Colzer Food Dehydrator 12 Stainless Steel Trays, Food Dryer for Fruit, Meat, Beef, Jerky, Herbs, with Adjustable Timer and Temperature Control review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | COLZER |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Color | Silver-12 Trays |
| Wattage | 800 watts |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 16.2 x 12 x 17.3 inches |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- ????【Food-grade Stainless Steel】Made with 100% BPA-free food-grade stainless steel and glass front door, convenient for you to track the progress of drying.
- ????【Large Capacity】Large feet of drying space, with 12-trays, each tray is 290*290mm, to dry various vegetables, fruits, meat, flowers, and other foods and lock the minerals and vitamins in the food easily.
- ????【Safety Use】With automatic shutdown function and overheats protection function. The integrated air-circulating fan generates forced hot-air convection that evenly heats all the trays.
- ????【Digital Settings】Digital temperatures preset settings ranging from 68ºF to 194ºF, integrated with a timer up to 24 hours, provide accurate drying times and temperatures.
- ????【Silent operation】After setting the time and temperature, wait for the food to be dehydrated. The horizontal airflow system operates stably, ensuring more uniform drying and silent operation, noise ＜ 50dB.
This fits your .
Product Description
| Number of trays | 8 Layers | 6 Layers | 12 Layers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voltage | 110V | 110V | 110V |
| Power | 500W | 500W | 800W |
| Temperature range | 68℉ ~ 194℉ | 68℉ ~ 194℉ | 68℉ ~ 194℉ |
| Timing range | 0~24H | 0~24H | 0~24H |
| Noise | 45 dB | 55 dB | 50 dB |
| Grid size | 9.84x9.84in | 13.38x13.38in | 11.4x11.4in |
| Product dimension | 10.6x11.15x12.79in | 14.76x17.71x9.25in | 16.53x12.4x17.71in |
| Recipe | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
product description
product details
important information
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Questions about Colzer Food Dehydrator 12 Stainless Steel Trays, Food Dryer for Fruit, Meat, Beef, Jerky, Herbs, with Adjustable Timer and Temperature Control
Q:
Does this have a fan in it?
Answer: There is a fan inside the dehydrator, in the innermost part of the case. It circulates hot air with a heating power of 500W to ensure that you dry food evenly from all angles.
Q:
How long does the food last?
Answer: The only thing I have processed with my dehydrator is apple slices. I did these back in September/October of 2020 and they are still good almost a year later. I would imagine it depends how the food is stored.
Q:
Is there an on/off button?
Answer: Yes there is a toggle switch on the back that powers the unit off and on before using the digital controls to set temp and time.
Answer: In fact, there are two of them. One on the back, top, left and one on the top, front, left control panel.
Answer: Yes, at the top where the controls are
Answer: Yes there is.
Answer: Yes
Q:
Do they make replacement trays?
Q:
What type of warranty does the colzer food dehydrator machine 8 stainless steel trays adjustable thermostat digital food dehydrator come with?
Answer: Within one year from the date of purchase, if the product has any quality problems, you can contact us at any time to solve the problem for you.
Q:
How do you change temperature display to Fahrenheit?
Answer: You don’t. There is a conversion table printed on the top right corner. There is no other way to convert the actual “reading” that is displayed. It does help to obtain a recipe book that lists temps for lots of fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats etc. Then use that recommended temperature setting and look at the table on the dehydrator.
Answer: There are conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit on the LED screen.
Q:
how exactly can the temperature be set, after setting the temperature, how much inside the chamber changes +/-%
Answer: They say to use a oven thermometer every time on the inside while drying to be safe.
Q:
It says small grid size. Using units of measure and not adjectives, how small is it?
Answer: This is grid on trays....1centimeter. I bought the heat sheets to go on mine. I found on some things like tomatoes that they stuck. Also if you dry herbs you need these. The sheets are like the ones seamstress use for ironing sticky appliques.
Q:
Can I dehydrate juiced wheatgrass with this? What trays would I use for liquids and are they bpa free?
Answer: Obviously the seller did not understand your question. You want to basically dehydrate a puree or wheatgrass that has been juiced with a juicing machine and turned to a liquid, right? The best I can tell you would to be to use the fruit roll trays. As they are made for pureed fruit. The dehydrated pureed fruit, is basically fruit roll ups, once it's been through the dehydrating process. If this doesn't come with fruit roll trays, you can buy them separately.
Answer: This machine is 100% BPA Free. In fact, you don’t need a tray, because the liquid will evaporate when drying. You only need to wipe the bottom after drying to clean it easily!
Q:
How do i get with the seller?
Answer: Look seller up on line.
Q:
Can you use for dry cat food to store for emergencies?
Answer: Not sure but have heard you can dehydrate cooked hamburger meat. Meats and I imagine cat food or dog food has high fat content do stored dry the time you can store would not be that long.
Answer: Dry cat food is dry already. Put it in a 5gal bucket maybe with an oxygen absorber that should keep indefinitely.
Answer: Yes, you can! It can make cat snacks and other pet snacks, which is very healthy and convenient!
Q:
Mine came with plastic mesh sheets the same size as the shelves. What are they for?
Answer: Non-stick silicone mesh mats of the same size as the shelf, they are used to hold smaller foods, such as herbs.
Answer: The plastic mesh sheet helps keep small items from sticking to the wire shelf. I have been dehydrating apple slices this fall and these sheets make it much easier to turn the pieces half-way through the drying process.
Answer: Mine didn't have them but they could be silicone nonstick sheets for sticky and small pieces. We had to order ours separately. Food really sticks to metal mesh shelves without the sheets.
Answer: Lay them on trays and your food won’t stick ????????♀️ Mine only came with 4 not enough for all trays
Answer: In the recipe book you can use them to make fruit leather.
Q:
How many watts is the motor?
Answer: The motor is 500W.
Q:
Are these the correct measurements? It looks much more than 10.6 inches*
Answer: The measured value is correct. Its length, width and height are: 27*32.5*38.5cm, which is 10.6*12.8*15.2 inches.
Answer: i am not near my dehydrator at the moment, but i would say that 10.6 inches is pretty close to the width of the dehydrator. It is not a large appliance but since it has six trays it holds quite a bit of food. I have been very happy with this purchase!
Answer: I dont have it pulled out right now nor can I seem to find my tape measure but he measurements do seem to be right though.
Q:
Is this made in America?
Answer: No, it made in China.
Q:
Is there a way to use a hook on the inside top to hang a piece of meat on a skewer?
Answer: You can remove the 11 trays below (because they are adjustable) and take a hook to hook a piece of meat.
Answer: No. We got silicone mats and meat could be laid on metal trays, but I'd advise you to get the mats.
Answer: No. Sounds like you would want a rotisserie oven. There are air fryers that do have a rotisserie and dehydrate function. This is just to dehydrate.
Answer: Unfortunately no. The top is completely smooth
Q:
Does the unit have a light? There was a bulb in the package but I don’t see where it goes.
Answer: As long as you press the black button on the back of the dryer, it will light up. The light has been installed in the food dryer and is fixed.
Answer: Yes it has a light bulb
Q:
can you put the tray's in the dishwasher?
Answer: Of course you can, it is dishwasher safe.
Answer: Yes. They are supposed to be stainless steel. And the longer dimension is just 10”.
Answer: I don't see why not. They are stainless steel
Q:
The stainless steel tray of the product introduction, is its grid small enough to hold small foods, such as tea leaves or small tomatoes?
Answer: Thank you for your attention. For the upgraded version of this tray, we specially designed a denser grid to better accommodate small foods.
Q:
Does it really go up to 194 degrees Fahrenheit?
Answer: Yeah sure, its lowest temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit and the highest temperature is 194 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q:
Does it come with small mesh sheets for drying spouted wheat berries?
Answer: The metal sheets may not be a small enough mesh that it would hold the wheat berries. Honestly don't really know. Sorry.
Answer: YES, 4 OF THEM
Answer: No
Answer: Yes it does
Q:
I heard that the sound of this dehydrator is very loud and can be heard in the living room. Is it true?
Answer: No not true. Ours is the same frequency and loudness as the extractor fan over our oven at medium speed.
Answer: The operating noise of model ST-04T is not higher than 45 decibels.
Answer: I don't think it will be very noisy. The one I bought is very quiet. I don't understand these comments.
Q:
Where is this product made?
Answer: China.
Q:
Is this approved for making raw food ?
Answer: Think that almost all of them tell you to be safe over treat your meat so that the meat reaches like beef 160 degrees then place it in the dryer. I have done it and I have not. But for peace of mind. Do it. Also this will not be jerky like from the store package stuff. You must keep it in the fridge or it will grow mold on it. Normally not a problem it doesn’t last that long. But I wish I could say it is good for long time storage but I can’t. I am new at this so if I am missing something about long time storage please someone tell me what it is
Q:
Why is there not drip tray ,???it ruin everything under it , table, chair, and rug!!
Answer: The things that I dry and might drip I put on either parchment paper and then throw away or I use my Teflon sheets to put stuff on. It takes long to dry and its best to turn items over half way through. I hate cleaning up a mess that it could make so I rather tend to what I am drying. Hope this helps
Answer: You use it the wrong way. For example, just as you don't put soaking web clothes in your dryer because it waste gas and electricity and gas to dry the clothes up, and you don't put soaking wet meat or food in the dehydrator. Instead, you should try to let the meat or food hang dried a little bit, then you put them in the dehydrator; this way you save time and electricity. Just in case there still some drip, you can put some foil paper on the bottle to catch the drip.
Answer: All of the trays are enclosed in the unit. I have used mine numerous times and nothing ever "drips" onto my countertop.
Q:
Mine only has 20c is this the lowest temperature ?
Answer: Yes, the temperature range is from 20 ℃ to 90 ℃.
Answer: When pushing the temperature button to lower the temperature, the lowest it would go on my unit is 19 C.
Q:
Where are the intake and exhaust vents on this machine?
Answer: The back and sides of the machine are designed with small holes to help exhaust and intake, and the fan drives the circulation of hot air to achieve the effect of drying food.
Q:
Is the mesh on the trays stainless steel?
Answer: Yes, all trays are made of stainless steel, including the mesh.
Q:
how many pounds capacity does it have
Answer: Depends on what you are dehydrating, the maximum capacity of a single trays is 4 pounds.
Q:
How do I keep Food from sticking to the metal trays? We have tried bananas twice and they have stuck both times. I’m ready to return it
Answer: You can use food-grade non-stick silicone pads with our food dryer. That will not make any food stick to the tray. If you have any questions, please contact our shop after sales, thank you very much.
Answer: I use the silicone mesh sheets on top of the metal trays for anything sticky or wet. So far, i have not done bananas, but have dehydrated cherries and aronia berries, and cooked chicken liver. And i have processed (not dehydrated) soybean to ferment into natto. Works well on all.
Answer: For fruit and other sticky stuff you have to use the silicone sheets. Don't return it because of user error.
Answer: Use the plastic grids that you can buy separately to help this. That will occur no matter which dehydrator you use.
Answer: I use cooking spray
Answer: Make them thicker & use proper temp
Q:
What are the dimensions of each tray?
Answer: Each tray of the dehydrator are 250*250mm.
Q:
I just got mine and I see it only sets to Celsius, is that right? Can’t be...
Answer: Yes, but there are conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit on our LED screen.
Q:
What is the distance (height) between the mesh trays when all 8 trays are loaded?
Answer: There is 1.18 inches of clearance between the trays when they are placed in the dehydrator.
Q:
Is there plastic on the inside of the glass door?
Answer: No plastic, just one piece of glass on the door. All metal and glass, no plastic in the whole appliance.
Answer: The door is glass not plastic
Answer: No there isn’t plastic on the inside of the glass door.
Answer: No plastic I can see
Q:
Are the mesh floppy mats that come with it silicone or plastic?
Answer: It is a food-grade non-stick silicone mesh, which can be used to dry small food.
Answer: The ones I have are like silicone scren
Answer: I'm pretty sure they are silicone.
Q:
Does it support 220v ?
Answer: It support 110v.
Q:
Will the temperature rise or fall to the exact extent?
Answer: It can be set to the exact temperature and exact time, depending on your production. Its timing is in 0.5-hour increments.
Q:
Is it nsf certified?
Q:
When making jerky, do I need to rotate the trays to make them dry more evenly?
Answer: I don't think it needs to spin, its dehydration effect is very good.
Q:
Do you have to use the timer or can it be set to run until you manually turn it off?
Answer: This dehydrator comes with a timer, it will count down after the time is set, and it will automatically turn off after the time is over.
Answer: You have to use the timer
Q:
Does this unit have a timer?
Answer: This machine has a timer, 24 hours, it will start to count down after setting the time. Very convenient!
Q:
Is there a prop 65 warning on this dehydrator?
Q:
What material is the black around the see through window?
Answer: Stainless steel with titanium black coating, it meets food-grade safety standards.
Q:
Where is this made?
Answer: I have yet to find one not made in China, but I am talking about home use varieties of dehydrators.
Q:
Anyone else got their box with a huge hole in it ?
Answer: No got mine it was all great . This dehydrator is in my opinion the best on the market .
Answer: Mine was refurbished, but came in original package. It was heavily surrounded by styrofoam and box was in perfect shape.
Answer: Nah but mine sounded like a lawnmower before i returned it. If you leave a bad review doris will pay you to change it or she will get fired.
Q:
Does this model have additional fruit-roll making trays?
Answer: There are no fruit roll trays included with this.
Q:
Can you dehydrate liquids in this?
Answer: You can dehydrate marinades on your jerky, according to the instructions.
Q:
Is this item UL certified?
Answer: Yes, it has UL certification.
Answer: There are no UL certification stickers on the machine
Q:
How loud is the motor on this dehydrator?
Answer: Not loud at all
Answer: The fans are what makes the noise and it's sounds the same as the extractor fan over my oven
Q:
There’s a setting for fruit rolls but what type of surface must be purchased to do this?
Answer: You can buy it on Amazon, which require a smooth surface.
Product reviews of Colzer Food Dehydrator 12 Stainless Steel Trays, Food Dryer for Fruit, Meat, Beef, Jerky, Herbs, with Adjustable Timer and Temperature Control
Richard Cooke : Super loud when running.
I love most things about this dehydrator. Temperature is fine, love the square trays. I only had one problem. It’s loud! When in use the fan causes vibration and the metal parts make a lot of noise.
IAN BAGE : Don't buy - poorly made.
The fan shroud bangs against the housing of the dehydrator - I took it apart (3x) to fix it by bending into place but it still works its way back to being a problem. It is too noisy to use this way because it's metal banging against metal all the time. Very poor QC in manuf process. :(
S. Richards : Great value for money
I only bought this to make dehydrated meat products. It did the job very well, the controls were easy, and it wasn't very noisy. Keep in mind anytime you have two fans going in a metal frame there will always be noise. It was so much cheaper than the Excalibur one and it had more trays so it took a chance and I'm very happy.
renee : Great
Love this thing, it’s a bit smaller than I thought, but still great, the temp control is in c instead of f but it has a easy to follow chart
Roadfire : works great
My only issue is the book that comes with it has degrees in celsius but easy converted. lots of room in this dehydrator
Amazon Customer : Amazing job and quiet!
This is fantastic and happy with it. It is super fast compared to the old one we had. Looks nice on the counter and quieter!
Nemmu : Solid steel construction
Arrived as promised. Works as described.
Nemmu : Solid steel construction
Arrived as promised. Works as described.
Emily : Best choice
When I wanted to buy a Dehydrator ,my friend recommended this one. So I decided to try. It brought me a super surprise. I used to made Dried fish, Chicken jerky and Beef jerky. Oh, it was so yummy! These food is the popular snacks in my house now. Such a great my choice! I recommend It.
VitalBreu : Absolutely necessary!
So far it's perfect after learning the best temperatures for what I'm prepping.
Grace McLeod : NO DRIP TRAY , GREASE, LEAKS OUT,EVERYWHERE!!
NO DRIP TRAY, VERY MESSY!
DO NOT PURCHASE!
DO NOT PURCHASE!
Zeph10 : Decent quality
Great unit for the money. The downside is you can only control the temp in 5 degree increments and the scale is in celsius.
I bought it to make jerky and I've made 4 batches now and they all have come out consistent and perfect.
I bought it to make jerky and I've made 4 batches now and they all have come out consistent and perfect.
Positively : Average that could be Awsome
Advertised to reach 194F. Mine would only reach 168F sustained, 174F max. No drip tray provided. Otherwise works ok. No trays with sides for fruit roll ups. Quiet Operation.
petra rodriguez : Awesome
It works great
Outdoor Enthusiast | Geek | Photographer : High temperatures and more dehydration space
I have been making beef jerky since August 2011 when I purchased my first dehydrator, the Nesco FD-80 (it still works). During that entire time, I have dehydrated:
- Fruit (bananas, persimmons, pineapples, etc)
- Herbs (including leaves and flowers for tea)
- Jerky (beef mostly. Other meats require too much preparation to make them safe for dehydration)
With the Nesco's plastic trays starting to fall apart, I eyed the premium Excalibur dehydrator, but its high price made me balk every time I was about to purchase. Alternatives were less than desirable because their maximum heating temperature is usually up to only about 158F -- that generally is not a problem for beef although an internal meat temperature of 165F is considered safe (especially for poultry). Furthermore, unlike the Nesco's round trays, the Excalibur has square ones that pack a bit more capacity but also do not dry as evenly.
This Colzer appliance caught my eye with its maximum temperature of 194F, but like the Excalibur, its square trays are not immune to the uneven drying effect. What I did find, however, is that the drying is better than with the dehydrator I used to have that was mostly plastic. I am not sure if an all-metal housing is making a positive difference, but it appears to be.
PROS
- Square trays provide more room for items to be dehydrated
- Clear glass allows you to check on the items' status without opening the door
- Multiple temperature settings going as high as a whopping 194F! (Warning: going that high may not be a good idea. More on that later)
- Built-in timer that goes up to about 24 hours (minimum 30 mins)
- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free trays
- Generous 8-tray capacity (each is 8.7" x 8.7")
- 4 silicone sheets for drying fruit and small herbs that would fall through the metal tray's holes otherwise
- All-metal housing
- Greater value than the 8-tray Excalibur
- Slim, tall design takes up less space than the Nesco
CONS
- Temperature unit is locked to Celsius. There is no way to change to Fahrenheit
-- Control panel has a built-in guide that shows Fahrenheith-Celsius conversions (if it did not have this, I would have returned the product)
- Square trays dehydrate items more unevenly than rounded ones, partially because the rounded one generally throw heat downward in a more distributed way
- All-metal housing makes the entire unit very hot to touch
- Bottom of appliance has no tray to catch dripping juices, making cleanup a bit more painful than the Nesco (whose base could be removed for washing). I used a heavy-duty aluminum foil as a liner as a workaround, but will be on the lookout for an 8.4" x 8.4" tray instead
As I had stated, the price-to-value ratio for this product is very good. It dehydrated my fruit and herb very well, and beef jerky came out pretty well (the pieces facing the glass door were not as dry as the ones at the back. You can alleviate that by rotating the trays half way through the drying.) Oddly, the manual states to pre-cook or boil the meat to 165F internal temperature and THEN dehydrate it (to ensure any germs are fully neutralized), but thankfully, we haven't experienced food poisoning yet. I do keep my jerky in the fridge for up to a month.
Keep in mind that although the dehydrator can go up to 194F, a higher temperature may not necessarily be good for food. The high heat will first crisp up the exterior but leave the inside not as dry and potentially invite germs to grow. I stick to 165F for my jerky (Nesco's recommendation) despite the Colzer temperature guide stating up to 155F.
RECIPES and TIPS
Watch Alton Brown's Good Eats episode of how to make beef jerky. You'll learn quite a lot. After that, simply experiment with various recipes you may find on the internet. You may also consider a meat slicer to help cut some cooking time and to keep the meat at a consistent depth. Some butchers will gladly cut to size for you.
For beef jerky, remember that fats spoil faster than meats. As such, for jerky to last as long as possible, trim out as much fat as you can and/or get as lean of a meat you can find. I like having some fat in my jerky, and so I keep it in the refrigerator as an extra precaution, although I have consumed it during a 4-day wilderness backpacking trip before without any issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am glad to have finally found a square-tray dehydrator that works well without having to spend as much money as for an Excalibur. Should it continue to operate reliably, I will be more than happy to retire my 9-year-old Nesco FD-80 by gifting it to a friend (partially also so she won't ask me to make her jerky as often.) I just wish this Colzer could be changed to Fahrenheit, but no big deal.
- Fruit (bananas, persimmons, pineapples, etc)
- Herbs (including leaves and flowers for tea)
- Jerky (beef mostly. Other meats require too much preparation to make them safe for dehydration)
With the Nesco's plastic trays starting to fall apart, I eyed the premium Excalibur dehydrator, but its high price made me balk every time I was about to purchase. Alternatives were less than desirable because their maximum heating temperature is usually up to only about 158F -- that generally is not a problem for beef although an internal meat temperature of 165F is considered safe (especially for poultry). Furthermore, unlike the Nesco's round trays, the Excalibur has square ones that pack a bit more capacity but also do not dry as evenly.
This Colzer appliance caught my eye with its maximum temperature of 194F, but like the Excalibur, its square trays are not immune to the uneven drying effect. What I did find, however, is that the drying is better than with the dehydrator I used to have that was mostly plastic. I am not sure if an all-metal housing is making a positive difference, but it appears to be.
PROS
- Square trays provide more room for items to be dehydrated
- Clear glass allows you to check on the items' status without opening the door
- Multiple temperature settings going as high as a whopping 194F! (Warning: going that high may not be a good idea. More on that later)
- Built-in timer that goes up to about 24 hours (minimum 30 mins)
- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free trays
- Generous 8-tray capacity (each is 8.7" x 8.7")
- 4 silicone sheets for drying fruit and small herbs that would fall through the metal tray's holes otherwise
- All-metal housing
- Greater value than the 8-tray Excalibur
- Slim, tall design takes up less space than the Nesco
CONS
- Temperature unit is locked to Celsius. There is no way to change to Fahrenheit
-- Control panel has a built-in guide that shows Fahrenheith-Celsius conversions (if it did not have this, I would have returned the product)
- Square trays dehydrate items more unevenly than rounded ones, partially because the rounded one generally throw heat downward in a more distributed way
- All-metal housing makes the entire unit very hot to touch
- Bottom of appliance has no tray to catch dripping juices, making cleanup a bit more painful than the Nesco (whose base could be removed for washing). I used a heavy-duty aluminum foil as a liner as a workaround, but will be on the lookout for an 8.4" x 8.4" tray instead
As I had stated, the price-to-value ratio for this product is very good. It dehydrated my fruit and herb very well, and beef jerky came out pretty well (the pieces facing the glass door were not as dry as the ones at the back. You can alleviate that by rotating the trays half way through the drying.) Oddly, the manual states to pre-cook or boil the meat to 165F internal temperature and THEN dehydrate it (to ensure any germs are fully neutralized), but thankfully, we haven't experienced food poisoning yet. I do keep my jerky in the fridge for up to a month.
Keep in mind that although the dehydrator can go up to 194F, a higher temperature may not necessarily be good for food. The high heat will first crisp up the exterior but leave the inside not as dry and potentially invite germs to grow. I stick to 165F for my jerky (Nesco's recommendation) despite the Colzer temperature guide stating up to 155F.
RECIPES and TIPS
Watch Alton Brown's Good Eats episode of how to make beef jerky. You'll learn quite a lot. After that, simply experiment with various recipes you may find on the internet. You may also consider a meat slicer to help cut some cooking time and to keep the meat at a consistent depth. Some butchers will gladly cut to size for you.
For beef jerky, remember that fats spoil faster than meats. As such, for jerky to last as long as possible, trim out as much fat as you can and/or get as lean of a meat you can find. I like having some fat in my jerky, and so I keep it in the refrigerator as an extra precaution, although I have consumed it during a 4-day wilderness backpacking trip before without any issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am glad to have finally found a square-tray dehydrator that works well without having to spend as much money as for an Excalibur. Should it continue to operate reliably, I will be more than happy to retire my 9-year-old Nesco FD-80 by gifting it to a friend (partially also so she won't ask me to make her jerky as often.) I just wish this Colzer could be changed to Fahrenheit, but no big deal.
Angelia Johnson : Runs quite good value
Me Bear : Wonderful
So far so good. I have been using mine for a week. Every thing I have dyhydrators has turned out great.
Angelia Johnson : Runs quite good value
Wayne S. Mead : instructions suck
The machine has no F setting it is all C and the instructions don't specify when giving a temp setting. plus all of the pictures in the instructions are of a diff machine. Other that that the machine is awesome.
IAN BAGE : Don't buy - poorly made.
The fan shroud bangs against the housing of the dehydrator - I took it apart (3x) to fix it by bending into place but it still works its way back to being a problem. It is too noisy to use this way because it's metal banging against metal all the time. Very poor QC in manuf process. :(
JoAnna Martin : Dependable!
This is the best choice I have ever made! Excellent quality, sturdy materials used, easy to use and perfect every time! Very quiet too. I love this dehydrator and use it often!
Anh Phan : Wide Range of Temperature, sturdy stainless steel stray, quiet operation.
I purchased this product because of its wide range of temperature and stainless steel stray. I need to dry many different products, which require low temperatures and hygiene. I'm pleased with most of its features. The stainless steel trays are very sturdy, easy to clean, and sanity. So far, I have made many refine sugars free fruit leather, fruit snacks, and beef jerky, Fish jerky, Koji Rice.
However, only one small problem that the area in this photo is challenging to clean; I tried to open the back but very hard to open too. I hope the maker thinks about how to make it easier to clean. Sanitary and hygiene are essential to my needs.
However, only one small problem that the area in this photo is challenging to clean; I tried to open the back but very hard to open too. I hope the maker thinks about how to make it easier to clean. Sanitary and hygiene are essential to my needs.
trevor : Seems pretty good with a couple short comings.
I'm currently making my first batch of jerky with this dehydrator. I like the ease of loading, visibility of interior, and the wide temperature range. I was able to fit 2.5 lbs of London Broil sliced 3/16" thick.
What I don't like about it.
Temperature control is in celsius, although there is a fahrenheit conversion chart.
The unit vibrates a lot and is quite noisy. I put a coat pot on top to add a little weight which reduced the noise some.
What I don't like about it.
Temperature control is in celsius, although there is a fahrenheit conversion chart.
The unit vibrates a lot and is quite noisy. I put a coat pot on top to add a little weight which reduced the noise some.
Jon H. : Something is wrong with this thing.
It works ok but not worth listening to the entire time its running. The temp is stuck in celcius, which is tolerable on its own, but combined with the fact it sounds like a lawnmower when running makes me hate it. The racks are too small and vibrate on the shelving inside which adds to the awful racket. Id rather drop a toolbox down an escalator.
Barbara bowen : Wonderful dehydrator design
Smaller than an Excalibur but still a nice size. We had limited space so this is perfect size. 8 Stainless steal mesh trays that clean up nicely. Love the controls and especially the glass door. Well worth the price.
Sawmu : N/A
I can dry mushroom and meat as well lol
Fantastic produce
yun chen : Beautiful appliance!!!!
Love the clear door so I can see all the food that’s dehydrating … my last dehydrator was plastic and you couldn’t see the food dehydrating on the layers … stainless steel is definitely the way to go !! The racks all come out so you can arrange and adjust them .
Very Happy !
Very Happy !
Amazon Customer : Best Dehydrator ever
I really love this dehydrator it’s so easy to use clean so far I’ve only made jerky but wow no more store bought jersey for us
Raeleen Leonardo : Gets hot
I haven't used it yet but did do a heat test prior to first use which is planned this weekend. There wasn't any instruction on testing temp in the Manual. The sides get really hot the hight the temp. Will update after first use.
Mom of 8 : Temp Control is only in Celsius!
Amazon shipping took less than a week! Product looks and operates as described. My complaint is with the documentation and online description. Online and in the manual m the temps are referenced in F. The machine only has temp settings in C! The dimensions do not include the little rubber feet underneath. That is the height difference between fitting and not fitting on my counter where I planned to put it. So... I bought a special stand for it to fit on. Imagine my surprise when I read in the safety info that it must have a 12” clearance to the rear to operate! Cannot use on stand. Both of these tidbits of CRITICAL info should have been available before purchase. Product says brand is Colzer but the Colzer company website does not even list dehydrators in their product line. The cookbook has many foods I had not thought about drying so it should be fun experimenting. The spelling and grammar needs improvement. The photos are helpful.
Trina S. : Overall seems to be a good dehydrator but with inconvenient settings.
Got this a week ago. Worked well drying soaked almonds, chicken liver, and rosemary. Trays are stainless, plus 4 mesh sheets to put on trays for drippy or sticky foods. Will accommodate containers smaller than 10” long x 8.25 wide. Height between a pair of trays is 1.12 “ So i will need to find suitable containers to use with certain foods. It is light in weight and easily transportable, and has small footprint, both pluses for me. I give it less than 5 stars because (1) temperature is in C and doesn’t toggle to F, and (2) temp Increment is 5 degrees C. (2) Timer can be set at 30-minute increments (not too crucial).
Penny : Replacing our old plastic dehydrator with this, a request/birthday present from mom (grandma).
We originally had a plastic one, but my mom kept nagging at me about how the plastic one isn't safe, so she actually gave me money this year to buy one for my birthday (she said I get to pick anyone as long as they're metal).
So, comparing this one and the other one we have, obviously the capacity is much larger. This one has 8 trays whereas the other we had only had 5. I also like the the temperature control setting, this one lets you choose setting from 68F to 194F (whereas our old one has a dial and you don't really know exactly where the temperature is set to ... just the approximately range that it's somewhere between 0 to 122/131 and somewhere between that and 158. This one also has a timer so I don't feel the constant urge to check on it every few hours to make sure it's not over-done. Obviously I think this is an upgrade to the one we already have, or else we wouldn't be getting it.
I do notice that with this one, I don't have issue "smelling the food that I previously dehydrate", whereas the plastic one sometimes I can still smell it in the dehydrator after the trays are washed. The food also stick on the metal a lot less than the plastic, for whatever reasons. My chicken jerky treats also turn out more "store bought" like with this one. So far we have made dried figs, dried dog treats (chicken jerky) and dried apple slices with it and have been very happy with the result.
The sign on the dehydrator says the exterior is hot when dehydrating, so I kept it away from my kid on the kitchen counter, however, when I touched it, I didn't think it was burning hot, but probably a good reminder to keep it away from children. I don't remember our plastic one ever had the sign or issue of being hot to touch while on but I also notice the max temperature on the new one is much higher (194 vs 158).
Definitely find out what you want and don't care for in a dehydrator, and if you want all the bells and whistles I listed, this one is definitely a keeper. I am sure there are pricier ones with things I don't even know can be done, but I am not willing to pay more than this to find out. :)
So, comparing this one and the other one we have, obviously the capacity is much larger. This one has 8 trays whereas the other we had only had 5. I also like the the temperature control setting, this one lets you choose setting from 68F to 194F (whereas our old one has a dial and you don't really know exactly where the temperature is set to ... just the approximately range that it's somewhere between 0 to 122/131 and somewhere between that and 158. This one also has a timer so I don't feel the constant urge to check on it every few hours to make sure it's not over-done. Obviously I think this is an upgrade to the one we already have, or else we wouldn't be getting it.
I do notice that with this one, I don't have issue "smelling the food that I previously dehydrate", whereas the plastic one sometimes I can still smell it in the dehydrator after the trays are washed. The food also stick on the metal a lot less than the plastic, for whatever reasons. My chicken jerky treats also turn out more "store bought" like with this one. So far we have made dried figs, dried dog treats (chicken jerky) and dried apple slices with it and have been very happy with the result.
The sign on the dehydrator says the exterior is hot when dehydrating, so I kept it away from my kid on the kitchen counter, however, when I touched it, I didn't think it was burning hot, but probably a good reminder to keep it away from children. I don't remember our plastic one ever had the sign or issue of being hot to touch while on but I also notice the max temperature on the new one is much higher (194 vs 158).
Definitely find out what you want and don't care for in a dehydrator, and if you want all the bells and whistles I listed, this one is definitely a keeper. I am sure there are pricier ones with things I don't even know can be done, but I am not willing to pay more than this to find out. :)
L. K. : Love being to use the timed setting.
Love the product. Been using it to dehydrate my cherry tomatoes and other garden items. It is a wonderful product. Love being able to have a timed setting.
Sawmu : N/A
I can dry mushroom and meat as well lol
Fantastic produce
Rich : Works good
Works good. Is quieter than I thought.
petra rodriguez : Awesome
It works great
Angelia Johnson : Runs quite good value
Grace320 : Food dehydrator can dry a lot of fruits
I bought the food dehydrator with 8 trays, it looks small but can do a lot of food. I cut 3 mango, and put each mango slices on one tray, so I used 3 trays only. It can dry 8 big mango slices at one time since it has 8 trays. The dehydrated mango was tasty, and you can see the color was still the same after the fruits are dried. It is very easy to use, just cut the fruits and put them in, and it come with a food instruction manual which teach you how to dehydrate many other fruits. I will try some other fruits later. So far I’m very happy with it.
daebnet : Slow
It takes about 4 hours more to do most things
ML : How to clean rear grate area protecting the fan without disassembling.
Tip for cleaning hard to clean rear grate area containing fan: unplug and gently tip the unit forward. Dry particles will collect near the grate area. Then tip back and use a vacuum hose attachment to suck particles through grate. Works well and generally clears 100 pct of collected particles.
Tim : Stopped working after 5min
Fans stopped working after 5min...
Has no drip tray..
Not recommended...
Has no drip tray..
Not recommended...
hui : Easy to use
I bought it for my mom, she work a lot on it.she use it for any fruit, it only takes 9 to 10 hours to get dried fruit to eat, my son loves dried apples, I like to make beef jerky with it.We love it!!!
Nancy : Awesome dehydrator
I love fruit but they regularly go bad as I forget to eat them, and buying dried fruit is super expensive. So, I decided to get a dehydrator and this one works great. It's not too big but definitely holds a lot with 6 removable trays. Huge window and built-in bulb lets you watch what's inside. Temperature and time controls are easy to use and includes recommended temperatures on the top display. Also has a built in fan so everything dries evenly. My dehydrated fruit last for weeks and taste great.
Outdoor Enthusiast | Geek | Photographer : High temperatures and more dehydration space
I have been making beef jerky since August 2011 when I purchased my first dehydrator, the Nesco FD-80 (it still works). During that entire time, I have dehydrated:
- Fruit (bananas, persimmons, pineapples, etc)
- Herbs (including leaves and flowers for tea)
- Jerky (beef mostly. Other meats require too much preparation to make them safe for dehydration)
With the Nesco's plastic trays starting to fall apart, I eyed the premium Excalibur dehydrator, but its high price made me balk every time I was about to purchase. Alternatives were less than desirable because their maximum heating temperature is usually up to only about 158F -- that generally is not a problem for beef although an internal meat temperature of 165F is considered safe (especially for poultry). Furthermore, unlike the Nesco's round trays, the Excalibur has square ones that pack a bit more capacity but also do not dry as evenly.
This Colzer appliance caught my eye with its maximum temperature of 194F, but like the Excalibur, its square trays are not immune to the uneven drying effect. What I did find, however, is that the drying is better than with the dehydrator I used to have that was mostly plastic. I am not sure if an all-metal housing is making a positive difference, but it appears to be.
PROS
- Square trays provide more room for items to be dehydrated
- Clear glass allows you to check on the items' status without opening the door
- Multiple temperature settings going as high as a whopping 194F! (Warning: going that high may not be a good idea. More on that later)
- Built-in timer that goes up to about 24 hours (minimum 30 mins)
- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free trays
- Generous 8-tray capacity (each is 8.7" x 8.7")
- 4 silicone sheets for drying fruit and small herbs that would fall through the metal tray's holes otherwise
- All-metal housing
- Greater value than the 8-tray Excalibur
- Slim, tall design takes up less space than the Nesco
CONS
- Temperature unit is locked to Celsius. There is no way to change to Fahrenheit
-- Control panel has a built-in guide that shows Fahrenheith-Celsius conversions (if it did not have this, I would have returned the product)
- Square trays dehydrate items more unevenly than rounded ones, partially because the rounded one generally throw heat downward in a more distributed way
- All-metal housing makes the entire unit very hot to touch
- Bottom of appliance has no tray to catch dripping juices, making cleanup a bit more painful than the Nesco (whose base could be removed for washing). I used a heavy-duty aluminum foil as a liner as a workaround, but will be on the lookout for an 8.4" x 8.4" tray instead
As I had stated, the price-to-value ratio for this product is very good. It dehydrated my fruit and herb very well, and beef jerky came out pretty well (the pieces facing the glass door were not as dry as the ones at the back. You can alleviate that by rotating the trays half way through the drying.) Oddly, the manual states to pre-cook or boil the meat to 165F internal temperature and THEN dehydrate it (to ensure any germs are fully neutralized), but thankfully, we haven't experienced food poisoning yet. I do keep my jerky in the fridge for up to a month.
Keep in mind that although the dehydrator can go up to 194F, a higher temperature may not necessarily be good for food. The high heat will first crisp up the exterior but leave the inside not as dry and potentially invite germs to grow. I stick to 165F for my jerky (Nesco's recommendation) despite the Colzer temperature guide stating up to 155F.
RECIPES and TIPS
Watch Alton Brown's Good Eats episode of how to make beef jerky. You'll learn quite a lot. After that, simply experiment with various recipes you may find on the internet. You may also consider a meat slicer to help cut some cooking time and to keep the meat at a consistent depth. Some butchers will gladly cut to size for you.
For beef jerky, remember that fats spoil faster than meats. As such, for jerky to last as long as possible, trim out as much fat as you can and/or get as lean of a meat you can find. I like having some fat in my jerky, and so I keep it in the refrigerator as an extra precaution, although I have consumed it during a 4-day wilderness backpacking trip before without any issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am glad to have finally found a square-tray dehydrator that works well without having to spend as much money as for an Excalibur. Should it continue to operate reliably, I will be more than happy to retire my 9-year-old Nesco FD-80 by gifting it to a friend (partially also so she won't ask me to make her jerky as often.) I just wish this Colzer could be changed to Fahrenheit, but no big deal.
- Fruit (bananas, persimmons, pineapples, etc)
- Herbs (including leaves and flowers for tea)
- Jerky (beef mostly. Other meats require too much preparation to make them safe for dehydration)
With the Nesco's plastic trays starting to fall apart, I eyed the premium Excalibur dehydrator, but its high price made me balk every time I was about to purchase. Alternatives were less than desirable because their maximum heating temperature is usually up to only about 158F -- that generally is not a problem for beef although an internal meat temperature of 165F is considered safe (especially for poultry). Furthermore, unlike the Nesco's round trays, the Excalibur has square ones that pack a bit more capacity but also do not dry as evenly.
This Colzer appliance caught my eye with its maximum temperature of 194F, but like the Excalibur, its square trays are not immune to the uneven drying effect. What I did find, however, is that the drying is better than with the dehydrator I used to have that was mostly plastic. I am not sure if an all-metal housing is making a positive difference, but it appears to be.
PROS
- Square trays provide more room for items to be dehydrated
- Clear glass allows you to check on the items' status without opening the door
- Multiple temperature settings going as high as a whopping 194F! (Warning: going that high may not be a good idea. More on that later)
- Built-in timer that goes up to about 24 hours (minimum 30 mins)
- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free trays
- Generous 8-tray capacity (each is 8.7" x 8.7")
- 4 silicone sheets for drying fruit and small herbs that would fall through the metal tray's holes otherwise
- All-metal housing
- Greater value than the 8-tray Excalibur
- Slim, tall design takes up less space than the Nesco
CONS
- Temperature unit is locked to Celsius. There is no way to change to Fahrenheit
-- Control panel has a built-in guide that shows Fahrenheith-Celsius conversions (if it did not have this, I would have returned the product)
- Square trays dehydrate items more unevenly than rounded ones, partially because the rounded one generally throw heat downward in a more distributed way
- All-metal housing makes the entire unit very hot to touch
- Bottom of appliance has no tray to catch dripping juices, making cleanup a bit more painful than the Nesco (whose base could be removed for washing). I used a heavy-duty aluminum foil as a liner as a workaround, but will be on the lookout for an 8.4" x 8.4" tray instead
As I had stated, the price-to-value ratio for this product is very good. It dehydrated my fruit and herb very well, and beef jerky came out pretty well (the pieces facing the glass door were not as dry as the ones at the back. You can alleviate that by rotating the trays half way through the drying.) Oddly, the manual states to pre-cook or boil the meat to 165F internal temperature and THEN dehydrate it (to ensure any germs are fully neutralized), but thankfully, we haven't experienced food poisoning yet. I do keep my jerky in the fridge for up to a month.
Keep in mind that although the dehydrator can go up to 194F, a higher temperature may not necessarily be good for food. The high heat will first crisp up the exterior but leave the inside not as dry and potentially invite germs to grow. I stick to 165F for my jerky (Nesco's recommendation) despite the Colzer temperature guide stating up to 155F.
RECIPES and TIPS
Watch Alton Brown's Good Eats episode of how to make beef jerky. You'll learn quite a lot. After that, simply experiment with various recipes you may find on the internet. You may also consider a meat slicer to help cut some cooking time and to keep the meat at a consistent depth. Some butchers will gladly cut to size for you.
For beef jerky, remember that fats spoil faster than meats. As such, for jerky to last as long as possible, trim out as much fat as you can and/or get as lean of a meat you can find. I like having some fat in my jerky, and so I keep it in the refrigerator as an extra precaution, although I have consumed it during a 4-day wilderness backpacking trip before without any issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am glad to have finally found a square-tray dehydrator that works well without having to spend as much money as for an Excalibur. Should it continue to operate reliably, I will be more than happy to retire my 9-year-old Nesco FD-80 by gifting it to a friend (partially also so she won't ask me to make her jerky as often.) I just wish this Colzer could be changed to Fahrenheit, but no big deal.
Christopher Barton : Missing some nice to haves, so-so build quality.
Works ok as a dehydrator, but does not come with any sort of drip tray and will leak onto your counter because of it. The holes in the handle I received were poorly aligned and the threaded inserts were damaged, so I was unable to install the handle, meaning I have to touch the hot door to open the machine.
Outdoor Enthusiast | Geek | Photographer : High temperatures and more dehydration space
I have been making beef jerky since August 2011 when I purchased my first dehydrator, the Nesco FD-80 (it still works). During that entire time, I have dehydrated:
- Fruit (bananas, persimmons, pineapples, etc)
- Herbs (including leaves and flowers for tea)
- Jerky (beef mostly. Other meats require too much preparation to make them safe for dehydration)
With the Nesco's plastic trays starting to fall apart, I eyed the premium Excalibur dehydrator, but its high price made me balk every time I was about to purchase. Alternatives were less than desirable because their maximum heating temperature is usually up to only about 158F -- that generally is not a problem for beef although an internal meat temperature of 165F is considered safe (especially for poultry). Furthermore, unlike the Nesco's round trays, the Excalibur has square ones that pack a bit more capacity but also do not dry as evenly.
This Colzer appliance caught my eye with its maximum temperature of 194F, but like the Excalibur, its square trays are not immune to the uneven drying effect. What I did find, however, is that the drying is better than with the dehydrator I used to have that was mostly plastic. I am not sure if an all-metal housing is making a positive difference, but it appears to be.
PROS
- Square trays provide more room for items to be dehydrated
- Clear glass allows you to check on the items' status without opening the door
- Multiple temperature settings going as high as a whopping 194F! (Warning: going that high may not be a good idea. More on that later)
- Built-in timer that goes up to about 24 hours (minimum 30 mins)
- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free trays
- Generous 8-tray capacity (each is 8.7" x 8.7")
- 4 silicone sheets for drying fruit and small herbs that would fall through the metal tray's holes otherwise
- All-metal housing
- Greater value than the 8-tray Excalibur
- Slim, tall design takes up less space than the Nesco
CONS
- Temperature unit is locked to Celsius. There is no way to change to Fahrenheit
-- Control panel has a built-in guide that shows Fahrenheith-Celsius conversions (if it did not have this, I would have returned the product)
- Square trays dehydrate items more unevenly than rounded ones, partially because the rounded one generally throw heat downward in a more distributed way
- All-metal housing makes the entire unit very hot to touch
- Bottom of appliance has no tray to catch dripping juices, making cleanup a bit more painful than the Nesco (whose base could be removed for washing). I used a heavy-duty aluminum foil as a liner as a workaround, but will be on the lookout for an 8.4" x 8.4" tray instead
As I had stated, the price-to-value ratio for this product is very good. It dehydrated my fruit and herb very well, and beef jerky came out pretty well (the pieces facing the glass door were not as dry as the ones at the back. You can alleviate that by rotating the trays half way through the drying.) Oddly, the manual states to pre-cook or boil the meat to 165F internal temperature and THEN dehydrate it (to ensure any germs are fully neutralized), but thankfully, we haven't experienced food poisoning yet. I do keep my jerky in the fridge for up to a month.
Keep in mind that although the dehydrator can go up to 194F, a higher temperature may not necessarily be good for food. The high heat will first crisp up the exterior but leave the inside not as dry and potentially invite germs to grow. I stick to 165F for my jerky (Nesco's recommendation) despite the Colzer temperature guide stating up to 155F.
RECIPES and TIPS
Watch Alton Brown's Good Eats episode of how to make beef jerky. You'll learn quite a lot. After that, simply experiment with various recipes you may find on the internet. You may also consider a meat slicer to help cut some cooking time and to keep the meat at a consistent depth. Some butchers will gladly cut to size for you.
For beef jerky, remember that fats spoil faster than meats. As such, for jerky to last as long as possible, trim out as much fat as you can and/or get as lean of a meat you can find. I like having some fat in my jerky, and so I keep it in the refrigerator as an extra precaution, although I have consumed it during a 4-day wilderness backpacking trip before without any issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am glad to have finally found a square-tray dehydrator that works well without having to spend as much money as for an Excalibur. Should it continue to operate reliably, I will be more than happy to retire my 9-year-old Nesco FD-80 by gifting it to a friend (partially also so she won't ask me to make her jerky as often.) I just wish this Colzer could be changed to Fahrenheit, but no big deal.
- Fruit (bananas, persimmons, pineapples, etc)
- Herbs (including leaves and flowers for tea)
- Jerky (beef mostly. Other meats require too much preparation to make them safe for dehydration)
With the Nesco's plastic trays starting to fall apart, I eyed the premium Excalibur dehydrator, but its high price made me balk every time I was about to purchase. Alternatives were less than desirable because their maximum heating temperature is usually up to only about 158F -- that generally is not a problem for beef although an internal meat temperature of 165F is considered safe (especially for poultry). Furthermore, unlike the Nesco's round trays, the Excalibur has square ones that pack a bit more capacity but also do not dry as evenly.
This Colzer appliance caught my eye with its maximum temperature of 194F, but like the Excalibur, its square trays are not immune to the uneven drying effect. What I did find, however, is that the drying is better than with the dehydrator I used to have that was mostly plastic. I am not sure if an all-metal housing is making a positive difference, but it appears to be.
PROS
- Square trays provide more room for items to be dehydrated
- Clear glass allows you to check on the items' status without opening the door
- Multiple temperature settings going as high as a whopping 194F! (Warning: going that high may not be a good idea. More on that later)
- Built-in timer that goes up to about 24 hours (minimum 30 mins)
- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free trays
- Generous 8-tray capacity (each is 8.7" x 8.7")
- 4 silicone sheets for drying fruit and small herbs that would fall through the metal tray's holes otherwise
- All-metal housing
- Greater value than the 8-tray Excalibur
- Slim, tall design takes up less space than the Nesco
CONS
- Temperature unit is locked to Celsius. There is no way to change to Fahrenheit
-- Control panel has a built-in guide that shows Fahrenheith-Celsius conversions (if it did not have this, I would have returned the product)
- Square trays dehydrate items more unevenly than rounded ones, partially because the rounded one generally throw heat downward in a more distributed way
- All-metal housing makes the entire unit very hot to touch
- Bottom of appliance has no tray to catch dripping juices, making cleanup a bit more painful than the Nesco (whose base could be removed for washing). I used a heavy-duty aluminum foil as a liner as a workaround, but will be on the lookout for an 8.4" x 8.4" tray instead
As I had stated, the price-to-value ratio for this product is very good. It dehydrated my fruit and herb very well, and beef jerky came out pretty well (the pieces facing the glass door were not as dry as the ones at the back. You can alleviate that by rotating the trays half way through the drying.) Oddly, the manual states to pre-cook or boil the meat to 165F internal temperature and THEN dehydrate it (to ensure any germs are fully neutralized), but thankfully, we haven't experienced food poisoning yet. I do keep my jerky in the fridge for up to a month.
Keep in mind that although the dehydrator can go up to 194F, a higher temperature may not necessarily be good for food. The high heat will first crisp up the exterior but leave the inside not as dry and potentially invite germs to grow. I stick to 165F for my jerky (Nesco's recommendation) despite the Colzer temperature guide stating up to 155F.
RECIPES and TIPS
Watch Alton Brown's Good Eats episode of how to make beef jerky. You'll learn quite a lot. After that, simply experiment with various recipes you may find on the internet. You may also consider a meat slicer to help cut some cooking time and to keep the meat at a consistent depth. Some butchers will gladly cut to size for you.
For beef jerky, remember that fats spoil faster than meats. As such, for jerky to last as long as possible, trim out as much fat as you can and/or get as lean of a meat you can find. I like having some fat in my jerky, and so I keep it in the refrigerator as an extra precaution, although I have consumed it during a 4-day wilderness backpacking trip before without any issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am glad to have finally found a square-tray dehydrator that works well without having to spend as much money as for an Excalibur. Should it continue to operate reliably, I will be more than happy to retire my 9-year-old Nesco FD-80 by gifting it to a friend (partially also so she won't ask me to make her jerky as often.) I just wish this Colzer could be changed to Fahrenheit, but no big deal.
Michael Cathcart : An excellent product!
Five Stars, I would give 6 if I could. This thing is amazing. I am owner of a mushroom company, and was looking for a proper type of dehydrator to use for the business. I will be ordering more of these for certain.
Barry Consigny : overall good design
I like the machine very much. The only thing I would change would be temperature in Fahrenheit, and a light switch.
Other than those two minor additions the machine in excellent. I would buy it again!
Other than those two minor additions the machine in excellent. I would buy it again!
Michael Cathcart : An excellent product!
Five Stars, I would give 6 if I could. This thing is amazing. I am owner of a mushroom company, and was looking for a proper type of dehydrator to use for the business. I will be ordering more of these for certain.
allen : Portable and handy dehydrator
My wife loves to cook and make delicious food for my kids, I bought this Colzer one mainly because of its 8 stainless trays and solid metal frame which is made of pure stainless steel. The machines are portable and fit well in my kitchen. I do have to say that it is easy to set up, I do have no experience with cooking but this machine is easy for me. I can set up time and temperature and that's pretty much it. The stainless trays are easy to wash. I'm glad that I got this one right.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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