Nesco FD-1040 1000-watt Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator (6 Tray Value Package) review and price compare 2025
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
Brand | Amesser |
Material | Plastic |
Wattage | 1000 watts |
Number of Trays | 6 |
Temperature Range | 160 Degrees Fahrenheit |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- SPECIAL PACKAGE INCLUDES: 6 Trays (50% more capacity than base model), Jerky Gun with 6 Original spice and cure packs, 3 Fruit Roll Sheets, 3 Clean-A-Screens ($87 Retail Value)
- Programmable Digital Timer
- 1000 watts of drying power, Adjustable Temperature Control
- Patented Converga-Flow Air Flow
- Expandable to 20 trays (6 Trays included)
product description
SPECIAL PACKAGE INCLUDES: 6 Trays (50% more capacity than base model), Jerky Gun with 6 Original spice and cure packs, 3 Fruit Roll Sheets, 3 Clean-A-Screens ($87 Retail Value). Dry fruit and vegetables, herbs and flowers, granola or strips of jerky in hours instead of days with this 1000-watt food dehydrator. Top mounted fan eliminates liquids dripping into the heater chamber. New Digital Time is programmable for up to 48 hours. Expands up to 20 trays allowing you to dry large quantities all at once. Drying pressure adjusts automatically to the number of trays. Patented Converge-Flow forces heated air down the exterior pressurized chamber, then horizontally across each individual tray, converging in the center, for fast, even and nutritious drying. Flavors don't mix, and there's no need to rotate the trays. 2,400 RPM fan motor is four times faster than dryers with no fan or motors. The unit's adjustable thermostat ranges from 90 degrees to 160 degrees F, providing the flexibility needed to ensure excellent results. Vita-Save Exterior features an opaque exterior which blocks light to retain more of the foods nutrients and vitamins during the drying process.
product details
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 Nesco FD-1040 1000-watt Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator (6 Tray Value Package)
Q:
I just turned mine on. it's so loud i can hear it in another room with the doors closed. is that normal?
Answer: Yes please return it, I had the same problem, and returned it and bought the Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator and I am very happy.
Answer: No. Ours sounds like a quiet fan.
Answer: No. Ours sounds like a quiet fan.
Answer: Its like a quiet fan and we dont feel its overpowering at all.
Answer: Absolutely! Good luck!
Answer: Absolutely! Good luck!
Q:
Can clean a screen and fruit roll sheets be used for jerky?
Answer: The clean a screen could be used for ground meat jerky; the fruit roll up sheets-definitely not!
Q:
can i use it in hong kong 220volt
Answer: No the electric motor is for US. 110volt system it would burn-out.....See if one is available in UK.Amazon which should be 220volt ...!!
Answer: This system is for the 110v. If used on 220 it will burn out and void the warranty.
Q:
I bought this and really like it but how in the world do you clean the trays? They are too big for my dishwasher and don't completely fit in my sink
Answer: I have been able to put a few in the top rack of my dishwasher, but when I use all of them I just hand wash them with soapy water and rinse. They are really easy to hand clean. I just was one side and turn over. That simple. If you have a utility sink you could use that. I have also done this with them.
Answer: I use a soft bristle brush and clean them in the kitchen sink. I have put them in the dishwasher also
Q:
what comes with the 6 tray package, the pictures shows jerky gun 6 original spices, 3 clean a screens, and 3 fruit roll sheets.
Answer: The 6 tray kit comes with everything in the picture.
Answer: I did not buy the 6 tray package but I intend to.. The fruit roll sheets will come in handy.
Product reviews of Nesco FD-1040 1000-watt Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator (6 Tray Value Package)
Gregory T Joliet JR : Five Stars
A
J. Krueger : Stopped working 5 minutes into first use
It was a complete dud. I pulied it out of the box and put meat on the trays. I filled 3 trays for jerky and I turned it on, put it at 160 F for 4.5 hours and pressed start. The fan went for less than 5 minutes and quit and then it smelled burnt. I literally didn't get a single use out of it and I have to ship it back to nesco now. I'm so disappointed and what a waste of meat.
Nickolas Human : Easy to use
Does exactly as advertised! Easy to use, cleans up easily, temperature controlled with a timer, set it and forget it.... well try to at least! The aromas of whatever you are drying will fill whatever space the dehydrator is in, the scent of drying food prompts everyone who passes by to check on the progress. The dehydrator was purchased to prepare backpacking meals for myself and friends, and now my friends are thinking of buying their own!
Nickolas Human : Easy to use
Does exactly as advertised! Easy to use, cleans up easily, temperature controlled with a timer, set it and forget it.... well try to at least! The aromas of whatever you are drying will fill whatever space the dehydrator is in, the scent of drying food prompts everyone who passes by to check on the progress. The dehydrator was purchased to prepare backpacking meals for myself and friends, and now my friends are thinking of buying their own!
Nickolas Human : Easy to use
Does exactly as advertised! Easy to use, cleans up easily, temperature controlled with a timer, set it and forget it.... well try to at least! The aromas of whatever you are drying will fill whatever space the dehydrator is in, the scent of drying food prompts everyone who passes by to check on the progress. The dehydrator was purchased to prepare backpacking meals for myself and friends, and now my friends are thinking of buying their own!
Andrew Gore : died after 12 SECONDS.
Ran for about 12 seconds and died. I'm so pissed.
Tamara : The fan makes noise...
The fan on it is hitting something! ????
It works super good and our fruit drys fast!! but the noise!!! How can that be taken care of?
SueSee : A great dehydrator with digital timer and temperature control
I researched several different dehydrators before deciding on the Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster. I chose the Nesco because it has a programmable digital timer and temperature control, making it easier to set the temperature length of drying time. The 6 Tray Value Package comes with 2 extra trays (priced separately about $18 - $22) 3 clean screens for drying fruit, (I purchased two more at the time I bought the dehydrator) and a Jerky kit, which if sold separately would cost +$20 plus shipping, and also included enough seasoning and jerky cure for 5 pounds of hamburger jerky.
I'm still learning the ins and outs of dehydrating. So far in one week I've made sweet potato chips (a failure) banana chips (a sweet success) and 2 pounds of hamburger jerky (very very good). Clean up is easy; simply wash the trays with warm soapy water immediately after use. The trays are labeled as top rack dishwasher safe, however, they are very large and would be very hard to load in the top rack of a dishwasher. I sprayed the trays with a very light coat of Pam spray before loading with food.
The Nesco runs quiet; 6 loaded trays of banana chips took about 24 - 26 hours to dry to crispy, which was my preference. I simply put the machine on my counter and let it run, checking every so often. 2 pounds of hamburger jerky took only 4.5 hours, on 4 trays. I expect that as we go along we'll get better at placement of the food on the trays and will be able to conserve space better.
The included booklet wasn't a lot of help, but simply go online and you can find hundreds of recipes for anything you could possibly want to dry. Pinterest was especially helpful in finding ideas.
All in all, this is a great beginner dehydrator. It will expand to 20 trays - but be aware that drying 20 trays of food will greatly increase the drying time. I personally won't be going much more than 8 - 10 trays. If I find myself really getting into dehydrating and needing more than 10 trays, a larger, more efficient dehydrator would be the way to go.
OneOleMan : Working it hard and lovin' it.
I've had the Nesco FD-1040 for less than 2 weeks and it's run practically 24/7 since then. This is my first attempt at dehydrating and so far I've stuck with various apples, oranges and bananas. Not only am I enjoying the fruits of my labor but my dog also. Especially the banana and apple chips as treats. I'm enjoy having a Ziploc bag of the bananas, apples and oranges for snacking while driving. Yes, some of my attempts have been hit and miss by drying too long but I'm assuming that's part of the learning curve.
I bought the 6 Tray Value Package which comes with 3 Fruit Roll Sheets and 3 Clean-A-Screens. Last night I ordered 4 more trays, which will give me a total of 10 trays, and 6 additional Clean-a-Screens figuring I'll be drying a lot of bananas for the dog and oranges for me. One Navel orange takes up almost one tray so those extra trays will come in quite handy.
You probably got the idea by now that I really like this dehydrator; yes, I do like and so far haven't found any cons about the machine. Well maybe one; the extra trays and Clean-a-Screens are expensive. Some have said it's a little loud. Maybe if it's in the living room and you're sitting right next to it watching TV but I have mine in the kitchen so when I'm in the living room I don't really hear it and, as I said in the beginning, it's been running almost 24 hours a day since it arrived. Okay, 24 hours a day is a slight exaggeration, it's actually closer to 10 to 18 hours a day.
OneOleMan : Working it hard and lovin' it.
I've had the Nesco FD-1040 for less than 2 weeks and it's run practically 24/7 since then. This is my first attempt at dehydrating and so far I've stuck with various apples, oranges and bananas. Not only am I enjoying the fruits of my labor but my dog also. Especially the banana and apple chips as treats. I'm enjoy having a Ziploc bag of the bananas, apples and oranges for snacking while driving. Yes, some of my attempts have been hit and miss by drying too long but I'm assuming that's part of the learning curve.
I bought the 6 Tray Value Package which comes with 3 Fruit Roll Sheets and 3 Clean-A-Screens. Last night I ordered 4 more trays, which will give me a total of 10 trays, and 6 additional Clean-a-Screens figuring I'll be drying a lot of bananas for the dog and oranges for me. One Navel orange takes up almost one tray so those extra trays will come in quite handy.
You probably got the idea by now that I really like this dehydrator; yes, I do like and so far haven't found any cons about the machine. Well maybe one; the extra trays and Clean-a-Screens are expensive. Some have said it's a little loud. Maybe if it's in the living room and you're sitting right next to it watching TV but I have mine in the kitchen so when I'm in the living room I don't really hear it and, as I said in the beginning, it's been running almost 24 hours a day since it arrived. Okay, 24 hours a day is a slight exaggeration, it's actually closer to 10 to 18 hours a day.
J. Krueger : Stopped working 5 minutes into first use
It was a complete dud. I pulied it out of the box and put meat on the trays. I filled 3 trays for jerky and I turned it on, put it at 160 F for 4.5 hours and pressed start. The fan went for less than 5 minutes and quit and then it smelled burnt. I literally didn't get a single use out of it and I have to ship it back to nesco now. I'm so disappointed and what a waste of meat.
Svetlana : Five Stars
dry mushroom is fantastic.
exfulgere : Fun Toy, Great Tool
Really pleased with this, and I think after the novelty wears off I'll still be using it regularly. Right now just playing and experimenting with it. Dries fruit and veg well. I've also dehydrated hummus, black bean soup, seitan jerky and will try dying red lentil curry this week, as well as cooked rice and possibly other leftovers.
Potential issues with inconsistent dying time due to 'user error,' if you will:
When I dried kiwis, some pieces were chewier, others crisper because I wasn't making slices of uniform thickness. When slicing, I'd suggest using a mandolin or food processor when practicable,; otherwise, pay attention to uniformity.
There are different dying times for similar, but not *exactly* the same things. I dehydrated standard hummus and roasted red pepper hummus at the same time, using the same weight for each. The latter took longer to dry. I'd recommend, if dehydrating prepared food, maybe do one thing at a time, or just be cognizant that slight differences in ingredients can cause dying time to differ.
Again, really pleased and I think it's a great value for the price.
Fuller : Best new addition to my kitchen!
Took me months to choose which Nesco model to purchase but I am happy with my choice. Have borrowed and used other dehydrators and 2 of my favorite features of this model are heating from the top and temperature/timer controls. I can fit 5+ lbs of beef on the six trays and dried in as little as 4 hours. If I could change any thing it would be the tray grid, a slighty tighter weave pattern might give it a sturdier feel (like the discontinued Vita Mix Harvest Savor). I have dred apple chips, herbs and almond meal and am completely new to this (easier than I thought). Can't wait to do fruit roll ups for grandchildren and am looking forward to next year's garden experience!
jimvw : Four Stars
Nice looking machine
Andrew Gore : died after 12 SECONDS.
Ran for about 12 seconds and died. I'm so pissed.
Nickolas Human : Easy to use
Does exactly as advertised! Easy to use, cleans up easily, temperature controlled with a timer, set it and forget it.... well try to at least! The aromas of whatever you are drying will fill whatever space the dehydrator is in, the scent of drying food prompts everyone who passes by to check on the progress. The dehydrator was purchased to prepare backpacking meals for myself and friends, and now my friends are thinking of buying their own!
SueSee : A great dehydrator with digital timer and temperature control
I researched several different dehydrators before deciding on the Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster. I chose the Nesco because it has a programmable digital timer and temperature control, making it easier to set the temperature length of drying time. The 6 Tray Value Package comes with 2 extra trays (priced separately about $18 - $22) 3 clean screens for drying fruit, (I purchased two more at the time I bought the dehydrator) and a Jerky kit, which if sold separately would cost +$20 plus shipping, and also included enough seasoning and jerky cure for 5 pounds of hamburger jerky.
I'm still learning the ins and outs of dehydrating. So far in one week I've made sweet potato chips (a failure) banana chips (a sweet success) and 2 pounds of hamburger jerky (very very good). Clean up is easy; simply wash the trays with warm soapy water immediately after use. The trays are labeled as top rack dishwasher safe, however, they are very large and would be very hard to load in the top rack of a dishwasher. I sprayed the trays with a very light coat of Pam spray before loading with food.
The Nesco runs quiet; 6 loaded trays of banana chips took about 24 - 26 hours to dry to crispy, which was my preference. I simply put the machine on my counter and let it run, checking every so often. 2 pounds of hamburger jerky took only 4.5 hours, on 4 trays. I expect that as we go along we'll get better at placement of the food on the trays and will be able to conserve space better.
The included booklet wasn't a lot of help, but simply go online and you can find hundreds of recipes for anything you could possibly want to dry. Pinterest was especially helpful in finding ideas.
All in all, this is a great beginner dehydrator. It will expand to 20 trays - but be aware that drying 20 trays of food will greatly increase the drying time. I personally won't be going much more than 8 - 10 trays. If I find myself really getting into dehydrating and needing more than 10 trays, a larger, more efficient dehydrator would be the way to go.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
-
Nesco FD-1040 1000-watt Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator (6 Tray Value Package) review and price compare
-
FveBzem Mini Bag Sealer Handheld Heat Vacuum Sealers Bag Resealer Sealer, Mini Sealing Machine for Chip Bags, Food Saver Storage Bags, Snack, Cereal Bags and Thick Plastic Bags (Green) review and price compare
-
Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Map review and price compare
-
Pressure Sensitive Torque Activated Seals Cap Liners - 48 mm (1.89") -200 PCS -Made in USA- for Glass & Plastic Bottles & Containers - No Induction Sealer Needed review and price compare
-
Outrigger Outdoors Flounder Gig review and price compare
-
Maptech Waterproof Chart Book - South Shore Long Island review and price compare
-
Do-All Outdoors - Iron Buck Shed Adapter review and price compare
-
NOAA Chart 18003 review and price compare
-
Food Saver Vacuum Sealer Bags Quality Vacuum Seal Bags Rolls for Food Storage Vacuum Sealer Bags Unlimited - 11" x 25' Rolls 4 Packs review and price compare
-
vidaXL Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, Outdoor Barbeque/Charcoal Grill Combo with 3 Chrome-Plated Cooking grids can Place Spices, Ingredients, Utensils and Other Barbecue Essentials review and price compare
-
Ymjoinmx PP Cup Sealer Film for Boba Cup Sealing Film 95mm for Boba Tea Milk Tea review and price compare
-
Vacuum Sealer,G3 review and price compare
-
TOPBATHY 10Pcs Per Pack Exquisite Creative Food Sealer Clips Bow-knot Shaped Plastic Sealing Sticks for Home and Kitchen Keep Food Fresh (Random Color) review and price compare
-
Waring Commercial WCV2QT100 2 quart Chamber Vacuum Bag, Clear review and price compare
-
OLIGAI BBQ Thermometer Gauge,Charcoal Grill Pit Wood Smoker Temperature Gauge Replacement,Charcoal Grill Temperature Gauge for Oklahoma Joe's Smokers,2.3" Grill Temp Thermometer fit Weber Grill review and price compare
-
Umbrella Net review and price compare
-
KA-BAR 1477CB, TDI Law Enforcement Clip, Partial Serrated, Coyote Brown, Hard Sheath, 5 5/8" review and price compare
-
Woeoe Nozzle Spout Sealing Clips Blue Food Pour Bag Clips Packaging Plastic Cap Sealer Clips for Kitchen Storage and Organization review and price compare
-
YIOU Vacuum Sealer Machine, Food Saver Vacuum Sealer Machine Build-in Cutter 80Kpa Vacuum Sealer for Food with Starter Kit Led Indicator Lights Dry Moist Mode Easy to Clean Food Vacuum Sealer, Silver review and price compare
-
TECHTONGDA Vacuum Sealing Machine Packaging Sealer Stainless Steel for Food Saving Single Chamber DZ400 Sealing Length 15.7inch review and price compare