What food dehydrator do YOU use?!

[chirp]

I am looking for a unit and seem to be thinking THIS sounds pretty solid.

Alot of the ones I have personally seen looked cheap and flimsy.

 

We got alot of veggies this year from the garden and I would like to dry and store a bunch.

 

Anyone do their own? Please hollar out!

Thanks!

[denalidave]

Or, dry the stuff in your oven on a baking sheet on low heat. Just a thought. Let me know what you get and how you like it as we need one too.

[bstach]

I have one of these and it works fine. I haven't used anything else so I can't compare to the one you are looking at.

 

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/fooddehydrator2.htm

 

I hardly use it. Imo its not worth the research and effort it takes to get a qood result with a variety of items. Its easier and usually more cost-effective to buy dehydrated food. Though if you have a glut of garden produce then that's not an issue for you.

 

[chirp]

Thanks for the input guys!

 

Pretty much the garden and herbs for us make it look like a decent purchace along with a food sealer. Well see.

Pros and cons will vary it seems as clean up, consistency of drying and ease of use.

A friend gave us one similar to yours Bstach and it seemed to just not have the power and the oven is a good idea too and have thought about it but kinda wanted a dedicated dryer.

The excalibur I linked has solid trays with heat/fan from behind for even drying as well as a smooth bottom for easy clean up.

 

Otherwise I guess its not brain surgery so the pros/cons are pretty simple.

 

Gonna keep looking and prolly make a decision in a few days.

[denalidave]

My wife drys a lot of fruit in our green house... Just cover them with screens so the bugs don't get at the food.

[goatboy]

Believe it or not.... I recently used a "Mr. Coffee" brand food dehydrator to dry out many, many cherry tomatoes and habanero peppers and it was great, easy, and simple.

 

So, there you have it. Functional, and a lot cheaper than the ones already mentioned...

[archenemy]

I have an awesome dehydrator. It is a round, stackable one called "Harvest" somethingerather. I will look at it when I get home on the 6th. I have used it for years and it works well.

 

One caveat: herbs don't work well in dehydrators. Just tying the herbs up and covering them with a paper bag and hanging them somewhere warm and dry (I hang my next to the furnace in the basement) and they will be ready in a week or two.

[lancegranite]

Food Saver Gardenmaster, works great.

Cabela's has the best selection of home food storage/ prosessing items I've seen.

[G-spotter]

. It is a round, stackable one called "Harvest" somethingerather.

 

American Harvest I think? We just got one of those and as a result I'm eating fresh banana chips today. Yum