Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, For Snacks, Fruit, Beef Jerky, Gray 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
Gray
Wattage
600 watts
Item Dimensions LxWxH
13.75 x 22.13 x 13.87 inches
product features
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EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION: 600 watts of drying power provides even heat distribution; consistent drying that is four times faster than other food dehydrators
ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL: The adjustable temperature control (95°F -160°F) gives you the flexibility to achieve the best results when drying different foods that need varying temperature settings
EXPANDABLE TO 12 TRAYS: Comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 12 trays so you can dry large quantities at once with no tray rotation needed; additional trays sold separately
VITASAVE EXTERIOR: The opaque exterior blocks harmful light to retain more of the food's nutrients and vitamins during the drying process
ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: (2) Fruit Roll Sheets, (2) Clean-A-Screens, a sample of Jerky Seasoning & Cure, and a 52-page recipe & instruction book
MADE IN THE USA: Proudly made in the USA of global and domestic components. Only the powerhead of this item is imported from China. The rest of the product is 100% made and assembled in the USA
From the manufacturer
NESCO FD-75A, Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
The NESCO FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator dries your favorite foods in just hours. With Converga-Flow drying action, air is forced up and across the trays where it converges in the center for quick, even, and nutritious drying. The top mounted fan prevents liquids from dripping into the center. Instead of purchasing store-bought, the NESCO Snackmaster Pro allows you to enjoy dried fruits, jerky, veggies, and more right from home. This model includes 2 Fruit Roll Sheets, 2 Clean-A-Screens, a sample of jerky seasoning with cure, and a recipe and instruction book.
Features
600 Watt Powerhead
Generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating foods safety.
Adjustable Thermostat
Allows user to dry different foods at proper temperatures (95°F - 160°F).
Converga-Flow System
Provides even heat distribution without having to rotate trays.
Features
BPA Free Drying Trays
Made of high-quality food grade plastic. Each tray provides 0.8 sq. ft. of drying space.
Expandable Up To 12 Drying Trays
Increase the overall drying area by expanding your dehydrator with additional trays.
Recipe Booklet
Great recipes, tips, and tricks to help you get the most out of your dehydrator.
Wattage
400
600
700
1000
1000
# of Trays Included
4
5
4
8
4
Max Tray Capacity
Expandable Up To 7
Expandable Up To 12
Expandable Up To 8
Expandable Up To 30
Expandable Up To 20
Temperature Control
Fixed
Adjustable Thermostat
Adjustable Thermostat
Adjustable Thermostat
Digitally Controlled
Additional Accessories (By SKU)
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 x 13 x 11
14.5 x 14.37 x 9.75
14 x 14 x 10
15 x 15.5 x 9.5
product description
Product Packaging:Standard Packaging
Easily dry fruit, vegetables, and jerky in hours instead of days with the BPA Free NESCO FD-75A Food and Jerky Dehydrator. The unit's patented Converga-Flow drying system forces air down the exterior pressurized chamber, then horizontally across each individual tray, converging in the center, for fast, even, and nutritious drying. Flavors don't mix, and there's no need to rotate the trays. It's top-mounted fan eliminates the worry of liquids dripping into the heater chamber, and an opaque Vita-Save exterior helps block harmful lights in order to retain more of the food's nutrients and vitamins during the drying process. The unit's adjustable thermostat ranged from 95 degrees to 160 degrees F, providing the flexibility needed to ensure excellent results. It's a 600 watts unit. Five trays come included, but the unit can be expanded to 12 trays (additional trays sold separately) for drying larger quantities at one time. Accessories include two fruit roll sheets, perfect for drying semi-liquids like soups, sauces, and fruit rolls; two Clean-A-Screen flexible screens, which allow for easy drying of small items such as herbs, spices and potpourri; and three original jerky spice packets for making jerky. A 52-page recipe and instruction book also comes included. With a speckled gray design, the food dehydrator measures approximately 13-inch by 13-inch by 10-inch.
product details
important information
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Questions about Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, For Snacks, Fruit, Beef Jerky, Gray
Q:
What type of metal are the trays made of?
Answer: The trays are plastic, not metal.
Answer: The answer is right in the description, next to the photo.
Answer: I called the company, they are made of bpa free plastic.
Answer: They are made of foodgrade plastic.
Answer: Plastic.................
Answer: Plastic
Answer: You said plastic?
Q:
does it have a timer
Answer: It does not have a timer... the only thing that this dehydrator does not have!
Answer: No, it doesn't have a timer. I've made dried apple slices & fruit leather. I'll put it in late afternoon or evening & just check it the next day. It's been fine without a timer. It's easy to pull apart the trays & check on whatever you're making.
Answer: No timer you have to watch the clock and check on what you are doing every so often to make sure its all going good.
Answer: There is no timer but you could use a simple vacation type timer normally used for lamps.
Answer: No, and I didn't think it was necessary till I made some extra dry beef jerky.
Answer: No it does not. But I understand you can buy one at your local hardware store if you need it.
Answer: Does it turn off after 10 hours?
Answer: No.
Answer: No it does not.
Q:
Is this loud or quiet? I had one before and the loudness drove me nuts to where I couldn't use it
Answer: It makes a nice background white noise that you could use to help you fall asleep. If you want to set it on the kitchen table between yourself and someone else you're trying to have a conversation with, it is too loud for that. I don't think it was your food dehydrator that drove you nuts. ;)
Answer: It is incredibly quiet, you can stand next to it and whisper and still be heard (my wife and I were doing that talking about presents for the grandkids). Someone called it white noise, and that's a good description.
Answer: I don't think it's loud at all. I can barely hear it with the tv or radio on.
Answer: It's more like a very small fan. I'd say it is relatively quiet. It's not a rattling sound or anything. I usually use mine at night so it's ready by morning.
Answer: The unit is fairly loud. It has a fan so you cant expect whisper quiet.
Answer: I agree with the other poster, a good comparison is a small fan. it's not an annoying sound (to me), just like a whirrrrr like you put a small/medium 12" standing fan on low-medium.
Answer: No louder than a small desk fan.
Answer: How long does it take
Answer: I wouldn't want the thing running next to my bed, but you have to work at it to hear it from another room. "White" noise.
Answer: In terms of noise I think a house fan would be a good noise comparison.
Q:
The owners manual states to use "precooked or processed" turkey when making turkey jerky to avoid harmful bacteria. Has anyone used raw turkey?
Answer: This dehydrator only goes to 160 °F. USDA says poultry needs to be taken to 165 °F to kill the bacteria.
Answer: To add to the discussion, water activity and salt also controls bacteria growth, so its not just the temperature that is it is processed. As with dried cured country hams. They are ready to eat after being cured and are not heated to 165 to kill salmonella. So the 160 temperature should be fine..
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: The USDA specifies temperatures and times for killing Salmonella from 151 degrees for 41 seconds to 157 degrees for 10 seconds. Lethality to microorganisms isn't a simple measure of temperature but a combination of temperature and time. I am very confident that a temperature of around 160 degrees for the hours it takes to process meats is very effective at eliminating Salmonella, and as it is the more durable of the bugs one finds in food that temperature and time covers pretty much everything. Well, except prions, but nothing in your house get hot enough for that.
Answer: I make chicken jerky from raw chicken. Cut drying time a little and finish in 200 degree oven for 30 minutes.
Answer: Raw fowl is perfect for salmonella bacteria (food poisoning). Don't do it. Turkey is very lean so it should dehydrate
Answer: I have been making Chicken Jerky from raw Chicken for years and nobody has died
Answer: I make turkey jerky all the time with raw ground turkey all the time never had a problem
Answer: It is best to precook it as it takes a bit of time for the dehydrator to come to the bacteria killing temperature. When bacteria is in the low hundreds they replicate much much faster than room temperature. Even after the bacteria is killed the toxins remain so you can still get sick from it.
Answer: As long as you run it on high, as directed, you should not have a problem. The temperature of 160 degrees is the magic number for killing the nasties.
Q:
where is this product made?
Answer: Hi, I am the President/owner of Metal Ware the company that makes the FD-75A Snackmaster Food Dehydrator. The dehydrator is made primarily in our facility in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. We are a privately held company and have been for almost 100 years. The top of the unit is made in China. The trays, base, seasonings, care and use guide, packaging, fruit leathers, clean-a-screens are all made right here in Two Rivers. I hope you enjoy this product as we take great pride in making as much as is economically possible here in the USA. Please see our other USA made products like our bakeware which is 100% made in the USA.
Answer: Almost all Nesco products are made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin or Chaska, MN. They are all American made.
Answer: The trays appear to be made in the USA but the actual power unit is made in China. This was very disappointing as this is where the quality is most important. Likely a tray will not fail but if the dehydrator itself is by far more likly. It is like buying a car being sold as "made in America" just to find out that all of the guts are made in China such as the engine, transmission and so on.
Answer: The case and trays are of hard food grade plastic
Answer: Under the Wisconsin address it says "Made in China"
Answer: Two Rivers, Wisconsin
Answer: Mine says "Made in China". Very disappointing.
Q:
Can I make yogurt in it
Answer: I make yogurt (48 oz) once a week in my FD-75 using Nesco Convert-A-Trays purchased from Nesco website: Convert-A-Tray Set of 2 Speckled Item Number: CT-2SGP $14.95.
Q:
What is the maximum height food you can put on a tray (space b/w trays)? Also, how wide is each tray from the center to the edge? Thank you.
Answer: That's not how dehydration is done. You want the food sliced THIN and to leave ROOM between the top of the food and the next layer on the next tray up for airflow. It is essential for even, timely dehydration. If you cannot fit all the food in one dehydrator then you either need a larger one, to get more trays, or get more dehydrators.
Answer: It's funny that I just got a notification to answer your question because I making beef jerky right now! (About my 25th batch since owning) I can fit about 1.5 lbs of beef jerky on the 5 included trays. From the center of the trays to the edge is roughly 5 3/4 inches.
Answer: There is a total space between trays of almost an inch (7/8") 1/2" on the top side and 3/8" on the bottom. There is a center hole for airflow. This hole is 1.3/4". The radius from the hole to the outside wall of each tray is 5.1/4".
Answer: I use the Convert-A-Tray Speckled CT-2SGP (Nesco website) . They can be used as a regular tray or, with the removable center, can expand the height to whatever you need. (Nesco FD-75)
Answer: There is approximately 1 inch of clearance between trays. I have dried grapes into raisins with no problem. If you try to dry anything with a lot of thickness, you are going to increase the drying time substantially. This could result in the exterior of what is being dried to have a dryer texture than you might want. I have dried curly leaf kale where the leaves had to be slightly pressed down. The result was fine.
Answer: The trays are 12 inches wide and 1 and 1/4 inches high. The more trays you put on the longer it takes. I use 8 trays at a time to do sliced bonless ckicken breasts for snaks for my dog and all of her friends. I let them go for 24 hrs and everybody is happy
Answer: The height is about 1 inch.
Q:
Can you dehydrate blueberries or willl they fall through?
Answer: I'm just in the process of dealing with that issue. YES blueberries or anything else in that size range will fall through the fairly large web on the trays. I will get as many of the "Clean-a-Screens as I have trays. I would NOT get the solid fruit roll-up trays, as another suggested, for this purpose as they are solid and do not allow for air circulation.
Answer: I have never tried, however you can always put the fruit sheets on the dehydrator trays. they are solid for making fruit gels.
Answer: I think regular sized blueberries will be fine. But, just in case if I were you I would order the 'jelly roll sheets' pronto. I did and I use those for anything that may fall thru. Besides, you'll love using them to make other things too. they are worth buying!
Answer: They fall through. I use the small mesh inserts for blueberries, grapes, herbs, etc. Big help.
Q:
How can I make veggies crispy and crunchy like chips?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: I'm not sure which veggies you're using, but slice them into thin slices.. say 1/8 inch or thinner. I've done banana and strawberry chips this way. There is no exact dehydrating time, but I usually set mine for 4-6hrs and check if they are done or need a little more time.
Answer: although I haven't made veggie chips yet, the dehydrator does come with a cookbook. it has tips and tricks, so I would imagine you would just put them in the dehydrator and let it go until you reach the consistency you like.
Answer: I've blanched the veggies as instructed but they still come out with the texture of tree bark. Still working on that.
Answer: No, they will never become anywhere close to as crunchy as chips.
Answer: bread and deep fry or bake
Q:
After 10 hrs. my 1/4" thick Banana slices still are "soft" in the Centers. Do they need to be dried to "chip like" so they don't mold or go bad ?
Answer: When I did banana chips I had a similar issue. Slice them thinner next time, less than 1/8", and plan to run the dehydrator longer, around 16 hours or so. Check it every couple of hours and remove chips that are sufficiently dried. As for food safety regarding these chips that are still soft, they are fine to eat within a day or so, or keep in the fridge, but I would not plan on storing them longer than that.
Answer: Yes they need to dry longer or be cut thinner. The more moisture you leave in the more likely they are to mold or rot, and/or do so sooner. Don't necessarily expect them to be chip-like crunchy but not soft either.
Answer: need to be dried , cut thinner next time
Answer: No, they won't last as long, but they are fine, if not mushy. I try to cut mine thinner and sometimes dry them longer.
Answer: Yes
Q:
what is the difference FD-75A and FD-75PR? The listing shows FD-75A but the reviews keep popping FD-75PR. The manufacturer site does not list FD-75A
Answer: Per Nesco customer service, FD-75A is sold strictly by Amazon. FD-75PR is sold by Nesco. THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME!
Answer: One difference is that I cannot buy additional treys from Amazon. Three orders have all been wrong size and unusable!! (You know I double checked)
Answer: Both dehydrators are the same. The FD-75PR is simply a promotional bundle and they added some jerky seasoning packets.
Answer: Product Description
Answer: I am not sure what the difference is, but usually it means what comes with the product. Maybe an extra tray or whatever it may be. Sorry can't help you more.
Answer: Unfortunately I have no idea what the difference would be .. however, it probably has something to do with an "extra" something. Wish I could offer more.
Answer: NO Idea sorry But this one has no Timer. but Easy and best.
Q:
What is the difference between "Frustration-free" and "Standard" Packaging?
Answer: Have you ever got a pack of D size batteries and they put them in that tough plastic packaging that is just brutal to get into? Well, Amazon will send you those batteries (or whatever you are ordering) in a plain thin cardboard box that is super easy to open and is "Frustration-free".
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: No clue...however, this item came in easy to unpack fashion. No stuffing with extra packaging material, just the styrofoam inset holding the processor firm in the box.
Answer: It's Amazons custom packing that is supposed to make for easier opening. It's also recyclable and protects the product.
Answer: Not a clue.
Q:
turkey
Answer: Sucka!
Answer: Jive talkin'
Q:
What is the wattage
Answer: Your answer in in the description, at the top of the page.
Answer: 600W
Answer: If you scroll down on the listing, you will see a comparison chart for this dehydrator vs some others. The wattage is there for all the comparisons. This one is 600 watts.
Answer: This model the FD-75A is only 600 watts. Contrary to the product description which says that the "FD-75A and FD-75PR are the same item.", is false. The FD-75PR is 700 watts (according to Nesco's website).
Q:
Is it really supposed to be so flimpsy? The trays barely seem to stack up on top of each other evenly. I'm wondering if it will last over time. Thanks
Answer: It does seem flimsy when it comes to using the trays, but so far I had no issues with the trays after multiple uses and washes. You can always get a replacement tray if something happens to the current ones by going here http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-LT-2SG-Add-A-Tray-FD-61WHC-Dehydrators/dp/B000FG0ONC/ref=pd_bxgy_k_text_y
Answer: This lasted all of four months with three uses altogether. It wasn't the trays that gave up though. It was the fan. Stopped working just like that.
Answer: I use 11 trays most of the time several times a week for either jerky, fruit or veggies and have done so for the several months I have owned this. I have had no problem with the trays or the unit and believe me it definitely gets a work-out around our house!
Answer: I have had no problems with the trays. This summer and fall, I have been drying tomatoes, green peppers, pumpkin slices, crowder peas and Fordhook lima beans. The dryer worked extremely well on all these vegetables.
Answer: I have mine a few years and use it about five times a month and no problem at all. Not flimsy at all even got one for a friend one as a gift he uses his more than l do
Answer: It's not flimsy at all, you just aren't stacking them aligned with each other.
Q:
Has anyone used it to dry herbs? If so how did it do?
Answer: It takes a while to get the temperature right (the temperature recommended took three days to dry the herbs), but once I figured it out, the drying worked really well. I usually set it at 120 - 125
Answer: It takes a while to get the temperature right (the temperature recommended took three days to dry the herbs), but once I figured it out, the drying worked really well. I usually set it at 120 - 125
Answer: It does great for herbs, they end up much more flavorful and colorful than the fan-forced air drying I did before I had the dehydrator, and only hours instead of days (which varies based on ambient humidity level).
Answer: I've done a couple of loads of Sweet Basil, Thai Basil, and Rosemary. As I recall, it took about 2 - 3 hours or so on Fruit/Nut setting. Does a great job. You just have to check it often to remove dried leaves to keep from overdrying. It's a great lttle unit. I put an inexpensive lamp timer on mine when I do jerky so I can let it work at night and not over dry. Highly recommend.
Answer: I dry cilantro and oregano and only take around 3 hours at 140*
Answer: keep in mind because it has a fan it dries very fast, just keep an eye on pretty much anything you are dehydrating with this. It is awesome that it takes less time, but a lot of recipes need adjusting for the time. My first attempt at jerky turned the meat to powder because I went by a recipe that said it took 17 hours. I have found it takes about 5.
Q:
are they bpa free
Answer: is this BPA free?
Answer: All dehydrators are BPA free. Practically every single thing there is related to food is bpa free EXCEPT certain older water bottles and the linings of some metal cans.
Answer: My box says BPA free received on 12-20-13 with 600 watt fd75pr unit.
Answer: Nesco says that "the food contact surfaces are made of ABS plastic, which is BPA free."
Answer: Read the description.
Answer: what is the wattage?
Q:
Is it ok to turn off the unit to check status of your food? Will this effect the process?
Answer: It is perfectly OK.Most of models have no OF/ ON switch,so the one and only way to check on your food is to turn it's OFF, to open lid to check on your food,then turn it's back ON.Good. Luck!
Answer: It only takes a few seconds to check the food, you can just lift the top off and set it on the table upside down while you check. It does not get too hot to hold, does not pose any burn hazards.
Answer: It's a very simple machine. You can turn it off or leave it on. I leave mine on and just prop the cover on something so the fan can circulate the air while I check progress. It's a nice dehydrator.
Answer: You can leave the unit on if you are just lift the cover off and check the contents. I left my running and put the cover on the counter top for about 30 seconds and it blew the thermo fuse inside.
Answer: Yes, it is fine to unplug it for a minute and check on the progress. Actually, if making beef jerky you should do this -- to pat off some of the excess fat -- a few times during the cooking process. I also check my dried fruit a few times too and have found I like to dry my fruit quite a bit longer than the instruction manual suggestions.
Answer: I check the chicken jerky about once every two hours. I just unplug, open the top, and even restack the trays in different order just to rotate the cooking. I don't know if it's neccessary, I didn't read anywhere that said I should rotate trays...I just do it. It's a very easy machine to use. I love it and my dogs love the chicken jerky.
Answer: You can turn it off or simply lift the top up and check...try and keep it to a minimum. A quick check.
Answer: It just expands the time. I have even left it off for several hours.
Q:
Can this dry out whole portabella mushrooms?
Answer: i have not done portabella mushrooms, but i have done regular white mushrooms. they came out very well. since they are from the same family more or less i would have to say you would have success with the portabella ones as well.
Answer: They probably wouldn't fit between the trays. If the do fit then answer is "yes"
Q:
Where is the written confirmation in the product that trays are from BPA free material?
Answer: The trays are made in Two Rivers, WI and are BPA Free.
Q:
Is this good for dying psilocybe cubenesis?
Answer: Yes! You can definitely dry mushrooms in the dehydrator.
Answer: mushrooms can easily be dehydrated in this Nesco.
Q:
what is the wattage
Answer: Your answer in in the description, at the top of the page.
Answer: 600W
Answer: If you scroll down on the listing, you will see a comparison chart for this dehydrator vs some others. The wattage is there for all the comparisons. This one is 600 watts.
Answer: This model the FD-75A is only 600 watts. Contrary to the product description which says that the "FD-75A and FD-75PR are the same item.", is false. The FD-75PR is 700 watts (according to Nesco's website).
Q:
This machine makes crispy apple and bananas? I live in Brazil and can't test after buying it... I will stay at an hotel for few days.
Answer: I make crispy apple slices in it all the time, my kids love them much more than the store-bought rubbery apple slices.
Answer: I tried a few apple slices, they were more shriveled up than crispy. Don't know the proper way to prepare them. My hot peppers did dry very nicely, they ground up to a powder.
Answer: Yes it will. I made the mistakes of not slicing the banana thin. 2nd time around went much better.
Q:
Is there a California warning?
Answer: Warning - California is very expensive and sometimes has earthquakes.
Answer: There isn't a California warning. The packing box does say BPA free.
Answer: All of our products are BPA free. Enjoy!
Answer: Not that I am aware of. Suggest you contact the manufacturer to respond to.your question.
Q:
gas
Answer: Beano?
Q:
I know 12 tray max is recomended but additional trays comes in 2 packs. Anyone tried using 13 trays max?
Answer: I have not used additional trays.
Answer: I use 13 all the time.
Q:
Can I use this dehydrator to make raw seeds/veggie crackers?
Answer: This is not a baking machine.
Q:
This was never $88 before black friday. i have had it in my cart for about a week, and it has always been $58. why the deceit?
Answer: I do apologize, we do not control pricing from Amazon. You may be able to speak with a representative for them in regards to this matter.
Q:
can I make astronaut ice cream in this??
Answer: This machine would not work for the Astronaut Ice Cream. The Astronaut Ice Cream needs to be freeze dried.
Q:
does it make crispy food?
Answer: Yes. If you leave it long enough.
Q:
Can you use it to dehydrate homemade pasta?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Never tried that but you can dehydrate fruit. I guess it would work as long as you keep eye on it before it petrified. May get too dried.
Answer: Yes, this dehydrator works great. I love it! It has sheets and mesh you can use, as well as the racks. Everything I've used it for, it's done an excellent job.
Answer: When we've made pasta in the past, we just air dried it on a pasta rack at room temperature. Should be no issue doing it in a dryer, just faster. To save a bit on electricity I would use low heat as air alone does the job. Might be a pain for longer noodles, but would be great for shells, etc.
Q:
was wondering, where and in what container do you all store the dryed veggies and fruit? In the refrigerator or freezer like the direction says?
Answer: In my experience well dried fruits and veggies will keep for years if kept totally dry. I use any container that has a good lid seal. Being a frequent COSTCO shopper, I love to reuse the large plastic containers that nuts, candy, salsa, and many of their other products come packaged in. Have also used plastic screw top pint gellato containers for small batches of things. As long as it's airtight it will work fine. No experience with jerk other than store bought, and that I would keep in the fridge for LONG term storage.
Answer: Hi Ingrid, I store dried fruit/veg in plastic containers, either use within a couple of months if not in fridge or feezer though, I guess they will keep longer but I'm not sure of the loss of flavour. Beef Jerky I make for my son keeps ages (when he leaves it alone!) I have kept dried apples for over a year without any lost of flavour but you need to keep it in a dry dark area to avoid colour loss. I've also dried herbs & stored in plastic bags just in the cupboard. good luck Kate
Answer: We use canning jars in various sizes, they seal tight and keep dehydrated product for a long time. We store them in the basement with the other canned items we do, it is a cool place for storage, but you could leave them anywhere provided the lids are tight. Hope that helps.
Answer: I store my beef jerky in a freezer bag kept in the refrigerator. It doesn't last long enough to worry that it might go bad. lol
Q:
What size are the trays (diameter), I have some old ones that are 13-1/2" in diameter from my old broken machine.
Answer: 13x3x13 that is what they are.
Q:
how many trays does this hold?
Answer: It comes with 5 trays but it can operate with up to 12 trays. Drying pressure automatically adjusts to number of trays.
Answer: They are all separate and stack on top of each other. Then the dehydrator part goes on top. You can do 1 tray only or keep stacking. So far, I have stacked 7 trays with my beef jerky and it took about 5 hours.
Answer: we have extra trays ,have successfully used 7-8 to dry tomatoes,peppers,herbs..check and swap trays, herbs take less drying time,but can do @same time
Answer: The manufacturer recommends using a minimum of 3 trays while dehydrating, which means 2 empty trays plus the tray you're dehydrating. I assume that's either a safety standard or quality standard as the first time I used it was with one tray and the pineapple chunks were like rocks.
Answer: I added two supplemental trays that I purchased at a local store. It works fine with seven trays to dry apples.
Answer: it comes with 5 trays
Q:
Whats the voltage? - I am looking for 220
Answer: I used 120 volts unit uses 600 watts
Answer: ...it is the standard 110 volts.
Answer: Its rated for 110V 60Hz only.
Answer: 120 volts.
Answer: 110
Answer: Standard 110
Answer: Unit is rated 120v.
Answer: 115volts
Q:
What is the manufacturer's warranty on this? Thank you!
Answer: There is a card in the package for a 1 Year Limited Warranty that you'd have to mail in. In a nutshell, the warranty says that Nesco will cover the appliance if it is defective, or something goes wrong while you're using it normally. If its damaged any other way, especially if you were to start using it a different way than intended, then it won't be covered. All you have to do is rip one half of the warranty card off, put a stamp on it, and send it out.
Answer: The warranty indicates "One Year Limited Warranty". There is more info regarding the warranty & their customer service number is 1-800 288-4545 if you have further questions. Hope this helps!
Answer: I have the warranty card and it's the typical one year materials and workmanship. You have to fill it out and send it in to register the product. Good luck and God bless.
Answer: Sorry, I don't know anything about warranties. I've had this dehydrator for a while and not problems. My elderly cousin has had it for several years and it works fine. Good luck.
Answer: I gave this as a gift to my son and do not have that info as he lives in another state. Will forward when I can find it out.
Answer: Well I am not sure...but they are taking it back so we will see if tbey fix it
Answer: 1 year.
Answer: Mine said one year.
Answer: Mine says one year.
Q:
So, I want to make chicken, venison, and beef jerky, can you use raw uncooked meat? or should I cook the meat first?
Answer: I bought this for my daughter in law and they made venison jerky using raw meat. It was delicious
Answer: I make chicken jerky using sliced raw chicken breast. I soak mine overnight in Nesco's jerky cure and spice. For beef I use 93% lean raw hamburger. For the hamburger I mix in 1 packet of cure and 1 packet of spice. I use their jerky maker, which is kind of like a small caulking gun, to make my strips. They turn out great.
Answer: Jerky should never be cooked first, you leave it raw, but make sure you marinate it first for flavor, soak it in whatever liquid and seasonings you want for flavor for a day or more, then dehydrate.
Answer: No need to cook the mes t first. Generally raw meat is cut in thin strips and cured in a brine or seasoned marinade for a day or so and then dried in the dehydrater. We made beef jerkey and it was far superior to what is offered for sale.
Answer: We make jerky with raw beef all the time. Never tried chicken or venison.
Q:
Watts
Answer: Watts what? 700 watts (stamped on the machine) is probably the answer. Here's the whole story, discovered because of your question:
Answer: UL stamp on machine says:
Q:
Does model number inside the top of the FD-75A actually show the model as "FD-75A" or "FD-75PR??" I just want to make sure they are ACTUALLY alike!
Answer: FD75-PR is on my actual dehydrator...my box is out in the shed, so I can't compare numbers right now....however....I DO LOVE my dehydrator!
Answer: Mine says FD-75PR inside the top of the dehydrator and on the box
Answer: FD-75PR is on mine
Q:
Does this make good kale chips? I'm a huge Brads Raw foods Nacho Kale chips fan, but they are really expensive and hard to get.
Answer: I havent tried kale chips (not a big fan of kale) but I made banana chips and they were awesome.(the good kind isnt very cheap in stores either) Its worth a try to make your own trust me! Kale is pretty cheap for a bag so you can try a few different flavors if you want without costing a tone. Just a warning: Ive had to play with the temperature a little bit when using my dehydrator. The booklet that comes with it isnt always right but close. I hope this helped
Answer: Makes amazing kale chips...obviously depends on the recipe, but I do them all the time...happy to give my recipe if you want..makes absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS kale chips... ;-)
Answer: Yes! Have made many batches.
Q:
Can a 5 lb roast for beef jerky fit into 5 trays, or does it require more room than just the 5 trays?
Answer: That depends on many things, how big and thick you cut the meat, just how wet it is. I would guess not, you would most likely have to do it in 2 possibly 3 lots. You have to leave room for air to circulate thru the trays, so you can't cover the tray totally full. The meat should be about 1/4" thick, with spaces between each slice, that's about the best answer I can give you. You could contact Nesco, they may have a better answer.
Answer: You're going to need between two and three batches with 5 trays to do 5lbs "properly". You're supposed to cut the meat very thin.
Answer: Really depends on how you cut it... I've put over 4 lbs of meat in there before but again its going to come down to how thin you cut the strips. If you go very thin you may need a couple more trays.
Answer: I've fit 4 pounds on 4 trays, so I think you could do 5lbs in 5 trays. I cut mine about 1/4"-3/8" thick for reference.
Answer: How do you fit jerky on round trays?
Answer: It possibly will need to be done in two batches, while you can really pack the meat in you need to make sure there is plently of air movement for good drying of the beef.
Q:
will i be able to make protein bars on here or "raw" pies?
Answer: Should be able to make protein bars
Answer: i have no idea, here are recipes from pinterest:http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=food%20dehydrator%20recipes&rs=ac&len=18 i hope that helps =)
Answer: I think so. Since it has a low heat seting for nuts and fruit rolls.
Q:
how many lb.of beef make a lb.of jerky and do you need to but suger to fresh fruit to dry it.
Answer: I have found that you end up with about 1/2-1/3 of the starting weight you start with. e.g. 2lbs of meat will result in about a lb or so of jerky depending on what kind of moisture content there is in the meat to start with. As far as sugar with fresh fruit, I would say no, dehydrating enhances the sugar taste and adding sugar usually is too much
Q:
Does anybody connected the dehydrator to a transformer before for usage out of USA? Would like to know the ratings of the transformer if you have.
Answer: Hi!!! I live in Costa Rica, but here we use 110V/AC. So, I don't had to connect the dehydrator to any transformer. Maybe you'll need to use the transformer if your're going to use the dehydrator in Europe (220V/AC).
Answer: The dehydrator should work well with a transformer if the transformer is large enough. The dehydrator draws 700 watts at 120 volts (about 6 amps). To be safe, the transformer should be rated at least 1000 watts.
Answer: sorry, can't help you with 100% accuracy, but i would think that as long as 120v/ac and 5 plus amps comes out the outlet end of the transformer that it would work fine.
Q:
warranty
Answer: My paperwork shows a"Limited One Year Warranty". Fill out and mail in. Am dehydrating pineapple right of the can as I type.
Answer: Did not Follow through with warranty no issues yet ( $ amount is reasonable for my first expierience ) so far I have dehydrated Pinapple apples green and red apples, Grapes to raisins , bannana chips , chantrell mushrooms and am about to hunt for walnuts . have fun with it.
Answer: Limited One Year Warranty applies to Nesco appliances purchased for personal or household use. Warranted to be free of defects in materials or workmanship under normal home use...
Answer: Good afternoon Sir, I can't tell you about the warranty, because I have not use it. Thanks
Answer: p43 of instruction booklet says one year
Q:
Has anyone made yogurt with this? I assume you are preparing your warm, treated milk and then pouring into the fruit leather liners? Tips? Thanks
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: I have not made yogurt in this. Just dried fruit, bananas and apples.
Q:
Do flavors mix?
Answer: More than aroma than the flavor but to a minor extent yes the flavors do mix. You can keep this in mind when stacking the trays and put the things most likely to flavor others where that is undesirable, towards the bottom as that is the path of airflow from top to bottom and out the bottom.
Q:
What are the outer overall dimensions? There are two different dimensions listed on the product page..
Answer: Which ever is the largest dimension.
Answer: It's 13.75 diameter and 13.75 height with the handle up but only about 12 inches high with the handle down. I don't know where they get 22 inches from?
Answer: It works great by the way.
Q:
Do i have to use jerky cure when drying beef? or can i use something else that will do the same thing?
Answer: There are some other salts that will do the same thing. If you're not using our NESCO Jerky Cure, another one that we recommend is Morton's Tender Quick.
Answer: I have used it a few times now and haven’t used the cure I have used my own seasonings or followed recipes on line that never called for the cure and it still turned out really good. :)
Answer: There are individuals who use celery juice as an alternative to nitrites/ nitrates. I don't know if your asking this particular question is related to the salts or other preservatives, but some feel comfortable not using the nitrates and nitrates. To each his own.
Q:
Is this a 5 drying tray or a 2 drying tray ? The description says 5 in one place and 2 in another, please clarify.
Answer: It comes with 5 trays. It has also 2 screens you place on top of the tray (perhaps there might be the confusion) and 2 covers for fruit rolls. Hope this helps.
Answer: Ours came (this was a time ago) with 5 and then, we purchased a couple of extras.
Answer: That would be a 5 drying tray.
Answer: Correction there is 5 trays
Answer: It comes with 5 trays. It can hold up to 12 if you want to buy extra trays
Answer: It is a 5 count.
Answer: 5 trays
Answer: 5 trays
Answer: There is only two with room for more
Answer: I had five
Product reviews of Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, For Snacks, Fruit, Beef Jerky, Gray
Robert C. : Nope
Plastic doesn't line up, trays are warped. Unit doesn't power on unless I jerryrig the cord to pull at a 90 degree angle. Oh and it smells like burning plastic on use. Avoid this item unless you're looking to cash in on a insurance policy.
Alanni : Would NOT Recommend
This was my first food dehydrator purchase. I got heavily invested into videos, articles, and recipes over the summer about dehydrating and I spent months debating if I should buy one and if so, which one? I did plenty of research and decided on this one due to positive reviews I read and it being on the more affordable side. From my experiences since making the purchase, I regret buying this one and would not recommend it. I don’t know if I will even continue this hobby. My food dehydrator takes 3-5x the amount of time it says it will take to dehydrate something, even in smaller batches. This adds up on my electricity bill, not to mention the inconvenience of not knowing whether your food is finished because it’s already been well over the suggested dehydrating time.
Patrick : Failed after two uses
Bought it for my son-in-law for Christmas 2019, failed after two uses....before Covid, contacted customer service multiple times, no response then 3 weeks later a email response saying they will replace the part, a phone call saying the part would ship, three months later no part. Another round of poor customer service and they say the person that handled my claim no longer works there and,,,,they have no record of my previous transactions. Nine months later...nine months still no replacement part. Is this really a company you want to deal with? There are soooo many other nice dehydrators on this site that will fit your need.
John : Amazing Product!
Oh my goodness, this product is totally worth the price and everything. We bought it to make our own beef jerky. Talk about the aroma that it puts in your home oh gosh. This makes the second dehydrator we have had and this one blows the first one out of the water. We love everything about this, the temperature controls are easy to read, clean up is a breeze, and the heat that it gives per distribution is awesome. Totally worth buy if you are tired of the OVER priced store bought jerky. Worth every penny!
Sue Donym : Great product great price!
Extremely happy with this little unit. Have been testing it out and it works like a dream. much smaller footprint than our previous unit. Easy to clean. I wish the racks screen was a bit stronger like our other unit, but that is personal preference, being a bit clumsy I will just have to be careful when cleaning them lol. Very happy that I can also purchase extra racks if we need to for larger batches. No complaints and nice price to boot.
Jesse Knott : First one was DOA, but prime to the rescue, second unit arrived 2 days later and is perfect!
First one of these I ordered had a faulty heating element, as I have seen other reviews complain about. It seemed that the system would max out at 135° which is way too cool for making Jerky (FDA recommends 160° minimum to kill all bacteria). Along comes Amazon to the rescue, I initiate a return and they send a replacement unit the same day! The new unit has arrived and so far I am VERY pleased! This new appears to be working fine so far, and I will update if I have any complications. All this being said, I love the trays, and while I have had some sticking problems with some fruit, namely strawberries, and bananas, I still am extremely pleased with the units performance now that I have a new one that reaches the proper temperature. The only reason for the 4/5 stars is that the first unit was DOA, and had I not been skeptical and checked the temp manually I could have been faced with under cooked and potentially dangerous jerky.
Allison Jones : Pays for itself after 3 uses
I was frustrated spending upwards of $15/lb on quality freeze-dried liver and beef treats for my dog. This dehydrator was the answer! So far I've only used it to dehydrate ground beef, ground turkey and liver strips but it works perfectly. I haven't even gotten to veggies/fruits yet but I'm sure it will work well for those items as well.
PROs: Light-weight construction, easy clean-up, and saves money on dog (and human) treats!
CONs: No On/Off switch, you have to unplug it to turn it off which just seems odd; also, it's a little noisy/smelly for our small NYC space. I run it outside on our patio in decent weather, but that is a small inconvenience for such a money-saving product.
Tip: If you're going to make jerky, also buy a jerky gun which helps keep the jerky slices a consistent size for drying. Plain beef jerky dried to perfection in 4 hours with the jerky gun.
jerry collins : Needs Improvement
I found no improvement in drying performance over the bottom blowers, of which I have two. I must rotate the trays as drying proceeds. A check with the infrared thermometer showed a 3 to 4 degree drop in temperature for each tray from top to bottom. While drying split Italian plums overnight at 135 degrees, some drying occurred on the top tray, none occurred on the bottom tray. At the highest heat setting the temperature peaked about 10 degrees less than the selected temperature, even on the top tray. I was disappointed that the unit did not deliver on the recommended temperature for safe meat drying. I kept the dehydrator, knowing its limitations, for drying fruits. On the plus side the trays from my old Harvest Maid dehydrators fit this model. It is light weight and cleans up well.
Tiki : Great Filament Dryer
I use this to take the moisture out of my 3D printer filament. It works well for the purpose. Some things to note.
It does not get as hot as rated. Subtract 10°F from the rated setting and that’s about right. I’ve verified this with a metal mechanical thermometer, a digital thermometer probe, and an infrared thermometer. On full blast full hot, it peaks at about 150-153°F.
Second, the bottom of the dehydrator is colder than the top. Seems intuitive. The temp difference is greater when more of the inserts are added making the device taller. If you want as close as possible to the selected temperature, keep the dehydrator thin. I’d say you lose about another 10°F at full height on the bottom row.
To fit filament inside, you have to modify the inserts by cutting out the interior tray, leaving only the exterior ring. I did this very quickly with a sharp cordless jigsaw. Can also be done with some wire cutters or a sharp utility knife.
I can fit two rolls of filament inside. I dry nylon for 24 hours and it prints beautifully. Now I dry all my filament before printing. Might be able to fit a third roll inside but the temperature split would be too much in my opinion, and I left one tray unmodified so I can dry my desiccant pouches.
**UPDATE**
I've had this for about 2 months now and I've probably had it running for about 350-400 hours. It's chugging along like a champ. I literally won't even try 3D printing any filament without drying it first. I give Nylon and CF-Nylon about a day in here. Other less hygroscopic filaments like PLA, I dry for maybe 6-12 hours on a lower setting so they don't anneal or deform. It dries my desiccant pouches to bright blue in about a day as well.
I've considering modifying a tray and adding a bearing turn table inside so I can print directly from it. A lot of people have had success with that. It's so good I kind of want another one.
MikeW : Exceeded Expectations.
Fantastic product. I based my decision to buy on the reviews I read as well as a blog and jerky recipe site I came across, jerkyholic.com, which spoke highly of this product as well. Works great, cleans easily. As other reviewers have said, you do hear it. This is essentially a blow dryer set over a series of screens, although the sound isn't as loud. In the two months that I have had it I've used it weekly to make dog jerky. Yes, he's spoiled, but I like knowing what he's eating. I just take an Eye of Round roast (the leanest I have found. Fat doesn't dehydrate), split it lengthwise, partially freeze it and then cut it into thin strips with the grain, which makes him have to work on chewing it. (For people jerky I usually go across the grain of the meat to make it an easier chew). I use no marinade for the dog's and just let it go on high for 5-6 hours. It is about a 3 to 1 yield of raw to dried product. I have created a monster because this is now the treat of choice. But it's lean protein so I'm happy. People jerky takes longer as you are introducing more moisture into the meat with your marinade. The only downside is that there is no way to verify the temperature via the machine. So, to be safe, I finish it in the oven at 225 degrees for 10 minutes to ensure it's parasite free. Then, after cooling, refrigerate it in a bag for a week to 10 days. (it never lasts 10 days)
Gabriel's Dad : Very simple to use with great results. **UPDATE June 2019**
** Update June 2019 - I've been using this dehydrator about every 2-3 weeks to dry fruits (mostly apples) and for making beef jerky. I soon realized that 5 trays was not enough to keep up with how fast my kids devour the dried apples and how fast I go through the jerky, so I've bought 4 additional trays since my initial purchase to increase the capacity. One thing I've noticed is that when I added the 4 additional trays (for a total of 9), the drying time increased by about an hour for jerky and about 1.5 hrs for the apples. It still doesn't dehydrate evenly (never did from the beginning), so I'm still rotating the trays at the halfway point to get even drying. This dehydrator is rated to use 12 trays, but given how the drying time increased and how it currently functions with just 9 trays, I'm not confident that this dehydrator can truly handle 12 trays, so I'm not going to be buying any more trays. However, that being said, the dehydrator is a workhorse and I haven't had any issues with the motor or the heater shutting off or any nonsense like that. Still very happy with this unit!! **
I was a little wary of buying this model because it didn't have an on/off switch. I'm not sure why that was going to bother me so much, probably because everything else seems to have one. But since i don't plan on leaving this dehydrator plugged in at all times (like my toaster or coffeemaker), I've realized that I really don't need an on/off switch for the dehydrator.
I was also wondering if I should spend some more money and get one with a digital temperature selection and wondering if I needed to step up from a simple dial control. After having used this dehydrator for the past month or so, I realized that the digital temperature control would have done really nothing other than add cost to the dehydrator.
The dehydrator itself works great. it's straightforward and easy, but there are a few things: 1. The dehydrator touts it's ability to provide even and equal airflow throughout the entire space so that you don't have to rotate trays. Well, that doesn't seem to work exactly as they hoped. I find that the trays closest to the heating and fan element (top) dries out much quicker than the tray on the bottom. It took me a few runs to figure this out, so now about half way through the drying process I swap the trays and put the top on the bottom and vice versa.
2. The trays stack well, but it is very difficult to get them perfectly aligned to satisfy my inner OCD. I'm not sure if they are designed to have as much wiggle room as they have, and I'm not sure how much it affects drying time and efficiency of the dehydrator, but it's annoying that the sides are not always flush fit.
3. The trays are a bit of a pain to clean due to all the nooks and crannies where the food juices get stuck and dry out. Nothing a little water, soap, brush, and elbow grease can't scrub out, but when there's about a 100 or so crevices in each tray, it gets very annoying. i guess i could throw the trays in the dish washer, but I'm always a bit wary about throwing delicate looking plastic things in the dish washer.
Otherwise, the machine works great and I've been able to make beef jerky at home to satisfy my cravings at a fraction of the cost of buying them at the grocery store, with the option to make the jerky as spicy or sweet or savory as i want. I've also used it to dry mangos and kiwis and this dehydrator has worked great. I've soon found out, as many others have, that I definitely need more than the 5 trays that come with it.
C. Smith : Homemade Dog Treats
I used it to dehydrate chicken feet, chicken necks, turkey necks, chicken hearts and gizzards for dog treats. I put it at 160F and less than 4 hours it’s ready to feed to the dogs. It’s so much cheaper to make homemade treats then buying it.
Dave : Not built to last, takes long time to dehydrate fruits
I've purchased three of these dehydrators over the last six years, and last me about two years before the heater fails. Each time, I would purchase a new unit and reuse some of the trays from the failed unit with the new unit. However, when you get to seven trays, it takes a long time for fruit to dry. I did call the company, and they said this dehydrator was 'not commercial', which must mean that you can only dehydrate items once in awhile or that you can't really dehydrate several batches of oranges or pears. Between the units failing, taking a long time to dehydrate the food, and the poor quality, I'm going to look at a different brand that can do a better job.
Chris Gorman : Works great as a filement dryer
I got this food dehydrator to dry the filament for my 3D printer. It works great, but I would recommend that if someone does the same to use a thermometer to double check the temp. I set the nob to 52C and it heats the inside to 47C. Not a big deal because I don't use it for food, but it could be a big deal if you use it for food. Also a little thing I didn't know until I got it, there isn't an on/off switch. If it's plugged in it is on, unplug it to turn it off. And for those currious, I can fit 2 1KG spools of filament inside of it. So if you need to dry more filament you will probably need either more of the inserts or to buy a larger dehydrator. I also set it to "52C" (read 47C) whe I go to dry my PLA, and then I leave it in the dryer for 12-24 hours. If your filament spools are more open on the sides you can probably get away with less, but the sides of my filament are usually quite solid. I havn't tried other filaments in the dryer yet as I only have PLA, but I think that a food dehydrator is a must for anyone who does 3D printing.
And for those who say that PLA is fine sitting on a shelf and doesn't need dried or place in dry storage, the humidity where I live is consistently over 80% for 6+months out of the year. It will absorb moisture at those humidity levels, everything does.
Robin A. Wendt : The best food dryer and preservative you’ll find!
Never had a purchase with which I have higher satisfaction. After several years it’s still going strong. And cleanup is very easy. The engineering on this is nothing short of perfect.
Sitting here as a covid-19 shut-in and looking at LOTS of venison in freezer. Making jerky has just not given me something to do but also a healthy snack for family and friends.
Will do lots of herbs this year too - sage, thyme, chives, oregano and rosemary.
T & K : We love this, only planning on making jerky and it is perfect!
I just got this in the mail, I actually marinated the meat as I saw the tracking tell me it was almost here. I also bought two packs of two extra trays. I had the meat sliced (bottom round on sale at Safeway for $1.97 a pound) earlier in the day. The butcher said he sliced it on #5 on his meat slicer after trimming all the visible fat off the roasts. I marinated it overnight; one bag with the three packets of marinade and curing salts that the dehydrator came with and another with a concoctions I figured out by reading on the internet. I got up this morning and put the meat on the trays. One 4 pound roast filled all 9 trays I had and I set it outside and plugged it in. I am not going to do anything the rest of the day except let the machine run. For the first batch I am not even going to turn the meat (well that doesn't mean my husband won't!)
I can say this, the machine was easy to load, the trays are very spacious and when it didn't quite line up with the tray below it, I just tapped gently and it fell into place. By putting pressure on the top after applying the motor/lid, I was also able to wash the outside before I carried it outside and plugged it in on the patio.
I will follow up if I am not happy about anything, but so far, I love it!
Mr. B : Top notch upgrade for me
I was using a Ronko dehydrator for the last 35 or so years, and life was good, you had to move the racks around and I was OK with that because of my love for jerky.....Well about a month ago she finally gave up the ship and I gave her a proper burial in the recycle can and went on the hunt for a new one......The Nesco had good reviews and I went with it......Well they sure have come a long way in dehydrators....Fans to boost the air so no more rack moving...thermostats to dial in the right temp.....this thing is a beast...it will hold 10 pounds of beef ( I bought the extra 2 pack of screens) ....I made 10 pounds of Teriyaki jerk and between me, the wife and grand kids we were looking at an empty bag, it was so good I did another 10.......Now on to the Nesco ....I am one happy camper, this does it all from herbs to jerky, a thermostat to dry things at the best temp..... a system to move air across every rack, so no more rack moving....easy to clean....dries in record time and the jerky is perfect.....It's about as loud as the wife's electric tea kettle so it's hardly noticeable......The old Dago gives this one Two thumbs up.....
Monica : Great for beef jerky, dried fruit, flowers, and more
Extremely pleased and very easy to use! Worth the price. I have purchased 6 additional trays because you can add trays to a 12 tray max capacity to dry more items at once...Comes w 5 trays, 2 fruit roll mats, and two easy peel mats, and a recipe book for various beef jerky recipes, how to dry fruit, veggies, herbs, flowers, preparation tips, drying times, how to make potpourri, ornaments and other crafts...and plenty of tips and suggestions!!
Ive only had it for a few weeks so I cant comment on durability quite yet but I've been using it consistently the last few days to dry fruit, veggies, made some homemade beef jerky, and more fruit chips....wish i had purchased it sooner!
It states in the manual that you can pit the trays in the dishwasher but should remove them before the drying cycle...a little annoying...especially since i need to be around to take it out a3dter its been washed and rinsed but before the drying cycle begins but atleast i dont have to handwash them every time..
The item was shipped quickly in a tight packed box. I do think more protect/cushion should be packaged with the item (it had no plastic bubble wrap...just in the box...so if it had a rough journey..it would suffer damage but luckily mine had 0 damage)
Michael Burnstein : Broke Immediately
It arrived yesterday. I had meat ready and I laid it all out, seasoned it, and placed it on several racks in the dehydrator. When I plugged it in the fan came on. I unplugged it, placed the top on and plugged it back in. I marveled at how quiet it was. Then I realized it wasn't working for the last 2 hours. There appear to be no lights or other indications of power/operation on this model.
Amazon is providing a no hassle replacement. Let's see if the next one works.
Marie : BIG BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! BEST DEHYDRATOR YOU WILL EVER BUY! I'VE USED DEHYDRATORS FOR OVER 40 YRS.
I've owned this unit for many years. This 1, I bought for our son. He wanted a good one and to start making his own jerky snacks. I ordered him the exact model I own. It will serve him well for many many years to come. I've made endless pounds of jerky for family and friends. Never disappointed in the results. I like this dehydrator because you have a temperature control for what you are doing. My ancient unit didn't have this. You had 1 temperature and that was it. Sturdy,cleans up easily,stores easily. Can be expanded by adding additional racks. Comes with 5 racks. Those 5 racks will hold 3 lbs. of meat to make into jerky. I've also dried fruit ,onions and chives in this unit.
Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A ...You'll never be sorry you purchased this.
anonymous : trays were redesigned from the older version of this model which means it is no longer ideal for my purpose
Bought this to have a second FD-75PR dehydrator for drying nuts. However was disappointed to find that the trays have been redesigned from those in the previous FD-75PR dehydrator. The previous trays had a raised ring that kept the nuts from rolling down through the middle. So now anytime it gets jostled, like when taking the top on and off, nuts drop down through. Also this means I can no longer clean the nuts outside and place them in the trays there and then carry the fully assembled unit inside to actually dry. These trays also appear to have some larger gaps that smaller items like berries fall down through. The dehydrator seems to dry in a reasonable amount of time still. I had been considering buying a third dehydrator to speed up the nut drying process but now I'm looking at other brands to see if one of them has trays that are better designed for my purpose. I had also been thinking about drying spare trays for this second dehydrator but now I will wait on that to see what I end up purchasing for the third dehydrator.
Brett A. : Completely Satisfied
There are so many highly rated dehydrators available on Amazon, I honestly didn't know where to start. I finally decided to take the plunge and buy Amazon's best seller. I am glad I did, and I am already very pleased with this machine. Very easy to use, easy to clean.
The day I got it, I did my first batch of beef jerky that I had marinating for a couple of days in the fridge. After about 6-7 hours, the jerky turned out perfect. The extra tray capacity of this machine (up to 12 total) is a major bonus. This dehydrator comes with 5 trays... I purchased another 2, and I am glad I did. Out of the 7 trays, I used 6 of them for one roast's worth of jerky. I plan to buy a few more trays soon for even more dehydrating space.
Five stars.
Bytore : Warning! Not was not safe for jerky.
This dehydrator is supposed to reach 165 degrees to make safe jerky. After trying to make numerous items including fruits and a couple batches of jerky I had nothing but issues. Nothing would completely dehydrate. I decided to test the operating temperature. Using temperature probes I use for my smoker I learned my unit only gets to 144 degrees. I will say that the temperature was uniform from the top tray to the bottom though. I liked the build and the thermostat feature, but it is getting returned today.
Rae B. : Amazing for preparing backpacking foods
This dehydrator is just what I needed. My job has me working in the backcountry for a week at a time, carrying all of my food and camping gear on my back. So I obviously want my food to be as light as possible. But I'm also a bit of a food snob and love to cook delicious foods. I'm not super fond of many of the readymade backpacking food, not to mention that they can break the bank. This dehydrator solved all of my problems. It's so easy to make many types of meals at home, dehydrate them (either whole or in parts) with this, and carry them out to the field where I can cook them up and enjoy healthy, homemade food. By far my favorite thing to make is chili. It's awesome to use the fruit leather trays and just pile the chili on. The tray collect and dry out all the delicious liquid, saving all of the flavors and helping you make some of the best trail food you will ever have. My coworkers love me because of this :)
Josh : Was not aware this would be pre-owned
Opened the shipping box and there was the unit. No manufacturers box inside, no packing protection, just a plastic bag over the lid and a single cardboard cutout around the dial. The user manual was curled around the corners and the other items inside were disheveled and sloppy. There are multiple dents in the plastic on the device. I'm not sure if I just bought a return product or what, but I expected a new and well packed device, not... this. At this point I haven't even plugged it in to try it out and I'm not sure that I will, but even if I do and it works flawlessly, this review wouldn't change. My expectations are never so high that I can't see reason, but this item looks like it was bought at a garage sale, not on Amazon. With such good reviews, I'm floored to say the least.
CGR : 3 years and counting!!
I have now had my dehydrator for 3 whole years. Wow! I thought it was time it deserved a review, considering its' longevity.
When I first purchased this, I used it for fruits, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, the like. We had a big garden at our last property and many fruit trees. This little snackmaster was excellent to help me preserve the extra food.
We moved onto more land a few years ago and I am more recently using it to make powdered whey (leftover from cheese making) and powdered eggs. For both of those, it is working excellently. I put them on about 135* - 140* and dehydrate them for at least 10 hours, but sometimes it takes longer, like 12 to 16 hours. I really think drying times has to do with your own humidity and other factors. We live in Northeast Texas, and presently, have 62% humidity in our house. Things take a wee longer to dry. I do not worry too much about time nor temperature. To me, they are all guidelines and I just cook them until they are done.
This comes with two fruit roll type trays, and those are what I used for milk and eggs. This also comes with other slotted plastic trays. Really, you know all this from reading other people's reviews and the listing. I do not wish to be redundant.
I just wish to convey that I, personally, have not had any problems with my machine. It functions as it should, as it has for the last 3 years. I attached a short video of my current project. The dehydrator actually is a quieter than the it comes through on the video. I have two dehydrators running currently to fulfill my egg & milk project for the winter.
Oh! I should mention this ==> this dries from the top. To me, after also owning a bottom dryer, the top dryer is preferable. When you have spill overs, and you will, you can easily wash the bottom of this model. It is more difficult for me to wash the bottom of my other one since it houses the electronics. You may not have thought about this, but to me, it is important.
And another mention ==> I wash my trays in my dishwasher, no problem. Top rack and no heated dry. Dishwashers run hotter than this baby, it is pretty common sense that without proper positioning, you will warp your trays. I have never done so. So if you do, be smart and be careful!
A con to mention. There is no bonafide on and off switch. You just have to plug and unplug it. That to me is weird.
Enjoy whatever model you buy! Happy drying!!
Khazar : Love it
I have been using the crap out of this thing and so far I love it. I dehydrated carrots (needs some cutting), zucchini, cabbage (shredded), peppers, jalapeno peppers, spinach, kale, pineapples, yogurt (spread it on the tray kind of thing inside) etc. I love it so far. I've been making vegetable powder to add to my soups. I haven't cleaned the trays in the dishwasher though. I'm worried that they'll break. So I've been hand-washing them.
Christina M : Amazing! Works perfect
I've been using this product for several months. I have made beef jerky, fruits, vegetables, dog treats, and candy. The plastic trays are durable and so easy to clean. I bought extra trays to go with it, so I'm running 14 trays each time. The heat is so evenly distributed that I don't have to rotate or flip anything. Everything comes out perfect every time. The temperature actually only gets to about 155. So any meat I put in the oven at 170 for an hour to make sure its safe. You cannot beat this product at this value. Its amazing for everything. I'm doing herbs and spices this week. I love it.
SRS : Who knew how much one could dehydrate!
We bought this dehydrator originally to make sweet potato rawhide's for our dog after buying some at a specialty store for an outrageous sum of money. Now that one of our dog's is unwell and limited to what she can eat we looked for a way to make these ourselves. The basic Nesco unit is generous with its stacks so we could dehydrate about 7 lbs of potato at once. We have tried one of their recipes for potato chips but will opt not to do that again but it was fun to try. So we've used it four time so far and are happy. The only reason I gave it four stars for durability is because we've had it three weeks. The only other things that I would point out are that it is rather large and can be noisy. When it's running we always think our oven is turned on!
Marie : BIG BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! BEST DEHYDRATOR YOU WILL EVER BUY! I'VE USED DEHYDRATORS FOR OVER 40 YRS.
I've owned this unit for many years. This 1, I bought for our son. He wanted a good one and to start making his own jerky snacks. I ordered him the exact model I own. It will serve him well for many many years to come. I've made endless pounds of jerky for family and friends. Never disappointed in the results. I like this dehydrator because you have a temperature control for what you are doing. My ancient unit didn't have this. You had 1 temperature and that was it. Sturdy,cleans up easily,stores easily. Can be expanded by adding additional racks. Comes with 5 racks. Those 5 racks will hold 3 lbs. of meat to make into jerky. I've also dried fruit ,onions and chives in this unit.
Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A ...You'll never be sorry you purchased this.
Peggy L. Irwin : Best buy for features and efficiency
(5 Stars) This unit does exactly what it was purchased to do, make jerky. It is light-weight, quiet, and easy to set up. Comes with multiple tray surfaces for drying a variety of foods. The trays are easily cleaned because they are made of a plastic so slick, nothing can really adhere to them solidly. They clean up very well in the dishwasher on RINSE HOLD. With all racks filled to capacity, running time is about 4 hours (less if you want softer jerky). We like that one can purchase extra trays to increase capacity, which also means if we break one it can be replaced. As as an aside, we've also realized we can save a ton of money making our own healthy "doggie treats" for a pair of Mini Schnauzers. On balance this unit seemed to be the best buy, all factors considered.
Josh : Was not aware this would be pre-owned
Opened the shipping box and there was the unit. No manufacturers box inside, no packing protection, just a plastic bag over the lid and a single cardboard cutout around the dial. The user manual was curled around the corners and the other items inside were disheveled and sloppy. There are multiple dents in the plastic on the device. I'm not sure if I just bought a return product or what, but I expected a new and well packed device, not... this. At this point I haven't even plugged it in to try it out and I'm not sure that I will, but even if I do and it works flawlessly, this review wouldn't change. My expectations are never so high that I can't see reason, but this item looks like it was bought at a garage sale, not on Amazon. With such good reviews, I'm floored to say the least.
T & K : We love this, only planning on making jerky and it is perfect!
I just got this in the mail, I actually marinated the meat as I saw the tracking tell me it was almost here. I also bought two packs of two extra trays. I had the meat sliced (bottom round on sale at Safeway for $1.97 a pound) earlier in the day. The butcher said he sliced it on #5 on his meat slicer after trimming all the visible fat off the roasts. I marinated it overnight; one bag with the three packets of marinade and curing salts that the dehydrator came with and another with a concoctions I figured out by reading on the internet. I got up this morning and put the meat on the trays. One 4 pound roast filled all 9 trays I had and I set it outside and plugged it in. I am not going to do anything the rest of the day except let the machine run. For the first batch I am not even going to turn the meat (well that doesn't mean my husband won't!)
I can say this, the machine was easy to load, the trays are very spacious and when it didn't quite line up with the tray below it, I just tapped gently and it fell into place. By putting pressure on the top after applying the motor/lid, I was also able to wash the outside before I carried it outside and plugged it in on the patio.
I will follow up if I am not happy about anything, but so far, I love it!
AmazonAddict : I LOVE this dehydrator
I have two of these dehydrators. I bought this one to replace one just like it that just plain wore out. The one that died was bought in 2014 so I got 6 years of heavy use out of it before it gave up. I love them for drying fruits and veggies and making beef jerky and they run almost constantly in the fall after apples and the garden come in. I love having the fan and heating element on the top. Its so much more practical than having it on the bottom where bits and pieces of food can drip onto it. I bought extra trays because its surprising how quickly they can fill up.
Patty B : Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator,...
To be quite honest, our first unit (same one) lasted for several years of dehydrating tomatoes, bananas, sweet potatoes, etc... This unit stopped working properly after less than 3 months. We got a refund for it and moved on to a better unit.
Bytore : Warning! Not was not safe for jerky.
This dehydrator is supposed to reach 165 degrees to make safe jerky. After trying to make numerous items including fruits and a couple batches of jerky I had nothing but issues. Nothing would completely dehydrate. I decided to test the operating temperature. Using temperature probes I use for my smoker I learned my unit only gets to 144 degrees. I will say that the temperature was uniform from the top tray to the bottom though. I liked the build and the thermostat feature, but it is getting returned today.
JessicaW : Heater died after only 4 months
We bought this in July, used it a couple times to make some backpacking food, and then let it sit until November. When we tried to make some jerky, the heater was dead.
We had the same model previously and it lasted several years, we probably ran it 1000+ hours. Maybe the manufacturing quality has gone down.
Peggy L. Irwin : Best buy for features and efficiency
(5 Stars) This unit does exactly what it was purchased to do, make jerky. It is light-weight, quiet, and easy to set up. Comes with multiple tray surfaces for drying a variety of foods. The trays are easily cleaned because they are made of a plastic so slick, nothing can really adhere to them solidly. They clean up very well in the dishwasher on RINSE HOLD. With all racks filled to capacity, running time is about 4 hours (less if you want softer jerky). We like that one can purchase extra trays to increase capacity, which also means if we break one it can be replaced. As as an aside, we've also realized we can save a ton of money making our own healthy "doggie treats" for a pair of Mini Schnauzers. On balance this unit seemed to be the best buy, all factors considered.
Patrick : Failed after two uses
Bought it for my son-in-law for Christmas 2019, failed after two uses....before Covid, contacted customer service multiple times, no response then 3 weeks later a email response saying they will replace the part, a phone call saying the part would ship, three months later no part. Another round of poor customer service and they say the person that handled my claim no longer works there and,,,,they have no record of my previous transactions. Nine months later...nine months still no replacement part. Is this really a company you want to deal with? There are soooo many other nice dehydrators on this site that will fit your need.
C. Smith : Homemade Dog Treats
I used it to dehydrate chicken feet, chicken necks, turkey necks, chicken hearts and gizzards for dog treats. I put it at 160F and less than 4 hours it’s ready to feed to the dogs. It’s so much cheaper to make homemade treats then buying it.
Diane Karraker : MAKING HEALTHY SNACKS FOR MY DOGS - NO MORE CHEMICALS
2 years ago I went to feeding my 2 dogs (terriers) human grade food after buying the expensive store bought food that was costing me a fortune. I now pay less for quality meats, fish, produce and starches to be feed to my dogs vs buying expensive pet food with ingredients I can't pronounce. However, I still had an issue with treats, especially for training. So I purchased this dehydrator and finished making their first batch of eye of round jerky and currently making chicken jerky as I write. Nothing added just pure meat. They LOVE IT to say the least. And I don't have to worry about unknown ingredients. We did that for ourselves 2 years ago also and have seen health issues disappear. Our motto is "If God created it and its natural unaltered, we can eat it" Our food bill went down some and we are healthy. Give yourself and your pets a gift of health by buying a dehydrator.
joel coronel ramos : Wow! Better then the oven, no flipping
Started makeing salmon jerky, started out in the oven and i saw a Japanese lady on youtube useing this exact dehydrator. Sooooo... i purchased its seems legit. I put 8 fillets of pink salmon and still had some room for 2 more fillets. Took the same amout of time then the oven. Its easy to clean if you soak in a bin with bleach and soap. The machine itself is quiet. Not loud at all. Maintains the smell, compared to the oven. After useing it the first time. I have high expectations now lol. I reccomend!!!
girlreader : It just stopped working
I purchased this dehydrator, but kept it unopened and unused in storage for years. I finally started using it sporadically about three years ago. I have used it 20- 30 times. Three weeks ago, it just conked out. I loaded the trays and when I checked on it the next morning, it wasn't on. The fan, the motor and everything was dead. I expected this dehydrator to last longer. I would liked to have had a more specific degrees visible on the unit, instead of just a range of temperatures. I am in the market for another one. I will not purchase this model again.
Jax D : Makes great jerky!
We use this every couple weeks to make jerky! It takes a few hours with the amount of jerky we do. Makes the house smell wonderful! Cleaning the trays sucks. I have to soak the trays in hot water with soap for a while and scrub hard with a dish brush to get the majority of the cooked marinade off.
Sue Donym : Great product great price!
Extremely happy with this little unit. Have been testing it out and it works like a dream. much smaller footprint than our previous unit. Easy to clean. I wish the racks screen was a bit stronger like our other unit, but that is personal preference, being a bit clumsy I will just have to be careful when cleaning them lol. Very happy that I can also purchase extra racks if we need to for larger batches. No complaints and nice price to boot.
Michael Burnstein : Broke Immediately
It arrived yesterday. I had meat ready and I laid it all out, seasoned it, and placed it on several racks in the dehydrator. When I plugged it in the fan came on. I unplugged it, placed the top on and plugged it back in. I marveled at how quiet it was. Then I realized it wasn't working for the last 2 hours. There appear to be no lights or other indications of power/operation on this model.
Amazon is providing a no hassle replacement. Let's see if the next one works.
Don Hallas : 24 hours later and it still didn't dry oregano!
What a piece of junk! I had such high hopes for this dehydrator. I spent weeks reading reviews on amazon, reviews on consumer sites and comparing products. I should have just spent the (LOTS OF) extra money for the Excalibur model. Since I had never dried food with a dehydrator, I thought I would start with the best reviewed model on the lower end and if it was something I was going to use all of the time, I could upgrade to an expensive model and use both. I decided to start by drying herbs...how hard can that be since I can dry herbs on my countertop in 2 days, easy. Well, I loaded the machine with rosemary and oregano (homegrown), I cut the spine out of every leaf of oregano to make sure that it would dry faster,, stripped the rosemary off of the stem and set it all in the machine in a single layer (not even a leaf touching another leaf). After 12 hours on the recommended setting, both herbs were not even close to being dry. I upped the temp to the recommended for fruit and after an additional 12 hours, still not even close to being dry! I passed my return window 9 days ago, but will still try to return it. DO NOT BUY, THIS DOES NOT WORK! I am so disappointed! I have trees filled with ripening papayas that I was hoping to dry. JUNK!
JessicaW : Heater died after only 4 months
We bought this in July, used it a couple times to make some backpacking food, and then let it sit until November. When we tried to make some jerky, the heater was dead.
We had the same model previously and it lasted several years, we probably ran it 1000+ hours. Maybe the manufacturing quality has gone down.
Amazon Customer : My first dehydrator and I couldn’t love it anymore the possibilities are endless
My first dehydrator and I couldn’t love it anymore the possibilities are endless. I made my first batch of beef jerky with the Nesco dehydrator in conjunction with the jumbo jerky works kit and everybody loved the jerky. I will be purchasing the Nesco food vacuum seal in the near future to seal all the freshness of my beef jerky. I have also made all natural fruit roll ups for my kids and they can’t have enough. Make sure to purchase additional trays so that you can make a lot because it goes fast.
Michael Burnstein : Broke Immediately
It arrived yesterday. I had meat ready and I laid it all out, seasoned it, and placed it on several racks in the dehydrator. When I plugged it in the fan came on. I unplugged it, placed the top on and plugged it back in. I marveled at how quiet it was. Then I realized it wasn't working for the last 2 hours. There appear to be no lights or other indications of power/operation on this model.
Amazon is providing a no hassle replacement. Let's see if the next one works.
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