LEM Products (#1152) 5-Tray Food Dehydrator is a 500 Watt unit offering you 7-1/2 square feet of drying space. The removable shelves and drip tray allow for a no hassle clean-up every time. Its clear, heat-trapping door provides you with visibility during use, as well as, faster drying time. The digital timer has an automatic shut-off feature for your convenience and the 15” x 15” square trays allow for four-way rotation. It has a maximum dry time of 30 hours and 55 minutes and the cord is 60 inches long. Dimensions: 19-20/41” x 16-15/28” x 9-20/31”. Weight: 8.81 pounds. One year warranty. Make your own organic, all-natural snacks! LEM Products provides a selection of food dehydrators that make food drying fun, fast and easy. Drying is a year-round and creative way to preserve fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, fish and meats. Food dehydrators eliminate safety concerns of drying foods in alternate ways. Fruits can be dried into chips or fruit leathers. Vegetables can be dried to make dry soup mixes, or even veggie leathers. Meats and fish can be dried into jerky. Use a food dryer for re-crisping breads and crackers. There are many advantages to drying and preserving your own food: Save money, make your own fruit or vegetable mixtures, control sugar content and eliminate additives found in most store-bought items. Dehydrating can be an alternative to canning and freezing, but also compliments these preservation methods. Snacks and treats for your pets are fun and easy to make. For the creative & crafty, food dehydrators are useful for: cake decorations, drying flowers (potpourri), dough art and even drying photographs. Choose the LEM Products Food Dehydrator that’s perfect for you: #1152 (5-Tray with Digital Timer); #1153 (10-Tray with Digital Timer); #1154 (Digital, Professional, Stainless Steel, 10-Tray) or #778A (Stainless Steel, 10-Tray with Timer).
product details
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
Product Dimensions : 14.57 x 13.38 x 10.24 inches; 8.82 Pounds
Item model number : 1152
Date First Available : June 15, 2015
Manufacturer : LEM Products
ASIN : B014IK804K
Country of Origin : China
important information
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Questions about LEM Products 1152 Food Dehydrator (5-Tray)
Q:
I noticed that lem only offers a 2 year warranty were excalibur products come with a 10 year warranty. sounds like they might not be durable??
Answer: Our LEM had a fuse go out very soon after we purchased it but we were able to fix it without a spendy bill. Yesterday we used our dehydrator to make venison jerky but ended up having to finish it in the oven. The heating unit now has a problem. I have used our dehydrator but it certainly not due to overuse. I use it occasionally...probably not more than twice a year.
Answer: I've had mine for a few years and haven't had any problems. (Excuse me while I go knock on some wood)
Q:
do I need to rotate the trays
Answer: when you email LEM and ask why 5 trays of jery are done and 5 are still wet, they will tell you that you need to rotate trays and shuffle them. SO not only do trays 6,7,8,9,10 now go in 1,2,3,4,5... you also must rotate the fronts to the rears for perfectly even drys. Lem is working on a new patent design that guarantees 100% set and forget.
Answer: I have found I get a more even drying by rotating about half way through. This is very true for fruit leather.
Answer: No you do not.
Q:
The description states "10 stainless steel trays", however the features says stainless "OR" chrome plated trays. Does anyone know which are included?
Answer: Chrome are included. You can upgrade to stainless as an option. I use parchment paper to line my chrome trays for both jerky and fruit. My trays are spotless.
Answer: Plated trays are included in this model.
Answer: mine were chrome plated
Answer: My LEM came with Chrome trays, but all other parts, or most are Stainless and quite good quality. The trays are wearing well and have not shown penetration to the base metal, all an all a really good quality product, definitely repairable when that time comes and reasonable sound level unlike some responses. So far all Jerky so with the pretty high salt cure content, it would have started to penetrate if the Chrome was of poor quality.
Q:
What is the exact size of the tray?
Answer: 14 7/16” x 16 1/4”. There are 10 removable trays.
Q:
Can you put the trays and drip tray in the dishwasher?
Answer: I do and haven't had any problems. I love this dehydrator!!
Q:
Has anybody had an issue with noise while using this product? i've heard that lem dehydrators can be pretty loud.
Answer: I love my lem dehydrator. I don't think it's loud.
Answer: We have one and use it often. It is not very loud. My fridge is louder.
Answer: We have one and use it often. It is not very loud. My fridge is louder.
Answer: I just got mine i love it does make a little noise but works much faster then my old one
Answer: Not extremely loud. Works wonderfully too.
Q:
how much is the shipping weight? it says that is 26 pounds but the product weight is 16 pound... there is a 10 pounds difference
Answer: Unit is 16 lbs the shipping weight is 28lbs box dimensions is 23x19x19
Q:
Can you use this for drying fruit/applesauce/etc.? Do I need to get some silicone mats to cover the trays? Thank you.
Answer: You will need a mat as the opening are about 5/8 inch. I found some that are 14''X14" they work for me. Love the Dehydrator
Answer: yes, fruits and many other items. I purchased the silicone sheets for about $10. It just made the process easier so the smaller items like peas could be dehydrated.
Answer: Yes you have to purchase mats of some kind. I bought mats and it worked great for fruit. I love my lem dehydrator.
Answer: I have dried several different fruits and jerky. I always put then on parchment paper to keep the racks clean and it works perfect. Never tried apple sauce.
Q:
Can this dehydrate meats to feed dogs
Answer: That's one of the main reasons I got it. I do 1/4 in chicken strips at 145 for 2 hours then 120 until dry (6-10 hours more depending on thickness). It drys evenly, without rotating trays. The dogs love them- and they're not from China with questionable chemicals and such.
Answer: Yes. But, remember typically meat dehydrated for dogs is not cured and therefore may carry bacteria that won't harm your dog but may be harmful to people. So, if you plan to use this dehydrator for human-grade food as well, the racks and sides should be sanitized after each dog batch.
Answer: I don't see why not.
Q:
Can you use this unit for making yogurt?
Answer: I'm also looking to make yogurt with a dehydrator. From my understanding it should work. But you still have to wrap the jar in a towel. I'll post a review once I've tried it.
Answer: I have not used it for yogurt, but it seems like it would provide the correct environment.
Q:
Are the unit itself and the trays plastic or stainless steel?
Answer: No, this is not the stainless steel model. Trays are plastic.
Answer: The unit and crumb tray are metal; the drying racks are plastic.
Answer: The outside is plastic feels strong, the drawers are a good plastic too
Answer: Plastic
Q:
For my jerky makers, how many pounds of top round do you think can fit in the 5-tray mighty bite?
Answer: About 6 pounds
Q:
is the plastic BPA free?
Q:
Is this imported or made in USA?
Answer: Imported
Answer: The LEM 1154 is made in China and is of very high quality.
Q:
Will you include backwoods jerky variety pack classic with purchase of lem dehydrator
Answer: That's a question for the seller, questions here are answered by people that purchased the LEM. Since the price on Amazon is much cheaper than on the LEM website you're getting a deal without the jerky spices.
Q:
What are the dimensions of this machine?
Answer: 18 + 7/8 deep x 16 and a quarter tall x 16 in 5/8 wide . Doors 18 in wide. By far the best jerky maker I've ever had recommend using grilling sheets. You have no mess using the sheets in the jerky comes out perfect on these sheets no cleaning
Answer: It’s about 20” long, 18” wide, and 20” high,
Q:
Does the timer need to be set in order to run the unit? I currently dry some items on a very low temperature setting for a few days.
Q:
Does the motor come off the back for cleaning and how hard is it for cleaning. Is the trays dishwasher safe
Answer:
Answer:
Q:
Is the plastic BPA free?
Q:
Is the termperature of this unit controlled by a p.i.d. electronic control, or is it by simple on/off thermostat similar to the non-digital unit?
Answer: Electronic control
Answer: PID electronic control
Q:
What is the inside made of?
Answer: Aluminum, it’s weighs approx. 30 - 35 lbs. My wife can easily move it. Works absolutely great.
Q:
Where can I obtain a quality outdoor cover for this dehydrator?
Q:
Is the unit made of stainless steel?
Answer: The trays are for sure, and I'm fairly confident that the cabinet is as well. The unit has a little weight to it. and because of its size takes up a lot of counter space.
Answer: Yes, but I don’t think the shelves are stainless. I have used it one season and love it...I have never had such a high quality product before.
Answer: No. Would be overkill for what it does and way more expensive
Answer: No, some kind of metal and plastic shelves.
Answer: No
Answer: No
Q:
Inches between each shelf
Answer: My eyeball estimate is about 2 to 3 inches
Q:
What voltage does this product use, 110v only or 110-220v?
Answer: 110, if that's regular house current. I just plug it into a regular outlet in my kitchen or laundry room (its a bit noisy, so sometimes I put it in there).
Answer: 110
Answer: 110v only
Answer: 110 only.
Q:
Will you include backwoods jerky variety pack classic with purchase of lem dehydrator?
Answer: Yes
Q:
What type of material are the trays made of, plastic,coated metal?
Answer: The trays are plastic.
Answer: These trays are plastic. We also purchased the silicon mats to use with them. Remove the trays that are not needed to save wear on them by being heated unnecessarily.
Q:
Are the trays dishwasher safe?
Answer: Yes, the trays are dishwasher safe.
Answer: They are dishwasher safe so long as you DO NOT USE HEAT on dry cycle.
Answer: Yes. That is how I clean mine.
Answer: We always hand wash ours. Spray them 2ith nonstick spray and they clean up great. I think the dishwasher is hard on them.
Answer: I don't know but they wipe clean easily
Q:
How many Watts is the "new" 1154 Stainless unit? They left that detail out.
Answer: 770 watt fan and heating
Q:
what is the temperature range?
Q:
How do I get this with the stainless steel trays with 1/4" holes, instead of the chrome plated with 3/4" holes?
Q:
Is it BPA free?
Q:
Does the timer provide automatic shut off or just show the time?
Answer: It does provide automatic shut off. I love mine. Set the timer and let it go.
Answer: It auto shuts off. Great product
Answer: It shuts it off
Q:
will this work for 220v input?
Answer: Mine is wired for 110 volts only
Q:
lem says there Warranty on the 1154 model is 5 years. Why is this one only 1 Year Warranty ?
Q:
are the trays BPA free?
Q:
Is the inside stainless steel?
Answer: Yes indeed
Q:
In what country is this made?
Answer: Most Lem Products are made in China. I own this dehydrator and it is well made and works great. I highly recommend it.
Q:
Are the trays dishwasher safe?
Answer: Yes, the trays are dishwasher safe.
Answer: They are dishwasher safe so long as you DO NOT USE HEAT on dry cycle.
Answer: Yes. That is how I clean mine.
Answer: We always hand wash ours. Spray them 2ith nonstick spray and they clean up great. I think the dishwasher is hard on them.
Answer: I don't know but they wipe clean easily
Q:
how does one get the stainless steel shelves instead of the chrome plated ones?
Answer: You need to buy them separately from LEM. I believe they are about $100. Chrome ones work fine all the same. I use parchment paper on mine to keep everything clean. It does not affect the end result of whatever I’m dehydrating and makes cleanup a breeze.
Q:
what material is the housing made from, plastic?
Answer: The housing is an aluminum maybe? The front doors are plastic.
Answer: Yes
Answer: Yes
Q:
What's the watts and temp range?
Answer: 770 watt temp range 90f to 155f best dehydrater out there for the money commercial grade
Answer: THE WATTAGE IS 770 AND THE TEMP RANGE IS 100 - 155 F
Q:
Can you make fruit leather with it?
Answer: Yes. I make it all the time. I bought smaller sheet pans that fit inside the dehydrator, and line them with parchment paper. When the fruit leather is done, I leave it on the parchment, and cut it with scissors into the size I want for single servings and store. My son just peels it off the parchment when he's ready to eat it. Fruit leather without all the junk.
Answer: Haven't tried making fruit leather yet but it would be easy to do with either wax paper or a non stick sheet.
Answer: I'm sure you can , just haven't tried it yet
Q:
lem 1152 v 1153
Answer: The one pictured is not the one we have. We have an LEM 10 tray model which we like.
Q:
Which is better for deer jerky small holes or large holes trays.
Answer: I'm not sure what is considered large or small holes, but the racks that come with it work just fine. I line my racks with parchment paper. I don't have to clean the racks. The jerky comes out fantastic!!
Q:
What is the temperature range this dehydrator can achieve (low and high)? Thanks!
Answer: Low 95 Degs High 155 Degs.
Q:
Is there a mesh mat designed for this? Seems 3/4 inch hole is kinda big.
Q:
Are the plastic shelves bpa free?
Q:
Where is this product made?
Q:
How many pounds of fresh meat can i put in that machine???
Answer: I've done as much as 7lbs at about 5-6 thinness but really I find 3-5lbs works best. You can finish the smaller about in about 3 hrs with a small 30min follow up for a try or two but with the larger amount it will take more like 5-6 hrs and you'll have to check more after the main dry. I do really like the dryer but for large amounts of meat the fans are strong enough to knock it out and be really consistent with the airflow.
Answer: i grind my meats and use the Lem Meat canon. I get 11lbs of meat on 10 trays.
Answer: Approx 20lbs depending on how thick/thin it is cut
Product reviews of LEM Products 1152 Food Dehydrator (5-Tray)
Amazon Customer : Doors are pretty cheesy I was going to send it back but they never send me a label
I thought it had metal shelves I did not like the doors on it
Teacher : Lem products ar great
The best dehydration unit I have got. I have had three others that worked ok, but this one works great. The magnetic door is a real plus. I only have to order the stainless steel racks as it only comes with plated metal racks that should last a long time.
Lisa B : Five Stars
Works awesome, No since in paying higher prices when you have equipment that works just as good.
Janna Cordero : Not what I expected
I didn’t served its purpose
TheTerrorBeyond : Good dehydrator - with some quality concerns
This would be a five-star dehydrator were it not for the fact that we had to return our first unit due to a defective timer.
This dehydrator is just about perfect for home dehydration, as it has ten large trays, a timer, and a decent heat range. The stainless steel design makes it an attractive and sturdy unit as well. The one issue with this dehydrator is that it DOES NOT heat to 160 degrees. This is a problem when making jerky or other products with meat, as red meat needs to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees, and poultry needs to reach 165 degrees. If you are making jerky, you should heat the meat to 160 (165 for turkey jerky) in the oven to ensure that it is hot enough to destroy bacteria.
The unit comes with a guide that tells you how long to dehydrate various items, along with the proper temperature.
Lee : didnt work
took it out of box. had jerky starting on smoker while I burned off manufacturer oil etc. wouldn't stay running. kept popping off. multiple outlets. never popped a breaker in the house. just wouldn't run.
Jorge Puig Torres : excelente
line and appearance simple simpre does not have a viewer to see the product as this process but if I can assure you that it works perfect has a powerful fan 10 trays totally in stainless steel. very happy with the acquisition a good dehydrator if I can I will buy another in a few months more attention is only 110Volt.
de lineas y apariencia simpre sencilla no tiene visor para ver el producto como esta el proceso pero si les puedo asegurar que funciona perfecto tiene un potente ventilador 10 bandejas totalmente en acero inox. muy contento con la adquisicion un buen deshidratador si puedo me compraré otro en unos meses mas atencion es solo 110Volt.
Alyson-Jo M McCulley : Does a great job
Fantastic. So far we have done tomatoes, bananas, cherries and deer jerky. Works wonderfully. So much better than the old one we had. Capacity is great, allowing for efficient use of time. Last batch of tomatoes were done with Italian seasoning. Ready for spaghetti/lasagna sauces.
Slade G. : Specs and Some the "positive" reviews aren't accurate
First, some of the more positive, glowing reviews can't be for the same machine as they reference door hinges, stainless steel or metal coated trays, etc. They must have either received a different machine, or they aren't real.
This review is for the LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator:
The "Doors" - The "doors" are actually snap on, snap off plastic panels. There are 2 of them. One for the top and one for the bottom. There's no door hinge, nothing but 2 tiny thin pieces of plastic that pop on and off. There are gaps in the door alignment either on purpose for air flow, or just poor quality in the manufacturing process. Don't really know since it's not mentioned in the product's actual description or manual.
The Temperature Guide and Settings - it's funny that LEM puts a temperature guide on the unit itself stating cooking some items up to 155 degrees, however the temperature dial where you set the temp only goes to 150. The only thing digital on this unit is the timer, that's it. The power on/off is a manual rocker switch, and the temperature setting is an old fashioned dial, which again, only goes up to 150.
The actual temperature itself - There's no way this unit even gets to the 150 that you can supposedly set it up to. As mentioned above, the cooking guide states up to 155 on some items, but the temp dial only goes to 150. I used two different types of thermometers to see what the actual internal cooking temp would get to. Ran the unit for 4 hours prior to taking temp readings and the lower half of the LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator got to a whopping 139 degrees - NO WHERE NEAR the supposed 150 degree mark.
The trays - several people in reviews mention stainless and metal coated trays. Not on this one. The 10 trays are clearly a gray plastic tray. Nothing more, nothing less. However, I'm not sure if the trays would be dishwasher safe. They are a little thin in the construction.
The LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator frame itself is a basic black plastic box that flexes when you touch it with 2 snap on plastic panels that act as doors with a metal back sheet screwed to the plastic box that holds the fan and heating element.
Is the LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator worth the $150 that I paid for it, no. Would I pay $100 for it, maybe. More like a $75.00 product quality price point.
I'm attaching photos to this review so you can see exactly what I'm talking about.
Now to the LEM supposed 2 year warranty. That's not 100 percent accurate either. The unit only includes a 90 day warrant unless you specifically return via US Postal Mail a completed warranty card AND a copy of your original receipt. Then and only then will you get a supposed 2 year warranty. Can you register your product online? NO. Can you email your registration to them, NO. You are forced to use snail mail to mail them the warranty registration card and a copy of the receipt. How do we know then even received it? You don't. You have "trust" them that they received it and properly extended the 90 day to the full 2 years. Seems a little shady that they won't let you register a product online and upload a copy of the receipt. It's 2019 people, get with the program.
So we're going to make some test batches of jerky in the unit this week and see how it works. So far, not that excited or happy about the performance based on the price we paid for it and the internal temperature readings.
Most likely we're going to end up returning the LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator since it's not getting anywhere near the 150 to 155 degree as it's supposed to and the poor quality of doors that snap on and snap off. It won't be long before those break if you use it regularly.
Pam T : Great Dehydrator
I bought an Excalibur that had 9 trays and thought it would work great. Then I bought this one and it had 10 trays and was about $40 cheaper. It turns out that this one was a better dehydrator than the Excalibur (the Excalibur's top shelf was so close to the top of the machine it was unusable - every time you dried something in it you had to fight with the tray to get it out so I returned it). Not only did it have 10 trays, it was also cheaper. It has a timed dry cycle which is great and it is easy to clean. The noise isn't all that bad although it is slightly noisy but still not bad. I was replacing a smaller, older dehydrator that I had had for probably 20 years and loved it as well. As a matter of fact, I bought another one of these LEM dehydrators so I can dry more at one time.
Pam T : Great Dehydrator
I bought an Excalibur that had 9 trays and thought it would work great. Then I bought this one and it had 10 trays and was about $40 cheaper. It turns out that this one was a better dehydrator than the Excalibur (the Excalibur's top shelf was so close to the top of the machine it was unusable - every time you dried something in it you had to fight with the tray to get it out so I returned it). Not only did it have 10 trays, it was also cheaper. It has a timed dry cycle which is great and it is easy to clean. The noise isn't all that bad although it is slightly noisy but still not bad. I was replacing a smaller, older dehydrator that I had had for probably 20 years and loved it as well. As a matter of fact, I bought another one of these LEM dehydrators so I can dry more at one time.
Aleta : Use it all the time
Huge capacity. Makes it worth it to do a batch of pears
Alyson-Jo M McCulley : Does a great job
Fantastic. So far we have done tomatoes, bananas, cherries and deer jerky. Works wonderfully. So much better than the old one we had. Capacity is great, allowing for efficient use of time. Last batch of tomatoes were done with Italian seasoning. Ready for spaghetti/lasagna sauces.
Talisa landers : LOVE LOVE LOVE
I use this for my beef jerky business. absolutely love lem products i currently have 3 total of these and 1 5 tray.
Greenannie : This machine is efficient and time-saving. I love it!
I purchased this machine in the Spring and so far have dried many herbs and seedless white grapes, Shiro plums, and figs. It works very well. I am happy with it and especially like the timer features. My old machine that died last year was 30 years old and had no time saving features.
TheTerrorBeyond : Highly-recommended dehydrator
This is a great dehydrator, and I would certainly recommend it. The digital controls are a must, as we had some issues with the analog controls on our other LEM dehydrator. You can set the controls accurately, and the timer works properly and gives a series of beeps when the time is up. The design is nice, and the unit is an attractive stainless steel with no fancy additions. This makes the unit at home in any kitchen. The racks are great, and the rails are easy to install. I would, however, HIGHLY recommend buying non-stick dehydrator sheets, as they make cleanup super quick.
Another note: we dry a lot of scorpion peppers, ghost peppers, Carolina Reapers, and other super-hot peppers. These peppers will leave capsaicin on your sheets, so buy extra.
The magnetic door could use a little work. While it is a clever idea having the door stop at variable heights, the magnetic stops don't hold perfectly, and the right side of the door will slump while the left stays strong. This isn't a huge deal, as it absolutely DOES keep a ton of heat in your dehydrator when you check drying progress, so there is no real knock for this.
The only knock on the unit is that it does not heat to 160-165 degrees. This makes it so that we have to pre-heat our jerky in the oven to bring it to 165 before drying it so that we know that the temperature met safe conditions.
EDITED: We were able to adjust the door slightly and it now stays firmly in place when the edge is pressed down. The door works perfectly.
pat : Good value
Satisfied with purchase. Doors a bit hard to use but OK. No problems of any sort.
Bex Chea : My brother uses it often
Bought this for my brother. He uses it all the time. I hate the size of it. It is large and takes up alot of space. He is able to make a big batch of dried mango and fruit leather. It's really good.
Amazon Customer : Awesome product, Even drying and relatively quiet
Awesome product, Even drying and relatively quiet. They should add a vinyl edge in 3 spots on the bottom of the door so it does not vibrate, I used fish tank tubing slit down the side and slid on the bottom of the door to dampen the harmonics of the fan.
Victor : Worth your money
Best product ever!! I fell in love with it and worth your money. Makes no noise and dehydrated everything perfect.
LEM Products 778A Stainless Steel 10 Tray... is as described.
Wife had a hard time figuring out to assemble shelf bracket, but, I get why no instructions, --they just slip/hook in and self evident or should be, but, may not be. Put a picture online for folks "like that"... they exist and no, they're not "kidding" :)
Quality, --as good as it can be. (As one from a very diverse self sufficient engineering background, 100% on that)
I just don't get why I can't pick the SS option here and get the SS shelves and NOT have to spend another $100 and have 10 chrome shelves... for what? So, I stuck with the Chrome option. My stove is Chrome, all have been life long. But, would've been nice to get a 50% discounted option!, as chioice, --would'a spent it and got it.
I did check the Temperature as advised everywhere... used 3 different thermometers and in different locations and yes, --empty (I know why, good to explain though for "those" folks who need an (*) instruction.
Anyway, when set at max 150F on Temperature, mine was hitting 160F and seemed to click off and back on at maybe (hard to be "that" precise...) 145F ish. So the range of hi/lo looked right to me and favours high side.
One useful idea I had to check the even spread of air temp --was to use my Laser gun thermometer for surface reading on the outside (the only practical way I could think of)... -- checked ALL EXTERNAL surfaces in all locations, all 6 sides, empty unit... all "averaged" about 85F -- so, you are not really gonna get burned until you open it and grab a shelf at >100F... so pretty safe IMO. (Yes, for me at >130F it's gonna get my attention)
The only "hot spot" I found, from external reading was the (facing the unit) top left corner where their internal Temp Control Bulb is located, --read approximately 92F (again, external temp). Otherwise across all surfaces saw that above stated reading. Why important? The ENTIRE INTERNAL temp would then be consistent, correct? Yes, correct.
The air coming from the front vents when set at 150F max for Jerky, was reading about 112 - 130F, --yes with 5 Shelves, and empty relatively, (top down loaded) full. So, there's your evaporative, "AC" affect/effect :) ! , indeed! No, I did not keep an internal remote thermometer... over kill. I'm very HAPPY with the temp check.
So, last night did my first batch of Beef Jerky, --yes, as commented 1-lb/shelf so 5 shelves. I set it at 150F max, and Analog Timer at 5hrs and was exactly aligned knob line and time set line and ran slightly more than 5hours but, sorry not exact, was maybe 5 mins, 10 mins more (?). So, maybe do a 1-2mm or so slightly under line to line timer line setting. You'll get the exact time if collate to a digital timer. And, remember, my AMBIENT Temp was about 80F at 50% relative humidity and my very lean Top Round was cut under 1/4in thick... went for 1/8 and got what I got. (I'm pretty good with my Ceramic Blade Knife and hand slicing beef --get a meat slicer if gonna to this allot, --no regrets with that time saver and consistency element.) Otherwise, hand cut 5-10x's a year, is plenty good enough.
What else... durability looks good. ANY hand person can fix this no problem IMO. If the Fan or Heating Element Wire ever goes, -- what, like a half hour to fix. Unless cheaper to buy yet another one? Well, that's how that goes. IMO the >700watt element is plenty!
I did experiment with Vinegar 5% acidity presoak and post dry at 275F/10mins thing... --eh, at 5lbs, cut as I did 5 hours was *perfect, imo. If you need survival food, heck, go for it. If you're gonna throw it into a Mason Jar, in the Frig... 4-5hrs even not presoaked, just use a marinade is plenty good. Otherwise, it got tough and unless very precise withe post-cook timing... will get a "burned" taste and again, but very chewy... --not bad at all either... but, this is not 1 year back woods emergency food.
As long as it hits that 160F (remember at my internal room, "ambient" temp of 80F ish... may be 75F...) I'm fine with this. I did a 1lb of 97% of ground beef and did not like it... as online said folks in WI wouldn't :) ... more like a, well, not for me and was well flavoured with spices. The texture was not "jerky" like. Very easy to eat though, that way. So, if need that, e.g., bad teeth... go for it. But, the post cook thing 275F/10min... but very precise... you won't make chips, just get a burnt taste. I used the Lazer Gun Thermometer... and the surface was 275F...--honestly at 1/8 dried thickness, if the surface was 160F... it would all be 160F. So if muscle meet jerky... sit that and keep checking every min after the first 3-5min IMO! Remember, I'm new to this, like day one, --just not "new" here :)
As far as *Noise... yes the fan is quiet and there is NO "on" light... none at all. HOWEVER, the Front Panel started to rattle loudly! So, I put a pot holder under one leg to kind of "twist" it a bit, if that makes sense... put some tension on the box... took a couple of tries but then worked. Otherwise OMG 5hrs of that would be unpleasant and then I guess, use what?, tooth picks or etc. But, that's going to happen unless there's a latch to pull it tight. I didn't want to bend the panel.
So, especially at this price point <$200 pre tax amount... I'm very happy. So long as it lasts and Customer Service if needed remains as others posted.
(Forgive my typos, the Font here is small and well, this is not a novel, just notes for you all to use if choose to do so.)
Siege : I like this dehydrator even more than when I first bought ...
After 6 uses, I like this dehydrator even more than when I first bought it. It's virtually set and forget, and very easy to use. I have tried it on all kinds of vegetables, and my favorite is spicy zucchini chips. The square trays are easier to load than my old round dehydrator, and make awesome jerky strips. The trade off here, is that it has big trays, so the capacity is very good, but it takes up a lot of counter space. Since it goes back in cupboard after each use, it works for me, but not an appliance I could leave out all the time. Glad I chose this unit.
Scott McDill : A great deal!
I sure like this dehydrator! It's very quiet, perfect capacity for anything im gonna need, and the trays clean up real easy. Few things I wish were better.... the front doors can be annoying to get back on, you cannot add time to the clock without turning the unit off and back on, and it doesn't auto shut off once it's done. Now, none of these are deal breakers and im being nit picky, just little things that could be improved upon. This is a quality machine that's definitely worth the $.
Aubrey J. Taylor : Must be the Cadillac of home dehydrators
This item arrived rapidly and in perfect conditions with all components. After looking at some of the plastic dehydrators this LEM is a beauty. The shelf brackets were packaged separately, but fit flawlessly and were really easy to install. The shelves were chrome plated and I saw no flaws. The drip pan was nicely made also. After assembly we plugged the unit in and had a test run. It was exceptionally quiet. Most people would not even notice it running. The heating unit and electronic control panel worked well. To this point we have found nothing to complain about on this machine.
Janna Cordero : Not what I expected
I didn’t served its purpose
pat : Good value
Satisfied with purchase. Doors a bit hard to use but OK. No problems of any sort.
Kevin Browner : Nice job LEM company, Great machine for the price.
I researched at least a dozen models over a weeks time before deciding on this LEM 5 tray and I'm very happy with it so far, No issues at all, I thought the door was on hinges but it's not, I didn't like that at first but now I think it's handy to just move it out of the way and then snaps right into place. I have made three batches of beef jerky, filled it twice with fruit like pineapple, mango, banana and two batches of apple chips and it dried everything perfect. I have always used the round dehydrators in the past but this one works a lot better because it dries faster, and more even and you can also fit more on the square 15'x15' racks and don't have the hole in the middle, I've seen some reviews saying that you have to rotate the trays because the air flow is uneven and I think that is with any of them, but really thought everything was pretty evenly dried although it wouldn't hurt to rotate the trays once, but doubt you would notice some being more dry than others. I could see that happening in the 10 tray model though. Also, This thing is really quiet, I wasn't expecting that, but overall for the price I can't imagine anyone having a problem with the way it performs. I would certainly recommend this .
Charles Emanuel : Works great, doors are a pain to open and close.
Worked Great. The only complaint I have is that the doors are a pain to put on and off. They could have put some sort of hinge on them. Other than that it worked great.
Gerry : Easy operation
Very nice unit. No need to move trays around for even dehydration, just set it and forget it! Dehydrated almost 15 pounds of elk jerky in about 6 hours. Would by again!
Greenannie : This machine is efficient and time-saving. I love it!
I purchased this machine in the Spring and so far have dried many herbs and seedless white grapes, Shiro plums, and figs. It works very well. I am happy with it and especially like the timer features. My old machine that died last year was 30 years old and had no time saving features.
Leighanna : Great dehydrator, fits lots of foods at once
I really have enjoyed this dehydrator. It is relatively quiet, fits a lot to each tray, and has multiple settings for a variety of dried foods and herbs. The only concern I have had is temp times. I think with jerky, depending on the meat source, they might be a little off. Otherwise, love this item!
Bex Chea : My brother uses it often
Bought this for my brother. He uses it all the time. I hate the size of it. It is large and takes up alot of space. He is able to make a big batch of dried mango and fruit leather. It's really good.
Amazon Customer : If you wish to use for years look elsewhere.
The doors are plastic which is ok but the way they open, you have to pull them off the dehydrator and then try and line them up and snap them back on. Not a good system. My fault for not looking at the pictures better, or would not have bought.
D. Lyders : Very nice dehydrator
This is not my first dehydrator, but really like this one for many reasons. I like the capacity, the ease of tray loading and unloading, the ease of setting the temp and timer and the drip tray.
On the first use, I was unhappy when it dripped meat fat on the table (the drip tray didn't catch it all), so put a full sheet cake tray under it (18 × 26), then put it on a cooling rack in the tray to lift it above any leakage and it worked fine without drips where I didn't want them, with easy cleanup. I just completed 3 batches of jerky without the mess I had the first time. Just know it could happen. While I'm tempted to give it 4 stars for the drips, happy with it overall. Be forewarned: there is an alert when time is up, that continues until you turn the unit off. Would like to disable that, but don't know how.
I would definitely recommend it, warning what I found worked, and would buy it again. Either use it where drips aren't an issue or put a tray or something similar under it.
Lisa B : Five Stars
Works awesome, No since in paying higher prices when you have equipment that works just as good.
Aubrey J. Taylor : Must be the Cadillac of home dehydrators
This item arrived rapidly and in perfect conditions with all components. After looking at some of the plastic dehydrators this LEM is a beauty. The shelf brackets were packaged separately, but fit flawlessly and were really easy to install. The shelves were chrome plated and I saw no flaws. The drip pan was nicely made also. After assembly we plugged the unit in and had a test run. It was exceptionally quiet. Most people would not even notice it running. The heating unit and electronic control panel worked well. To this point we have found nothing to complain about on this machine.
sdelam : Great Jerky!
This product makes great jerky. I have had close to 10 lbs of meat at once. The timer and temperature controls are easy to use and the racks are easy to clean. My only complaint is the door can be a pain sometimes. It is designed to be removed and doesnt stay in place/attached if raised completly up. It is also a tight fit with the racks preventing a smooth closing process.
Bryson : So quiet!
This is a very quiet machine. We love the amount of drying space available. The stainless finish is easy to keep clean. We've done a ton of herbs, fruit and fruit leathers. Been doing some potatoes and vegetables, gonna try some jerky in a couple days.
jamie1177 : Best ive ever owned !
digital timer and shut off automatic. Super quiet ! Plastic racks make cleaning easy. Easy to use temp control knob, and if you are unsure about cook time or temp there is a chart on the top of unit.
Lesley Manning : Good purchase
Worked well processing our deer jerky
Michelle : Just as described
Easy to use. Just as described. Large unit, you’ll need some counter space for it.
janice adamick : Good
Temp hard to see and not as high as recipes call for. Good machine though
Matt : There may be better choices.
It works pretty good. I like the size, it will hold 10 pound of ground jerky easy and 13 pound is almost max. The things I didn't like was the condensation off the doors it would ruin a wood table, it also needs the trays turned and arranged a few times throughout the dehydration process to make it finish evenly.
Teacher : Lem products ar great
The best dehydration unit I have got. I have had three others that worked ok, but this one works great. The magnetic door is a real plus. I only have to order the stainless steel racks as it only comes with plated metal racks that should last a long time.
LitFitKing : Best bang for your dollar!
This thing cuts drying time in half!
Ian : Really quiet and easy to load
Really quiet and easy to load. Doors are a snap. Just make sure not to run on a wood countertop. Condensation tends to form under. Then again I'm dehydrating pineapples ;)
D. Tran : TX Dehydrator
This unit is very quiet, as I used this inside my house without any noise issues. I covered the drip pan with foil for easy clean up and also use a Teflon liners for all the trays. I remove the Teflon liners midway through the dehydration time, after the meat is no longer dripping juice/marinate. One defect identified so far is the magnetic latch holding the door open is attached to a plastic housing via a single screw. One of the magnet on my dehydration fell out after the a few usage cycles. I reattached the magnet using crazy glue...so far the repair is holding.
Charles Emanuel : Works great, doors are a pain to open and close.
Worked Great. The only complaint I have is that the doors are a pain to put on and off. They could have put some sort of hinge on them. Other than that it worked great.
The Timahawk : Great results !
I am so glad I bought this unit over the Excalibur ! It was half the price , has better control , built solidly and super easy to use AND clean . So far I have made beef jerky , lamb jerky , dried apples , mushrooms , tomatoes , strawberries and pineapple . EVERYTHING came out fantastic and clean up was a breeze ! At this time I can't say enough good things about this dehydrator . I just hope the machine lasts . It seems to be a quality build so I think it will . Plug it in , set temperature , set time , hit start and walk away . It is that easy ! There are thousands of tips out there to help you out so I'm not going to get into that but you will not find a better dehydrator at this price . The Excalibur has NO TIMER ! Just a temperature control . It doesn't even have an on / off switch !!! It goes on when you plug it in and off when you unplug it . AND it is $ 250 ! The LEM 1152 is half the price and works awesome . Great great great machine ! Get one , you will not be disappointed .
Victor : Worth your money
Best product ever!! I fell in love with it and worth your money. Makes no noise and dehydrated everything perfect.
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