Cheap dehydrator OK?

[Hurraw]

Hey all!

I'm fixin to buy a dehydrator. I've never owned one. On craigslist there a number of cheap round dehydrators for sale. The price is right and they're small. They seem like a perfect fit for my small kitchen. Question is: Do they keep the temperature down to say 118F? They only seem to have one on/off switch. Do any of you use these? What is the temperature? I would hate to cook my food (I can do that in my $1000 oven.)

Tanks!

[MysticTree]

How are we to know? Ask the people who are selling these appliances if they have a temp regulator and what the temp range is.

[sport]

Is there are manufacturers name on them. You could contact them.
Another thing that you could do is wait and hope that a variable temp one comes up.
I think that a lot of dehydrators are made for things like Beef Jerky and the temp may be too high so be careful.

[Hurraw]

How are we to know? Ask the people who are selling these appliances if they have a temp regulator and what the temp range is.

It is possible, but I think you may be overestimating the knowledge of individuals selling used goods on Craigslist. Remember, these are used items. I asked because I thought somebody here using one but might have a thermometer and have tested these. If you don't own one, the question was not for you.

[MysticTree]

But you don't give a brand or model number so I repeat, how are we to know?

[Hurraw]

But you don't give a brand or model number so I repeat, how are we to know?

Please allow me to simplify my question: Does anyone use a small cheap round dehydrator? (On Craigslist they are ubiquitous) Are you happy with it?

[MysticTree]

Short of going to look at all cheap round dehydrators on Craigslist and emailing the sellers to ask the questions you won't ask them I can't see how we can be expected to help much. Yes I believe there are round dehydrators that are raw friendly but I don't know if they are sold on Craigslist. Why not look up the relevant makes and models on google and fond out of they will fit the bill?

[delmar]

I have a Ronco food dehydrator like this

9095

that my wife got at Goodwill for $5

Go ahead and buy one, if you can buy it cheap! Plug it in open the vents and put a thermometer in it. If it operates at more than 118 I can show you how to put a thermostat in it.


I have, in the past, converted one into a incubator to hatch chicken eggs by rigging an $8 thermostat to it. I can post instructions and photos for how to do that if that will help. So the answer is yes a cheap round dehydrator can be made to operate at 100 degrees.

Here's how
Get a water heater thermostat at the hardware store for $8 or so. Buy a cheap extension cord. Drill a hole in the side of one of the trays for the cord to go through.

Cut one of the two wires in two.
Here is a diagram for the wire.
9096

Here is what it looks like in the dehydrator.
9097

[hippie]

Delmar, that is amazing!

I have a cheap dehydrator myself. HOWEVER I first bought a round one for $40 from evil-mart. I *thought* it worked great. I called the manufacturer and asked what the temp was since it was not adjustable. They told me it runs anywhere from 145 to 180. Obviously this is no good. So I started my research and found the Nestco round and square dehydrators. They run about $60 and have temperature controls. Now I know that I am not killing the enzymes in my foods, and I do enjoy using it. However, I find I might bring it out 1x a month or less. I'm not sure they are an actual necessity for a raw foods kitchen.

[MysticTree]

Definitely not necessary. Nice if you like making crackers or kale chips and recipes that call for one. I don't use one; I don't have electricity where I live.