Ok I need a new dehydrator, is there a good inexpensive one?

[Namaste Mama]

My dehydrator is left over from my old cooking habits where I didn't care about temps. It felt like it got really hot to me and so I shoved a digital thermometer in it and my food was getting up to 154 degrees! This will not do! I really need my dehydrator though because I have 6 kids and work and also have a business I am starting up so convenience foods like onion bread are helpful to me to make easy meals.

So my questions is there a a dehydrator that dosen't cost a ton thats raw friendly?

[drolemil]

If you live wear it's sunny (90s and above) sun drying is always a wonderful option. If the temperature is warm, but not quite that hot, consider using your car as a make-shift oven. ;D

[DebB]

I would recommend the Excalibur and since you've got a large family, I'd go with the 9 tray. I love the timer on mine - that way I can program it to go off when I'm not home or in the middle of the night. The Excalibur is SO worth it! *Ü*

[Namaste Mama]

We do live in a sunny place, its just not quite warm enough to start sun frying yet, its in the mid 60's right now. Plus being in the city I do worry about polution from the freeway in my backyard getting on my food.

DEbB I would love an Excalibur, but it is cost prohibitive right now.

[OnMyJourney]

I would recommend the Excalibur and since you've got a large family, I'd go with the 9 tray. I love the timer on mine - that way I can program it to go off when I'm not home or in the middle of the night. The Excalibur is SO worth it! *Ü*


I second this recommendation. I have the same one, and while it might seem like a lot to spend at once it really is a worthwhile investment. I'm thankful to have had a beautiful friend that gifted mine to me ( I so love him!), but I guarantee you won't regret it!

I will say that I've seen some great prices on Excalibur dehydrators on Craigslist. Don't limit yourself to just your area when performing your search on Craigslist, because you might get lucky and find someone who is willing to ship to you or look in areas where you have family and/or friends who can pick it up for you. Great areas to search are Texas (Austin, Houston), California and Atlanta, North Carolina (Asheville), etc. Look in areas where the raw food lifestyle is up and coming or well established.

I wish you all the best! :)

[changeisgood]

Thanks for the great idea about Craig's list. Where I live, it is a terrible site. So bad, the under cover police use it as a sting to get sexual pretators and prostitution rings.

I'll bet I could also find a vitamix.

[Namaste Mama]

I have scoured craigslist in my area and no dice, I can"t find either a vitamix or a excalibur an I like in a huge city!

[Sweet lips]

While I have a Excaliber, I keep and use my Nesco, which can be purchased from Walmart. Although it is round, it is quite sufficent and you can buy extra trays and it is good. http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=4044&ic=48_0&Find.x=0&Find.y=0&Find=Find&ta=1&search_query=dehydrator (http://http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=4044&ic=48_0&Find.x=0&Find.y=0&Find=Find&ta=1&search_query=dehydrator

)

[RawHorizons]

I started out with a donated round nesco,it does work pretty good.Have made many things from it with no problem,though there are alot of things I cannot do as well.I was wainting to save up for the excaliber and then my loving fiance and my mother bought me the square nesco for Christmas.Its pretty cool so far,Ive been doing a smoothie feast so Ive only used it a few times since .I really like the square more then the round ,seems to hold more and it has settings to control temp,where as the round diddnt.Biggest con would be that there is no on off switch,I do miss that.Finace says he is going to buy a switch for it,so that wont be a problem,so if you know someone handy,or thats not an issue,for the money it seems pretty solid!!

http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-American-FD-80-Square-Shaped-Dehydrator/dp/B00179DCCQ

Good Luck in your search!!