Dehydrator

[Conscious Midwife]

Anyone have experience using RON POPEIL or SNACK MASTER DEHYDRATORS (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/search-ng.gsp?search_constraint=0&search_query=dehydrator&ic=20_0&Continue.x=19&Continue.y=8) ????
Will the make most recipies???

Click the words above for pictures of products on the Walmart website ;)

Thanks

[Spectatrix]

I have the American Harvest Snackmaster and it's been fine for my dehydrating needs. I don't think the Ron Popeil one has a thermostat, though, so keep that in mind.

[Conscious Midwife]

Is the American Harvest the same as the brand listed in my OP

[Dimond]

Yes, Snackmaster & American Harvest are the same. I've been looking into this myself. Just make sure to get one that has a regulated thermostat. I think all the newer models do.

[Halo Aglow]

I have an American Harvest Snackmaster and a 9-tray Excalibur. The Snackmaster works great! I just wanted to be able to make things without having to work around that hole in the middle and to make things that require more height space. There are spacer trays now available for the Snackmaster though for more height space. It was a long while before I was able to buy the Excalibur though and the Snackmaster did it's thing for me. I recommend it for those that can't or don't want to buy the Excalibur.

[Conscious Midwife]

Thanks everyone for your input

I so want the Excalibur.

Seems like its the best option for accomodating my large family

Hmmm just felt a little antsy and Wally world is just down the street, though I don't believe my location has dehydrators in stock.

Saw them on the web though.

[appifanie]

hi all - lookit the new girl reviving an ancient post :)

i was borrowing a neighbor's D but decided to buy an excalibur or the other expensive one (forget what it is right now) and then my mom called me, very excited, because she'd ordered me a D! But it's one of the 5 tray popeil ones. i know there's no temp guage, but other than that, how bad are they? i just can't tell her she didn't get a good one - she was so excited. i think i'll use the popeil til i buy a better one and i'll keep the cheapy as backup. but i digress. how is the popeil?

[juliebove]

hi all - lookit the new girl reviving an ancient post :)

i was borrowing a neighbor's D but decided to buy an excalibur or the other expensive one (forget what it is right now) and then my mom called me, very excited, because she'd ordered me a D! But it's one of the 5 tray popeil ones. i know there's no temp guage, but other than that, how bad are they? i just can't tell her she didn't get a good one - she was so excited. i think i'll use the popeil til i buy a better one and i'll keep the cheapy as backup. but i digress. how is the popeil?

Without a temp. gauge you can't make raw foods. And if it's only 5 trays, you can't do much at a time. My FIL had one and he said it was pretty much worthless. He tried to dry vegetables from the garden and he said it took forever to get just a little bit done. If I were you I would tell my mom to try to return it and get the American Harvester instead. At least with that one you can add more trays. When I use mine I use up to 10 trays at a time. 5 little ones would just not be enough.

[appifanie]

Without a temp. gauge you can't make raw foods. And if it's only 5 trays, you can't do much at a time. My FIL had one and he said it was pretty much worthless. He tried to dry vegetables from the garden and he said it took forever to get just a little bit done. If I were you I would tell my mom to try to return it and get the American Harvester instead. At least with that one you can add more trays. When I use mine I use up to 10 trays at a time. 5 little ones would just not be enough.

*sigh* i know it. I just feel like an ungrateful brat asking her to switch them. i'll try to suck up the nerve :)

[lizad14]

I just ordered the 6 tray good4u have not recvd it yet but I hear good things it is like the excalibur but costs less

[appifanie]

Lack of a temperature gauge does not mean you can't make raw foods. The temperature may be low enough as it is, depending on the dehydrator.

Also, keep in mind that the food will NOT reach the temperature of the air surrounding it. A turkey put in the oven for 6 hours at 400 degrees or whatever will never reach up to 400 degrees....(I've not eaten meat since I was 13 and therefore don't know exactly the temperature for cooking turkey...)

An easy way to test to see if the enzymes have been destroyed, if that's what you're worried about. Stick some seeds in there...seeds you know will sprout if unadulterated. After a few hours, try to sprout them. If they sprout, then the temperature is fine--that means the enzymes have not been destroyed.

excellent point, thanks! i tried calling ronco to track the order and they said they didn't see the order anyway so i'm having my mom check and if they screwed up the order - if they did she's going to tell them to get lost! and then i'll get a good4u or an excalibur.