Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine | 7 Stainless Steel Trays | Adjustable Timer, Temperature Control | Dryer for Jerky, Herb, Beef, Fruit review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Magic Mill
Material	Stainless Steel
Color	Black
Wattage	600.00
Item Dimensions LxWxH	15 x 13.5 x 19 inches

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REAR MOUNT FAN FOR SUPERIOR HEAT DISTRIBUTION – DRIES FOOD EVENLY The electric dehydration machine is equipped with a rear-mounted drying fan and air flow circulation technology to promote even drying, there is no need to rotate the shelves as needed by other brands, monitor the dryer process easily with the transparent door window
DIGITAL THERMOSTAT AND TIMER- AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF WHEN TIMER DONE -- An adjustable temperature and timer ensure you to have your delicious dehydrated food done to perfect at optimal temperature and exact timing; the Countdown timer will show you when it will be done, once done it will automatic shut off
SPACIOUS ADJUSTABLE STAINLESS STEEL TRAYS – INCLUDED FRUIT ROLL TRAYS! Use the trays for regular food and the mesh trays for smaller food as nuts and herbs, for fruit roll ups use the fruit leather sheet which can also be used for drip trays!, you can do a lot in one batch with the Magic Mill dehydration machine, the dehydrator comes with 7 adjustable trays each tray is 13 x 12"
EASY TO USE AND CLEAN - DISHWASHER SAFE TRAYS You want to dry Jerky, beef, herbs, vegetables, fruit, granola, fruit leathers, bread crumbs, and for preserving herbs, flowers, and much more, cleaning is easy all trays and liners are dishwasher safe and the housing can be easily wiped down with a damp cloth
SAFETY FEATURE / BPA FREE Overheat protection will activate if the dehydrator overheats. Built with food-grade – BPA Free material

Product Description



Model #	MFD-9100	MFD-1010	MFD-7100	MFD-6060	MFD-7070
Number of Trays	10	11	7	6	7
Base Material	Plastic	Stainless Steel	Plastic	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Tray Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Keep Warm Function	✓	x	✓	x	x
Temp. Settings	95°F-165°F	95°F-167°F	95°F-165°F	95°F-167°F	95°F-167°F

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Questions about Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine | 7 Stainless Steel Trays | Adjustable Timer, Temperature Control | Dryer for Jerky, Herb, Beef, Fruit

Can i buy more stainless steel trays

Answer: You can buy more trays but only 6 will fit in this model. There is a model that will hold 9. So "extra trays" aren't really useful.

Answer: Yes

Does it have any fruit rollup / leather sheets?

Answer: For future buyers - I received on 7/19/2020 an it came with 2 "pans" that work to both catch debris and work great as fruit leather trays. I just want 2 more

Answer: There is a "tray" that goes in the bottom to catch any debris. It is nice and thin and perfect for making fruit rollups. So, you can use it for rollups or to catch falling crumbs. This is a fantastic dehydrator, btw. And I didn't get paid to say that, lol

Answer: Mine came with three plastic mesh, and three trays for fruit leather, but I have a different model, slightly smaller with six shelves of metal racks.

Answer: No, it has the stainless shelves and plastic very tightly woven, thick pieces that fit on top of the shelves for smaller pieces of food but the plastic has holes that I assume fruit rollup type consistency would run through.

Answer: Mine came with 5 fruit sheets.

Answer: Yes ,there are 3 pcs leather sheets

Answer: It does not. Stainless steel mesh and plastic mesh only.

Does this have a drip pan? and is it easy to clean?

Answer: Yes it has a drip pan but very shallow and the racks go in the dish washer. I have not had to clean the inside of the dehydrator yet so I don't know about that.

Answer: Yes, it has a drip pan. Very easy to clean.

Answer: Yes it has a removable plastic drip pan. Yes it is easy to clean.

Answer: Does have drip pan and is easy to clean

Answer: Yes, it does. It is easy to clean. I love this dehydrator. I use it a few times a week and it works perfectly every time.

Just black? No white?

Answer: I have the black. I do believe there is a white. Maybe be under a different manufacturer name. We have had ours a couples of weeks. Makes awesome jerky and dried fruit.

Answer: White u can buy only with out the stainless steel trays

Answer: I believe they sell it in white in a separate listing.

Does this turn off automatically?

Answer: Yes it turns off automatically

Are the sides and top plastic or S/S? Not looking for plastic parts

Answer: Yes, they are plastic...I also was searching for non-plastic to avoid breathing organic vapors which are adverse to brain matter. But this is the best I located. The shelves are ss and are well made. I have left the oven in the garage-heat to de-gas...then did test increment heating up the oven....then cooked test french fries which turned out good/did not eat because will continue to de-gas plastic parts

Answer: The sides and top are plastic.

Answer: The sides and top are all molded plastic.

Answer: Hi there. The sides are plastic.

Answer: Plastic.

Answer: The only thing that's S.S. Is the racks

Do you have to rotate the trays?

Answer: I have seen several reviews of the product on YouTube. They never had to rotate the trays, and it worked perfectly.

Answer: It’s not necessary. I fill up with beef for jerky and do not rotate.

Answer: No. Since the circulation is in the rear everything dries to the same consistency.

Answer: I have only used mine a couple of times when I first got. I don't think I did.

Do the S/S shelves have plastic on them or is the plastic optional?

Answer: No , there are some plastic inserts that come with it also though. The shelves themselves are just SS.

Answer: They're plastic sheets that sit on top of the stainless steel. You can remove them if you'd rather just use the metal shelving. They also fit in the dishwasher for easy cleaning

Answer: the s.s. shelves are stand alone and the plastic racks can be used on top of these if needed for herbs or what ever you desire

Answer: There is SS shelves but also plastic sheets that set on top. I made jerky and dried fruit on them.

Does anyone know how this measures up to the excalibur dehydrator? i'll be using it for a raw vegan lifestyle. thanks!

Answer: I don't know about the Excaliber but I use my dehydrator nearly every day...I like it alot and have not one thing negative to say about it...I would purchase another one just like it if something happened to the one I have.

Answer: I ended up returning my unit as it was DOA on arrival. Can't really give a review since I never had a chance to use it.

Does it come with an instruction book

Answer: It did not come with instructions on how to dehydrate any foods, which I thought rather odd. I'm really glad that I boughtThe Ultimate Dehydrator Book at the same time or I would have had no clue about how to use it for various foods. I do love the unit and it has been in use almost every day!

Answer: Yes it does, but just general instructions. You better off with trial and error. It is pretty much set it and wait. I have made a bunch of jerky!! It works great!!

Answer: Yes, it's a little basic though. There are so many variables when dehydrating food, the book is more of a starting point. Best thing you can do is keep your own notes on recipes and times so you can replicate it.

Answer: Yes, but if you have no expertience, a good book on dehydrating will give you confidence and ideas.

Answer: No it does not but its so easy to figure it out...I use mine almost every day...

Answer: Not a very good one.

Answer: Yes

Are all the parts machine washable? Does anything needs to be handwashed and does the trays rust/corrodes due to machine washing?

Answer: all the trays are washable. The unit itself can be wiped out but I certainly would not put it in wash water.

Answer: I only use it for jerky, but there is very little cleanup on the trays. I just wipe them off, very easy. This dehydrator is wonderful, and quiet, too.

Answer: The manual states that no parts are dishwasher safe, unless otherwise indicated (and nothing is so indicated).

Does the timer have an upper limit, can it go to 26 hours?

Answer: as mentioned, it only will set up to 19 hours and 30 minutes. we have not done the adding time, but I think that would work.

Answer: 19 hours and 30 minutes is the max, but then you can add increments of half hours as the timer counts down

Answer: Mine goes to 19.5 hours

Answer: The manufacturer recommends a 2 hr. rest after 20 continuous hours of use.

Are the temperatures preset on this or can you adjust it by degrees?

Answer: You can adjust it and the highest is 158 degrees.

Answer: The temps are preset. 95, 104, 113, 122, 131, 140, 149, and 158

Aree the racks dishwasher safe?

Answer: The manual states that no parts are dishwasher safe, unless otherwise indicated (and nothing is so indicated). I will contact the manufacturer and see if I can get a better answer.

Answer: Yes, we wash them in the dishwasher all the time after use... they are good to go after they come out.

Answer: I never attempted to use the dishwasher. I prefer to hand wash anything like that.

Answer: yes they all are but would suggest putting the plastic trays on the top shelf

Answer: Yes

What is the watts of this unit

Answer: 600 watt

How long does it take for making banana chips?

Answer: Banana chips can range from 8-38 hours to make depending on thickness. I made some that were fairly thin and it took 10 hours to reach the crispness I wanted. Bananas are one of the longest time consuming to dehydrate. It dried beef jerky in 5 hours.

Answer: Haven't made banana chips, but it only took 6 hours to make a perfect fruit leather.

Will the shelf life on meats and vegetables be around 20 Years?

Answer: If the shelf is in a freezer that keeps it at freezing temperatures, yes as in Edible, but the quality won't be there. I recommend making dehydrated food that is consume every year, and keep replacing what is consumed.

Answer: Hasn’t lasted more than 3 weeks and it’s all gone. You’ll have to connect with someone lot smarter than me to get a definite answer

Answer: No!

Can you used it to make beef jerky?

Answer: Yes! I've made all kinds of dried fruits with this, but it's mainly used for Jerky around our house. I've made chicken jerky, deer jerky, and beef jerky ( teriyaki and original ) . LOVE this dehydrator!

Answer: I have not tried beef jerky yet but do not see why not. I have dehydrator book and plan to give it a try this fall.

Answer: Box stated make everything you want. Jerky is one of them.

Answer: Of course you can, you can look up recipes for different seasonings and with good cuts of meat that is sliced nice and thin. Give it a try!

Answer: Yes !!!!! It is the first thing I did with it. It works well.

Three or two pronged plug? If three pronged can i use adapter?

Answer: The one I received has a two prong plug.

Answer: Two prong plug.

Answer: two prong

Answer: 2 prong

is it 110 or 220 v/

Answer: 110 v

Answer: 110

Answer: 110v

Please can someone tell me were to buy more stainless trays

Answer: You can find them at Amazon

Can I dehydrate almonds directly on the stainless steel mesh, or would the almonds fall through that, and I have to use the plastic one? thanks!

Answer: The almonds would be fine on the stainless steel mesh, they wouldn't fall through.

Answer: The metal mesh shelves are in a 1/2 inch grid so it would be best to dry the almonds using the plastic mesh. (I grabbed a handful of almonds to see for myself, and lots fell through as I spread them out.) The plastic mesh is perfect for this.

Answer: You probably need to use the plastic liners, but they are easy to use, and the dehydrator works great.

Can you dehydrate soups or chili with this

Answer: Not that I am aware of...I am dehydrating things like bell peppers, onions, squash, zucchini, etc that would make up some ingredients in soup but can't imagine how you would dehydrate the actual liquid soup or chili. But I am by far, no expert. Sorry.

Answer: I don't know why you could not. A book I bought says it works. The thicker the better. I have taken broccoli stems and leaves ,blanched then blended with a little water then spread it on dryer sheets. It drys well..

Is it delivered in store box or an amazon box? it's going to be a christmas gift and i'd like to know before i order.

Answer: Mine was delivered in the store box. Any passer by would know there was a Magic Mill Dehydrator sitting on my door step.

Answer: Mine was delivered in a store box with pictures of what is inside so you would need to make sure the person you are giving it to does not see it. By the way, I really like mine.

Answer: Unfortunately it's delivered in a amazon box, everything is now but it has a card board casing around it so I just wrapped it in that since mine was for Christmas as well.

Answer: It was delivered in a Magic Mill store brand box inside of an Amazon shipping box.

Answer: It will come inside an Amazon box.

Answer: You can request an Amazon box shipment to hide contents

Answer: my answer is same answer as Clark Petrie

Is the plastic unit itself BPA free or just the shelving tray inserts?

Answer: Hi

Answer: BPA is a hardener found in polycarbonate and epoxy resins for the most part. I question the sellers claim that there is NO BPA anywhere. What material is the the front viewing window if not polycarbonate?

does it come with mesh trays?

Answer: Yes, it's plastic for smaller food like blueberries and herbs.

Answer: Yes it does, they are stainless steel

Can I sit my own shallow stainless steel baking sheet on top of a tray to dehydrate herbs & blueberries on stainless steel? Don’t want to use plastic.

Answer:

Answer: This ítem is equipped with a vegetable/fruit tray (plastic). I don't see any problem using your own baking sheet though as long as it's no larger than 12" X 13".

Answer: They come with stainless steal trays and 3 plastic trays . Yes you can use your own I have and as long as they fit you won’t have a problem. I absolutely love this machine.

Answer: If it fits I see no wrong. The wire racks are stainless steel.

Answer: I don't think you could put in a 9×13 sheet but you could have a smaller metal pan.

Answer: If it fits i do not see a problem

What is the outside demension height of this food dehydraor?

Answer: 12.5 high X 17.5 inches deep X 13.5 inches wide

Answer: It is 12 1/2 inches tall

How sturdy are the stainless steel trays? They look more like a wire rack than a sturdy metal tray

Answer: I make beef jerky on mine and they seem to be just fine but yes they are more of a wire rack then a metal trey. It doe come with plastic trays they you can place on top of the wire racks that makes them even more sturdy. I have no issues with this item really happy with how it works for me.

Answer: They might be wire racks, but are very sturdy. I did banana chips and tomato. I would even do jerky. They wash nicely and I did put them in the dishwasher. Air has to circulate around the food so can't be solid.

Answer: These racks are sturdy. The will hold anything you put on them. I fill it up with beef and have no problem.

Answer: They are a wire rack, but extremely sturdy.

Answer: Not sure what you are drying? The shelves are fine for everything that could use it for. There is a plastic tray to catch any drippings. A+

Answer: They are wire racks but they are very sturdy.

Answer: they are very sturdy. i have not cooked jerky yet only variety of fruits but i know from usage tbat they could hold the weight

Answer: I filled the trays with fruit and they did not bend.

Ca I do fish also?

Answer: Sure, why not.

Answer: Haven’t but ya you van

How long can it run at once?

Answer: It is able to run for hours. It comes with a user guide which includes recipes and times to dehydrate different foods-its really handy. I love this dehydrator. I chose it for the fan based upon a lot of reading. It's super easy to clean and it's quiet. I check the food often and usually takes less time than the guide says.

Answer: You can set and reset the timer for as long as you want. i have done 12 hours before

Answer: I believe the timer is 10hrs.

Answer: 19.5 hours

How long to make jerky?

Answer: Depends on your Cut really. I make jerky at least twice a month and can dry all Six trays in 6-7 hrs with a single rotation at the half way mark. Initially my thicker cuts 1/4" were taking just over 8hrs to the texture "I" like.

Answer: Roughly it takes 5 to 6 hours when I make beef jerky.

Answer: Depending how thick you slice it. 4 hrs for thin slices.

what is the size?

Can someone send me a link to buy just the non-stick trays for fruit leather? I only received one with this dehydrator and am looking for several more

Answer: I was wondering the same thing. I received two and wanted more. You could probably find any tray for fruit leathers to use since they need to sit on the steel trays anyways.

Answer: I thought I had only received one but there were several there they are thin and it looked like one thick one

Answer: You're lucky, I didn't get any. It seems impossible to contact the company, I've tried. I ended up ordering a set of three silicon sheets that were sized to fit the shelves. They cost approx. $16. They work very well and I will likely order another set. I found them on Amazon. They are green. I can't remember the name but if you do a search you'll find them.

I purchased this for my son and just gave it to him as a gift. There was no user manual or the recipe book it should have had. How, can I get one?

Answer: Just look up dehydrating times on google and temperature. One suggestion is the very bottom shelf, put a aluminum foil on it so it catches all the drops. I only use mine for Herbs, Peppers. Meat will make a mess.

Answer: If you get back on the website and look at your order. Then scroll down to where it reads product guides and documents, you can download them from there.

Are parts or service available for the magic mill mfd-7070? i can't find anything on it.

Answer: Ask Amazon. I'm sure parts are available. We have used and used ours. No problem. I'm not a mechanic tho. Ask Amazon's customer service.

Can this dehydrator be set at 85-90F as well?

Answer: No, Temps avaiilable are 95, 104, 113, 122, 131, 140, 149, 158, and 167. Times can be set in 30 minute intervals from 30 minutes to 24 hours.

Answer: No, the lowest temp is 95°F. The preset temps are 95°F, 104°F, 113°F, 122°F, 131°F, 140°F, 149°F, 157°F-167°F

Answer: No. 95 degrees is as low as it will go.....

Answer: Yes

Does this product have Bpb in it?

Theres a Prop 65 warning on the box. Why? and for which chemicals/materials in this appliance? theres no info that I can find.

Answer: Is p65 warning serious?

How many watts is this machine ?

Answer: 6 tray is 480 watts, highest temp is 160.

Answer: According to the tag on the back of mine, it is 480 watts

Answer: Mine is 9 tray and 600 watts

Answer: 600 watts

Answer: Don't know but the highest temperature is 153F

Is this the same type machines that make $10,000.00 plus freeze dried food packages (for Holkywood) as seen here on Amazon?

Answer: That, I do not know. It has 7 trays, and compact size which is why I bought it.

Has anybody else had an issue with this making what ever you cook smell like plastic

Answer: I've only used it once and have not had that problem. I only used the stainless steel trays so far.

Ok were do i buy the trays at. How much are they. Are they stainless or the plastic trays?

is the door glass or plastic on the 7070 model, 7 trays?

Answer: It is glass! The dehydrator is quality!

Answer: Glass

I want to buy more of the plastic mesh rigid trays that come with the initial purchase. How do I do this? I can't find them anywhere!

Answer: I would send a request directly to the company. I also think if you put in a search on Amazon you might able to find them.

What is the size of the holes in the stainless steel trays?

Answer: the holes on the stainless steel trays are about 1/2 inch.

Answer: They are maybe 1/2" or so. Unfortunately, I have ended up always using the little plastic trays when dehydrating because a lot of food will slip through the holes in the stainless steel trays, especially as the food reduces in size while being dehydrated. I purchased this brand for the stainless steel trays, so really wish the holes were smaller. However, having said that, I am still very happy with my purchase and have been dehydrating food all summer. I would still purchase this brand if I had to do it all over again.

Answer: I measured a half inch square. The product also comes with plastic fine mesh screen to lay on top of the stainless steel tray. I just used it today for strawberries.

Answer: the metal trays have square holes approx half inch. i always use the plastic trays on top though because food is easier to clean off plastic then the metal. the plastic trays are very tiny grid pattern. nothing could fall through them except juice

In the description it states that it is 19” tall but in the questions that had been asked in the past it says 12.5”. Can someone verify the height?

Answer: I’m wondering the same thing. I think it may depend on which model we get. I have a feeling the 6 tray version is closer to 12” tall, but the description for the 7 tray version says 19” tall (though the pic is exactly the same as the 6 tray). Very confusing. I’m specifically wanting to know how tall the 7 tray version is and if it is indeed 19” tall, which seems huge for 7 trays. I don’t understand how 1 extra tray can cause a 7 inch height increase. Someone please help us figure this out. Thanks!

Answer: Mine is 12.5 inches tall. It is a very nice dehydrator.

Answer: It’s not 19” more like 12 with my tape.

Answer: It’s 12 inches tall

Answer: More like 12.25"

what are the diminsions of the 6 tray model?

Answer: The description gives you the dimensions of the machine and trays.

What material is the fan and heating element made from? Also what is the wattage for this unit?

Answer: Fan appears to be aluminum, coil heating element. There are replacement coils on line. 120V / 480W according to the user manual.

Answer: Metal fan, 480 watts, 120 volts. Love mine and use it often.

Answer: 60 watts, the fan is aluminum, and the motor is insertes in a metal container. Sorry I was out of town

What is the height of the 6 and/or 9 tray models? I see it's listed differently in Product Dimensions vs the description.

Answer: My 9 tray is 16 3/8 "

Answer: The 6 rack is 12 1/2 inches tall

Product reviews of Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine | 7 Stainless Steel Trays | Adjustable Timer, Temperature Control | Dryer for Jerky, Herb, Beef, Fruit

Cindy Smiles : Wonderful!

Only used it once so far, 10 lbs of apples, and it worked beautifully! I peeled and cored my apples and soaked them in an ascorbic acid (Vit. C) and water solution while working; then I drained and placed on trays and dried. They are still pretty, not dark like most dried apples. Dehydrator is perfect and I hope I get many many years of use from it.

Aw : This is my new favorite toy! The jerkey I made is so good ...

This is my new favorite toy! The jerkey I made is so good, I can't stop eating it! I also made zucchini chips, banana chips, and sweet potato chips so far. It works great.

shelly k. : Excellent product and priced so it is easy to afford

We have had this for a few months now and use it regularly to dehydrate fruit. I can now say it is a fantastic product! We have used it for bananas, strawberries, pears and apples. Our favorite is apples and make them every week. The dehydrator is plastic bodied but the important part (the trays) are stainless steel and work fantastic. It holds a lot and could not be easier to operate. Enter the time and temp and push go. That is all there is to it and when it beeps... you have delicious dehydrated fruit ready to eat!

C Logan : Buy this one!

Love this thing! The first week I got it I used it daily for a week. I have made Beef Jerky, chicken jerky, Dried fruit, Fruit roll ups, Dried Garlic bulb to make my own Garlic powder.
Fits great on the kitchen counter. Quiet easy to use and clean.
Worth the money$

G-Dog : Great all around dehydrator!

This unit would be great for most families, works really well. Plenty of space between the trays, and the total tray space is large enough for ~7-10lbs of fruit.

Used it for bananas, cherries, strawberries, peaches, jerky, fruit leather, etc. As long as it keeps working, it is a great unit.

Willow : Great machine..and QUIET, too!

Today was the machine's maiden dehydrating voyage, drying strawberries and bananas. I have a bit of technique tweaking and learning on my part as I am new to this, but everything turned out great and in less time than my Nesco.
This machine is so quiet and holds 7 trays of food.
If I had the counter space, I would get another one! Btw, this is a space saving model....it really doesnt rake up much of my counter...i need a bigger work area. :)
I think I prefer drying to canning!! (Don't tell Babcia!!)
The machine arrived fast and in perfect condition.
I am looking forward to years of dehydrating with this machine.

Virginia : Broke after 3 months

Loved it but now disappointed. It’s only been 3 months and my dehydrator stopped working completely. It won’t even power on anymore.

BLi : Great while it lasted

Bought it for my parents two years ago and it finally decided to stop working yesterday. According to my parents, it worked great while it lasted though. However, I was expecting for a longer lifespan

wendy inscho : Although the machine itself does a very good job dehydrating food

I purchased this product on March 1, 2018... I was using it approx. 3-4 days a week and within the first week the front cover started to crack in multiple areas.. with today pieces falling off.. I tried calling customer support and got no where. All I was looking for was a replacement cover. I then tried calling the manufacture and no help there either. Although the machine itself does a very good job dehydrating food, the fact that the cover is literally falling to pieces and I can't replace it without replacing the entire appliance it ridiculous.

Rick T. : I love this machine and have not stopped using it since ...

I was considering the Excalibur, but after comparing it to this one it became clear that there was not enough differences to warrant the much higher cost. If you compare the specs between both dehydrators you will see that there is very little difference. I love this machine and have not stopped using it since it was delivered. It has worked perfectly. I know I made the right decision. I highly recommend this product!!

Amazon Customer : Time & temperature adjustable & easy access to trays with fan in rear was what I was looking for.

Have been dehydrating some of the abundance of my tomatoes from the garden for later use in soups & spaghetti. Also tried grating summer squash & dehydrating the shreds to really crunchy to sprinkle on salads - nice addition to salads. The trays make it easy to check progress of drying & the fan positioned in the rear dries better than one at the bottom of an older one I had used. Trays are easy to insert with food on & since they are SS, easy to clean. Will be trying many other foods to dehydrate ( have not had this one very long). It fits nicely in the space in my entrance pantry where there is good ventilation & easy access to kitchen. I like being able to adjust the time & temp & the unit shuts off at end of time set.
Looking forward to using this dehydrator for many years.

Spyder71 : Jerky for Days!!!

Rcvd on Fathers day Sunday, made my first jerky batch with it the next day. 158 degrees for 5 hours, AMAZING!!! Been making jerky in a gas oven for a while, but I have to say, this is the way to go, much thanks to my Daughter for the purchase and to Magic Mill for a quality item. SS racks are assured not to break, very low noise fan and compact design. I love it.

M. C. Payette : Economy priced, QUIET dehydrator

I purchased this unit because I was replacing an old Ronco one from 25 years ago that was a stackable style with the heating elements on the bottom. I chose the Magic Mill because of its metal trays and rear-mounted heating element and fan. So many dehydrator units are stackable and the top trays take forever to dry unless you keep rearranging trays which causes food to fall off, plus the dehydrator should be one of those things you shouldn't have to babysit real closely. With this Magic Mill unit, the heat and fan are located in the back which evenly dry all of the trays at once. This is the best feature in my opinion, because I can be confident that all trays get equal drying without me having to juggle. Plus, I can dehydrate taller items (i.e, tomato halves) and just remove shelves to accommodate them, which you can't do in a stackable unit.

Note that the door lifts up and completely off the unit. This allows for easy tray placement and removal. It comes with silicone hot mitts for tray removal but really unless you take the trays out during the dehydrating process you really don't need them because the trays and unit cools off pretty quicky when it's shut off.

I love the digital function of choosing temperature and time. However, I set my timer past the recommended drying times for my vegetables because I dont want it to prematurely stop. The instruction manual indicates the top drying time for this unit is 20 hours, so if you need to dry beyond that, you should shut it off and give it a break before starting it back up again.

A note about the reviewers' comments that this unit is loud: I have found just the opposite to be true. Most people would use a food dehydrator in the kitchen area which is a pretty centralized, busy area of the home. I can hear the fan but it is quieter than the sound of my refrigerator running, and honestly, the white noise blends into the background. So unless these reviewers are dehydrating in the middle of the night on their bedside tables, I can't really imagine what their complaints are about. [No, I am not at all hard of hearing.]

MikeN : Marvelous First Run - soppressata jerky

...Unit has the stainless steel wire trays that I wanted (no plastic in contact with food)... Preparation before first run: 1) soak wire trays in hot soapy water about 15 minutes and rinsed with hot water. 2) sponged the dryer's interior with warm water. 3) Ran it for 1hr at maximum temperature (158F) - There was NO plastic smell during the 1hr dry run. The unit was then used, in a single run (8 hr;158F -timed run), to dehydrate 8.0 lbs of soupy meat (soppressata) in order to prepare just under 4 lbs of soupy jerky (it is maaaarvelous!). More about capacity: The total drying surface area measures 6.5 square feet (1.083 sq ft per 12"x13" tray). About 1.33 lbs of rolled soupy meat rectangles (~1/4" thick) fit onto each tray. The meat can be positioned right to the very edge of the tray; meat positioned close to the edge did NOT contact the walls or tray runners as each tray was slid into the drying unit (i.e., no mess!). In order to avoid annoying family members that don't relish the aroma of drying soupy, I set up the dehydrator in my basement shop (the soupy sensitive noses were grateful). In sum, I am a very satisfied customer with a great smelling shop (smell dissipates quickly once the dryer is turned off). I highly recommend the Magic Mill Pro dehydrator with stainless steel wire trays!

Eric Scott : Dead after using twice.

We used this twice and it died after being on for a couple of hours.

Wicked Redhead : I only wishe we had bought it sooner

I bought this for my husband, it is quiet, easy to clean up. Doesnt heat up my kitchen horribly. Easy to use. My husband loves it. I did buy 2 "cook" books for this. It comes with a book of help info. We love it.

Wicked Redhead : I only wishe we had bought it sooner

SubterraneanMuskrat : Beef jerky and okra chips.????

I have been wanting to get a dehydrator for a long time. Now I have one. I have used this to dry various vegetables and to make very good beef jerky. The temperature gets hot enough to make beef jerky without endangering your existence. It has enough racks with it and some smaller plastic screens that work good for smaller things that you want to dry. We had extra okra last summer and made okra chips out of it. That is something that you’ll have to try. Just pick your okra when it is still small and tender, take the stems off, slice it in half the long way, mix it up with some olive oil and seasonings and put it in this thing and dry it. It makes a good snack. It will take the slime right out of it.

Brenda : Everything I wanted and more! So happy!

I did a lot of research before I bought this dehydrator. I am completely satisfied! I feel that the stainless racks are a step above and really wanted them. Other brands are plastic shelves unless you step up to $500 for an Excalibur. This one also has 6 plastic liners that have small holes and are perfect to dehydrate my sprouted wheat to grind into flour. Today I used the 3 trays for fruit leather to dehydrate bread I'd already turned into crumbs. In the future, I'll dehydrate slices of bread, then crumb. I'm thrilled. Saves room in my freezer where I had to keep my crumbs before. Now can keep in a canister in the cabinet. I grow my own herbs and will dehydrate the extra. Sometimes we don't eat our fruit fast enough so look forward to drying the excess. This is so fun! I love that it's so quiet! A lot quieter than my microwave. Not annoying at all! So happy with my choice. Love that it came with everything I need, even silicone pot holders! Love the temp differences to accommodate whatever I want to dehydrate. And it programs up to 19.5 hrs.

Angie Adamson : ONLY 8 TEMP SETTINGS CAN BE USED

I hate writing a negative review but I had to in this case. This is the most ridiculous dehydrator on the planet. You can't choose your temp settings. There are 8 preset temp settings to choose from and if you bought the dehydrator because you're eating raw (under 118 degrees) there are only 3 to choose from (none of them being the ideal temp to dehydrate for raw food). Also the timer only works in 30 minute increments and to make it even less helpful it can only run for 20 hours at a time (the directions indicate that the machine needs to be unplugged and cool for 2 hours after running for 20). Which is great if you're into bacteria and food poisoning but for myself I try to avoid things that could potentially land me in the hospital. I wish I could give this zero stars.

pka : Superior dehydrator!

We just started drying our own meat treats for our dogs. We had a dehydrator in the past that was noisy and cheap so we opted to go for a better quality appliance without totally breaking the bank. This unit fits the bill! It is quiet, well constructed with metal shelves and a drip tray on the bottom. When the trays are lined with parchment paper there is no mess to clean up. We put it in the basement, but it is honestly quiet enough that it wouldn’t bother us at all in the kitchen (I just don’t want my dogs to drool all over the floor lol). Although I don’t know how it will perform long term we are very happy with the purchase.

BLi : Great while it lasted

Example: Mark Twain : Stopped working after two months

I used it about 7 times and it just stopped mid batch.

Amazon Customer : This thing sucks!!! Don’t buy it.

If I could give this product zero stars or negative stars I sure would. Damn thing quit not even a half hour into the drying process on my jerky. Needless to say I was pissed. I returned it the next day and that was the easy part but would never order this brand ever again. I went to cabelas and bought one with a life time warranty.

Sue Goutier : SHOPPERS BEWARE OF FAULTY PRODUCTS AND RETURNS COST!

Fan didn't work. Second attempt at switching on it exploded. Now I want to return the product and the carrier wants to charge more than what the dehydrator cost! And it's impossible to get hold of anyone at Amazon to discuss this.

RockinRobin : While it worked it was good. Four batches

While it worked it was good. Four batches, then it died. Just quit working. Customer service said they'd send a replacement "base" (without trays since I have those) and that was six days ago. No email with tracking, nothing. I'll give it another couple of days and hopefully it will show up. This would have been a five star rating if the thing hadn't died.

Willow : Great machine..and QUIET, too!

MG : Great appliance

I bought this to dehydrate food for my service dog. I was gifted any older one (different brand) and wore it out. I was dehydrating meats and vegetables about 4 times a week. Now with this machine I have cut down because it accommodates more food and works faster, that saves me time and electricity.

Verified/Frequent Buyer : Very well built and functional.

This is a great 'set and forget' machine. I use it mainly for dehydrating canned fruit like pineapples, pears, peaches, etc. Works best if fruit is well-drained before putting into dehydrator. Looking forward to trying some of the many recipes for jerky.

Rebecca R. : Perfect for what I wanted

I've been using this regularly for a couple weeks and I am thrilled with my purchase so far! I wanted it mainly to preserve fruit that I buy and my son doesn't eat in time. Bananas, apples, pears, strawberries etc. So far it's wonderful for this. I've done all of the mentioned fruits and I store them in canning jars. My son loves the dried fruit and I'm finally done wasting money! I hate throwing food away and I'm so glad to have this. I plan to use it to dry herbs and tomatoes from my garden this year as well. Hopefully we have many years of food preservation ahead of us. I'll update if anything changes.

Steven Clodfelter : Great buy! Had to buy the 9-shelf too

Mmmm jerky... and dried fruits and stuff

MG : Great appliance

Eric Scott : Dead after using twice.

We used this twice and it died after being on for a couple of hours.

Julie Fifield : Easy to use, clean and love

When I bought this, I expected to have it running endless hours for things like jerky and fruits. Not the case at all. This is so efficient, jerky is less than 4 hours. I am talking all racks in the dehydrator too. Everything is evenly dry (as long as it is evenly sliced), front to back. (I also thought the pieces near the back would be dried out, not the case.) I've had great luck with all the fruits I've tried. It doesn't turn my house into an oven with it running. I am all around impressed with everything about it. It comes with a "cookbook" with suggested times for varying items, which was helpful as I got used to using it. The directions for use were easy to understand as well. Without needing a dictionary and several hours of reading. It gets to the point on how to use it, which I found very easy.

Bethco99 : Wow is all I can say!

I needed a new dehydrator after my last one died (15 years old). I am amazed with this one and have had it running everyday for weeks. When looking I looked at all the reviews as I wanted one that had some upgrades from my last. I dreamed of getting an excalibur but finically not a good step for our family. I decided on this one as it was as close as I could get.
Pros:
Clear door; I do not have to open losing the heat to check on food
Temperature control; (the control will only change a few degrees at a time) this allows us to dry different items with out burning or singing items
Timer; I can set this and go to bed, and have wonderful dried food when I wake up
Trays; (6 stainless steel, 6 small hole plastic liners and 2 fruit leather trays) I have not found anything I can not dry with these combos
Roomy; I have been able to do 7#s of apples at one time and have them dry over night!
Cons:
Foot Print; It is a bigger small appliance and I have a small rally kitchen
Addicting; Warning If you get this and like to dry food you will try to figure out where to place at least another one to dry even more!!!!!!

G-Dog : Great all around dehydrator!

mufreq : Very Nice Product for the Price

I am a first time user of dehydration machines, but this unit is very nice for the price. Well made, many temp and time setting options to meet the needs for any type of foods which turns off automatically with a beeper notification. I just finished drying three racks with serrano, jalapeno and potato which turned out perfect. Happy Days

Wicked Redhead : I only wishe we had bought it sooner

MikeN : Marvelous First Run - soppressata jerky

John N. : The machine makes excellent dried fruit.

I used the machine to dry fruit.

Newbie to DRS : Stainless steel trays, timer and Temp control the perfect combination.

Bought this mainly for jerky. Works like a charm. Easy clean up, set up and operation. You will need space for storage. Tried some apricots, they were okay. More of a learning curve than an equipment issue.

Example: Mark Twain : Stopped working after two months

I used it about 7 times and it just stopped mid batch.

Billy C Meers : Broke in less that 6 months with very little use.

I had this dehydrator for less than 6 months and probably only used 24 hours or less in total. The system started having issues by not shutting off when the timer ran out. That started working again then it just completely shut down and will not turn on. I think it is too late to return the item but this was supposed to be commercial grade. Save your money and buy a different brand.

Willow : Great machine..and QUIET, too!

Paul Z. : I made fruit leathers for the first time and they turned out great. Next day I started with beef jerky

I put this to work the first day I got it. I made fruit leathers for the first time and they turned out great. Next day I started with beef jerky. It turned out great, just had to learn the timing compared to my old one. I also did about 9 lbs of apples for apple chips. I love everything about it except two things. The steel trays have about 1/2 inch mesh spacing so small items can fall through. The second is the shut off alarm is really quiet. Overall very happy.

Umā : So Far, So Good

I bought a dehydrator so I could make my own snacks and meals for backcountry camping and hiking, and chose this model over other brands because of its metal racks. So far I’ve dehydrated bananas, apples and rice pilaf and am happy with the results. It is easy to use and clean. Looking forward to making fruit leathers and experimenting with the preparation of more dehydrated meals before my next trip.

Candyce Rogers : Fan quit working after 4 uses./Company stood behind product

This is an edit on my review. I contacted the company because the return date had passed from Amazon. They asked for my Amazon order number and as soon as they had it, they sent out a new unit! No questions asked. This may be the very best customer service I have ever experienced. Issues happen to any company. This company really stands up for their product. Looking at what else they sell now.

On the 4th use the fan quit working. It was 1 month after the Amazon return time because I didn't use it during canning season. Pretty upset about it, My Excaliber last 20 years, and only need replacing due to crumbling plastic. The cheap Nesco I bought I have used for 8 years and I only replaced it because I wanted stainless steel racks. I wish I could give this 0 stars.

Candyce Rogers : Fan quit working after 4 uses./Company stood behind product

Susan : Very disappointed Looks nice but has a design flaw & poor customer service

I was really excited to get this dehydrator but the longer I have it sitting unused on my kitchen counter, the less excited I am. I had planned to dehydrate various produce (e.g. peas, carrots, celery, blueberries, cranberries) and semi-liquids (e.g. applesauce, spaghetti sauce). But this unit is not well suited for either. I was more than willing to purchase additional trays etc but that has proven to be almost impossible. We paid extra to get the unit with stainless steel shelves but that too proved to be a disappointment.

1) Design flaw: Although the stainless steel shelves allow large items to be dehydrated without being in direct contact with plastic (good!), the square holes in the stainless steel trays are quite large and smaller foods would fall through as they shrink in the dehydrating process (bad!). Of course, you could use the plastic mesh sheets for smaller items but that defeats the purpose of choosing a dehydrator with stainless steel shelves. Why would they not have made the stainless steel mesh to be small enough to dehydrate any solid food?

2) Design flaw: The stainless steel shelves do not have sufficient edge to them to keep round items (e.g. peas, cranberries, grapes) from rolling off the shelf. This is especially true if you insert the plastic mesh over the stainless steel shelf. I was willing to try buy and use additional fruit roll up trays but that has proven almost impossible.

3) Poor customer service: It is extremely difficult to reach the seller and/or manufacturer in order to purchase additional trays (e.g. mesh sheets and/or fruit roll up trays). I have made several attempts by email and by phone but have yet to reach a live person. Today, each time that I selected "sales" their phone system hung up on me. If it was after hours in their time zone, the least they could have done was to offer an outgoing message or allowed me to leave a message. Seriously, if it is this difficult to buy something, how much harder will it be if a repair is needed?

As much as I wanted to like this dehydrator, I'm going to return it. What is the point of having stainless steel shelves if the holes are too big and plastic sheeting/trays are needed? What is the point of trying to buy the additional trays if you can't get the seller and/or manufacturer to actually sell them?

If you are only going to dry strips of meat or large slices of produce, this might be a good dehydrator for you... but if you were expecting to be able to use the stainless steel shelves for smaller items (or round items), this is probably not the dehydrator for you. And good luck trying to buy any additional trays or reaching the seller/manufacturer.

Elizabeth I. : Broken

Broke after 2 monthes, just sent back for new one to be sent.

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