Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator, 5 Tray, Gray review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
Brand
Hamilton Beach
Material
Plastic
Color
Gray
Wattage
500 watts
Item Dimensions LxWxH
10.5 x 13 x 11 inches
product features
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48 hour timer with auto shutoff and clear lid so you can easily check food
Adjustable digital thermostat lets you adjust drying temperature (100-160° F)
Continuous airflow provides even drying
Five stackable drying trays and powerful 500 watts
Includes one fine-mesh sheet for drying small food like herbs and one solid sheet for making fruit rolls
From the manufacturer
Hamilton Beach 32100A Food Dehydrator, Gray
Looking for snack options that are high in nutrients but low in calories? Want to offer your family delicious food options to dress up morning oatmeal or replace that bag of potato chips at lunch? The Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator helps accomplish these goals by taking food preparation to the next level. It opens the door to endless possibilities deemed too difficult to do in the past.
With five stackable drying trays and 500 watts of power, it’s easy to dry a variety of fruits and vegetables, and even make beef jerky. The continuous airflow feature provides even drying, eliminating the need to rotate trays. This dehydrator includes an adjustable thermometer for better performance and a timer with automatic shutoff.
The Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator comes with two specialty sheets for added versatility. Use the mesh sheet to dry garden herbs for year-round enjoyment, or puree summer fruits and spread on the solid sheet for homemade fruit rolls. Wholesome, home-made snacks for the entire family. ..now that’s Good Thinking.
48 hour timer with auto shutoff and clear lid so you can easily check food.
Adjustable digital thermostat lets you adjust drying temperature (100-160° F).
Continuous airflow provides even drying.
Five stackable drying trays and powerful 500 watts.
Includes one fine-mesh sheet for drying small food like herbs and one solid sheet for making fruit rolls.
Sensational Snacks
A food dehydrator lets you make healthy foods at home like crunchy green beans or dried sweet potato sticks. Have a sweet tooth? Banana chips or dried apples with cinnamon are the perfect fix. And since the fruits are not bogged down with additives or preservatives, their natural sweetness shines.
Dehydrating Fruits and Vegetables
Preparing your favorite fruits and vegetables is simple. For best results, use produce that is in season to capture vibrant flavors and enjoy them for months to come. When your selections are made, just wash and slice. Cut your foods to the same thickness, size and shape to obtain consistent results.
Simple Design
The Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator’s continuous airflow feature provides even drying, eliminating the need to rotate trays. Once you’ve lined the trays and adjusted the temperature and timer, there is nothing to do until the timer goes off. However, if you like to watch, the clear lid allows for easy viewing.
A Little Time Reaps Big Rewards
Foods may take a few hours to dehydrate, but they can be enjoyed for months. When stored correctly, dried fruits can keep up to a year and vegetables can last six months. Even beef jerky can last up to two months at room temperature in an airtight container. What are you waiting for? It’s time to fill your pantry with nutritious snacks for the whole family.
Make Fruit Rolls at Home
Turn your favorite fruit into a delicious, on-the-go treat by creating your own fruit rolls. Fresh, canned and frozen fruit can be pureed for this simple concoction. Higher pectin fruits such as apples, apricots, blueberries, grapes, peaches, pears, pineapples and plums work best for rolls with a nice leather-like texture. Other favorites such as grapefruits, oranges, strawberries, and raspberries can be used when combined with higher pectin fruits.
Drying Garden Herbs
Enjoying garden herbs doesn’t have to be limited to a few months a year. Capture the fragrance and flavor of fresh basil or rosemary by drying them for year round use. To prevent smaller leaves from dropping through the trays, a special mesh screen is included for optimum results.
product description
Looking for snack options that are high in nutrients but low in calories? Want to offer your family delicious food options to dress up morning oatmeal or replace that bag of potato chips at lunch? The Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator helps accomplish these goals by taking food preparation to the next level. It opens the door to endless possibilities deemed too difficult to do in the past. With five stackable drying trays and 500 watts of power, it's easy to dry a variety of fruits and vegetables and even make beef jerky. The continuous airflow feature provides even drying, eliminating the need to rotate trays. This dehydrator includes an adjustable thermometer for better performance and a timer with automatic shutoff. A food dehydrator lets you to make healthy foods at home like crunchy green beans or dried sweet potato sticks. Have a sweet tooth? Banana chips or dried apples with cinnamon are the perfect fix. And since the fruits are not bogged down with additives or preservatives, their natural sweetness shines. The Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator comes with two specialty sheets for added versatility. Use the mesh sheet to dry garden herbs for year-round enjoyment, or puree summer fruits and spread on the solid sheet for homemade fruit rolls. Wholesome, home-made snacks for the entire family. Now that's good thinking. Tip: Post treatment of meat after dehydrating may result in a more desirable jerky texture. Try each treatment to determine which jerky you like best.
product details
important information
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Questions about Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator, 5 Tray, Gray
Q:
What is the tray height? I am looking to dry a non-food item that is 1 inch tall
Answer: I don't know the actual height but it comes with 4 trays. However each tray is approximately 1 inch tall. We have used our Hamilton Beach dehydrator with great success. Also good instruction booklet with receipts
Answer: The lower trays give you an inch, the top almost 2 inch. But the unit works great.
Q:
Are the trays plastic? are they bpa free?
Answer: The video stated that the trays are BPA free
Answer: The trays are indeed plastic. I emailed Hamilton Beach and a few days later they responded that "all plastics used in our products are BPA free in all food zones." They also claim their products are tested by independent laboratories.
Answer: The trays are plastic and dishwasher safe but I am not sure if they are BPA free.
Answer: Yes plastic. User guide does not state BPA free.
Answer: BPA free plastic
Answer: in the video it says bpa free
Answer: I don't know about bpa free. But yes they are plastic
Q:
Can I just use 1 or 2 trays if I'm only dehydrating a small amount or do I have to put in all the trays?
Answer: You do not have to have food on all trays but you need all trays stacked on the machine while drying foods. Right now I have 4 filled trays and 1 empty tray running. If I had planned better I would have had all 5 trays filled to make better use of the energy.
Answer: You can any number of trays you want. All or only one. I have found do many times.
Answer: The manufacturer says use all the trays, and to use the fruit-leather tray (this set includes one) on the top tray to improve the circulation among the lower trays.
Answer: Yes, but must include the top tray that has the center cap.
Answer: You can place all your food o the bottom trays and leave uppers ones empty, it allows for better air flow while running.
Answer: yes, you can use any number of trays you wish.
Answer: Instructions say to use all the trays
Answer: Manufacturer says to use all trays, all the time. Doesn't matter if they are empty. I am sure there is a reason, I don't know what it is, but it is no extra work to follow the instructions.
Q:
What is the temperature range?
Answer: Temperature can be set from 100 F to 160 F.
Answer: 100F - 160F or 37.8C - 71.1C
Answer: I have the book in my hand, I see 100F to 160F. I hope that helps you!
Q:
Is there a drip tray?
Answer: The top of the motor/fan base is the drip catcher, below the last removable tray, it catches drips. As long as you keep the center hole clear of stuff nothing falls into the fan it all goes to the bottom and can be wiped out with a damp cloth or if you are very careful not to get water into the fan opening or the base it could be washed out with a sprayer from the sink faucet.
Answer: No but the bottom of the machine wipes up real nice
Q:
does anyone know where I can get an extra fruit roll sheet for this
Answer: You Can order off Hamilton Beach website under parts for $6.99 each. I use the trays to dehydrate mashed potatoes for instant mash potatoes later. I needed extra trays to do it effiently.
Answer: You can make one from plastic mesh you get from a craft store.
Q:
i see a lot of complaints that the unit will break/melt aftet 2-4 uses, what protection/guarantee will i get that mine qon't just junk out?
Answer: Mine hasn't broken out of 2-4 uses... It still works. It's definitely a long process, and you have to follow directions. But it works just fine! Good Luck!
Answer: I have used mine at least 2 times a week for the last 6 months..thinking about buying one more.. it works fantastic
Answer: mine died after two uses. they said to send another replacement if i pay 10$ postage. now after four weeks i am still waiting because they said it was sent to wrong address!
Answer: Not sure about a warranty. I've had mine for over a year. Dried about 100 lbs of meat. No problems at all. Never had to use a warranty. Great dehydrator
Answer: Product has “Limited 1 Year Warranty” in US. “Warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship “. However, you are responsive for all costs associations with returning product and all costs for them to return product or component back to you. Excluding cover glass, filters, normal use, non conformity with printed directions, accident, alteration or misuse. According to booklet. But mine works fine so far and I like it. Probably would be an expensive hassle to return.
Answer: I've got hundreds of batches of jerky and no problems.
Q:
Do you have to rotate the trays?
Answer: I don't either; I tried rotating trays once, but I don't notice any difference. I do think the top trays get a little more airflow and heat than the bottom ones, and if I'm drying a variety of foods I try to arrange them so that I've got the foods that need relatively more dehydrating go on top and so forth.
Answer: No, I have never rotated the trays. If doing multiple items, I put the longer cooking on bottom and shorter on top. So if I need to pause I can then remove items from top trays and then turn the hydrator back on to continue it's process.
Answer: No, I have never rotated the trays. If doing multiple items, I put the longer cooking on bottom and shorter on top. So if I need to pause I can then remove items from top trays and then turn the hydrator back on to continue it's process.
Answer: Nope. Unless you are OCD or you just want to. It does take a little getting it right. Right temp and time. Just use the pause to check once in a while. You may need less time.
Answer: I don't and everything comes out great.
Answer: No. I suppose you could but I don't know what purpose it would serve. I never have and it works great.
Q:
How do we store food after it has been dehydrated?
Answer: I put the food I dry in ziplock bags and date it. Then either refrigerate or freeze until I want to eat it. But some items can be put in jars and left on the counter. (Chickpeas, kale, etc).
Answer: Place it in a closed glass container, and enjoy every time you open the container!!
Q:
What is the average wattage pull on this? It goes up to 500 Watt but 500 Watt over 24 hours is a lot of electric!
Answer: Better to ask an electrician, but, until then, ponder; it only takes heat equivalent to that produced by a light bulb and a small fan to move that heat away from the source continually. Expense of that is a small price to pay for all that goodness, considering the hours spent in sweaty effort and the cost to preserve same in canning, or freezing, without the lovely benefit of fellowship offered by the bouquet of aroma arising from the unit as it works, allowing you to anticipate the reconstitution of your bounty without so much effort. You won't regret the kwatts at all! Sorry I couldn't be more specific.
Answer: Hi this was a xmas gift for a family member who I will be seeing this sunday I can ask him I am sorry I took so long to reply I gotten this for his camping trip with the family
Q:
Has anyone used this for baby snacks? The kind that melt in their mouths.
Answer: No I am sorry I have not, but Tammy Gangloff has great recipients in her new book, and you can watch her on YouTube.
Q:
can you dehydrate chicken and fish? how long does it take to do something like this?
Answer:
Answer:
Q:
Would this be good for preparing food for hiking?
Answer: I would say yes, it would be good to dehydrate most food for going hiking. My daughter-in-law buys about a pound or two of.beef and has it sliced very thin by the butcher to make some delicious beef jerky. I think fruits would be another good thing.
Answer: Sure dried food will last a long time and light to carry.
Answer: Yes, it would be excellent. I use mine to make dried fruit during harvest which I then mix with nuts and use as topping for my yogurt. Sometimes I eat it just as it is. There's a dehydrator book available on Kindle. It would help you enormously.
Answer: Don’t see why not since product is essentially trail mix.
Answer: yes
Q:
Can you put the trays into the oven on a high temperature?
Answer: The trays are made of a plastic material that would most likely melt in an oven. Temperatures on the dehydrator range from 100 to 160 degrees.
Answer: I doubt it. The trays are plastic
Answer: I really do not know but I would not be confident in doing so. My guess is that the plastic would be OK at 200F or so but anything higher might melt or warp the trays.
Answer: No, they are plastic.
Answer: No I wouldn't
Answer: No
Q:
Does this small thing really use 500 watts? If it does that seems extremely inefficient? Even 100 watts should be sufficient to dry food in this
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Checking the label on the unit confirms 500W. I suspect that it does not draw the full wattage continuously and may be dependent on the heat level selected. Temperature ranges from 100-160 F. I dried apples cut into 1/4 inch rings at 135 F in about 12-13 hours and have not noticed my electric bill spiking. Hope this helps.
Answer: Yes its says 500 watts on the bottom of the machine. I am really happy with it, though it is a bit noisy...like a blow dryer. works well
Q:
Can I use this with nuts?
Answer: I don't see why you couldn't. There's nothing about the device that would preclude using it for nuts, unless the kind of nuts you use are so small that they fall through the screening. Pine nuts might be too small. Might be trial and error to determine a time and temp. I've now made a bunch of salmon jerky and dried some herbs and chilies and it does a great job for me every time. I continue to be impressed with it, especially in light of its reasonable price.
Answer: yes
Answer: I think so
Q:
What trays does it come with?
Answer: 6 trays an 2 tray liners. I am making jerky right now. Love it.
Answer: It is exactly as pictured. Several plastic trays that stack up. There is a separate one for fruit too
Answer: Just the trays shown. I gave as a gift it is very good quality
Q:
can i order additional solid sheets for making fruit rolls?
Q:
I've had this almost a year and the fruit trays have been out of stock at Hamilton Beach's website. Does anyone know where I can get more?
Answer: Might be at Ebay or Craigslist, you never know!
Q:
what is the voltage range of this product? ( 120v or 120-220v)?
Answer: 120v
Answer: 120 V only
Q:
How do you wash the trays?
Answer: I use warm soapy water in the sink and a light brushing! Probaly dishwasher safe also
Q:
as there is no product description on the voltage, frequency mentioned i wonder if your above product can be used in Malaysia. please advice.
Q:
does it have a fan?
Answer: Yes it has a fan.
Q:
Please confirm if this will work with indian power sockets, which is 230 volts, 50 hz ac as the power source, 3 pin (type-d) or 2 pin (type c).
Answer: This is a 120 Volt AC appliance.
Answer: No, this unit works on 110 volts ac.
Answer: I do not know--Why not contact Hamilton Beach directly
Answer: Probably not.
Q:
how variable are the temperature settings for this product? What temperatures does it allow you to specify? Do the temperatures seem to be reliable?
Q:
are fine mesh sheets available for this? i dont see where to buy more.
Q:
can it make fruit like apple or strawberry crunchy like cereal or does it only make the chewy kind? I like it both ways. Just curious.
Answer: It says it can , but like I said earlier it was a gift to my girls. and they seem to like it and have been posting things they do with it in their FB pages... Smile.
Q:
Does anyone use this for drying edible mushrooms ?
Answer: I have only dried them once. They were very good dried. I stored them in the freezer after drying and pull out just what I need.
Answer: Yes, absolutely! It dries them very evenly.
Answer: Don’t know of anyone but I think it will work.
Q:
can you purchase more trays for this machine?
Answer: You should be able to. I went to their website & they seemed to have a verity of things to buy.
Q:
how would be the best way to add height to between trays? I want to do tracheas for dog treats
Answer: You cannot add height to the trays. They stack on top of eachother. The top tray is best for larger or thicker items because the top is higher.
Q:
Can you use the silicone sheets to dry the fruit leather
Answer: It come with 2 sheets one for herbs and the solid one for fruit rolls.
Q:
Does anyone know what to do when the Er message comes on the screen?
Answer: Well I would assume er means error. I don't know what you are supposed to do. But if you can't reset it by pushing buttons. I would unplug it to clear it and try again. It is relatively simple in that you push the top of a button arrow pointing up to have the settings go up for temp and for time..or the bottom of the button down arrow to have it go down. if that doesn't work you probably have a power or cord issue, maybe a short. Refer to the manufacturer.
Answer: No, never had a issue, check the manual.
Q:
can you order more trays?
Q:
Has anyone figured out the best temp, time and thickness to make sweet potato dog treats?
Answer: Cut the sweet potatoes thin with a knife about 1/4 of an inch. Temp 130 for eight hours.
Q:
do they have it in 220 v?
Q:
does it come with a book
Answer: It does come with an instruction manual and a few recipes. It also tell you how to dehydrate properly and the amount of time certain fruits may take to be dehydrated.
Answer: Yes. It comes with a manual and includes recipes.
Q:
Does it make crunchy or chewy veggie/fruit ?
Answer: It depends on how thick you slice, the temperature you set, the length of time set and the moisture content you start. I dry mushroom to total crispy. I make giant raisins that remains soft at 16 hours but add 2 more hours they become crunchy. The point is if you want long term storage dry to crispy. Rehydration is easy for all fruit and vegetables. Jerky doesn’t rehydrate very well. Keep jerky soft.
Answer: You have to get the hang of it. My kiwi fruit was hard, however, my bananas were not as hard.
Answer: Yes. It is a very good product..!
Q:
is it noisey?
Answer: It has a hum when turned on. If I were to stay in the room with it for hours, I might find it bothersome, but I use it in the basement and only check on it periodically. In the same room, one can easily talk with someone, so the hum is not loud. More like white noise.
Answer: Very very very !!! It is also much less effective than any of the other 3 dryers I have had over the years. My advice to you is to spend a little more and get a better machine. This is junk. Good luck.
Answer: Its far less noisy than a hairdryer. It reminds me of a white noise machine. You’d have to turn up the t.v., if its next to you, but it’s definitely tolerable.
Answer: Unsure! Bought as a gift for my dad. He loves it! Uses it all the time. Can't imagine it's too annoying or he wouldn't still be using it.
Answer: Not noisy. Very quiet, though you can hear it. But, does give off a bit of heat.
Answer: There is a slight humming noise from the dehydrating fan. Definitely tolerable.
Q:
Hello, Can you tell me the drying surface (area) that this food dehydrator has ??? Thank you !
Answer: mine has five rectagular racks that measure about 13" x 9"
Q:
Does anyone know if the plastic is BPA free
Q:
Has anyone tried making yogurt?
Q:
Extra fruit roll sheets? They are out of stock on HB, and cant find them on amazon...
Answer: Hey Paul, I had the same problem and ended up waiting a month and a half for a new shipment from HB. In that time frame I never saw any other provider that sold the fruit roll sheets.
Answer: On amazon they sell sheets for dehydrator, I just ordered them
Answer: Soory havent been able to find any either
Q:
Can I dehydrate shredded coconut?
Answer: Must be shredded, if not takes too much time
Q:
Are the trays dishwasher safe?
Answer: Yes, but stay away from sani-temp which means in other words I guess they may not like hot wash. Info with mine says use warm soapy water.
Q:
Does this come in 2 boxes?
Answer: No it comes in 1 box
Q:
What are the dimensions of the trays?
Answer: The dimensions of the tray--9"xl2" It's perfect for my needs--bear in mind that a circular tray will hold more--
Q:
Are the trays dishwasher safe with heated dry?
Answer: Thank you for your question. Yes, the trays used with this appliance are dishwasher safe. However, we recommend that the noted parts are not cleaned using the "SANI" cycle as referenced in the use and care manual.
Answer: I've placed the trays in my dishwasher multiple times without any issues.
Answer: Do not know about heated dry sorry
Answer: No - I would not put them in the dishwasher- pretty sure it will warp
Q:
how many watts is it?
Q:
Where can i get additional trays other than at hamilton itself? any hints/links? thanks!
Answer: Hamilton Beach has them on their web site for sale, but they have been on backorder for at lease six months. They are priced at $15 per tray. I just purchased a second unit to obtain more trays.
Answer: Sorry, but I have not found a source. I think it only supports 5 trays.
Q:
why lid does not fit properly?
Answer: It does not have enough lip. It does fit very loosely and comes off easily.
Answer: I do not have that problem with my dehydrator. It should fit on top fine.
Answer: It just sits on top, it does not latch or fasten in any way.
Product reviews of Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator, 5 Tray, Gray
Maggie Norcross : It works well for drying things...
The adjustable temperature and time settings are great. It absolutely does the job. I have no complaints about the functionality of this as a dehydrator for food.
But it only comes with one solid liner (for e.g. fruit leather) and one crosshatched liner (for drying anything that would fall through the otherwise large holes on the trays themselves). And I can't find any place to buy any additional liners. The Hamilton Beach website is sold out, and has been for at least the month that I've had this.
So, I guess I'm saying, if you want to make fruit leather then either try to source liners for this first, or buy another dehydrator.
Amazon Customer : Would recommend this one vs the circular simply bc it has ...
Very impressed! I have done batches of strawberries and apples with no problems. Although the lid was cracked during shipping I contacted Hamilton Beach and they replaced within 15 days( lids were on back order). Would recommend this one vs the circular simply bc it has outdone my old one by how much I can dehydrate at a time.
D Hunt : So Simple to Make Dog Treats
I wanted to make dehydrated chicken and beef for my canine. I'vee never used one before, and I was concerned it would be difficult. It's not! I slice the meat 1/8-1/4 thick and place on the trays. After 12-16 hours, I have dog treats my puppy cannot resist. Quick, easy clean-up too! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
The Murph : Worked well when it worked.
Worked great, when it worked. Only used a few times. Has now stopped drying food well. Been running a small batch of fruit for about 14 hours now, still not dry. Before, that would be dry in 6-8 hours.
I took it apart to see if it was dirty - spotless on the inside. Checked the fan - works. Error messages - none. Top tray with cap is on top - as it should be.
The only thing is maybe the heating element is going out. I did notice that only about 1/4 of the coil glows at max temp, not sure how much of it should glow, never looked at it before I started having issues.
Seems like most people have good luck with this product, must have just gotten a lemon.
Sierra : Zero Complaints!
I love this thing! I have used it a few times with bananas and cucumbers, and it works great! I love the amount of trays, and they settle into each other perfectly. **Keep in mind the lid does NOT seal shut. It does not need to..it just sets on the top, and everything works just fine.** Easy to clean, easy to use, and the manual even tells you which settings to use for different fruits and veggies.
Tracey L : Defective product, hassle to replace
I received my order and was excited to make some jerky! It ran fine for 4 hours, then I put it on for another 2 hours, and after about 15 minutes an ER code came up. Tried unplugging it and plugging it back in ...the error code kept coming up. Called Hamilton Beach to troubleshoot , after they took the serial number and model number, they said it was an internal problem and they would send a new one. HOWEVER, I had to pay the $12 shipping. WHY? Their product was defective. I called Amazon. They are sending a new one, but I still have to send the old one back (for no charge to me). Which is great from Amazon, but it still irks me I have to be inconvienced because of their defective product. Hopefully the replacement works, or who knows what I will have to do for a refund. PS. In the few hours it did work, I must say it did run nice and quiet :)
Kat : Ehh ?
I was under the impression that I can make CHIPS with this. As in CRUNCHY. I’ve attempted beats once, and strawberries twice. Followed instructions to a T and have gotten dried soft maybe a little crunch on the edges results every time.
I even tried letting them sit longer. I did this with the beats and instead got burnt tasting beats that were just void of life.
I really want this thing to work. If I can’t even make my favorite chips ( beat chips ) I see no point .
On top of all this it’s noisy, and I got a lot of complaints from the other people in the house. You have to have a spare room for this thing to give it privacy to make all its noise by itself lol.
It’s also pretty small. I was very unsatisfied with the fact that I have to wait so long to make something I can eat in one quick sitting.
It had me considering to just buy a really expensive commercial one. At that point it’s like .... yeah no.
Returning this.
Gary Quinton : dries everything!
I initially bought this because I had a hankering for some beef jerky. Satisfied I moved on to dry some pears and some plums. I even tried to dry watermelon! (not recommended. Watermelon needs to be wet.) The fan can be a bit loud, so if you have a pantry, behind closed doors is the way to go. Drying time will vary, and it is not uncommon to have this baby run all night. Trays seem sturdy until you try to wash them, and you feel that they are indeed lightweight and somewhat fragile. Cleaning is easy though, and the device itself can be cleaned with a damp sponge.
Amazon Customer : Mass jerky producer here!!
After much research, this seemed to be the perfect fit, and over a year of regular use later it has not let me down. I can usually get an average bushel of bananas on all the trays. About 2.5lbs of steak for jerky will fill the trays. The spice layer is awesome for a topper. The reference book included has great info on temps and times. It tops out at 160, I wouldn't mind 165 for jerky, though I just run it a bit longer, 8 hours or so. So far I have done about 18lbs of jerky, 6 rounds of banana chips, 4 round of pineapple chips, various spices I have grown. Detail: I have not gotten the real crisp on fruit chips. Close but not quite there and I have experimented with times. They last for a while though and everyone loves them. The timer option and adjustable temp are my favorite options
reddishes : Love it
It was affordable and works well. I've been dehydrating herbs from my garden and my house smells wonderful.
D. : Hamilton Beach Has It
After using this dandy dehydrator for the first 3 days after receiving it, I couldn't be more pleased. In the past I used an Excalibur. It's size and design were a slight inconvenience to work with which prompted me to let my daughter have it. She began turning out dehydrated nuts ( better nutritional value if soaked in brine and dehydrated) that were delicious. Made me want a dehydrator again, but it wouldn't be right to ask for it back. Hence, the search began. After searching off and on for over a month, the decision was made to purchase this HB dehydrator. The decision was based on Reviews ( very very grateful for Review capability on Amazon), the size, technology features, and price. The pecans, almonds, & walnuts dehydrated perfectly. The peanuts, even after 14 hours, still had some unknown amount of less than crispy nuts. I concluded it was because of the peanuts themselves. As the machine is operated in a dark corner on the hearth there was no concern for exposure to light. The clear lid was more of an advantage than not in being able to check at-a-glance on the process. Clean up was a breeze. The noise level was obvious, but not disturbing. It was much like another reviewer described as less than a window fan. There are only 2 suggestions I wish Hamilton Beach would consider. The manual that came with the dehydrator was sufficient, but wish they would have included a recipe for Nuts. And as the tray's grill is fairly large allowing pieces of nuts to fall through, more mesh screens would certainly be worth the extra expense. So far, it doesn't appear they can be purchased on Amazon. I will go to HB's site for possibly buying more. And perhaps I will go to Michael's like one reviewer did, and buy some thin plastic sheeting that was reported to work very well. But since it's not likely PBA free, I would have to pause on doing that. IMHO, Hamilton Beach has designers that turn out functional well-made products that seem to take into consideration the users. I have purchased many HB products and cannot remember one that was unsatisfactory. I'm an HB fan as Hamilton Beach Has It (for me).
merlin : Defective!!!
Only works after a few times. After that it reads Er(error). You can reset it but then the air doesn't get hot. Totally 100% defective.
Mohamad Kamani : Not too loud, got the job done
I needed a dehydrator to start drying some vegetables I grow and to try my hand at making beef jerky. This has been my first ever food dehydrator and I must say it is failry simple to use and comes with a few accessories for the various things you may need to dry. Also has quite a bit of room to dry. I just could not keep it on at night in my room as it was somewhat loud. Not too loud tho.
Trent : Almost Perfect
It works as you would hope, temp is adjustable and timer goes out a long ways. Everything is easy to read and understand you wont have a problem setting it up and getting it going. I really like the insert for smaller items especially...what I do NOT like is how close the racks are to one another, it makes putting some things in anything but the top rack impossible so it's fortunate that the lid is a dome style so I could still make it work. Overall I'd probably still buy it again, unless I could find one with more space between but that's something that may not matter to most people but it's only like 1-1.5 inches between the racks
Jade : Used it to dry some peppers
Ran it soon as I got it. Looks nice. It's about as loud as a small fan. Uses almost no electricity, my meter says 2 cents an hour. Which is a steal compared to the oven which was costing 50 cents an hour to dry herbs and peppers... You can do the math, this thing will pay for itself within 80 hours of drying things. Takes about 6 hours to dry a batch of peppers. So in 14 batches of drying stuff, it's completely paid for itself with the electricity I've saved from switching over from my oven!
10/10 would recommend
will update if it breaks down or anything.
UPDATE JAN 8: We've run this thing for a good 70 hours now, no issues. Did notice however that the front corners don't dry quite as quickly as the rest. If you're going to fill the thing totally full on all racks, lift up every tray and flip it around halfway through drying. Everything will dry much more evenly and nicely, especially fruit leather. Or just avoid putting things directly in the front corners.
Still 100% satisfied, I don't think I've ever spent a better $40 in my life.
Jade : Used it to dry some peppers
Ran it soon as I got it. Looks nice. It's about as loud as a small fan. Uses almost no electricity, my meter says 2 cents an hour. Which is a steal compared to the oven which was costing 50 cents an hour to dry herbs and peppers... You can do the math, this thing will pay for itself within 80 hours of drying things. Takes about 6 hours to dry a batch of peppers. So in 14 batches of drying stuff, it's completely paid for itself with the electricity I've saved from switching over from my oven!
10/10 would recommend
will update if it breaks down or anything.
UPDATE JAN 8: We've run this thing for a good 70 hours now, no issues. Did notice however that the front corners don't dry quite as quickly as the rest. If you're going to fill the thing totally full on all racks, lift up every tray and flip it around halfway through drying. Everything will dry much more evenly and nicely, especially fruit leather. Or just avoid putting things directly in the front corners.
Still 100% satisfied, I don't think I've ever spent a better $40 in my life.
merlin : Defective!!!
Only works after a few times. After that it reads Er(error). You can reset it but then the air doesn't get hot. Totally 100% defective.
Oscar : Things to think about
1. save the box it comes in until you’re sure you want to keep it. Otherwise if you try to return it and it doesn’t fit in any boxes that you have the UPS store is going to charge you extra to box it for you 2. Think about it. Do you really want to eat dehydrated food? 3. The unit is noisy. 4. It does the trick if this is what you’re looking for.
Brandi H. : Junk
Stopped working. Or maybe it never worked well to begin with.
The first batch of jerky I made took 6 hours. The dehydrator temp doesn't go up high enough for the recipe I found. So that was already longer than it was supposed to be.
Next I made apple chips and it took all day, maybe 12 hours, and they never got that crunch, so I don't think they were fully dried.
Then I tried jerky again, and after 18 hours I said it's good enough and went to bed. That jerky went bad, growing mold. So it absolutely wasn't good enough.
I've used Nescos in the past and this product was a junky toy in comparison, so I returned this and will save up for the Nesco.
Jennifer : Overall it's been great
This is my first dehydrator. It has been a fun learning experience with using it. It did come with pretty good instructions and cooking times etc. The noise level is enough that you are conscience of it but not bothersome for me. Cleaning is as simple as wiping with a wet rag. Although the food does stick a little it was easy to get off with minimal effort. Overall it has been great.
Lisa Bobo : First time using a Dehydrator
I'm reediting my review, since Amazon won't let me tell the truth. The device WAS DIRTY when it came, but it was EASY TO CLEAN. I was able to make banana chips, & some other foods. Working on Beef Jerky Next. The Machine runs smoothly, but I am not happy that I had to CLEAN a NEW product. Just wash with hot water, and soap and the machine cleans nicely.
wendy shinsky : Good price but loud.
I bought this as a second dehydrator with upgraded features to my 16yr old NESCO FD-75A, Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, Gray***Positives: 1. Looks really nice and I love the shape. 2. Love the digital dial, very easy to use and like the exact temp. setting. 3. The Manual is really good, easy to read and love the time/size/item breakdown plus some yummy sounding jerky recipes. 4. After just a few hours it seems to be working great (cantaloupe is dehydrating properly). 5 LOVE the clear top to see the fruit without stopping it and I like the motor being on bottom. Negative: 1. Its SO loud. Like a VERY LARGE fan in the room. As soon as I turned it on my mom even commented on how loud it was and turned her TV up. I would recommend it for the price, features and design aesthetics but if I was doing it again I would by another of my original 16yr old still working like new unit (NESCO FD-75A, Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, Gray). Its also about 8 dollars cheaper on Amazon.
Wislndixie : Very good
Love this dehydrator. So much easier to use than the nesco I threw away.
Digital controls are great easy to use and very quiet.
Only complaint is the heating element and fan are in the bottom with the fan blowing the hot air from bottom to top. The food on top dries out much faster than food on the lower tray's. So you have to leave the dehydrator on longer to get the lower trays done.
Dana Massie : Not what I expected
This product was not built to last. It is a poorly constructed product and is difficult to clean. It also take 3 times as long as I thought it would to dehydrate the thinnest sliced items. I would purchase some other make or model!
Ringo5000 : Great unit, blows air sideways and up and down
Does an EXCELLENT job for the money. Id put it up againt dehydrators costing 2 to 3 times the price. Its a bit loud, but liveable. The air circulation is what makes it stand out. Its a stacking unit that behaves much like a slide-in tray unit. Ive run it for pretty much 3 days... almost non stop. No problems.
Amazon Customer : So far so good. Have made 4 sets of natural fruit roll ...
So far so good. Have made 4 sets of natural fruit roll ups. Yes adults like them too lol. Banana chips. Also made my own dog treats sweet potatoes
Marshall : Pleasently surprised!
From the reviews, I didn't have high expectations from this dehydrator but it actually works really well. Most people complained about having to rotate the stack order but I didn't have this issue though I didn't completely fill the trays to the point that air couldn't flow. I've used it to make jerky and to dehydrate apples and its done great every time I've used it. I feel like the trays could be a little better designed but for the price, I really shouldn't complain.
Amazon Customer : Great dehydrator
I used it to dehydrte a bumper crop of tomatoes. Very nice. I soaked the trays after and they cleaned up very easily. Nice machine.
Kristin Reite : Buyer beware! Broke after 32 days
This product was great for the 4 times I used it. Then it just stopped working after having it for only 32 days. The return window was 30 days and I contacted Amazon to figure out a replacement option and they told me I need to contact the Seller, which is Hamilton Beach. I reached out and we placed that I was 2 days outside of the return window and my devices stopped working. I received an auto email back that I should hear back in a few days and 5 days later...still no response. Buyer beware! Don’t be fooled by the reviews.
Jennifer M : Returned this item as the unit smelled like melting plastic and it was so loud there was ...
Returned this item as the unit smelled like melting plastic and it was so loud there was no way to run it in the house without it becoming a bother.
Jozef : Great product!!
Great item, works perfect. Nothing negative to report. Been used over 13 times and no issues. The fan is not too loud, that being said you can hear it but it's not loud at all. Worth every penny
YetiKitty : Crashed
I bought this over a year ago. It worked beautifully at first and, thanks to that first month I learned dehydration was easier @ more convenient than canning. Then, it started turning itself off within a few minutes of being turned on and giving error messages. I blamed myself and thought I must have broken it. I stopped trying to use it until recently when I had a lot of vegetables & didn’t want to can so I decided to order a new one but this time I read all the reviews and found out other people had the same problem. I have ordered a new dehydrator but a different brand.
J. Chacon : The BEST!
I love love love this thing. I have made 2 batches of apples and mangoes and it came out great. I als made beef jerky and that was incredible. I like the fact that for an inexpensive machine it has the ability to change the temperature unlike others which only have one setting. This one has a max temp. of 160 degrees F.
I recommend it to anyone who wants to make their own beef jerky instead of paying $7 an ounce at the grocery store :
Wislndixie : Very good
Love this dehydrator. So much easier to use than the nesco I threw away.
Digital controls are great easy to use and very quiet.
Only complaint is the heating element and fan are in the bottom with the fan blowing the hot air from bottom to top. The food on top dries out much faster than food on the lower tray's. So you have to leave the dehydrator on longer to get the lower trays done.
Karin E Challis : WORKS GREAT!
I felt like I was going back in time to when I was a teenager. My mom dried fruit ALL the time with the old round style dehydrator that you can add trays to. I have been buying so much fruit (I'm always guilty of this in summer) that sometimes it spoils before I can get to it. I also have strict dietary needs and dried fruit makes great snacks for 1/2 the cost of buying a bag at a convenience store. This dehydrator is super easy to use and it includes instructions for settings & time for whatever you are dehydrating. Highly recommend.
Wislndixie : Very good
Love this dehydrator. So much easier to use than the nesco I threw away.
Digital controls are great easy to use and very quiet.
Only complaint is the heating element and fan are in the bottom with the fan blowing the hot air from bottom to top. The food on top dries out much faster than food on the lower tray's. So you have to leave the dehydrator on longer to get the lower trays done.
Dimitri Lopez : One button not working properly.
The overall materials seem durable and so far I have used it a lot to make chicken jerky for my doggies. They are happy, I am happy. However the problem is that one of the buttons, the up arrow button, is not working properly. It was a minor enough imperfection that I decided not to mess with returns or replacements. If I press the down arrow to put the cooking time then I have to cycle from 48 hours to get to the number I really want, usually 6 hours or less. That is 42 clicks because the stupid up button will not working; it is acting like it is old and worn out.
Wislndixie : Very good
Love this dehydrator. So much easier to use than the nesco I threw away.
Digital controls are great easy to use and very quiet.
Only complaint is the heating element and fan are in the bottom with the fan blowing the hot air from bottom to top. The food on top dries out much faster than food on the lower tray's. So you have to leave the dehydrator on longer to get the lower trays done.
merlin : Defective!!!
Only works after a few times. After that it reads Er(error). You can reset it but then the air doesn't get hot. Totally 100% defective.
Suzie : Great, great, great.
I bought this to make dog treats. I was disgusted with the warnings about buying them, so I really paid attention to the ingredients. I then spent some guilt ridden hours over what we had been feeding our babies. A downside of making treats without preservatives is that they can get moldy. Add in humid Florida weather, then make room in your freezer. Hence, the dehydrator.
I spent weeks comparing makes & models, going back & forth. From other reviewers I knew that I wanted a timer, the right fan placement, and not too noisy. Price of course, for what I was going to use it for.
This fit the bill. I started just drying the dog treats after baking them but then I got cocky and decided to make jerky. OK so the 1st batch was disgraceful and inedible. Hint: you are warned to not make the meat too thick. Well the opposite is true- don't make it too thin, either!
I had the butcher slice some meat for me, but I also found thin slices of sirloin that I simply had to cut in half with scissors. Perfect. I partially froze a chicken breast to slice it, and that was easy. Flank steak is wonderful. I even sliced a beef heart and wrapped it with sweet potato strips that I steamed for a few minutes to soften.
While I've made some mistakes, they were all mine, the unit performed great. I never have to move items around because one section is drying faster. Keep everything the same size, or at least the same size on each tray where you can pause the unit to remove a tray and keep the rest going.
I have 6 months at this and I couldn't be happier. That includes 3 dogs (one diabetic ) one daughter and one very happy jerky loving son-in-law. Not to mention the money I've saved and why I bought it in the first place. If offered a store bought treat or a homemade one, they immediately go for homemade. Smart dogs!
reddishes : Love it
It was affordable and works well. I've been dehydrating herbs from my garden and my house smells wonderful.
Papadoc : Solid product - not perfect, but more than adequate
I currently have a L'Equipe dehydrator and like it a lot. So this particular unit had a lot to live up to if it was going to impress me. Unpacking the unit, I found it to be a bit smaller than what I had anticipated. However, the trays seem to be a bit deeper and they definitely hold a substantial amount of product for dehydration. The trays have a fairly wide span between ribs meaning that you have to be a bit careful with what you put in it. There is a single small mesh sheet to lay on one tray that will accomplish this, but this isn't quite enough for me if it was my sole unit. The L'Equipe comes with a fine mesh sheet for each of it's 6 trays.
The controls for this unit are great, and much better than what I've been used to. Dials are great and there's not much to break, but they don't give you accuracy. The digital read on this along with a digital timer to shut it off are spectacular in my opinion. I tested the accuracy of the meter and it lines up within a half a degree, so that's pretty good for this kind of unit. My other units are lucky enough to be able to keep it within 4-5 degrees.
As with most square or rectangular dryers, there are areas that get better air flow than others. This means that to get the most efficiency, you have to swap out the trays and move around the product. I won't downgrade because of this because it comes with the territory. However, if you are a first timer, this is something you should realize.
Bottom line is that this is a decent dryer, though you can get better and pay more. Overall though, a sound purchase and one that will do the job you want it for.
Melissa : Love it!
I bought this for my parents since my mom seemed to like my dehydrator. I'm glad and sad to say that it seems to work better than my very well know brand. I chose this one because it was smaller for the space she had available, and I wasn't sure how often she would actually use it. It was a great choice. The smaller trays make the so much easier to clean since they fit right in the sink, and everything she has made as been dehydrated well, evenly, and it a very reasonable time. I'm actually considering switching to it myself.
Leondraconum : The noisiest dehydrator ever!
This thing sounds like a vacuum cleaner running!!! There is absolutely no way I could keep sane and leave this running for 4-10 hours with it’s incredibly loud whirring and humming. It can be heard across the house. I attached a video. Returning it ASAP as this is unacceptable.
Amber J. Norris : Good for the money
Its a good dehydrator for the money. I have had this dehydrator for a while so I feel I can give an accurate review. It’s not very powerful and the more trays you use the longer it takes for it to dehydrate everything. The fan is at the bottoms so the bottom tray gets the most heat and air. I end up just using two trays. Any more and it just takes to long. It will work well for small amounts of herbs and food. However, If you have a garden and grow a lot of your own food and dehydrating is going to be a main source of storage for you then you need to get a bigger and better dehydrator.
V_household : Great compact dehydrator
This is an excellent product that fits neatly on a counter (as compared to round dehydrators) and is easy to clean. I debated between giving it 4 stars or 5, and I opted for the slightly lower rating, because the food in the corners doesn’t dry as quickly as the rest of the areas. Now I know why so many dehydrators are round! However, I would still buy this again, because a rectangular shape is so much easier to use and store, and it is otherwise a really nice design.
Jennifer Alvord : Very simple to use, and does a great job!
I LOVE this dehydrator!
I have never made dehydrated food before, and now I can't stop. I have made apples, pears, grapes, watermelon, and lemon so far, and all of them turned out great, I even made some really good zest seasoning.
I am very happy how simple it is to use, it is a little loud, but that is understandable with the fan keeping the air circulating.
Mia Kalish, Ph.D. : My 2nd one of these :-)
I had ordered a dehydrator last year when the peaches came in. There were so many that I had to "do something." So I ordered this dehydrator. And I was very, very happy with it. I got a little Kindle instruction book, and I and my peaches were happy campers indeed.
Then this year, the apricot tree that produced only one fruit for me and two for the birds last year graced us with a double bumper crop this year. So, desperate, I ordered a 2nd dehydrator. It still took over a week to dry all the apricots but I got it done and I have fruit for my trail mix for over a year.
That said, the dehydrator has a nice temperature control, you can set the hours, it's easy to use and it's predictable. I like knowing that my fruit will be ready to pack just when the time says it's done. Sometimes a little adjustment of time or temperature is necessary but that is dependent more on the fruit I'm drying that on the unit.
Great buy! Give it a try :-).
Jennifer M : Returned this item as the unit smelled like melting plastic and it was so loud there was ...
Returned this item as the unit smelled like melting plastic and it was so loud there was no way to run it in the house without it becoming a bother.
Sindy E. : One attempt and Returned
Used only once.....well tried to use! Would run only temporarily after putting it in the pause mode and then it would flash an error and shut off. Couldn’t restart until it was unplugged and then plugged back in. Liked the name brand, size and design but not something I would even consider leaving the room while it was in use. Very disappointing and it was promptly returned.
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