what kind of dehydrator should i get?

[cassidy]

I've been doing raw for 3 days and am hooked. :D I've been looking online at dehydrators and, as you probably know, range from $40 - $300. What is the difference? Do I need 9 trays??? Can I get away with a $40 one or will I kick myself later?

[Rawkinlocs]

If by the $40 you mean the American Harvest Snackmaster (WITH temp. control) you can definitely get by with it. If you do a search here, there are discussions where the pros and cons to having that particular model are shared.

I owned and still own the round one, but I also have a 9-tray. A dehydrator with 9 trays is good for anyone who has a family and is making things for their family or anyone who might decide to make food for others...raw parties, potlucks, classes, etc.

But if it's just one or two people and you don't plan to make a lot in it, you can get away with less trays.

I love my 9-tray and I'm glad I have it because while I might not always use all 9 trays, it's good to have just in case AND...if I want to fit a dish or something in there, I can remove trays and have large items fit in there with no problem!

[annad]

Hi there,
We have had this discussion several times amoung the raw foodists in Victoria (Australia), especially because the excalibur is a VERY dear option here. Some have still opted for this, however, myself and several others went with the easy dri 1000 (variable temp etc - and huge trays). Until recently the two things I didn't like about it were the fact that everything has to be either circular or small square -which is more time consuming, and the fact that I could not make anything thicker than about an inch.

One of these problems has been solved by SPACERS, which are an extra ring around to put on top of a tray, but there is no tray on the ring, creating extra space to make the chuncky things.

I think an important thing to ask is how much do you like the savory dehydrated dishes. Personally, I'm trying, and so are my family, but we just don't like them. (If anyone has any suggestions - PLEASE!!). I think if you are mostly making sweet things, dried fruit, fruit leathers, crackers and main meals that are easy to make in a small round (pizza, enchiladas, cannolis, crackers etc), then it is not necassary to have the square trays. I admit that occasionally - I covet them. But not often enough to justify buying one. One other thing to consider is if you want to warm dishes like lasagna in a large dish - then you have to either have the square space , or make arrangements to balace a large dish on the centre of a tray and then use 4ish spacers.

We have 15 trays on our dehydtator, and I always have flax crackers, muffins and the like on the go, but importantly, I need the trays for the bananas. We buy several boxes at a time, and do the lot all at once. I can fit at least 2 13kg (30 pounds roughly) at once. It's awesome. We have been known to buy 8 boxes of Biodynamic bananas, freeze some, dry some, eat some and make leathers 0 very big week or two in the kitchen - but you get 3 boxes for free!!

We homeschool, and it is a favorite food prep activity for my 4 and 6 yr olds to do this job. Also, being in the homeschool network (in Australia, anyhow) generally means most of our visitors are very healthy and love thier kids to eat any raw food available when they come - and there are up to 10 of them to provide for. So I love the 15 trays :).

[rawpriestess]

I have 3 Excaliburs going all the time,

2 9 trays, and one baby 4 tray, I have the 4 tray specifically to take with my while traveling, it is priceless to be able to go back to your hotel room, and have a warmed raw pizza waiting for you, or fresh warmed pancakes and warm syrup in the morning for breakfast. I love raw, and I take my mini with me every show.

We also have a mini generator that is noiseless, that we put in our booth at festivals, and we plug our dehydrator in this during the day, so I can have a warm lunch if I want. I lvoe warm soup and drinks etc. this little dehydrator is so wonderful to take with us.
but at home, we have all of them going constantly, either drying herbs, spices, fruit leather, crackers, breads, pizzas, tortillas, corn chips, warming soups or drinks, drying spiced nuts or cookies, etc.

[cassidy]

Thanks for all the input! It looks like I will be shelling out the big bucks for the Excallibur 9 tray! I'm so excited. Unfortunatly it looks like I will have to wait for my Birthday in freakin' August (unless I can find a good price for a used one, if anybody knows of someone getting rid of an old one..... :)

[RawFoodieMom]

but at home, we have all of them going constantly, either drying herbs, spices, fruit leather, crackers, breads, pizzas, tortillas, corn chips, warming soups or drinks, drying spiced nuts or cookies, etc.

Oh my goodness, RP, you're making me hungry! Your house must smell absolutely wonderful!! :)

cassidy, I have an excalibur 9-tray. I have been seriously struggling with raw lately, and it's been totally neglected, the poor thing. :(

Thanks to this thread, I'm totally motivated to get that thing fired up!!

Debra