Dehydrator???

[lovely12]

Can I use other dehydrators? Can I use a Ronco or Nesco? These brands are in the stores (much cheaper). Do they work the same?

[SmilingRawDancer]

Yes, but only with an adjustable themostat.
On average, those run at about 130 degress, which is too hot :-\

[juliebove]

I have the Nesco. Works for most things. Have seen a few recipes that it wouldn't work for because they require putting a bowl or something inside. But luckily those were not recipes that interested me.

[girlsmiley]

Right, like juliebove said, they work for pretty much everything except putting a dish inside to *cook* ... so I'd say go ahead and get the cheaper one so you can start making crackers and other fun stuff until you can save up the money for the Excalibur :D

[Nunie]

The excaliber is the best the ones Alissa sells. You need the heat to come out from the bottom so you do not have to rotate the racks. You need one with controls. They are not equal.

Nunie



Can I use other dehydrators? Can I use a Ronco or Nesco? These brands are in the stores (much cheaper). Do they work the same?

[mbf]

They are not the same. It is really worth it to get the excalibur. I always say if you are going to do this do it right. Your health is worth it, you are worth it! here is an expalnation from the Excalibur web site.

How Parallexx Works

The fan, heating element, and adjustable thermostat are mounted in the rear. Cool air is drawn in the back, heated up, and distributed evenly across each tray. During the dehydration process, warm air removes moisture from foods and is pushed out the front of the machine.


Excalibur Parallexx System Advantages:

Complete drying system in rear. (includes thermostat and fan)
Easy to clean... Spills fall on seamless bottom.
Horizontal drying provides even drying, eliminating tray rotations. Fast drying...
Adjustable thermostat allows perfect drying every time.
Square design increases drying area "25%" with no holes in center of tray.
Versatile... Trays can be removed to expand drying chamber.
Typical Round Dehydrator

Normal drips fall on the electrical controls beneath the food. This can cause electrical problems as well as being very difficult to clean. The more trays that are added, the further the food is away from the heat, dramatically increasing the drying time, and requiring frequent tray rotation day and night to prevent spoilage. Who wants to "BABYSIT" THEIR DEHYDRATOR?!!


Standard Dehydrator Disadvantages:

Round Stackable Units Heating unit in bottom. (many without fan or thermostat)
Hard to clean... Spills fall directly on electric components.
Vertical drying requires tray rotation as trays closest to heat source dry first.
Slow drying...Units without fan or thermostat may spoil food or not dry at all.
Round design cuts off corners and has holes in center, reducing usable drying area.
Non-adjustable stackable design restricts size of drying chamber.

Any dehydrator will dry food. Excalibur dries BETTER, FASTER & SAFER thanks to HYPERWAVE FLUCTUATION
TECHNOLOGY!

[puffysmom]

I have used those from Walmart for dehydrating beef jerky before I decided to do raw and have been reading up on the excalibur. A lot of the recipes need dif temps and the ones in the stores dont have that option. They r good for a lot of things. Decide on what u all want to make and then make a decision. My excaliber is on its way and I cannot wait to get it as I know I will enjoy using it much more than I did the round one from the local store.
The hardest thing with going raw is the expense to start out. I am feeling it every day but also feeling so alive and viberant that it outweights the cost. :D