dehydrator

[jimglynn]

I am just starting a raw food diet, can anyone recomend a good hydrator.

[karenisraw]

Most people here invest in the best. The Excalibur 2900 or 3000 series dehydrator (9 tray).

Alissa sells the 2900 one on this website. Just og to the top left of the page where it says Books, DVD's & other raw diet products. Y ou should find it in that section.

It is pretty much unanimous that it is the best quality.

k

[rawpriestess]

just to let you know,

I have the 9 tray excalibur dehydrator, and I bought my son one too, as he is now 100% raw.

and I think they are the best.

however, there are less expensive ones, if you wish to try them out and see before you invest $200 or so,

there is an American Harvester brand, I think called the Snack master, sold at Walmart for about $40, and it is used by some people on this board, who say it is great.

just make sure to get the one with temperature control.

[TP]

Since going raw 2 months ago I have purchased a Vitamix for $300 and a Food Processor for $30 and just cannot bring myself to spend another $200 on a dehydrator right now (or even $150 which I found the Excalibur 9 tray for somewhere).

I really want one though, so I am checking out Walmart that has a "Nesco Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator and Jerky Maker FD-60" posted online for about $44. It gets decent reviews from what I read, except that it only comes with 4 trays, expandable to 8, but supposedly the extra trays are unjustifiably expensive. These reviewers don't know what it's like to have an Excalibur either, lol.. I am going to stop by a Walmart that is near my work at lunch to see what they have in the store, and I'll let you know what I think..

I borrowed a raw "cook"book from a friend and the author said that for a long time she got by with cheapo dehydrators (Ronco and the like) and recommended shopping thrift stores for them. She said she would burn them out from lots of use, but when they are cheap that's ok..

Edit: Didnt see RP's post before I wrote this.. :D

[TP]

side note: I will also be following Shivananda's advice (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12440) to purchase a digital heat thermometer.. It makes a lot of sense to get readings on where the food is at.

[Rawkinlocs]

Since going raw 2 months ago I have purchased a Vitamix for $300 and a Food Processor for $30 and just cannot bring myself to spend another $200 on a dehydrator right now (or even $150 which I found the Excalibur 9 tray for somewhere).

I really want one though, so I am checking out Walmart that has a "Nesco Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator and Jerky Maker FD-60" posted online for about $44. It gets decent reviews from what I read, except that it only comes with 4 trays, expandable to 8, but supposedly the extra trays are unjustifiably expensive. These reviewers don't know what it's like to have an Excalibur either, lol.. I am going to stop by a Walmart that is near my work at lunch to see what they have in the store, and I'll let you know what I think..

I borrowed a raw "cook"book from a friend and the author said that for a long time she got by with cheapo dehydrators (Ronco and the like) and recommended shopping thrift stores for them. She said she would burn them out from lots of use, but when they are cheap that's ok..

Edit: Didnt see RP's post before I wrote this.. :D
ToddP,

I have both the Excalibur and the Am. Harvest. I had the AH first and it did the trick. I did order more trays...didn't find them to be "unjustifiably expensive"...I only ordered one set of two so now I have 6 trays on there. It's enough. They also have the "convert-a-tray" that is deeper for dehydrating taller items that normally wouldn't fit (like the pesto stuffed mushrooms or a loaf, etc.). The only downside (IMO) is the hole in the center so you can't put like a pan in there. Otherwise, it's a good thing to have to make crackers, cookies, nut burgers, etc...you won't have perfectly shaped crackers, etc. due to it being round...but as far as I'm concerned, I could care less as long as they TASTE good! :)

I still use it when I need extra dehydrator space (like in preparing food for a class or something) even though I have the Ex.

[TP]

kewl! thanks for the info..

[TP]

I am going to stop by a Walmart that is near my work at lunch to see what they have in the store, and I'll let you know what I think..

they dont carry dehydrators in the local outlet, so I think that stinks :)