NESCO Gardenmaster Pro Dehydrator, FD-1018A, White review and price compare 2025
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you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
| Brand | NESCO |
| Material | Plastic |
| Color | White |
| Wattage | 1000 |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 17 x 15.5 x 14 inches |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- 1000-Watts of power dries foods in hours, not days.
- Converga-Flow drying system pushes heated air up and across each tray.
- Adjustable Thermostat (95°F - 160°F).
- Comes with 8 dishwasher safe trays and expands up to 30 trays.
- Includes (8) Fruit Roll-up Sheets, (8) Clean-a-Screens, (1) Recipe Instruction Book, (1) Original Jerky Spice Pack with Cure.
- Made in the USA of Global and Domestic parts
- Note: The model number 1010 and the 1018A are from the same series and the main component pieces are the same. The 1018A version has additional items included
This fits your .
From the manufacturer
NESCO FD-1018A, Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
The NESCO FD-1018A Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator is 1000 watts of pure drying power. With the Converga-Flow technology, air is forced up and across the trays to the center, providing quick, even, and nutritious drying of your favorite foods. Each of the 8 trays are BPA-free and can be expanded to 30 trays. A 95°F-160°F adjustable temperature control accommodates a range of food items. Dry more food faster with the NESCO Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator. This model includes 8 Fruit Roll Sheets, 8 Clean-A-Screens, a sample of Jerky Seasoning and Cure, and a 52-page recipe and instruction book.
Features
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1000 Watt PowerheadGenerates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating foods safety. | Adjustable ThermostatAllows user to dry different foods at proper temperatures (95°F - 160°F). | Converga-Flow SystemProvides even heat distribution without having to rotate trays. |
Features
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Added AccessoriesIncludes eight fruit roll sheets, eight clean-a-screens, and a sample of jerky seasoning & cure to get started. | Expandable Up To 30 Drying TraysIncrease the overall drying area by expanding your dehydrator with additional trays. | Recipe BookletGreat recipes, tips, and tricks to help you get the most out of your dehydrator. |
| Watt | 400 | 600 | 700 | 1000 | 1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Trays | 4 | 4 | 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 | 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, 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 9.75 | 14.5 x 14.37 x 9.75 | 14 x 14 x 10 | 15 x 15.5 x 9.5 |
product description
Style:Dehydrator
The NESCO FD-1018A Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator is our top of the line unit-more powerful and larger than any other. 1000 watts of drying power means you can dry more, faster. This dehydrator comes with eight (15 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 30 trays so you can dry large quantities at once, with no tray rotation needed. Additional Add-A-Trays sold separately. The adjustable temperature control (95°F -160°F) gives you the flexibility to achieve the best results when drying different foods that need varying temperature settings. The quiet, powerful Converga-Flow fan forces heated air up the exterior pressurized chamber, then horizontally across each individual tray. The air flow then converges in the center for quick, consistent drying that is four times faster than other dehydrators. Includes eight fruit roll sheets, eight clean-a-screens, a sample of jerky seasoning & cure to get started, and a recipe & instruction book. The NESCO FD-1018A Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator provides the drying power that generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating your favorite fruits, vegetables, herbs and jerky.
product details
important information
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Questions about NESCO Gardenmaster Pro Dehydrator, FD-1018A, White
Q:
How many trays come with this purchase?
Answer: This comes with 8 drying trays, 8 fruit roll liners, and 8 mesh liners for drying herbs. This is a great product and works very well.
Answer: 8
Q:
how much does it cost to run?
Answer: This would realisticly cost about $2.5 a day. At 1000 watts and $.11 a kilowatt-hour thats what it would come out too
Answer: Ran it straight for a month and added about $12 to the bill.
Q:
Is the top open in the middle? wanted to make sure i wasn't missing a piece. i've used friend's nescos and excalibers and both were closed. thanks!
Answer: Yes. Every tray and the top has a hole in the middle. That is where the air escapes from.
Answer: Yes, it's open all the way to the base.
Answer: yes
Q:
Is it still made in the usa?????????
Answer: Yes made in the USA.
Answer: I am not sure if it is made in the USA but we have been using it right out of the box for weeks, even right now, and we love it!!
Answer: Bought my second one 10 days ago. Gift for my son. Still made in the USA !! Thank God.
Answer: Yes it is proudly made in the USA.
Answer: Yes. The 1018 is made in the U. S. A. The 1018-A is just packaged for Amazon. The 1018-P is the same product, but sold by all others.
Answer: On the bottom of machine says Made in China
Answer: I called them for you. The fan assembly is made overseas but the body and all the tray types are made in America.
Answer: says on the page "origin; China"
Answer: Yes it's made in two rivers Wisconsin
Answer: I'm not sure where it's made but it does do a wonderful job I'm very pleased with mine
Q:
i have a stack of trays from my original nesco from years ago. i measure them at slightly over 15 inches. will these trays fit this model?
Answer: Yes the tray is about 15-1/2 inches; inside tray 13-1/2 inches give or take 1/4 inch
Answer: I'm using trays from an older FS Gardenmaster, the design is slightly different but does integrate with the new model. I haven't noticed any difference in drying performance. Judging from my experience as long as it's a Gardenmaster the trays are interchangeable.
Answer: yes they will...i just measured mine and they are just over 15" also so you're good!
Q:
How can the 1018A and 1040 use the same trays (TR-2)if diameters are different.
Answer: Both models are 13 1/2 inches in diameter.
Q:
How many amps does this draw? (it should be listed on the ul etc. attached tag. not seeing it on the product description.)
Answer: I have no tag on the cord but on the underside of bottom/motor it states: MODEL FD-1010 PC... VOLTS:120, 60HZ... WATTS:1000. Google 'How to figure amps from watts'. There will be a formula you can use with this info.
Answer: The attached tag says volts 120, 60 HZ. Watts: 1000. Nothing about amps.
Answer: Product label says 1,000 what's so that is a just under 9 amps at the rated 120V. I run it on a standard 15amp circuit, no problem. Works great and like the product.
Answer: Should be about 8.33 amps
Answer: It is 8.3 amps
Answer: I don't know, but the tray melted when I tried to dry tomaotes. And yes I followed the directions.
Q:
Does the the bottom of it still metal I got this and got up to 30 trays ,and used it two years on making deer jerky the base starting out paint onfood
Answer: this is our 2nd one and we never go over 12 trays..the 1st one lasted us 10 years. when the motor went out on our first one the paint was still intact. this new one (2nd) seems pretty good . works better than the 1st. but we never use over 12 trays..too much of a strain on the unit.
Answer: The base is metal.
Answer: yes, the base has metal.
Answer: The bottom powered part of the dehydrator is metal on the one I recently purchased.
Answer: Unfortunately like any products we buy they wear out with usage. That would be a question to take to Nesco customer service
Q:
Are 9 foot ceilings in your house required when using all 30 trays?
Answer: Hallo.
Answer: Gosh, I have no idea. Sorry. I've never used more than 10 at a time. I would check with the manufacturer.
Answer: If you are able to place it on a table there should be no issue
Q:
My old dehydrator is an open country model fd 1022. will those trays fit the nesco? they are 15.25 inch diameter.
Q:
Bought june 2020. died may 7 2021. how do i get my warranty coverage??
Answer: Try contacting the manufacturer either online or by 1-800 number.as long as you have a receipt they should honor your request to replace the item.
Q:
This unit is uses 33% more power than a smaller Nesco unit. But is it 33% faster?
Answer: I have not used the smaller units -- but I find this unit way faster than my last dehydrator and is way faster than my coworker's unit that is not 1000 watts - If I am in a hurry I just turn up the heat a bit (which is not an option on some units). Apple slices dry in about 6 hours.
Answer: My experience is that it is a lot faster than the old one that I used. I can take a 1 1/2 lb. of ground beef and make jerky flat strips and it will be done in about 3 hrs and 15 minutes, compared to my old one which took 5 1/2 hours.
Answer: as I have never used the smaller unit, I have to say I don't know. However, I would assume that because it is a larger unit and is capable of drying more food at one time, it would require more power, but not necessarily be faster.
Answer: I have no idea how fast a small unit is ...it's pretty fast though. I'd guess yes:)
Q:
just opened this up, none of the 8 trays will 'clip' to the base. tabs don't line up. am i missing parts? metalware not open saturday! argh! help?
Answer: The trays are not meant to clip to anything. Just stack them on top of each other on the base. You can use 1 tray or all of them depending on what you have to dry. There are no tabs to line up--just radomly stack the trays. The weight of the full trays will help keep the trays steady and in place.
Answer: The plastic trays do not clip to the metal base. In the newer models, the plastic trays do not clip to each other either. Slight redesign.
Answer: There are no clips or tabs. The trays simply stack on top of each other & collectively sit on top of the electronic base via gravity.
Answer: Mine does not clip to the metal base, they just sit on it . If yours don’t sit flat then there is an issue. I’d contact the manufacturer and depending on what they say would return it.
Answer: The trays stack together, but they don’t clip to the base or to one another. This makes it much easier when doing a large number of trays and you need to rearrange them or remove them from the stack.
Answer: They do not click into the base, they rest on the top. They will better conform to the unit when it is heated.
Answer: I'm not sure what you expected of the unit, but the one I bought has a stacked, rather than a clipped, set of trays. Nothing but gravity is needed to hold them together, since all trays match each other, as well as the base and the lid (at least, the trays in my set do). Maybe try setting them in a different order? Or perhaps they'll seat and settle better once you put the weight of sliced fruit or vegetables on the trays? In any case, I didn't expect or need any connectors, metal or otherwise, for my unit.
Answer: They don't clip, just stack one over the base, and the rest over that, and cover
Q:
What is the warranty on this?
Answer: I don't know if there is a manufacturer warranty or not. After the first use, I sent it back to Amazon because it was defective.
Q:
Hi, I need a knob for my Gardenmaster where and how do I purchase one ?
Answer: I have no idea, the company is still in business try looking up their website and see if they have a parts list.
Answer: I would call the nesco company and ask
Q:
FD 1000 harvest maid tray same as grandmaster trays?
Q:
How long does it take to cook jerky sliced 1/4" thick?
Answer: It will take up to 4-6 hours. Happy Dehydrating!
Answer: Hi, I do not do jerky so I have no clue. All I do is fruit leather and dehydrated veggies. The unit comes with a booklet with all kinds of hints
Answer: It takes 10 - 12 hours. I check it along the way and will take out the pieces that are ready so they are not overcooked.
Answer: Eight to 10 hours.
Answer: I have not done any jerk as of yet sorry
Q:
Are the trays bpa-free?
Answer: I’m a consumer who bought one and use it and am completely satisfied with my purchase. If I need more information about the product I contact the manufacturer or read the manual. The ABOUT THIS ITEM section with every item I have purchased from Amazon is also a great source of information like this.
Answer: They absolutely are!
Answer: To the best of my knowledge, YES! This is an excellent dehydrator. You will not be disappointed. Would buy again!
Answer: Honestly I’m not sure but if you actually go to the Nesco website you should be able to get the answer.
Q:
Is this the best dehyrator and best price for making flaxseed crackers?
Q:
what,s the diference fd-1018a trays and the fd-1010 trays. Will the trays fit the 1010 ?
Answer: Nothing that I know of other than the 1018 comes with 8 trays and the 1010 comes with 4 trays.
Q:
What is the difference between the 1018 A and the 1018 P?
Answer: The A comes in a box from Amazon. The P comes in a plain white box.
Q:
Am i purchasing the model 1018a which includes 8 trays? confusing in the description re 1018 and 1018 a.
Answer: There is a difference between the model 1010 and 1018a. This is stated in the description:
Answer: Yes. It has 8 trays.
Answer: This model comes with 8 trays.
Answer: Yes, 8 trays.
Answer: They are the same model, the A simply means amazon.
Q:
Does this have a timer?
Answer: It does not have a timer. Because this is such a great dehydrator, if a timer is something you need, I'd suggest getting a timer you plug into the receptacle and then plug the unit into the timer. The kind you use for lights and Christmas decorations. Just make sure of the power rating.
Answer: No. Yoy just set a timer for it. It works beautifully. I have two of them.
Answer: No timer but it is a great dehydrator
Answer: Nope!
Q:
What is difference between fd1010 and fd1018?
Answer: Thank you for your question. The only difference is the number of trays (accessories) that come with the unit. For example, the FD-1010 comes with four trays while the FD-1018 comes with eight trays.
Q:
I need trays which are 13 1/2" in diameter. Does Amazon carry these? To fit an American Harvest Snackmaster FD-50?
Answer: No clue, just put it in the search bar or google it
Q:
Do you need to use all the trays every time?
Answer: You will need to use at least 4 trays at all times for proper ventilation.
Answer: No, but I usually put an empty tray next to the fan unit if I do not fill the dehydrator. I have used it with a little as two full trays.
Answer: I usually done 2 lb of hamburger for jerky and I put the empty trays between the full trays to give it more air movement. Jerky was done in about 3 1/2 hrs.
Answer: They say to use minimum of 4 (perhaps for best air circulation and temperature balance). I use a single tray at bottom with solid sheet in it to catch anything from above so typically 3 trays of produce (if not more)
Answer: No, but if I remember correctly, there is a minimum number of trays to use & it's stated in the directions. I don't have the directions in front of me at the moment, so I can't say exactly where, but as the directions aren't very long, it should be easy to find; I know it's in there. Regards, B.
Answer: No but the directions say to use at least 4.
Answer: No
Answer: No
Q:
the manual does not have at what temperature each food is placed
Answer: I used 145 f for drying tomato’s and 135f for apples. YouTube and Pinterest have good info depending on the food you are dehydrating.
Answer: ours did, it came with 2 booklets. i guess you can google it for that information. good luck
Answer: Just Go Online And Check Temps For Dehydrators.
Answer: I check the internet for everything; you may need to do this also.
Q:
How do I find the right size of ad a tray that are 15 1/2 "?
Answer: The add on trays tell the dehydrator model number
Answer: google it
Q:
Can you take the trays out to make yogurt?
Answer: No, I don't think that would work very well. I guess if you were determined enough to make it work you'd find a way though! You'd have to have some very short dishes to put the yogurt in.
Q:
I ordered the 1018A which came with 8 trays, but the base unit says 1010. None of the trays sit flush on the base unit and tray hooks do not align?
Answer: The 1010 and the 1018 are the same model, just that 1018 means that it comes with 8 trays. The 1010 comes with 4. Make sure to let the unit run through a couple cycles so the trays can conform to the machine better.
Answer: Send unit back and reorder.
Answer: The first tray does not fit properly to the main unit due to an Engineering flaw. There is no way running this a few times will fix this. The air escapes out the side before it has a chance to go up the chambers properly.
Q:
Where can additional trays be purchased
Answer: Robyn is right - you should be able to find them on Amazon. You should also be able to order them from the manufacturer.
Answer: Amazon or I found them at ace hardware too.
Q:
Calrod or coil element
Answer: This features a coil element
Q:
Does this model have a digital timer?
Answer: No, it does not.
Q:
Is there a minimum number of trays needed for this to work?
Answer: We have had another of the same kind of drier that wore out but we still had good trays. We have added them to our new Gardenmaster so have twice the number of trays to dry fruit and vegetables with and it works great.
Answer: No. I used as few as two and as many as 7. I did find I rotated the trays when using more than 5. Hope this helps.
Answer: Must use at least 4 trays, even if some are empty (per included literature). The risk of using fewer trays is that it will overheat and damage the heater or fan. Can't remember from what on-line source that I read this.
Answer: 4 per the manual. Fewer can overheat the unit. I usually run at least 5 for safety.
Q:
Why does the product name say 075 (i think this is a model #), but the description is for fd-1018a? which is this listing?
Answer: To my understanding the fd then number is the sku number that beacon uses for products. The 075 I believe has to do with production, but not sure as most of the products have the same number for model and sku.
Q:
Can the height between trays be adjusted to accommodate thicker food, perhaps by leaving out evey other tray? Looking for something to dry seafood.
Answer: No. The vertical space available on each tray is determined by the height of the tray itself. The trays stack directly on top of each other (a tray's bottom is the height upper limit for the food on the tray beneath it).
Answer: I would say no. At least in our experience the trays only nest one way and we sliced and dried a record crop of mangoes this year
Answer: No, not really. Not unless you altered the trays by removing the grates and just used the outer ring to give it lift. They stack and interconnect, so only stack as high as each other.
Answer: I have an older one about 20 years old and it still works great,it has 2 trays that the center grates come out when turned
Answer: leaving out trays doesnt effect the height between trays.
Answer: No, the height cannot be adjusted
Answer: No the height is fixed. I did choose this over Excalibur’s and love how light and portable it is. Only works on thin fish, meat, fruits and veg.
Answer: There are no spacers that come with the unit. Best I can think of is to cut out the interior of one of the trays and just use the ring. You can order additional trays if needed.
Answer: No. The trays stack on top of one another.
Answer: Unfortunately not. The trays are nested and stack on top of each other.
Q:
Does it work on 110 or 220 v ??? I live in saudi arabia & I need to know if it works here
Answer: 110 in the US.
Answer: 110V
Q:
Some reviewers say this dehydrator is Loud. Is this true?
Answer: It does make some noise but it is not extremely loud.
Answer: Yes it is loud. We use it outside under cover only.
Q:
what is the diameter of the trays
Answer: The trays are 15.5" in diameter.
Answer: The diameter of each tray is 15 and 3/16ths inches across.
Answer: Do not remember the diameter but it should be in the product specs. No longer have this. Ordered it, it arrived, tried it that night, fan came on then stopped, wouldn’t come on again, returned it for refund next day.
Q:
I must be missing something simple, but I just got this and can't get the first tray to sit correctly on the base. Any ideas?
Answer: It’s possible that the tray didn’t come out of the mold and is warped. If all of the trays are the same way then the base is the issue. All of the trays sit perfect on ours. You should probably send the whole thing back, Amazon has a super return policy
Answer: Once the unit is fully assembled and running the trays will conform with the heat and sit better into the base.
Answer: I had the same problem until I looked closely at the base and the bottom of the tray. there are open spaces on the tray that match up with the base, now I match them up when I put every tray in. hope this helps.
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: I haven't experienced any problems with mine. Maybe try a different tray first? Once the tray is weighed down with fruit it will probably fit better. Good luck! I love mine.
Answer: I thought the same thing but once you load more on top it sits well and they actually lock into each other by turning each one slightly. The guidelines suggest a minimum of 4 trays - with that number, the weight of them makes them sit perfectly. Good luck - I'm having such fun with it.
Answer: Only two ways. Right side up or down. If the center piece is on the up-slope it would go on. No tricks or special position.
Answer: If everything is right production defect is possible. But first, watch the video how others do it.
Answer: ALL I CAN SAY IT WORKS GREAT. HOPE TO GET BACK TO USING IT REAL SOON.
Q:
Does this model have a timer
Answer: The FD-1018A has an adjustable temperature dial but no timer. If you are looking for a unit of this size with at timer, check out the Nesco FD-1040.
Answer: No timer.
Answer: NO...
Answer: No it does not.
Answer: No
Q:
Can warranty protection plan be purchased?
Answer: We do have a 1 year warranty with our products. That covers a variety of things.
Answer: It comes with a one or two year warranty. I use mine at least a few times a month and have had it for several years with no problems.
Answer: I believe you can purchase an extended warranty but I honestly don't remember, I do believe they offer one. However, mine have run flawlessly and I have bought three sets and them happy with them. I have had no problems.
Q:
Overall product weight is written: 29 lb. but in product information: shipping weigh 18.7 pound how can shipping weight be less then product weight?
Answer: MAGIC ha ha, I didn't notice that, funny!
Q:
What is the drying area of this machine.?
Answer: There is 1 square foot of drying area per tray, this unit has a 4 tray minimum and a 30 tray maximum. I hope this is helpful! Thank you
Answer: Sorry but I don't understand the question. The trays are the "drying area". Whatever you put on the trays will be dehydrated
Answer: No matter if you’re using 4 or 10 trays as long as the thickness of what you’re drying is the same, everything will dry evenly on all trays. I hope this answers what you was wanting to know
Answer: It is about 18" wide.
Q:
Has anyone tried dehydrating eggs (beaten) in this??
Answer: I haven’t heard of anyone trying. I am not sure you could do eggs safely in the dehydrator.
Q:
does it work for 220 V? or can you convert the transformer?
Answer: We currently do not manufacture our products with a 220 V plug. Some users do use a converter, but we do not recommend it.
Answer: I'm sorry, I don't know. I suggest contacting the company directly for that answer.
Q:
How loud is this dehydrator?
Answer: I would say it's about between the loudness of a microwave and a hairdryer on a very low setting. To put it more practically, it's a steady hum that isn't too loud to tune out, but you'll be able to know it's on when you listen for it.
Answer: Not loud at all
Answer: It’s quite loud. Equal to vent fan on high. Nothing quiet about it.
Answer: Not horribly loud . But it uses alot of juice it's a big wattage dehydrator. Its works wonderfully.
Answer: It’s fan makes a fairly noticeable hum. It is subjective whether one is going to find the whirr of the fan bothersome or tolerable, but compared to what it can do as a great dehydrator and it’s superb price point, I have found the droning sound acceptable.
Answer: You hardly notice when it is run outdoors. Indoors, it hums and vibrates a little louder than the low setting of a hair dryer.
Answer: I used it in the spare bedroom or overnight in the kitchen. Dropped it when moving the machine and it landed on the motor base ouch. Need to buy another one.
Answer: Similar to a blow dryer (hair dryer) on low fan speed or a range hood fan on high speed
Q:
So if I expanded to 30 trays the cost would be nearly $600 ? Two trays sell for $21 That's a rip-off !
Answer: I fail to see the question here, and I think your math might be off. Either way, expanding to 30 trays seems like an exercise in “just because you can”.
Q:
Why does it have a California proposition 65 warning?
Answer: Everything has a California prop 65 warning. They even put it on hose nozzles!
Q:
What is the diameter of the trays?
Answer: These trays are 15.5" in diameter with a hole in the center that is about 1.25" in diameter.
Answer: That is an answer which could be achieved by simply googling it. The trays are 15 in in diameter.
Product reviews of NESCO Gardenmaster Pro Dehydrator, FD-1018A, White
Ian R. Godfrey : Just throw your money straight in the trash
Garbage, garbage and more garbage. Ordered one, fan motor blew in less than five minutes. Got a replacement and the same thing happened in 5 minutes. Ruined 2 batches of deer jerky. Find something else besides this garbage. Spend the extra $50-$60 for a more legitimate dehydrator. Better off throwing your money straight in the trash instead of waiting 2 days for amazon to deliver!
chris m. : Read the reviews, the trays melt
Used only once and the trays melted and deformed which causes them either to not be able to stack anymore or allows the air to escape out of the sides instead of through the opening in the top. After checking the reviews I noticed this has been happening for years and that others have attempted to reach out to Nesco and have experienced poor customer service. I haven’t spoken with Nesco as this happened on first use so I am returning to amazon. Since I have nothing to loose due to amazon generous return policy I am going to order another one and see if the same happens when using it on lower temp setting. However, poor design, should’ve used a plastic capable of handling the temps the machine creates. For those wondering I had a full 8 trays of vegetables drying at 160 degrees when this occurred. Vegetables turned out great which is why I’m going to give it another shot. Noticed other dehydrators from other manufacturers also have poor reviews or I would’ve tried a different model.
Update: second item arrived and was able to maintain the temperature settings according to the dial which resulted in lower temps and thus no noticeably deformed trays. Only used the product for a couple of months at this point so no idea about longevity.
Update: second item arrived and was able to maintain the temperature settings according to the dial which resulted in lower temps and thus no noticeably deformed trays. Only used the product for a couple of months at this point so no idea about longevity.
Amazon Customer : FIRE HAZARD!!!
I loved this dehydrator...until it became a FIRE HAZARD. I noticed, over time, that the tray protector sheets were warping and didn't think much of it. Yesterday I noticed that the trays were unusually hot when I turned the unit off, even though I always run it near the lowest temperature setting.
Today, though, I found the tray ITSELF was MELTING into the base unit. Temperature was set to low and it had only been running a few hours.
This may be a defective unit, but people should know that this dehydrator is a potential fire hazard in their homes.
Today, though, I found the tray ITSELF was MELTING into the base unit. Temperature was set to low and it had only been running a few hours.
This may be a defective unit, but people should know that this dehydrator is a potential fire hazard in their homes.
jeff hoover : Surprisingly loud and a documentation issue, but worth buying.
Many have noted that this dehydrator is surprisingly loud. I found that to be the case, also. Perhaps all dehydrators are loud? I haven't used any other brands or models, so I wouldn't know. However, it definitely is the case that we use this in a separate room, with the door closed because of the noise.
I'm only giving three stars for ease of cleaning because cleaning the trays is truly annoying. That said, I suspect all dehydrator trays are annoying to clean. Still, it is what it is, and what it is is annoying to clean.
Temperature control seems to work fine. I don't know how close the temperature is to the number shown on the dial, but it clearly gets hotter the farther you turn the dial. That's fine. A look at dehydrator recipes online seems to indicate that people don't really know what temperature they should be using anyway, and everything works out in the end.
There is a very poor documentation issue, however. When first assembling the dehydrator, one notices that the trays don't fully seat onto the base. There is a gap of around 1/2" when using the minimum number of trays which decreases the more trays you add, or the more food you put on the trays. And if you apply pressure to the trays you can get the gap to collapse completely.
There are many, many instances of people complaining about this in online reviews. Some people return the product as "defective". Some people just give poor reviews and live with it. Some people explain that it is normal and that the gap will go away by itself over time with use. But you will not find any information AT ALL from the company about this issue.
Given the fact that it is responsible for so many returns and poor online reviews, the company must absolutely know that there is confusion about this. Why did I have to spend an hour online trying to figure out if this was normal? Just put a freaking paragraph in the instruction manual about it!
So that you know: Yes, there is a gap. Yes, it is normal. Yes, it will go away with weight on the trays. Don't worry about it.
I'm only giving three stars for ease of cleaning because cleaning the trays is truly annoying. That said, I suspect all dehydrator trays are annoying to clean. Still, it is what it is, and what it is is annoying to clean.
Temperature control seems to work fine. I don't know how close the temperature is to the number shown on the dial, but it clearly gets hotter the farther you turn the dial. That's fine. A look at dehydrator recipes online seems to indicate that people don't really know what temperature they should be using anyway, and everything works out in the end.
There is a very poor documentation issue, however. When first assembling the dehydrator, one notices that the trays don't fully seat onto the base. There is a gap of around 1/2" when using the minimum number of trays which decreases the more trays you add, or the more food you put on the trays. And if you apply pressure to the trays you can get the gap to collapse completely.
There are many, many instances of people complaining about this in online reviews. Some people return the product as "defective". Some people just give poor reviews and live with it. Some people explain that it is normal and that the gap will go away by itself over time with use. But you will not find any information AT ALL from the company about this issue.
Given the fact that it is responsible for so many returns and poor online reviews, the company must absolutely know that there is confusion about this. Why did I have to spend an hour online trying to figure out if this was normal? Just put a freaking paragraph in the instruction manual about it!
So that you know: Yes, there is a gap. Yes, it is normal. Yes, it will go away with weight on the trays. Don't worry about it.
Jessica L Nalbone : Best dehydrator I've ever used.
I've tried them all. My first dehydrator was a Ronco in the 1990's, I've tried multiple Oster models, Excalibur... and they're all functional. But this one really shocked me. It has it all. I was thrown off a bit by how much cheaper it is than all the fancy models. Surely that means it is cheaply made? WRONG. Not only is it solid, but it comes with every accessory you could possibly need, has better temp settings, easier to clean, holds wayyyy more and is expandable, but it is 2x faster. It has way more even air flow and temperature and I don't have to do the tray rotation that I used to with other models. My only complaint (if it even is one) is that if you need to do just a little batch of 3 or fewer trays, it doesn't so as well. But I so rarely do small batches that I really don't care. GET IT.
Kelli : ANY SOLUTION FROM NESCO...AS MY BASE TRAY DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY ON THE BOTTOM PIECE--
I think i have tried all the trays sent and whichever one i try, it does not fit properly on the base....has a gap...has anyone found a solution to this? Or am I missing something? I havent used yet, hoping to resolve this situation, so I have only cleaned and prepared for use..have no idea about temp control or noise level yet.
Tina S : Nice dehydrater but...
The Nesco is a good product. Easy to use, clean, and the temperature control is great, a much appreciated feature if you plan to dehydrate a variety of foods, not just fruits, but meat for jerky for example that requires a specific temperatures for food safety reasons. The dehydrator comes with the perforated tray inserts for smaller items and the solid tray inserts for drying liquids or making fruit rolls, as well as jerky seasoning packets, and two different dehydrating information booklets that are very helpful. it is a powerful machine, and I liked it pretty well. My complaint and reason for 3 stars and item return, is that it is just too noisy. For drying times of up to 36 hours or more, it became annoying, since, in my particular situation, I do not have the choice of moving it to another location where it would bother fewer people in my large family, it had to remain in the kitchen.
Judy A Vandenbil : Very Disappointed
Metal plate on bottom of unit clearly out of alignment. Turned it on and it immediately got very hot, started smoking and it was very loud. For safety reasons we turned it off right away. When we tried to turn it back on the fan and element did not work. Shipping back tomorrow. So disappointed.
Teacher : Didn't know making jerky was so easy....
With the time at home due to social distancing and isolation, I decided to try to make my own beef jerky. Researched several dehydrators and decided on this one. Good choice in my opinion! Handles many trays if I need them (which it came with), and while clean up takes some soapy water and a gentle brush at the sink, it isn't hard. I did learn to put the trays back on the machine after cleaning and letting it dry the trays instead of towel or air drying. My wife made some blueberry and watermelon fruit roll ups.... and I still got the clean up job. :-)
Goose Lady : GAPS under 1st tray
Was so excited to receive this dehydrator only to open it up and find that the base does not allow the first tray to sit on it without big gaps and the tray flopping around. It seems the plastic hooks on the trays are not long enough to secure the first tray tightly. I thought that perhaps after all trays were on unit, it might fit together, but after trying 4 trays that are always suppose to use when using the unit, did not solve the problem, even stacking all 8 trays did it work. I had read in a few reviews on this product that the same problem has happened to others. I ordered anyway, because I really like the features and all the accessories that came with this. So disappointed. Was going to request an exchange, but product not available. Not sure if I will re-order at another date, or look for something different.
Richard : Trays do not fit base
I can only give it one star for now and we have already requested a replacement so I will update when that one arrives. None of the trays fit the base and it leaves a gap.
Also, on the disturbing side of things, when I looked at reviews before I purchased it I noticed that the reviews seemed to be from 2-3 years ago. When I was researching my issue and searched in the FAQs, there were several reviews from 2020 and 2021 that were not favorable. Perhaps everything from the coronavirus has me a little more suspicious about things but that seems very sketchy.
::UPDATE::
I called NESCO customer service to report the issue and seek assistance. The CSR was extremely helpful in answering my questions regarding why the trays won’t sit flat, and it is true - they have made a different more “sturdy” design (CSR quote) you need to break them in. I followed the CSR’s instructions to put all the trays with lid on the unit and turn it on high and run for an hour. Within 2 minutes, my trays sat flush on the unit. I have yet to have another tray not sit flush, and with the weight of your items dehydrating, they’ll be sure to add some weight.
I dehydrate about every day for 10 hrs at a time. I’ll update again on unit durability.
Also, on the disturbing side of things, when I looked at reviews before I purchased it I noticed that the reviews seemed to be from 2-3 years ago. When I was researching my issue and searched in the FAQs, there were several reviews from 2020 and 2021 that were not favorable. Perhaps everything from the coronavirus has me a little more suspicious about things but that seems very sketchy.
::UPDATE::
I called NESCO customer service to report the issue and seek assistance. The CSR was extremely helpful in answering my questions regarding why the trays won’t sit flat, and it is true - they have made a different more “sturdy” design (CSR quote) you need to break them in. I followed the CSR’s instructions to put all the trays with lid on the unit and turn it on high and run for an hour. Within 2 minutes, my trays sat flush on the unit. I have yet to have another tray not sit flush, and with the weight of your items dehydrating, they’ll be sure to add some weight.
I dehydrate about every day for 10 hrs at a time. I’ll update again on unit durability.
Ken Davenport : Excellent dehydrator for home use.
I love this dehydrator! I ordered the 8 shelf unit and have been experimenting with different fruits and vegetables for chips/snacks. It works great and the other reviews have offered helpful tips - slicing thin and consistently is important, rotating the shelves during dehydration, etc. Lots of good recipes available and they make EXCELLENT snacks that are healthy and taste great. I have not tried jerky or roll-ups - but they are next on my list! As far as noise is concerned (I have seen comments about it) it is about as loud as a hairdryer. I am getting used to it but the fact that it makes noise was expected and I can sleep fine with it running (I live in an apartment) for overnight dehydrating.
Christina : This needs to be turned on and running a few hours before your first use
I initially had issues with this; the trays wouldn't fit right into the bottom, and the manual that came with it was for a different model. I had to call customer service (not very helpful) and do research before I finally just ran it for a little while, and the heat finally settled it into the right shape. I have been using this to dehydrate pineapple. I love it! It turns out really well. My mother purchased this exact same model a while back, and has loved it as well.
The machine is pretty noisy.
The machine is pretty noisy.
Brian Harris : Much better than the Snackmaster!
I was not expecting how big this is compared to my old snackmaster and it actually has the screen and fruit rollup trays for each tray. The only problem I have with the size is the trays are too big to fit in my sink. As for the hamburger jerky seasoning it comes with watch out! It will make your whole house smell like jerky for days and the funny thing is, it smells the same when it comes out the other end! Needless to say, my house reeks like beef jerky f@rts!
Beaucifus64 : Nesco FD-1018A Gardenmaster 075 Food Dehydrator
Dehydrator worked great for about 9 months, then the fan and heating element quit working within several days of each other. Took it apart in attempt to repair it. Looked online for repair parts but apparently there are none. Quite expensive for a throw away dehydrator. Will find another one with better durability and longevity without the high cost. Not happy with this at all. Now I am stuck with 8 trays and no dehydrator.
Sue Pressley : It really does make delicious beef jerky and dried fruit.
I made my first beef jerky and some dried fruit and I was totally amazed with the turn-out. I have also dried some apples, bananas, and looking forward to some other things to dehydrate. It's not that hard to clean especially if you spray a light coating of PAM spray on the racks. I purchased a big wash tub, when I get through, I place the racks in the tub with soapy water, take them outside on the deck and wash them out there and rinse them and let them dry out there. That's not too hard. I love it! Also, I have since made more beef jerky using a #1 jerky recipe and highly approved by everyone. Thickness of the sliced meat makes a big difference. I am going to try and make some chicken jerky for dog treats. They love it.
Gidget : Great dehydrator!
The customer service from Nesco was fantastic. It's the way every bussiness should be modeled after. The lid had some manufacturing defects so I emailed them. I thought it was going to be a huge hassle to get it replaced. Within an hour they responded asking for a picture which I promptly sent. Within 24 hours they shipped out a replacement!
Great dehydrator. Love it.
Great dehydrator. Love it.
Roland Hartfordshire : The Search is Over. This is the BEST Food Dehydrator.
While taking my 3 cats on the South Downs Way trail in Southern England (yes the cats were leashed) my companion gave me a modest gift of dried pineapple and spicy beef jerky... I came to the realization that I wanted to dehydrate my own food.
The search was on. I spent days researching the best food dehydrators and stumbled upon a Wirecutter article that featured the FD-1018A as the best dehydrator on the market. I bought it. Life now has meaning.
10/10 would highly recommend.
The search was on. I spent days researching the best food dehydrators and stumbled upon a Wirecutter article that featured the FD-1018A as the best dehydrator on the market. I bought it. Life now has meaning.
10/10 would highly recommend.
Nicholas : Don't rely on the low star reviews, but read them for sure!
I love this thing!!!! After reading all the negative reviews to see how many operator errors people actually admitted to. Only to get the don't do's of this product , I swear ! I read a lot of the higher rating ones too . I decided to purchase it because of its capability to extend the trays up to 30 layers , the no flavor transfer, how it comes with fruit leather trays and mesh trays as well ( and to my surprise it came with one of each for all 8 layers! I only thought it would have came with one or two of each ) , but most importantly it said it would dehydrate in half the time of most other dehydrators . Well it arrived the day before yesterday , and I have already made 2.5 pounds of beef jerky , a half of a pineapple, 3 peaches , and 7 fruit leather trays of stuff with it . My friend/ neighbor ( military housing ) has an excalebur 5 tray dehydrator which I have asked her to use on some things I needed dried . From what I gather when she did, it took her dehydrator 12 hours to just dry out the three trays of mint leaves and catnip I grew in my garden . But this dehydrator cooked beef jerky in just 3-4 ( and 5 for the meat I accidentally bought with to much marbling) . I think that should explain how much quicker it actually works . And after seeing how big and boxy my friends excalebur dehydrator is , I for sure would much rather have the cylinder shaped one any day . All in all , this is well worth spend the small fortune because I feel like i will get what I payed for with this product!
jeff hoover : Surprisingly loud and a documentation issue, but worth buying.
Many have noted that this dehydrator is surprisingly loud. I found that to be the case, also. Perhaps all dehydrators are loud? I haven't used any other brands or models, so I wouldn't know. However, it definitely is the case that we use this in a separate room, with the door closed because of the noise.
I'm only giving three stars for ease of cleaning because cleaning the trays is truly annoying. That said, I suspect all dehydrator trays are annoying to clean. Still, it is what it is, and what it is is annoying to clean.
Temperature control seems to work fine. I don't know how close the temperature is to the number shown on the dial, but it clearly gets hotter the farther you turn the dial. That's fine. A look at dehydrator recipes online seems to indicate that people don't really know what temperature they should be using anyway, and everything works out in the end.
There is a very poor documentation issue, however. When first assembling the dehydrator, one notices that the trays don't fully seat onto the base. There is a gap of around 1/2" when using the minimum number of trays which decreases the more trays you add, or the more food you put on the trays. And if you apply pressure to the trays you can get the gap to collapse completely.
There are many, many instances of people complaining about this in online reviews. Some people return the product as "defective". Some people just give poor reviews and live with it. Some people explain that it is normal and that the gap will go away by itself over time with use. But you will not find any information AT ALL from the company about this issue.
Given the fact that it is responsible for so many returns and poor online reviews, the company must absolutely know that there is confusion about this. Why did I have to spend an hour online trying to figure out if this was normal? Just put a freaking paragraph in the instruction manual about it!
So that you know: Yes, there is a gap. Yes, it is normal. Yes, it will go away with weight on the trays. Don't worry about it.
I'm only giving three stars for ease of cleaning because cleaning the trays is truly annoying. That said, I suspect all dehydrator trays are annoying to clean. Still, it is what it is, and what it is is annoying to clean.
Temperature control seems to work fine. I don't know how close the temperature is to the number shown on the dial, but it clearly gets hotter the farther you turn the dial. That's fine. A look at dehydrator recipes online seems to indicate that people don't really know what temperature they should be using anyway, and everything works out in the end.
There is a very poor documentation issue, however. When first assembling the dehydrator, one notices that the trays don't fully seat onto the base. There is a gap of around 1/2" when using the minimum number of trays which decreases the more trays you add, or the more food you put on the trays. And if you apply pressure to the trays you can get the gap to collapse completely.
There are many, many instances of people complaining about this in online reviews. Some people return the product as "defective". Some people just give poor reviews and live with it. Some people explain that it is normal and that the gap will go away by itself over time with use. But you will not find any information AT ALL from the company about this issue.
Given the fact that it is responsible for so many returns and poor online reviews, the company must absolutely know that there is confusion about this. Why did I have to spend an hour online trying to figure out if this was normal? Just put a freaking paragraph in the instruction manual about it!
So that you know: Yes, there is a gap. Yes, it is normal. Yes, it will go away with weight on the trays. Don't worry about it.
Valerie L : Can I please give this 10 stars?
Can I please give this 10 stars? I got my new dehydrator yesterday only. I was so excited that I looked in my fridge to see what I could dehydrate while my sliced beef was already marinating to make jerkies. All I can say is wow! I used to have an older dehydrator that wasn’t working so well, this one is so powerful, and it works beautifully. I had three huge zucchinis that I sliced thinly and marinated with a touch of olive oil, salt, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. These came out perfect, so yummy. Very hard to keep them on the dehydrator, as I kept munching them and I went from nine trays to five trays in the end!Crunchy and healthy! Started my beef jerky today, and it is just sooo good. Probably the best beef jerky I’ve ever had. Hopefully this dehydrator will keep working, But so far so good. It is huge, bigger than what I’m used to, I like that we can add more trays if we want to, and I have to admit, it is loud. But this doesn’t bother me! It is very easy to clean also. Temperature control seems great. All in all I am delighted with my purchase and would definitely recommend this dehydrator.
Pat : I’ll fitting parts
NESCO RESPONSE (paraphrased) The feet on the bottom of the trays are not meant to lock into the power base. A minimum of 4 trays must be used with the device at all times.
MY RESPONSE BACK: That is a pitiful response to a design flaw. The reason you need four trays is because the design flaw that the 5 feet do not lock into the power base as the original design unit did.
Charles A. Hardesty : Great dehydrator and my advice as a jerky making professional is BUY IT!
This is my second Gardenmaster dehydrator. I wore my other one out in 4 years by making too much venison jerky. Is there such a thing, for a dehydrator the answer is yes. This new one is working great and can handle a 10 pound batch (wet weight) of 16 fully loaded trays of venison jerky (ground venison formed with a jerky gun). The only weakness that I have found with these is that this USA made dehydrator gets a made in China thermal fuse put in it, so it has an Achilles heal if you will. I attempted 5 times to replace this thermal fuse in my old one, only to have it blow every time. Not many people use a dehydrator as much as I do, so don't let that scare you off. This is a very honest and blunt review and aside from the fuse issue, this is one very nice Made in the USA machine. This is the only dehydrator that can put up with the abuse I give these machines and I have owned many Nescos and other brands. I give it an A or about a 97%/100%.
Brian Harris : Much better than the Snackmaster!
I was not expecting how big this is compared to my old snackmaster and it actually has the screen and fruit rollup trays for each tray. The only problem I have with the size is the trays are too big to fit in my sink. As for the hamburger jerky seasoning it comes with watch out! It will make your whole house smell like jerky for days and the funny thing is, it smells the same when it comes out the other end! Needless to say, my house reeks like beef jerky f@rts!
Nita : Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator 1000 W
Basically, I was very pleased with the dehydrator. I'm very big into drying fruits, vegetables, spices, and jerky. I already have two smaller dehydrators, so I went for the larger 16 rack unit. I even purchased a new jerky gun to replace my old one. Everything was looking great until I discovered this larger, relatively expensive dehydrator could not be set for a certain length of time (say 2 hours) and cut itself off automatically. Please don't that one should check at regular intervals to make sure the food does not over dry. My concern is that I might go to sleep, especially in the evenings, and that could possibly cause a fire. I consider that extremely unsafe, and this surprises me for a company as large as NASCO, I'll probably keep the dehydrator, as I'm very satisfied with it otherwise, but am disappointed that I can't use it at certain times. That means I'll have to buy another dehydrator of another brand just to use in the evenings. Felt this should be brought to the attention of others, lest they over look the fact that this machine does not cut off automatically as I did. Thank you for permitting me to voice my opinion.
Mary P. : Excellent investment
I truly understand the need for a dehydrator! Since we have had this we're using it non-stop. We have found so many things to dehydrate from snacks for the children to making all natural spices. The apples we dehydrated have become a favorite with everyone! My son has made beef jerky and it's loved by all. Depending on the thickness of the cut of an item, the dehydrating process is really much quicker than noted in the manual.
The only drawback that we find is that it doesn't have a timer. But overall, a very worthwhile investment.
The only drawback that we find is that it doesn't have a timer. But overall, a very worthwhile investment.
Melissa Morgan-Oakes : Dead in 8 weeks.
Loved it for eight weeks, right up until it died. I bought this in June 2020 to replace an older Nesco dehydrator that lacked temperature control. And it worked really really well. I've dehydrated all manner of things to store for winter - zucchini and summer squash, carrots and potatoes both Irish and sweet, and a great deal of peach and pear slices. I gave it (and myself) a two week break for vacation, and this morning set to dehydrating some bonus ginger and lemon and lime...plugged it in and it's dead. And I've got a stack of sliced stuff to go in it. It glowed red, the fan never came on, and poof, just like that, she's a goner. Seems like it should have at least lasted the whole season. But no.
So save your money and get a dehydrator with a solid warranty. That's what I'm about to do.
So save your money and get a dehydrator with a solid warranty. That's what I'm about to do.
Amanda : Best purchase ever!!!
I just purchased this dehydrator a little over a week ago. So I can't say how long this will last. However, what I have seen from this machine so far has been amazing! I love it so much. I used it almost every day last week, and like 4 times this week. So far I have made dehydrated strawberry slices (cut to 1/4 in. Dehydrate until dry and plyable or crispy) i have made fruit leather- my fav was strawberry. (I filled up my blender with defrosted frozen strawberries, a splash of water to get it going, little squeeze of lemon juice so the color stays nice and red, and about 3tbsp of sugar, mix and pour on the fruit leather tray after you have sprayed it with a tiny bit of pam spray. Dehydrate until it feels dry to the touch. Delicious! I have dehydrated jellied cranberry sauce too! Sliced thin ofcourse! And my husband's favorite- jerky! To be honest, I had huge doubts that jerky in a dehydrator (vs. Smoker) was actually gonna make jerky how its supposed to taste. Oh boy I was wrong! This stuff is so flavorful and dehydrated perfectly. You can stop it any time to check on your food. For example, sometimes when I make the jerky, some slices are cut a little thinner than others, therefore they get done quicker, I just pull those off and continue cooking the thicker stuff. This thing does not get very hot, so if you have little ones, there's really no need to worry about their little hands getting burnt if the touch it on the counter. And gosh, the snacks you can make your kids with this thing are so yummy and so healthy. The noise level- best thing I can compare it to is the same noise your fan over your oven makes. If it was set to the low setting. On my first day of use, I walked into the kitchen a couple times thinking my fan was on over the stove. Lol. It's not loud at all. The video the guy posted with it being really loud- his was broken. For sure! Haha it is not that loud. I run mine and we can watch t.v. talk etc. I can even hear my kiddo talking to her friends in the other room still. Not bad. The trays are great quality- but huge. Lol this is a very large machine. (Bigger than my 8 qt. Instant pot) so I have been storing it away while not in use. However I have used it so much, I may just leave it out. As far as the fruit leather trays and the clean a screens goes- they are a must have!!! I bought this exact dehydrator because it comes with 8 of each. While the other dehydrators did not. I use the clean a screens for my berry slices so they won't stick to the trays, and they work great. Anyway, as far as how much stuff you can fit on it... I can easily fit 6- 1lb containers of strawberry slices. 6 pounds of strawberries!!! Lol. And as far as jerky goes- I just did about 8lbs of raw jerky meat on all 8 trays. (Shrinks down after cooked) then the fruit leather- I usually buy the 6 lb bags of frozen strawberries from Costco, probably 3/4 of the bag will fill up 8 trays. Give or take. Im going to make Cinnamon apple chips soon : ) this thing is great and seems to run strong. Doesn't use a bunch of power it seems like, and does not over heat or anything. Love it! So glad I finally bought it. Great purchase. Ps: I tried to take pics but I can't find the way to upload them anymore to Amazon. Sry!
MEP : This is my second NESCO Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator
NESCO FD-1018A, Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator, White, 1000 watts. I like and use these frequently. My first model that I still use is about 10-12 years old. and works well. I wanted a second to speed up up he process of drying Jerky, fruits and vegetables. Just as advertised, trays interchange with my old model. Clean up is a breeze.
chris m. : Read the reviews, the trays melt
Used only once and the trays melted and deformed which causes them either to not be able to stack anymore or allows the air to escape out of the sides instead of through the opening in the top. After checking the reviews I noticed this has been happening for years and that others have attempted to reach out to Nesco and have experienced poor customer service. I haven’t spoken with Nesco as this happened on first use so I am returning to amazon. Since I have nothing to loose due to amazon generous return policy I am going to order another one and see if the same happens when using it on lower temp setting. However, poor design, should’ve used a plastic capable of handling the temps the machine creates. For those wondering I had a full 8 trays of vegetables drying at 160 degrees when this occurred. Vegetables turned out great which is why I’m going to give it another shot. Noticed other dehydrators from other manufacturers also have poor reviews or I would’ve tried a different model.
Update: second item arrived and was able to maintain the temperature settings according to the dial which resulted in lower temps and thus no noticeably deformed trays. Only used the product for a couple of months at this point so no idea about longevity.
Update: second item arrived and was able to maintain the temperature settings according to the dial which resulted in lower temps and thus no noticeably deformed trays. Only used the product for a couple of months at this point so no idea about longevity.
Crysti Perry : Almost sent back....keep reading
Judy A Vandenbil : Very Disappointed
Metal plate on bottom of unit clearly out of alignment. Turned it on and it immediately got very hot, started smoking and it was very loud. For safety reasons we turned it off right away. When we tried to turn it back on the fan and element did not work. Shipping back tomorrow. So disappointed.
Roland Hartfordshire : The Search is Over. This is the BEST Food Dehydrator.
While taking my 3 cats on the South Downs Way trail in Southern England (yes the cats were leashed) my companion gave me a modest gift of dried pineapple and spicy beef jerky... I came to the realization that I wanted to dehydrate my own food.
The search was on. I spent days researching the best food dehydrators and stumbled upon a Wirecutter article that featured the FD-1018A as the best dehydrator on the market. I bought it. Life now has meaning.
10/10 would highly recommend.
The search was on. I spent days researching the best food dehydrators and stumbled upon a Wirecutter article that featured the FD-1018A as the best dehydrator on the market. I bought it. Life now has meaning.
10/10 would highly recommend.
Kelli : ANY SOLUTION FROM NESCO...AS MY BASE TRAY DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY ON THE BOTTOM PIECE--
I think i have tried all the trays sent and whichever one i try, it does not fit properly on the base....has a gap...has anyone found a solution to this? Or am I missing something? I havent used yet, hoping to resolve this situation, so I have only cleaned and prepared for use..have no idea about temp control or noise level yet.
Jonathan E. : Beware! Trays do not lock to base
I read the other reviews, I saw the reviews saying that there was a big gap between the base of the unit and the bottom tray. I figured a couple people must have gotten defective units or weren't doing something correct... I was wrong, the trays are manufactured with one set of spacing for the tabs that lock the trays together, and the base with a different spacing, making it impossible to lock the bottom tray onto the base. This results in a big gap left at the bottom since you can't lock the tray into the base. Will be returning the unit. Very disappointing.
William Verstelle : Great dehydrator
I love this dehydrator it works so well and is so easy to use. For RVing it is fantastic, I make lots if hash brown potatoes and rehydrate in the frying pan then turn up the heat and add some butter and they taste great. My jerky is to die for, corn, fruit You name it, it drys and saves so much space. Dried a bunch of Strawberries when they were in season and use them all the time.
bookworm : VERY LOUD and trays do not fit well
I thought that i had researched dehydrators pretty well but this dehydrator is disappointing. First of all, it is way too LOUD! I have to put it in the basement and it is big and heavy to carry up and down the stairs. Secondly, even with a stack of 4 trays (the minimum that can be used) the trays do not fit well at the bottom and are wobbly. I found using 6 or more trays alleviated that problem. The dehydrator works well and I really like the mesh liners for drying herbs, but there must be quieter ones out there. I wouldn't recommend this dehydrator.
Ann Anderson : Do not buy from Amazon!
I could not get the trays to attach to the base of the dehydrator. I have this exact same dehydrator only I have only four trays so I know how to properly use the machine. I am quite disappointed with Nesco and Amazon. Nesco stands behind their products. If you buy it from the store and have to return it, easy peasy. Buy it from Amazon and your money will be tied up for up to two weeks should you need to return it.
Richard : Trays do not fit base
I can only give it one star for now and we have already requested a replacement so I will update when that one arrives. None of the trays fit the base and it leaves a gap.
Also, on the disturbing side of things, when I looked at reviews before I purchased it I noticed that the reviews seemed to be from 2-3 years ago. When I was researching my issue and searched in the FAQs, there were several reviews from 2020 and 2021 that were not favorable. Perhaps everything from the coronavirus has me a little more suspicious about things but that seems very sketchy.
::UPDATE::
I called NESCO customer service to report the issue and seek assistance. The CSR was extremely helpful in answering my questions regarding why the trays won’t sit flat, and it is true - they have made a different more “sturdy” design (CSR quote) you need to break them in. I followed the CSR’s instructions to put all the trays with lid on the unit and turn it on high and run for an hour. Within 2 minutes, my trays sat flush on the unit. I have yet to have another tray not sit flush, and with the weight of your items dehydrating, they’ll be sure to add some weight.
I dehydrate about every day for 10 hrs at a time. I’ll update again on unit durability.
Also, on the disturbing side of things, when I looked at reviews before I purchased it I noticed that the reviews seemed to be from 2-3 years ago. When I was researching my issue and searched in the FAQs, there were several reviews from 2020 and 2021 that were not favorable. Perhaps everything from the coronavirus has me a little more suspicious about things but that seems very sketchy.
::UPDATE::
I called NESCO customer service to report the issue and seek assistance. The CSR was extremely helpful in answering my questions regarding why the trays won’t sit flat, and it is true - they have made a different more “sturdy” design (CSR quote) you need to break them in. I followed the CSR’s instructions to put all the trays with lid on the unit and turn it on high and run for an hour. Within 2 minutes, my trays sat flush on the unit. I have yet to have another tray not sit flush, and with the weight of your items dehydrating, they’ll be sure to add some weight.
I dehydrate about every day for 10 hrs at a time. I’ll update again on unit durability.
Nicholas : Don't rely on the low star reviews, but read them for sure!
I love this thing!!!! After reading all the negative reviews to see how many operator errors people actually admitted to. Only to get the don't do's of this product , I swear ! I read a lot of the higher rating ones too . I decided to purchase it because of its capability to extend the trays up to 30 layers , the no flavor transfer, how it comes with fruit leather trays and mesh trays as well ( and to my surprise it came with one of each for all 8 layers! I only thought it would have came with one or two of each ) , but most importantly it said it would dehydrate in half the time of most other dehydrators . Well it arrived the day before yesterday , and I have already made 2.5 pounds of beef jerky , a half of a pineapple, 3 peaches , and 7 fruit leather trays of stuff with it . My friend/ neighbor ( military housing ) has an excalebur 5 tray dehydrator which I have asked her to use on some things I needed dried . From what I gather when she did, it took her dehydrator 12 hours to just dry out the three trays of mint leaves and catnip I grew in my garden . But this dehydrator cooked beef jerky in just 3-4 ( and 5 for the meat I accidentally bought with to much marbling) . I think that should explain how much quicker it actually works . And after seeing how big and boxy my friends excalebur dehydrator is , I for sure would much rather have the cylinder shaped one any day . All in all , this is well worth spend the small fortune because I feel like i will get what I payed for with this product!
Lee Hodge : Really loud
It sounds like a hair dryer. I assumed it was damaged until I read a few other reviews. It is too loud to use indoors. Bought it because it was an Amazon Choice. Measured it at 67 dB at 3 feet.
Cameron A McKenzie : Incredibly loud!
I used the Nesco website to contact their customer service, to find out if that level of noise is normal. They never responded.
Minus 2 stars for the noise. Minus 2 stars for the customer service. It gets 1 star for drying well, although it sounds like it's on it's last legs.
I'll update my review when it actually dies.
Crysti Perry : Almost sent back....keep reading
Nicholas : Don't rely on the low star reviews, but read them for sure!
I love this thing!!!! After reading all the negative reviews to see how many operator errors people actually admitted to. Only to get the don't do's of this product , I swear ! I read a lot of the higher rating ones too . I decided to purchase it because of its capability to extend the trays up to 30 layers , the no flavor transfer, how it comes with fruit leather trays and mesh trays as well ( and to my surprise it came with one of each for all 8 layers! I only thought it would have came with one or two of each ) , but most importantly it said it would dehydrate in half the time of most other dehydrators . Well it arrived the day before yesterday , and I have already made 2.5 pounds of beef jerky , a half of a pineapple, 3 peaches , and 7 fruit leather trays of stuff with it . My friend/ neighbor ( military housing ) has an excalebur 5 tray dehydrator which I have asked her to use on some things I needed dried . From what I gather when she did, it took her dehydrator 12 hours to just dry out the three trays of mint leaves and catnip I grew in my garden . But this dehydrator cooked beef jerky in just 3-4 ( and 5 for the meat I accidentally bought with to much marbling) . I think that should explain how much quicker it actually works . And after seeing how big and boxy my friends excalebur dehydrator is , I for sure would much rather have the cylinder shaped one any day . All in all , this is well worth spend the small fortune because I feel like i will get what I payed for with this product!
Kevin : Completely in love with this machine
Got this thing about a week ago, and i'm blown away. So far I've made beef jerky that turned out absolutely amazing. Better than what'd I'd pick up in the store. And tons of different "chips"...from apples, pears, peaches, kiwi, apricots, pineapple, bananas. The apples (from pink lady) turned out amazing. dehydrating for about 20 hours, they almost seemed freeze dried. Super crunchy. And the fruit rollups are just fantastic. Toss ingrediends in a blender, spread it out on the included rollup trays, and you can make anything you can think up. And what's great is with the 8 trays, 8 non stick mats, and 8 fruit rollup spreads, you can make any combo of anything in all 8 tiers. You've got everything you want right out of the box. And the bottom heat/fan design makes it easy to lift up your trays to check on their progress. Thinking of getting a second so I can make both jerky and fruit at the same time (since mixing different stuff in there is supposedly a no-no).
As a note... I'd toss your dehydrated meats and maybe even fruit in the freezer or fridge when not snacking. While dehydrated, they have no preservatives in there... so best keep them cold to keep them longer in storage.
As a note... I'd toss your dehydrated meats and maybe even fruit in the freezer or fridge when not snacking. While dehydrated, they have no preservatives in there... so best keep them cold to keep them longer in storage.
Peter Carroll : JUNK - Do not buy it
Failed at 12 1/2 months due to very cheap heating coil assembly. Heater coil is non-serviceable and guaranteed to fail given the dissimilar metals used in fastening the coil to mica frame. So far Nesco has been unresponsive, but everything i read on line says they wont replace anything even if it is one day out of warranty. If you are going to use this with any regularity it not a question of if it will fail, it is just a case of when. Pretty crappy for an American Company.
AJ : Great dehydrator
I replaced a 25 year old Harvest dehydrator with this one. I've used it three times and am delighted with it. FYI, if I don't like a product's heft, ease of use or aesthetics, I initiate a return immediately. When I opened the box, the dehydrator was well packed, substantial, and looked good. Also, it has huge capacity. I used it to make organ meat jerky for my mutts, and it performed perfectly. I project a long happy relationship with my dehydrator.
Roger Mayday : Trays are warped from factory and can’t hold liquid
I bought this for the sole purpose of dehydrating eggs because we get too many from our chickens. These trays came warped and I can only fill a quarter tray up before it spills out. I tried using it a few times with strawberries and dog treats hoping the trays would flatten out but they haven’t. I’m pretty disappointed since I can’t use this what I bought it for because of manufacturing defects!
Flower : Fast drying food dehydrator
When I needed to replace my old Nesco dehydrator, I decided to stay with the same brand since it had lasted so long and dehydrated so well.
I purchased the Nesco Gardenmaster 075 and was very impressed
The dehydrator comes with 8 stackable trays. There are 8 screen trays used to make food like jerky and raisins, and 8 plastic trays to make food like fruit roll ups. I purchased 2 more trays because we dehydrate a lot of seasonal fruit. After the fruit is dried, we put them in containers and store them in the pantry for year long enjoyment.
The food drys very fast. However, I do find it a little noisy.
I purchased the Nesco Gardenmaster 075 and was very impressed
The dehydrator comes with 8 stackable trays. There are 8 screen trays used to make food like jerky and raisins, and 8 plastic trays to make food like fruit roll ups. I purchased 2 more trays because we dehydrate a lot of seasonal fruit. After the fruit is dried, we put them in containers and store them in the pantry for year long enjoyment.
The food drys very fast. However, I do find it a little noisy.
Bob From Springfield : Noisy and defective
Nesco seems to have a serious quality control issue. There's a review video that shows how noisy the dehydrator is. That's also my experience. It sounds like the fan blade is out of alignment and is hitting something. It could probably be fixed by opening/realigning the fan; but why do that with a brand new product?
Nesco also doesn't have a troubleshooting section in the manual or their website. Complete fail all the way around. Poor quality control. Defective, possibly hazardous product. No useful support. My first and last Nesco product.
Nesco also doesn't have a troubleshooting section in the manual or their website. Complete fail all the way around. Poor quality control. Defective, possibly hazardous product. No useful support. My first and last Nesco product.
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