Dehydrators

[khackett]

Sigh.

I'm gonna do it.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1120727

Anyone have that? Anyone have one under 50/60 bucks they LOOOOOOOOOVE? where'd ya get it?

[haresmum]

I would love to hear anyone's experience with this particular type of dehydrator....this one I can actually afford. I do have a convection oven that doubles as a dehydrator that works pretty well but I dont have the proper racks or teflon sheets for it and I havent felt like dishing out the $. Plus it makes me nervous to keep it running when I leave the house, I'm afraid it'll catch fire or something bc it is also a convection oven. Probably an unfounded fear but I keep my puppy in the basement when I leave and I just worry about stuff like that now! I obsess when I leave about whether I turned all the appliances off!!!

Anyway, Kate if you buy this I would love to hear how it works out for you. Allison

[khackett]

I'll letcha know, but I'm trying to hear about it first. :)

[haresmum]

Here are some reviews on it at epinions:


http://www.epinions.com/Nesco_Snackmaster_Express_Food_Dehydrator_and_Jerk y_Maker_Small_Appliances/display_~reviews

[khackett]

One step ahead of me!!

It seems like they all use it for jerky...... which I won't be doing! ;)

And the general consensus is that ya need more trays. :(

[haresmum]

More reviews at amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004W4V4/qid=1113575449/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-9016573-9922533?v=glance&s=kitchen


Can you tell I am totally bored stuck at home with my sick child?!! lol!

[haresmum]

And I see you can buy more trays at amazon for $14 for 2, lol!

[khackett]

Yeah, I'm only one person so I wonder if I can get away with four trays?

(hope your baby feels better!!!)

[Rawkinlocs]

I have that model! I LOVE it!!

It does just what I need it to do. Many others here have it too.

For starting out, it's perfect, had the temp. control, fruit roll trays that work in the place of teflex sheets, and if you go to their website (http://nesco.com OR http://everythingkitchens.com), you can order more trays, more fruit roll trays and they have these other trays that are deeper for if you wanted/needed to make something that requires a pan or something tall that won't fit on the standard trays!

Definitely get it...it will do what you need it to do!!

[khackett]

Yes ma'am!!

I hope they have it at the walmart I'll be going to...

[khackett]

I think I'm also going to get a (gasp) blender....

Any benefits to that as opposed to the food processor?

[haresmum]

Well, you have my curiousity piqued, I'm going to have to got to Walmart later and see if they have it! I think 4 trays would be plenty for one person....my only concern is how the heck would you fit things like burgers in there? Just make them like falafel ball size maybe? Obviously pizza crust would be out but you could make little mini ones. I would really love to go for one of the big daddy excaliburs, I just can't justify the price right now.

Thanks for the concern for my son, I really hate it when he gets sick. Breaks my heart!

Allison

[khackett]

How old is he?

A personal size pizza would be great for me, so this might be just the right size.

I don't know about hte burger; I wouldn't really know how to make it (sprouts? I can't remember what the story is with those) but I imagine it's more trouble than it's worth anyway... I have some boca burgers in the freezer, so if I get desperate I can have one for a nonraw meal every now and again.

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, you have my curiousity piqued, I'm going to have to got to Walmart later and see if they have it! I think 4 trays would be plenty for one person....my only concern is how the heck would you fit things like burgers in there? Just make them like falafel ball size maybe? Obviously pizza crust would be out but you could make little mini ones. I would really love to go for one of the big daddy excaliburs, I just can't justify the price right now.

Thanks for the concern for my son, I really hate it when he gets sick. Breaks my heart!

Allison

I have done all of what you listed Allison! I've done pizza...it might be a pizza with a big hole in the center, but it still tastes just the same! ;) I've also done burgers...I mean, we're not talking making huge Mondo burgers (if you've ever seen the movie "Good Burger" with Keenan and Kel from Nick, you'll know what I mean!) It works fine.

I've done burgers, crackers, pizza, cookies, grawnola, warmed my marinated veggies, dried fruit, sweet potato and zucchini chips, the banana leather for Alissa's strawberry crepes...no limitations at all! Only thing, like I mentioned, is you can't do really tall stuff like putting a pan or a large loaf of "bread" unless you order that special tray that is deeper. If you go to their website (I posted the URL above) you can see the tray I'm reffering to.

So yeah, definitely check it out. And again, you can always order more trays later just to be able to make up a bunch of stuff like a lot of chips or a lot of crackers, etc. to have on hand.

[Rawkinlocs]

Burgers aren't hard to do Kate...grind up some nuts, carrots, onion, a little olive oil, maybe a splash or two of nama shoyu or bragg's (if you're into those condiments) some sea salt and other seasonings of your choice...make into patties and put on the dehydrator.

Allison, sorry about your son...hope he's feeling better soon! Mine was sick a week ago.

[Punky]

I don't know about hte burger; I wouldn't really know how to make it (sprouts? I can't remember what the story is with those)

Kate,
most raw burgers are made out of nuts. I've made Alissa's
carrot pecan burgers and they are really good, satisfying and
pretty easy to make. Just throw everything in the food processor
and form into patties than into the dehydrator. They will last several
days too. I lent my book to a friend for the week, but can send
you the recipe if your interested in trying them, when I get my book back...

[Pailani]

Definitely get a blender! You can make smoothies with a blender, you can't do that with a food processer. I make green smoothies for breakfast and sometimes lunch, too.

I have a Walmart dehydrator, I've had it for a couple of months and I haven't even washed it to start using it. Apparently I need to get the sheets that go with it, and Walmart sold the dehydrator, but not the sheets, so I guess I'll have to mail-order those. And since I lost my urgency about trying flax crackers, I just haven't gotten myself into gear to place the order.

If I watch Alissa's DVD maybe I'll get excited about dehydrating again.

[haresmum]

Rawkinlocs,
So glad to hear a positive review from someone here! I'm off to Walmart tonight :) Thanks.


Kate,
My son is seven...can't believe he's that old! Time flies so fast.

Actually, I made burgers the other day and the only "hard" part was soaking the nuts. Other than that it was just throw it all in the food processor, shape into patties and eat. They were pretty good but my gut feeling is that it was waaaayyy to many nuts. I want to try it with more veggies and then dehydrating. All these raw gourmet recipes can be much more trouble than they are worth....I am finding that I enjoy eating much more simply usually.

As far as the blender versus food processor thing, I would go for the blender first for sure....my blender works far better on frozen fruit and my processor couldnt even handle my soaked sun dried tomatoes the other day so I wound up throwing them in the blender instead. Of course this is after my processor threw up watery tomato all over me and the counter ruining my brand new pants and shoes!! Argh. And my processor is a cheap one so I am sure if I had the Cuisinart I'd be singing a different song. But I think you'll be fine to do most jobs in the blender. My only recommendation here is to get a glass one instead of plastic...I paid $30 for mine and it was worth paying the $10 extra dollars imo.

Allison

[haresmum]

Oh man, Rawkinlocs, your post made me soooooo hungry!!! So there are extra sheets you have to buy for it before you can use it?

How long was you son sick? Mine seems better today but when my hubby had this flu last week it lasted 5 full days. Of course he wouldnt take a day off to rest so that may have been a factor! I'm afraid to take my son out but we really need food. Especially after reading your post!!!

Allison

[Rawkinlocs]

Wow, Pailani...it didn't come with a fruit roll sheet?? Did the box SAY it came with any sheets cause if so, then you might wanna take it back.

Allison and Kate, one word of caution - do NOT follow the manufacturers recommendations for temperatures for drying things. They recommend temps way to high for what we're doing with the dehydrator. Just follow whatever the recipe says and if ever in doubt, 95-105 degrees is always the safe zone!

[Rawkinlocs]

Oh man, Rawkinlocs, your post made me soooooo hungry!!! So there are extra sheets you have to buy for it before you can use it?

How long was you son sick? Mine seems better today but when my hubby had this flu last week it lasted 5 full days. Of course he wouldnt take a day off to rest so that may have been a factor! I'm afraid to take my son out but we really need food. Especially after reading your post!!!

Allison

No, you don't have to buy them before using it...it comes with the 4 trays and 1 fruit roll sheet. That's enough to get started however, if you feel you'll (sorry Pailani...meant to say ONE fruit roll sheet, not two) be making more stuff that requires using the sheets, then it wouldn't hurt to go on ahead and get the order placed for extra sheets, extra trays or the deeper trays. I didn't order more trays/sheets until a while after I got it. But with my family of 6, I needed more. My kids love fruit leather and two trays just wasn't cutting it. So now I have a total of 6 trays and 5 fruit roll trays (the one it came with and the 4 extras I ordered). I still haven't gotten the deeper trays, but plan to eventually.

My son was ill for a week and a half. Make sure your son drinks plenty of fresh juice that you make...orange and lemon is also great and plenty of water. Have him eat as lightly as possible..preferrably only fruit and juices to help his body clean out more effectively!

[khackett]

Proud owner of a dehydrator and a blender. And food processor.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Let me know if you have any recipes you lurve.

[VeganVixen]

glad you got the processor ,I dont even use my blender any more-my F.P. does smoothies perfectly
have fun fun fun!!!

[Glow]

Proud owner of a dehydrator and a blender. And food processor.
.


Kate you bought the dehydrator at walmart? how is it?

I was gonna get that one - just too see if I like these foods, before
I got a bigger one.

But Walmart was OUT yesterday! :(

Glow

[Glow]

d Walmart sold the dehydrator, but not the sheets, so I guess I'll have to mail-order those. .

Pailani, you say Walmart doesnt have the complete unit?! You mean

I cant make the crackers, or burgers, or pizza right away?


thanks

[Glow]

ODORS?

When you guys dehydrate ,

does it make a smell throught the whole house? Or do you always use
the fan?

I dont like cooking odors in the house. Smells tacky to me .

Of should I just put it in the garage?


thanks

[khackett]

I haven't used it yet; I still need to find a V-slicer.

[Glow]

I haven't used it yet; I still need to find a V-slicer.

Not sure what a v slicer is.

But I need a dehydrator FAST! I HAVE NOTHING TO EAT. :eek:


I'm eating ice cream at most every meal. I never really liked salads. And the zuchiini pasta I made yesterday was fair at best. I guess if I dehyrate that Ill like
it better .I HOPE SO.

Im really hoping I love the Burgers and Pizza, or If not, Im not sure what I will do?
:(

If Im gonna need to dehydrate my spaghetti, will that work in this unit?
Anyone know?

Or wont a plate fit, then you have to makeshift and its all over the bottom
dripping?

Is that why I would need the 5 or 9 tray? to fit a plate in?

CAN I Use saran wrap on the 4 trays model , instead of buying the extra tray liiners? I think Alissa said you can. But that sure wouldnt stop spaghetti
from dripping down.

Does a plate fit in there?

thanks

[tracyinfo]

Not sure what a v slicer is.

But I need a dehydrator FAST! I HAVE NOTHING TO EAT. :eek:


If Im gonna need to dehydrate my spaghetti, will that work in this unit?
Anyone know?

Or wont a plate fit, then you have to makeshift and its all over the bottom
dripping?

Is that why I would need the 5 or 9 tray? to fit a plate in?

CAN I Use saran wrap on the 4 trays model , instead of buying the extra tray liiners? I think Alissa said you can. But that sure wouldnt stop spaghetti
from dripping down.

Does a plate fit in there?

thanks

Yes, a plate will fit in the Excalibur's.

Also, you don't need to dehydrate everything. There are lots of pates and cheeses and soups (not to mention other items) that don't need dehydrating.

[Glow]

Yes, a plate will fit in the Excalibur's.

Also, you don't need to dehydrate everything. There are lots of pates and cheeses and soups (not to mention other items) that don't need dehydrating.


thanks, but Isnt the excalibur the big one? Im wondering about the small
round nesco, if It can get me started.


Im psyched to try those burgers! :p

[tracyinfo]

Yeah, sorry, I am not sure about a plate fitting in other dehydrators. Sorry.

[PixieGreen]

I have the nesco. I purchased the "extra height" rings which are very helpful, you can balance a plate on the lower shelf and have an inch per ring space above. But without the ring you can put a plate or round cake pan in the very bottom of the dehydrator. If you don't have more than 4 trays in the dehydrator this works just fine, esp for heating soups and refridgerated items to room temp.

Christa

[Tina]

Okay, I jumped on the wagon too....you guys influenced me to get the Nesco dehydrator!!!! I went to Walmart during lunch to pick it up. It's a great price to try out a new piece of kitchen equipment. Can't commit to the Excaliber right now, but if I enjoy the dehydrating thing then maybe in the future I'll eventually upgrade. Thank you Rawkinlocs and all the others for your comments on selecting a dehydrator. I'm excited to try the onion bread recipe and others. Blessings, Tina.

[harmony]

Y'all, (I'm from south carolina)

I got a wonderful haul the other day. I saw a new thrift shop and decided to go in after my "inner voice" told me there may be a dehydrator in there. I didn't go right away, but after 2 weeks, I went. Lo and behold there was a nesco snackmaster, just like the one I had. The bottom unit was ruined, but there were 3 perfectly good trays and a smooth jerky tray. Three dollars! I took it home and threw the bad part away and loving washed the others. I have an idea to take the mesh part (the part you put food on) apart on one of them still having the rim left over so that if a recipe calls for a loaf or something with height I will have the space.

peace and love
harmony

[Pleasant~Heights~Hippie]

Hi There,

I have a Ronco dehydrator and I can't use it for raw foods because it has no temperature control...does this one from Walmart have a temp control, taht would be great!

Vanessa :)