Excalibur Dehydrator question

[Mookie]

Is the door to the dehydrator supposed to fit - flush?
Mine seems to have a large gap on one side--- like it does not fit properly.
Is this normal?


Also- when you dehydrate tomatoes, do you get the smell of rotten tomatoes?
I came home and my kitchen smelled like rotten tomatoes.

Thanks

[scott]

Yes-normal. Sort of confusing at first, eh.

Yes-sort of.
But they taste great-I use them instead of sun-dried tomatoes, although I have sun dried my own tomatoes also. They're a little different than store bought, but I know they are organic and 100% raw.

Scott

[Sheryl]

The door has gaps to the side to allow the humid air flow out, so it can be replaced by new drier air. All dehydrators have some way of changing over air, otherwise the food would not dry! I'ts normal - do not worry!

When I do tomatoes I slice each tomato into about 6-8 slices (quite thin) so they dry very quickly. I don't ever smell anything but nice tomatoes, and they dry bright red. I know commercial 'sun' dried tomatoes are thicker, but I prefer quick drying (and to me more flavour retention).

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Mookie]

Thank you. I was a little concerned about the door....

I hope my tomatoes were not rotten to begin with.

[RawFoodieMom]

Mookie, the gap shouldn't be all on one side. Move the door slightly so that there's a small gap on each side. :)

[RowanC]

When you guys say a "gap" ... what do you mean exactly?

My door fits fairly flush. There is about a 1/8 inch space on either side where in the right light I can see the trays inside, but the door is flat against the trays.

If the door is not flush, you may not have it on correctly. It takes a little practice to get it right. You sort of have to "feel" it into the right place.

[RawFoodieMom]

Yes, that's what we mean when we say a gap. The door doesn't block the dehydrator completely, there's a small gap on each side where if you look in there you can see inside, so the air can get out. :)