Dehydrator

[AphexPhode]

I am wondering if anyone is happy with their cheap food dehydrator. I have shopped around a bit, and I know that I can get one for less than 40 bucks at target or wal-mart. I'd like to use it to dry fruits, make some bread and cracker recipes. I'll never use it to make pie's or cakes, but probably cookies. Pies and cakes are too much work for me, and I dont enjoy them enough for the trouble involved. Will a cheap dehydrator serve this purpose? Or will I end up throwing it out the window? I'm not so into dehydrated recipes that I could ever justify spending the money on an Excalibur or other costly dehydrator.

Thanks

Teresa

[Rawmommie]

I have a cheap one from Walmart. It works well and has the temperature gauge which was the most important feature for me, personally. I've made crackers, cookies, and fruit leather and they turned out well. Of course, I don't know how well an expensive one works, so I have nothing to compare it too! ;)

Karen

[AJ Bodine]

I had a cheapie a long time ago, I can't remember the brand, but it was round and see through. I had it for a few years, but I didn't use it all that often. One day, it just didn't work anymore and I had to toss it.

I've had my excalibur for about 2 years now and I love it a lot more. If the cheap one is all you can afford for right now, I'd still go with it because that way you can give your raw diet a better variety.

[SimplyRawesome]

I also have the one from WalMart. Just got it for Christmas and so far, so good. Works like a charm.

[RawGranny]

Walmart dehydrator for me too. Wooks great. American Harvest has been around for awhile so I think the quality is there even for such a low price.

[caramba]

Am just thinking the same re: cheap vs Excalibur. Can anyone tell me what it is that you can't do with the cheaper ones (or what kinds of foods/meals you can't prepare)?

Thanks
Fiona

[Rawmommie]

Well, the cheaper one I have is ROUND and that's slightly annoying. It only came with one plastic insert, so I have to use parchment (which is fine) but a pain to cut in a circle with a hole in the middle. :rolleyes: It also only has 4 layers, so I'm sure the excalibur has more space. There hasn't been anything I felt like I couldn't do with it though. HTH!

Karen

[rawmom]

Regarding having to cut holes in the parchment, I just slipped two pieces over the insert opposite of each other and pulled it down onto the middle and it cut the hole itself. Then all I had to do was trim around the outside. Hope this helps!

Rawmom

[SimplyRawesome]

Karen,

You must have the same dehydrator that I have. You can buy extra plastic sheets from American Harvest. As a matter of fact, my husband was just asking me about that last night. I have to look for the documents that came with it, but I don't think they were very expensive; something like $6 each.

~Victoria

[SimplyRawesome]

Can anyone tell me what it is that you can't do with the cheaper ones (or what kinds of foods/meals you can't prepare)?

Thanks
Fiona
Square ones! :D

[FEELIN'GOOD]

I have the $40 American Harvest w/ temperature control from Wal-mart too- it works great! I am going to purchase the extra trays too.. Some one told me you can go on the American Harvest website and you can buy expandable trays that allow you to make breads and thicker things more easily. It is a great buy, but like Karen and many others, I don't have anything else to compare it to. For me it serves the purpose. :D

[RawGranny]

The only negative thing that I find with the round dehydrators is that you can't dry the large pizza crusts. You have to make smaller ones so they fit around the hole in the middle. Otherwise I just down size the shapes. Works good because I am only uncooking for me. My husband is not Raw :(