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!
Drumlin : Comes with lots of trays!
After doing quite a bit of research online I came to the conclusion that this was probably the best unit for me. It comes with the fruit roll trays, quick clean trays, and a bottom fan which makes more sense to me than a top fan. I just made zucchini chips and they came out really awesome! I followed one hint salted them on the tray but BEFORE I put the tray on the unit, so the motor wouldn't as likely get salt in it. I'll also keep a fruit roll-up tray on the very bottom to catch all the little crumbs before they get into the motor. The motor was about as noisy as a dishwasher oh, I didn't consider it to be overly noisy. It does throw out a little bit of heat and my kitchen is quite small, so it made a noticeable difference in the temperature in the room. I have a studio apartment so I don't think I could have it running all night but during the day it really wasn't a problem. I love that it comes with 8 trays, plus fruit Roll-Up trays and the quick clean trays. Everything you could need really. It's quite large so not too many people are going to have a kitchen large enough to just keep it out all the time. I know I can't! But I kept the box and I'll just pop it in and out as needed.
Karen McHenry : You get several freebies with this purchase.
My old gardenmaster bit the dust. I had 10 trays already. Ordered this and got many more trays and some freebies that went between each new tray. This was a fantastic buy. Love the gardenmaster to start with. Had mine for over 20 years. really happy with this new one and many more trays now. Noise level is very low.
schreckma : Major design flaw
This was my second one (returned the first a week ago) and it once AGAIN has the same issue. The trays do not sit flush on the motor rendering the process VERY inefficient at best and completely useless at worst. Either way I’m done until they correct this obvious design flaw. I have an old one from >10 years ago and was looking to upgrade. But my old one still WORKS. So I will stick with it. So many have complained of the same issue and yet Nesco has not fixed it. May be time to look at another company.
MSJ : So far not good
Arrived as if it had been a return, items half out of plastic, cord had been folded at one point but was just shoved in box, book had folds and some of the trays had food(?) particles on them. I thought I'd try anyway- customers change their minds (Best Buy anyone?) and I trusted Nesco would check units before they go out.
So I read instructions slice up some 1/16" banana slices, and a tray of grapes, 6 hours later no difference, 3 DAYS later they are still chewy not dry, I finally turned temp all the way to 160. The unit would not get past 140 using 4 different thermometers, I don't know where that 1000 watts is being used but it's not in the heat. I ran the unit for about 6 days and my electric bill went up $30. Can't say with absolute certainty it's the unit, but nothing else in the house has changed (weather has been fairly static and no guests).
I did an even exchange with Amazon hoping I just got a lemon due to all the rave reviews. Will update when new unit arrives. I do suggest everyone check their temperature in unit. I put an oven thermometer on bottom rack, then I put a different one on top, dangled a digital one and a smoker thermometer (meat) through the center about 1" from heat element outlet.
Plastic trays and screens do stain.
One last thing- the unit IS indeed very loud. I put mine in laundry room which is fine for me, but if noise is an issue BEWARE.
So I read instructions slice up some 1/16" banana slices, and a tray of grapes, 6 hours later no difference, 3 DAYS later they are still chewy not dry, I finally turned temp all the way to 160. The unit would not get past 140 using 4 different thermometers, I don't know where that 1000 watts is being used but it's not in the heat. I ran the unit for about 6 days and my electric bill went up $30. Can't say with absolute certainty it's the unit, but nothing else in the house has changed (weather has been fairly static and no guests).
I did an even exchange with Amazon hoping I just got a lemon due to all the rave reviews. Will update when new unit arrives. I do suggest everyone check their temperature in unit. I put an oven thermometer on bottom rack, then I put a different one on top, dangled a digital one and a smoker thermometer (meat) through the center about 1" from heat element outlet.
Plastic trays and screens do stain.
One last thing- the unit IS indeed very loud. I put mine in laundry room which is fine for me, but if noise is an issue BEWARE.
steven g. : Issue with large gap between base and bottom tray.
had about a half inch gap between the base and the bottom tray but after running it on 160 degrees for 45 mins or so with all 8 trays the bottom tray set itself to the base perfectly.I just marked the bottom tray and always use it for the bottom.dehydrator works great for jerky as well as the different fruits and vegs i have dried.
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.
DaNi Mackeller : The best for the money!
I researched this before I bought it. I'd purchased an Excalibur before and while it worked great it was not expandable. This one is perfect! A major pro is that not only does it come with 8 trays, but also 8 fruit leather trays, and 8 of the netted trays. That's an amazing deal! It makes no more noise than any of the others and doesn't throw off any more heat than the others either. It also has larger size trays. It takes a lot of food to fill it up the whole unit. I highly recommend it!
J S. : Dehydrating everything
Great price, a bit noisy so I turn it off at night or run it out on the porch. Definitely use the plastic tray liners. And put a jelly roll tray in the bottom rack to catch any drips. Cleans up really fast. I've learned to quit before they are completely dry because things feel wetter when they're hot, and more dry when they are cool. We've done apple slices, cherry tomatoes, cherries, zucchini slices, grapes, apricots.
Michael Jennings : Great Unit for home food preservation
2 rounds of beef jerky and a big batch of dried apples that I call Minion Bait as the two little ones in my life mack them down.
I love the fact that I have the ability to dehydrate at different temps allowing me to match the food and temp for a better overall product.
The trays are fairly easy to clean. Soapy water and a brush removes almost all residue.
The fan is noticeable but not annoying. But that is what makes this unit dehydrate foods quicker than non fan units.
I am not displeased by my purchase and have already recommended this unit to others in a canning and preserving group. As summer approaches, harvest time will lead to heavier and heavier usage. Something I am looking forward to.
I love the fact that I have the ability to dehydrate at different temps allowing me to match the food and temp for a better overall product.
The trays are fairly easy to clean. Soapy water and a brush removes almost all residue.
The fan is noticeable but not annoying. But that is what makes this unit dehydrate foods quicker than non fan units.
I am not displeased by my purchase and have already recommended this unit to others in a canning and preserving group. As summer approaches, harvest time will lead to heavier and heavier usage. Something I am looking forward to.
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.
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!
Ellie : As loud as a bathroom fan
I am not pleased with this product, the reviews about the noise level is correct, in comparison, I would say a notch loader than a bathroom exhaust fan. I should have went with a different unit. The description said quiet and it is far from it! Might be perfect for someone with a separate room to place the unit while drying, not for those of us with small places. I can’t afford the cost of sending it back. Don’t waste your money like I did!
Renee : Best dehydrator
The noise level is no louder than our dishwasher or washing machine, so that is not an issue for my family. This is a great machine but it does have a large foot print. Even if you don't have the room, make room for this dehydrator. It is so fast, even and not having to rotate trays during the process it so nice.
We had an over abundance of basil growing in our garden. We filled the trays three times by the time it was all dried and it dried evenly, quickly and without any problems. We also made apple chips and strawberry chips.
We then made a few batches of fruit leather and did not spray the trays as directed, with no stick spray. The fruit leather peeled of easily so that step isn't necessary (even though instructions state to do it)
We most recently made jerky and I was surprised how quickly it took to dry (about 4.5 hours).
I have recommended this to anyone who asks about my dehydrating. I have no complaints and have left this machine on overnight without the unit overheating, melting etc.
We had an over abundance of basil growing in our garden. We filled the trays three times by the time it was all dried and it dried evenly, quickly and without any problems. We also made apple chips and strawberry chips.
We then made a few batches of fruit leather and did not spray the trays as directed, with no stick spray. The fruit leather peeled of easily so that step isn't necessary (even though instructions state to do it)
We most recently made jerky and I was surprised how quickly it took to dry (about 4.5 hours).
I have recommended this to anyone who asks about my dehydrating. I have no complaints and have left this machine on overnight without the unit overheating, melting etc.
Cindy : Product came used, not new
I have never had this happen before so I am still staring at the box. I bought a new dehydrator. It's not cheap. I just opened the box that arrived last night and I find some sort of sauce and either salt or sugar stuck to several layers of the dehydrator. Gross is an understatement. I have no qualms about purchasing a used product but shouldn't it say so and the price reflective of that? I can't even send this back knowing it's probably going to go to another unsuspecting mom and how do I know that all of the other ones are not used? Just YUCK!
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.
Amazon Customer : Good dehydrator but expensive to add trays
The Gardenmaster works well...I don’t have a problem with it. When it comes to cleaning.. The meat gets stuck on the trays and sometimes chunks of the plastic breaks off while trying to get it u stuck. This will probably be the case for most dehydrators. The biggest problem that I have it that it may seem great that it will cook up to 30 trays but by the time you spend the money to buy 22 more trays... it can cost a few hundred dollars. It is actually cheaper to buy a whole new machine to get 8 trays. The cheapest I found for them was at True Value.
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Minnick : Ordered Two of Them...Both Defective
I know this is a great food dehydrator. I have an older and smaller version. I absolutely love it. I wanted to add a second one for my summer food dehydrating sessions. So I ordered this larger one. Then a second one after the first one had an issue. Both of them were defective, and I was refunded after I returned them to Amazon. I wanted a replacement after the second defective one. Amazon wouldn't let me get a third one. All of them were returned with the original packaging and accessories. Guess I will wait and shop somewhere else.
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.
Minnick : Ordered Two of Them...Both Defective
I know this is a great food dehydrator. I have an older and smaller version. I absolutely love it. I wanted to add a second one for my summer food dehydrating sessions. So I ordered this larger one. Then a second one after the first one had an issue. Both of them were defective, and I was refunded after I returned them to Amazon. I wanted a replacement after the second defective one. Amazon wouldn't let me get a third one. All of them were returned with the original packaging and accessories. Guess I will wait and shop somewhere else.
Gasworks : $ Paper Weight
Made 1 batch of jerky, went to use it again and it did not turn on. E-mailed Nesco 2 times and explained the situation and they have never responded. I called customer service and they said they were going to send a new power head, I have never received it.
911 : Far, far superior over the Wal Mart version we have been using...
Last year we decided to try dehydrating. We purchased one from Wal Mart and it quit working after a few weeks. We took it back and tried another brand from there. The 2nd one worked great, but was really slow. We saw this one on a good sale on Amazon, and based on reviews and recommendations, bought it. It is fantastic and is far superior over the "starter versions" we had previously purchased. Much, much faster drying times, came with eight trays (and I think can support up to 30 trays), adjustable temperature control and came with some spiffy extras for the trays. Very, very pleased with it. The only thing I wish it had was maybe a timer. Anyway, I can highly recommend this dehydrator for someone wanting to get more "serious" with their dehydrating...
bobby : trays do not fit
the first unit I received turned red hot, smelled of something burning, and died immediately. The replacement seems to work out of the box, but the trays don't fit. It appears that the trays they are shipping the new units with will not sit flat - I watched an unboxing video and the trays in the video are slightly different than mine. To remedy this, I ordered the TR-2 expansion tray kit and this solves the problem because the supplementary trays will sit flush on the fan base and the original trays WILL sit flush on the expansion trays. All in all, it seems like a decent dehydrator, but beware of the tray misfit issue
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.
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.
Cora G. : Versatile and affordable
It is rather noisy and needs to be used in an area where you are not always around it.
Not built as sturdy as previous ones. This is my 3rd one. I keep giving mine to others getting started. So I buy another one for me. The trays on this one don’t sit flush with the base until you put about 4 full trays on it. My other ones I could use only one tray with no issues. This one you can’t, you need the weight of more full trays to make it sit flush with the base. I also noticed that this unit takes a bit longer to dry than my previous two.
All in all this is still my favorite dehydrator and I use dehydrators quite heavily. It is affordable for us on low incomes and you can do a lot with it.
One area I would love to see improved is the material used to make the trays. They are easy to break unless you only touch the sides which are built stronger. If the trays were built using Lexon, they would be almost indestructible.
Not built as sturdy as previous ones. This is my 3rd one. I keep giving mine to others getting started. So I buy another one for me. The trays on this one don’t sit flush with the base until you put about 4 full trays on it. My other ones I could use only one tray with no issues. This one you can’t, you need the weight of more full trays to make it sit flush with the base. I also noticed that this unit takes a bit longer to dry than my previous two.
All in all this is still my favorite dehydrator and I use dehydrators quite heavily. It is affordable for us on low incomes and you can do a lot with it.
One area I would love to see improved is the material used to make the trays. They are easy to break unless you only touch the sides which are built stronger. If the trays were built using Lexon, they would be almost indestructible.
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.
Emily Z : Too loud & Under performing
I bought this because of the great reviews not only on this website, but others as well. I am returning it because of the noise level, performance, and it’s durability. It’s loud enough where you need to raise your voice to talk over it and it can be heard throughout the whole house. Another reason I give it one star is that it did not perform that well. It took much longer to dry than the directions indicated. Finally, I hand washed the inserts after use and they seem flimsy. They started to curl up at the edges after I washed it. I laid them flat and it was fine, but I would be concerned about their durability if I were keeping the product.
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.
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!
Julia Waters : great buy!
I am an avid dehydrator junkie!!!! I dehydrate my own meals for backpacking, make my dogs chicken jerky, beef jerky for humans, and even eggs. That being said, I have burned through 2 other dehydrators by Nesco. This one packs 1000 watts of power to dehydrate, it dries meats in a shorter time(8-9 hours) than their other smaller dehydrators (10-14 hours), has larger tray size and comes with the mesh and trays for each rack. This model is well with the money! I am very happy with my purchase. The dehydrator is a little louder than the smaller models from Nesco, it sounds like a box fan when it is running, sometimes I put it in the garage or pantry if I am home and don't want the background noise .
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.
Ellie : As loud as a bathroom fan
I am not pleased with this product, the reviews about the noise level is correct, in comparison, I would say a notch loader than a bathroom exhaust fan. I should have went with a different unit. The description said quiet and it is far from it! Might be perfect for someone with a separate room to place the unit while drying, not for those of us with small places. I can’t afford the cost of sending it back. Don’t waste your money like I did!
PG NC : Great for solids, crappy for liquids.
I really wanted to like this dehydrator, and I do, for fruits, veggies, herbs, anything that’s not liquid. When I opened the silicone inserts I thought yay, they are bigger, deeper and heavier than my old Gardenmaster. Then I put them in the trays, where they don’t lay flat. Then I poured some eggs in, and they ran around the outer circumference of the trays. Not only do the inserts not lay flat, the trays slope up ever so slightly towards the center. You can pop the tray down but they pop right back up. So, powerhouse unit, but not good if you’re wanting to dry liquids like eggs or making your own bouillon. I think even getting a pulp for fruit roll ups a uniform thickness might be difficult given the unevenness of the inserts and trays.
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.
Tammy : Trays do not sit right on bottom heat unit
Big gap between the trays and bottom heat unit, hot air escapes from it. There is no way this is going to work properly. And the Noise!!! Oh my word this thing is Loud! And when it runs heat is escaping everywhere! Called customer service and their solution is to put all trays on it and run it at 160 so it can heat the trays up so they will eventually start sitting right on the unit. At 160 this thing is soo hot to the touch! And soo, once these cool down, if this process works, will this process have to be done everytime I want to use the dehydrator?? I have used dehydrator for years and Never had an issue like this before and this is the most expensive unit I have bought to date. I asked why the company doesn't put this in the manual and she said because it doesn't happen with every unit and she said that it happens because they put the trays in the box hot and whe. They cool it can cause this........?!?!?!?! That makes NO sense and why would they pkg hot trays, crazy. I am not happy with this.
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.
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.
Cheeseboy : Nesco --> Excalibur --> Nesco!
I originally had this exact model - the 1018A, and it worked great. I loved experimenting with it, and drying all sorts of things.
But then I heard all kinds of great things about the Excalibur, so I gave my old-faithful Nesco to my niece, mortgaged the house (just kidding...), and got the Excalibur. I used it a lot, too - and loved it. This is just subjective, but I didn't really think the Excalibur worked any better than the Nesco. (I hope all my fellow raw foodists don't hate me for saying that!) I will say this for the Excalibur - it looked better in my kitchen. It was quieter, too - so it was more of an "indoor" dehydrator. The Nesco is a "garage" dehydrator. (At least that's what my wife says.) But in my opinion, they both work the same.
When I moved, I gave the Excalibur to my Mom, and she loves it. I didn't want to ask for it back again (kind-hearted son that I am), so I just went out now, and re-purchased the 1018 - just like the one I had before.
What I like about this:
1) It's expandable - up to 30 trays. (That's something that the Excalibur - as great as it is - couldn't do.) It would be a ton of work to fill 30 trays, so for now I'll just stick with the 8. To have trays that I'm not using would cause me to lay awake at nights - with overwhelming guilt and anxiety.
2) This "package deal" is really a great savings. I priced what it would cost if I did all the accessories (screens, roll-up trays) individually, and this is much cheaper. I ALWAYS use the screens, even for things that don't need them, because they help keep the trays a little cleaner. Screens are easier to wash than trays. (BTW, I found it easiest to wash the trays in the bathtub. They are too big for the kitchen sink and for the dishwasher.)
I know that this model has been around for years - so I anticipate that I'll have no trouble whatsoever with this. If there were any bugs in the design, they would have been worked out a long time ago. Any questions? Just holler, and I'll do my best to answer them.
But then I heard all kinds of great things about the Excalibur, so I gave my old-faithful Nesco to my niece, mortgaged the house (just kidding...), and got the Excalibur. I used it a lot, too - and loved it. This is just subjective, but I didn't really think the Excalibur worked any better than the Nesco. (I hope all my fellow raw foodists don't hate me for saying that!) I will say this for the Excalibur - it looked better in my kitchen. It was quieter, too - so it was more of an "indoor" dehydrator. The Nesco is a "garage" dehydrator. (At least that's what my wife says.) But in my opinion, they both work the same.
When I moved, I gave the Excalibur to my Mom, and she loves it. I didn't want to ask for it back again (kind-hearted son that I am), so I just went out now, and re-purchased the 1018 - just like the one I had before.
What I like about this:
1) It's expandable - up to 30 trays. (That's something that the Excalibur - as great as it is - couldn't do.) It would be a ton of work to fill 30 trays, so for now I'll just stick with the 8. To have trays that I'm not using would cause me to lay awake at nights - with overwhelming guilt and anxiety.
2) This "package deal" is really a great savings. I priced what it would cost if I did all the accessories (screens, roll-up trays) individually, and this is much cheaper. I ALWAYS use the screens, even for things that don't need them, because they help keep the trays a little cleaner. Screens are easier to wash than trays. (BTW, I found it easiest to wash the trays in the bathtub. They are too big for the kitchen sink and for the dishwasher.)
I know that this model has been around for years - so I anticipate that I'll have no trouble whatsoever with this. If there were any bugs in the design, they would have been worked out a long time ago. Any questions? Just holler, and I'll do my best to answer them.
Cindy : Product came used, not new
I have never had this happen before so I am still staring at the box. I bought a new dehydrator. It's not cheap. I just opened the box that arrived last night and I find some sort of sauce and either salt or sugar stuck to several layers of the dehydrator. Gross is an understatement. I have no qualms about purchasing a used product but shouldn't it say so and the price reflective of that? I can't even send this back knowing it's probably going to go to another unsuspecting mom and how do I know that all of the other ones are not used? Just YUCK!
Biggs E : Backpackers - - This is THE ONE for you!
I bought this dehydrator to make meals for an 8 day remote backpacking trip. The Gardenmaster is amazing. It's design is much better than the Snackmaster. The air moves more evenly throughout the machine and dries the food quickly and efficiently. The temperature gauge is a great feature. I dried: bananas, mangoes, strawberries, pineapple, apples, spaghetti sauce, curry sauces, ground beef, corn, carrots, and peas. The food was amazing on the trail! So much better than commercially made bagged food. If you are a backpacker, this is the dehydrator for you. Don't mess around with the smaller machines, that just makes more work for you. And, this one comes with all the trays to dry sauces and fruit leather.
Kenneth A. Davis : Nesco was once the dehydrater king.... now..... its just a noisy wind machine
I'm on my second unit in as little as a month with this.. first unit had the wrong trays shipped with it....... second one did as well.... if you order replacement trays you can make the faulty ones sent work. I made nesco aware of the issue directly and they informed me that this was not faulty but a feature because the new trays had "feet" not locks.. unfortunately the feet do NOT fit with the blower base so it makes every other tray sit off slightly. I'll be returning and buying a different unit from another company :-(
Megan I. : Trays don’t fit on base
B. : Works well, very easy to use.
My Nesco unit arrived on time & in perfect condition. This is a good product. It worked perfectly, right out of the box. 1st thing I dried was 2 lbs. of fresh Morel mushrooms & the unit worked flawlessly. My Morels came out perfectly dried & ready for vacuum packing. Nesco even included a set of recommended methods & charts for various fruits, vegtables & even meats, including average times & precise temps. They also included a nice book on food dehydration by Deanna DeLong. I think the only way it could be improved upon would be to add a built-in timer with an automatic shut-off; though it wouldn't surprise me if Nesco actually makes a model with those additional features. I quite pleased with the product & would recommend it to anyone. Regards, B.
TimF : Do yourself a favor and buy one!
If I'd have been given one of these as a kid, I'd probably have been in a different line of work!! Very easy to use, and versatile for making different dried products. Jerky, "fruit-rolls," and apple chips are my favorite to make. It is not silent, it is more of a "fairly quiet," so only for that I gave 4 stars, overall it's 5 stars for me. 10/10 would recommend 100%
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.
Brandon J. : Works great, kind of hard to clean
Works great, I did 7 lbs of meat over 15 hours at 160°. I’ve only used it once so far, but I plan on making quite a bit more jerky with it in the future. My only complaint is that the trays can be a REAL pain to clean. Soak the trays in hot soapy water for a while, and clean the middle with a brush, and they will come clean. Mine had lots of marinade that dried up on them. I think it’s cool that you can get extra trays for this and stack it higher if you want to. All in all happy with my purchase. Would recommend.
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.
MSJ : So far not good
Arrived as if it had been a return, items half out of plastic, cord had been folded at one point but was just shoved in box, book had folds and some of the trays had food(?) particles on them. I thought I'd try anyway- customers change their minds (Best Buy anyone?) and I trusted Nesco would check units before they go out.
So I read instructions slice up some 1/16" banana slices, and a tray of grapes, 6 hours later no difference, 3 DAYS later they are still chewy not dry, I finally turned temp all the way to 160. The unit would not get past 140 using 4 different thermometers, I don't know where that 1000 watts is being used but it's not in the heat. I ran the unit for about 6 days and my electric bill went up $30. Can't say with absolute certainty it's the unit, but nothing else in the house has changed (weather has been fairly static and no guests).
I did an even exchange with Amazon hoping I just got a lemon due to all the rave reviews. Will update when new unit arrives. I do suggest everyone check their temperature in unit. I put an oven thermometer on bottom rack, then I put a different one on top, dangled a digital one and a smoker thermometer (meat) through the center about 1" from heat element outlet.
Plastic trays and screens do stain.
One last thing- the unit IS indeed very loud. I put mine in laundry room which is fine for me, but if noise is an issue BEWARE.
So I read instructions slice up some 1/16" banana slices, and a tray of grapes, 6 hours later no difference, 3 DAYS later they are still chewy not dry, I finally turned temp all the way to 160. The unit would not get past 140 using 4 different thermometers, I don't know where that 1000 watts is being used but it's not in the heat. I ran the unit for about 6 days and my electric bill went up $30. Can't say with absolute certainty it's the unit, but nothing else in the house has changed (weather has been fairly static and no guests).
I did an even exchange with Amazon hoping I just got a lemon due to all the rave reviews. Will update when new unit arrives. I do suggest everyone check their temperature in unit. I put an oven thermometer on bottom rack, then I put a different one on top, dangled a digital one and a smoker thermometer (meat) through the center about 1" from heat element outlet.
Plastic trays and screens do stain.
One last thing- the unit IS indeed very loud. I put mine in laundry room which is fine for me, but if noise is an issue BEWARE.
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.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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