrator - Great Investment
Before I purchased this product, I checked the product out online through a lot of sites. The biggest complaint was the noise. I didn't find the noise to be a problem at all. It does have a "working sound", however the sound doesn't drown out any other noise so I found it tolerable. My first use for this product was for making jerky which came out perfect. I found this to be a simple machine for the person who is going to use it once or twice a month. If you are a person who plans on using your machine a couple of times a week, you might consider getting a more advanced version with control settings. This machine has the simple on/off setting and works great for me! Great investment on my part. Very glad I purchased this and definitely have encourage others to purchase this item as well.
Ayanami : Love it! Used it all summer!
Pros:
I've dried a wide variety of items this summer with my dehydrator. I absolutely love it! I joined a CSA for the first time, and the dehydrator was fantastic for most veggies that I could not use immediately.
Fantastic with herbs; dries in an hour or two!
Other things I've dried this summer: onions, leeks, any kind of pepper, squash, tomatoes (see comment below). Everything has come out wonderfully! Haven't tried jerky or fruit rolls yet!
Cons:
Herbs or veggies would sometimes turn brown if dried for too long. Basil in particular usually turned brown (probably due to its high moisture content). Onions as well were prone to turning brown when over-dried. This does not appear to affect their taste; only aesthetics.
There is no temperature or timer settings on this basic unit. This is not generally a problem, but makes it nearly impossible for me to make tomato leathers correctly with this unit. I almost always over-dry and end up with "tomato chips" instead. Of course, then I just throw them into the food processor and make tomato powder instead, so it's not really a big loss, but something to be aware of.
I purchased the optional fruit roll and screen trays to accommodate smaller veggies. I don't have any complaints about these extra trays, but it should be noted that using them will change the airflow in your unit, and you will need to rotate the trays more often to account for them.
Yes, it is a bit loud. About as loud as a moderately noisy fan. If it bothers you, just place it out in the garage or porch.
Bottom Line:
Cons are a minor, and can mostly be solved if you buy a slightly higher-end model. Only real issue is that if you don't want something COMPLETELY dry, you need to keep an eye on it. But for the cheapest dehydrator I've seen on the market, it works like a boss.
UPDATE: Five years later, this dehydrator is still going strong! I use it quite frequently every summer.
April Michele Owens : Love, Love, Love!!!
I purchased this dehydrator originally to make homemade beef jerky since store bought jerky has high levels of salt. We are now making our own powders like onion powder, tomato powder and so forth. I am also dehydrating fruits and vegetables for long term storage. I have been watching alot of videos on YouTube about dehydrating and it has been great. Instead of letting my produce go bad I am dehydrating it and using them at a later date.
Aleks : Quiet and efficient
Works well for drying various garden herbs, mushrooms, vegetables, etc. Its not loud by any means and doesn't get too hot, so you can safely leave it alone for several hours depending on what you need.
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.
PC : Check on your foods and switch trays around if needed for heat distribution.
It would be better to have temperature control. It's a nice dehydrator. Does a great job.
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!
T. Webb : Cheap and easy to use!
Pros: Super easy to use. Inexpensive. Doesn't take up too much space. Quiet-ish* (see note below).
Cons: Only one temperature setting. Plastic trays are a little sharp on the bottom side so be careful when washing.
*Note: Before I bought this dehydrator I read the reviews and saw that some people thought it was too loud. Now I know why. Most of the time, the unit quietly hums when it's on (I've made multiple batches of yummy apple chips in the last 24 hours since my dehydrator was delivered yesterday). But SOMETIMES it emits a loud high-pitched whine. This sound comes and goes for me, but when it's whining, I can hear it over my television and over the jackhammering that is going on outside. I'm not even kidding. If the noise continues I may try to exchange it for another one.
0utd00r Wand3r3r : Worked great to dehydrate vegetables for the 4 months it worked
Update-
Got a replacement and been running it again casually dehydrating vegetables. It still is very loud but hasn’t mysteriously stopped working.
**UPDATE*
4 months of casual use it stopped working.
As other reviews have stated it is loud. Not stupid loud, but it reminds of turning your oven hood fan on low. It’s been running for about 8 hours and the fruit looks like it is drying well. Will update if my opinion changes. The instructions mention a fruit tray not included.
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!
Lizbeth Navarrete : Great purchase
So far so good! I’m loving it
Juniorverse : Loving this product, especially for the price
Having never owned a dehydrator before, I wasn't sure what to expect from this product. All I knew is that the last time I bought dried apple slices from Whole Foods they were very expensive but OH SO GOOD. With this dehydrator, I was easily able to recreate the dried apple chips with cinnamon at a fraction of the price... they came out GREAT! It takes about 7 hours for perfect crispy dried apple slices if you fill all 5 trays.
I also put some sliced bananas in there and they made quite the treat!
The great book that comes with this product includes a lot of sample recipes and tips for getting the best results, and you also get a packet of seasoning for making your own beef jerky! I will have to try that soon.
Cleanup is super quick, and each rack is machine washable. If you've ever thought of getting a food dehydrator, I highly recommend this model. I am very happy with this purchase.
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!
Matt : Dehydrator
Working good
MTK : Basic but solid
Would like additional temperature control options, but has held up well over 8 years of intermittent use.
Lizbeth Navarrete : Great purchase
So far so good! I’m loving it
Paul Greenwood : Works for what I bought it for....
I bought this to make chicken jerky for my dog. With the recent recall scare on jerky products from China, I thought it best to make my own. I cut chicken breast very thin, and placed it in the dehydrator. I was amazed to see the chicken dried in only 3 hours. Next time I think I would cut the chicken a little thicker, but, in any case, the machine was great...dried the chicken thoroughly in a short time. I was unimpressed, however, with the drying of fruits and beef. I placed thin cut bananas, pineapple and apple in the dehydrator. After 13 hours of drying, the fruit was still not 100% dehydrated. The fruit never came out how I wanted, like the dried fruit you buy in a bag in the supermarket, even after 16 hours of drying. I also tried thin cuts of beef with the same result. After at least 12 hours of drying, I did not get Slim Jim type jerky. I used the jerky packet that came included, and followed instructions to the letter. The meat came out unappetizing and super salty. I will try again and experiment. For now, I give it 3 stars because it serves the purpose for what I bought it for,namely chicken jerky for my dog, but I was hoping to make Beef jerky like store bought, and I don't think that will ever happen...As far as noise, I used this in my garage so I didn't have to listen to it for 12 hours, but the fan noise, to me, is not that bad....like a normal fan...I would recommend this dehydrator for pet owners looking to make dog treats. For other uses I would not recommend. I will update after a few weeks of experimenting.
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.
William Stohl : Great Product
If you want to dehydrate food and a low cost, this is the product you will want to buy.
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.
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!
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!
Zack Minkel : Always good
I got this as a present .turns out it was the wrong design .I've used this brand before and it dries everything to a crunch
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.
Ann : Love it
Okay folks don't do what I did. If you are use to American Harvest this one is different. It doesn't have a temperature control so it only runs on high. Since this one has a blower that goes down the middle from the top you have to do 3 trays at a time but you can put in empty ones if you need to. This does NOT come with any extra trays for rollups or herbs so if you are planning on doing those things look at what is usually bought with this to get the right size trays to go with it. Also note that if you need rollups trays they are normaly sold 2 at a time.
So now that you know it's downfalls let me tell you it is a good machine. The trays are durable and it does a great job. If you haven't used this kind of dehydrator before you need to keep an eye on it your first time. Every area is different because of humidity and evelation so be careful. Normally my rollups would take about 10-12 hours but this runs so hot it only took 9 hours.
Good luck and enjoy.
JMarie : At least twice as fast as my old 'Ronco' dehydrator
Bought this for my husband's birthday. He had never made anything dried or 'jerked' before. I had a Ronco during previous marriage and I loved it, worked great for 25 years. Gave the Ronco to my oldest son after divorce and when new husband started saying he would love to try drying fruit and making Jerky I thought it would be the perfect surprise gift. Amazon had the Ronco as well as this one, the Nesco. I read all of the reviews and decided to try Nesco since everyone raved about it. They were right. it is everything the Ronco is and more. Because Nesco has a little fan inside of it the air circulates and the first batch of beef jerky was done in only about 6 -8 hours. Ronco would have taken much longer. The little fan in the Nesco is not very loud but we just placed it on the counter in laundry room and closed the door, then couldn't hear it at all. Very glad I bought it and my husband LOVES making jerky in it. He loves to cook so I know he will be using it a lot.
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!
Lizbeth Navarrete : Great purchase
So far so good! I’m loving it
Alula : Electronics
First order I never came. Had to make a complaint to finally get what I paid for. Works ok.
dgassaway : Good for the price!
I have always loved the idea of dehydrating food. Its great for the price. The only thing I wish there was, was an automatic shut off switch on a certain time but you do get what you pay for in many instances and this is one of these things. There is nothing I hate more than knowing its a 6 hour time and having to wake up to turn the machine off.
Yooks : which was fun. However
I bought it to experiment with food dehydration, which was fun. However, it uses SO MUCH power that you could see a dimming in the lights and microwave when it was on, and the power bill for the month I used it was through the roof.
Buddy : Easy to use & clean
I use this all the time now. got mine used and it came in almost new condition with extra trays and fruit roll trays. It's really easy to use. Prep your food item,set what your drying on the racks, turn it on and forget it til it's done. I put the racks right in the dishwasher for easy clean up. I have already made Jerkey, dried apples, peaches, apple sauce roll ups, and dried Italian Sauce. It paid for itself just from the first two batches of Jerkey. Next is dried chopped beef for camping, I'm going to get the optional screens for that.
De Anna L. Gullett : Newco American Harvest Dehydrator - Great Investment
Before I purchased this product, I checked the product out online through a lot of sites. The biggest complaint was the noise. I didn't find the noise to be a problem at all. It does have a "working sound", however the sound doesn't drown out any other noise so I found it tolerable. My first use for this product was for making jerky which came out perfect. I found this to be a simple machine for the person who is going to use it once or twice a month. If you are a person who plans on using your machine a couple of times a week, you might consider getting a more advanced version with control settings. This machine has the simple on/off setting and works great for me! Great investment on my part. Very glad I purchased this and definitely have encourage others to purchase this item as well.
Ayanami : Love it! Used it all summer!
Pros:
I've dried a wide variety of items this summer with my dehydrator. I absolutely love it! I joined a CSA for the first time, and the dehydrator was fantastic for most veggies that I could not use immediately.
Fantastic with herbs; dries in an hour or two!
Other things I've dried this summer: onions, leeks, any kind of pepper, squash, tomatoes (see comment below). Everything has come out wonderfully! Haven't tried jerky or fruit rolls yet!
Cons:
Herbs or veggies would sometimes turn brown if dried for too long. Basil in particular usually turned brown (probably due to its high moisture content). Onions as well were prone to turning brown when over-dried. This does not appear to affect their taste; only aesthetics.
There is no temperature or timer settings on this basic unit. This is not generally a problem, but makes it nearly impossible for me to make tomato leathers correctly with this unit. I almost always over-dry and end up with "tomato chips" instead. Of course, then I just throw them into the food processor and make tomato powder instead, so it's not really a big loss, but something to be aware of.
I purchased the optional fruit roll and screen trays to accommodate smaller veggies. I don't have any complaints about these extra trays, but it should be noted that using them will change the airflow in your unit, and you will need to rotate the trays more often to account for them.
Yes, it is a bit loud. About as loud as a moderately noisy fan. If it bothers you, just place it out in the garage or porch.
Bottom Line:
Cons are a minor, and can mostly be solved if you buy a slightly higher-end model. Only real issue is that if you don't want something COMPLETELY dry, you need to keep an eye on it. But for the cheapest dehydrator I've seen on the market, it works like a boss.
UPDATE: Five years later, this dehydrator is still going strong! I use it quite frequently every summer.
Yada yada : Groovy good
I use it to make dog treats of sweet potato, orange and apple slices. So far.
Those treats cost a bundle in the store bought bags. Easy to use and it loads in the dishwasher for a lazy cleanup. Seems well made for the price. Noisy fan though. We'll see how it holds up. I'm saving back the purchase price on my second batch of treats. Unless you want to go high class, look no further
Satisfied.
Ward : Good dehydrator.
We like this dehydrator because it is fast and efficient. It is pretty easy to clean.
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.
OAlpha : No complaints
Made delicious jerky, tomato chips, and jalapeno chips. Have plans for more no complaints.
Bob : Great for peppers!!
This product saved me a TON of time! I was spreading out all of my hot peppers on a cookie and letting them dry in the sun but that took soooooo long. With this I was able to dry a batch of cayenne peppers in just 1 day. However, bigger, juicer peppers like jalapenos required significantly longer, about 4-5 days depending on how many peppers you put in. But for the price and the fact that it's made in the USA, it's a great product!!
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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