Pay Dirt!!!

[RawRoch]

I was out running errands on my lunch hour and decided to stop in the "upscale" Salvation Army to see if I could score a nice Louie for cheap (they had one but wasn't my style). I had never been in there before but was told that they had nice things so I decided to look around in housewares to see what they had as far as Cuisinarts and struck gold (well, not actually, but RAW gold none the less).....they had a dehydrator! :D . I never would have guessed! So you know I snatched it up right, just in case some other rawbie was behind me lurking. :p I hadn't moved that fast in quite a while. :o I am so stoked!!!
I was going to ask for an Excalibur for Christmas but I wanted to make sure I would get enough use out if it before getting something that costs that much. But now I can test "cook" my heart out on my $14.99 Ronco dehydrator. Just had to share that.

I AM SO STOKED!!!

Tamara

SW - 211
CW - 200.5
GW - not a weight, but a size - 8

[Rawkinlocs]

RawRoch...I don't know how you'll feel about this, but those Ronco dehydrators usually don't have temperature control dials. So, unless you lucked up and it does so happen to have one, your food is going to be "cooked" at temperatures probably ranging around the 133 degrees. Most times when dehydrators have only and on and off switch and no temp. control, they are set to temps. way higher than what would be considered raw and are usually designed with cooked food eaters in mind who want to dry veggies and fruit or make beef jerkey, etc.

[SuBu]

Tamara, I am SO happy for you!! I know how you feel. I was actually GIVEN my juicer, Vita-Mix, and dehydrator!! Can you believe it? I feel like I just have to eat this way--I've had all the utensils everyone wants just handed to me! The only thing I haven't been able to find is a spiralizer. I'm just being patient. It'll probably show up!

[SuBu]

Rawkinlocs, can you lift the lid? I have a Magic Chef w/no temp control, which is why I've only used it a couple of times. I used a cooking thermometer and it went up to 130. I take the lid off part way hoping it will help. Is it best not to use it at all? Any advise would be appreciated.

[Glow Worm]

What a great find! yipee!

I'm sitting here eating a nutbar I made in my dehydrator this week, so I though I'd share the recipe, hopefully your dehydrator had a solid sheet in it too....

4 cups walnuts (soaked if you have time)
5-7 bananas (peels removed)
1/2 - 1 cup raisins

Food processor chop walnuts. Mash bananas in big bowl, add nuts and raisins. Spread on sheet. Dehydrate about 2 days. I always snack on them while they're drying.

[Rawkinlocs]

Rawkinlocs, can you lift the lid? I have a Magic Chef w/no temp control, which is why I've only used it a couple of times. I used a cooking thermometer and it went up to 130. I take the lid off part way hoping it will help. Is it best not to use it at all? Any advise would be appreciated.

I'm not really sure if that helps or not...I've never personally tried it. I have an Excalibur but also have a round model that is a Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster but it also has a temp. control dial.

Have you ever checked the temp. with your thermometer after having had the lid lifted? As for if it's best to just not use it...that's totally up to you. If it were me, I'd probably try to figure out a way around it as you did (lifting the lid, for example) but would probably use it sparingly and try to get one with a temperature gauge even if the round model like the one I described previously.

[RawRoch]

Dang Rawkinlocs...don't take away my stoked.... kidding...LOL. I did see that it didn't have a temp control but was willing to deal with it. My main objective is to see how often I use it. I don't know about anyone else but $200 could be put to many different uses right now rather than on one item when I'm not even sure if I'll get my money's worth out of it. I do know and understand what you are saying though, and it's appreciated. Good lookin' out! :)

Thanks SuBu - how blessed you where to get all of those things given to you! That's awesome!

Thanks Glow Worm (LOVE that name :) - nice recipe, I'm going to try that and yes it did come with two solid sheets.

This weekend I want to try and make the flax cracker recipe that I've been drooling over and have it topped with another recipe that I've been drooling over - Olive Walnut Tapenade (uuummm....salivating) :D

Tamara

[RawRoch]

And now I'm wondering if I should go back and get that $10 Juiceman Jr.......what do you think? does anyone have that kind? does it work well?

[justinesmith]

I love our juiceman jr. For that cheap ~ wow. I lucked out and got mine at Target for $6.15 because it was used and unpackaged. I almost wet myself with excitment. It's great (although you will have to cut up your apples and such) and totally worth $10!! :D

[tvillemom]

Tamara, I bought an American Harvest at Walmart for around $40, with a temp control. When I realized how much I used it, and would use it more with square trays, 9 trays, and the fact that I can slide a glass dish with lasagna into it easily to "cook" in my dehydrator....I bought one for myself the Christmas after I went raw...and never regret the $200 I spent on it.

Also, I bought a Juiceman Jr. from a friend, and used it often....now I upgraded this past Christmas to an Omega 8005, which juices and makes pates, and frozen fruit ice cream...LOVE IT!

Best of luck....and yes, I highly recommend trying lower end used before buying what you really "think" you want.

Wendi:D

PS. I gave my juiceman to my dad...and my American Harvest to a friend who wanted to try some raw crackers....I don't regret spending the money on the lower end models...I got to share them with others who could not afford them...

[solongng00dnite]

I'm not really sure if that helps or not...I've never personally tried it. I have an Excalibur but also have a round model that is a Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster but it also has a temp. control dial.

Hey,

I just ordered the "Nesco American Harvest FD-75PR 700-Watt Food Dehydrator" today. Is that the one you have? Does it work well? I read a bunch of reviews which were all positive except that there was no on off switch.

[juliebove]

Hey,

I just ordered the "Nesco American Harvest FD-75PR 700-Watt Food Dehydrator" today. Is that the one you have? Does it work well? I read a bunch of reviews which were all positive except that there was no on off switch.

The Nesco works well. Don't know why you'd need an on/off switch. It's very easy to plug in and unplug.

[casperlynn]

I was going to ask for an Excalibur for Christmas but I wanted to make sure I would get enough use out if it before getting something that costs that much. But now I can test "cook" my heart out on my $14.99 Ronco dehydrator. Just had to share that.


Sweet! Coming across a great find like that puts a smile on my face too! :D Congrats!

[solongng00dnite]

The Nesco works well. Don't know why you'd need an on/off switch. It's very easy to plug in and unplug.

Thanks Juliebove. I was worried that I might have fallen into the trap of buying a piece of crap haha. Cant wait til it arrives so I can start these amazing recipes!!!:)

[lamount03]

okay on the topic of temp control. I don't have a dehydrator, but wanted to try the chili in the other post... my oven only goes down to 170 so I only put it in there for 30 mins each time... does that mean I cooked it? Darn it!