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Farm Kitchen:  Food Deyhydrators  |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 07:45:33 AM
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Wasn't sure where to put this. Hubby & I are in the market for one. Hubby is interested in us making jerky - me, I want to preserve the garden - and well, probably learn more from you here what I can do with it.
Can you educate me on them? We don't want to run out and buy a model that we're going to outgrow in a year or 2. We'd like something that is going to last. What is a good model? How many watt's?
Help! Thanks!
Farm Girl #790
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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Roxy7
True Blue Farmgirl
1083 Posts
Robin
Denver
CO
USA
1083 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 07:52:31 AM
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| I actually have 2. One is the old Ronco version that I have had for over 20 years. The other looks just like it but it slightly smaller. When the season comes I may have both plugged in doing various batches of goodies. If I am doing meat and fruits etc, I will put them in different dehydrators. Also some foods in our dry climate dry too quickly if I dont leave a couple of emtpy trays at the bottom. Mine are older and I dont know if the new ones offer any range of heat. Mine dont. They are off or on. |
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delicia
True Blue Farmgirl
917 Posts
delicia
cincinnati
ohio
USA
917 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 09:00:18 AM
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What kind of cost is reasonable for a dehydrator? I also would love to learn more about them.
delicia |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 10:33:00 AM
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delicia you could easily make one. even adding a small fan from radio shack. you do need to use food grade screen material. we made ours large. we also have a separate one for meat. just a thought sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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basketmaker
Farmgirl in Training
23 Posts
Jean
Hill
NH
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 10:39:04 AM
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My daughter recently gave me a dehydrator as a gift and I love it. I haven't done much else other than drying herbs and jerky because nothing is fresh right now. I can't wait to try some vegetables and fruit when they come in season, especially tomatoes. My machine is a Nesco FD1010. I think the cost was in the $170 range but it had the best ratings on-line. I know you purchase much less expensive dehydrators but I'm not sure how efficient they are. Supposedly one of the important features of mine is that it takes less drying time.
I have been very pleased with it for the few things I've done so far but need to find a good book with more ideas. Can anyone recommend a good dehydrator recipe book?
Jean from NH
Basketmaker
www.MurrayHillWeaving.com
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Roxy7
True Blue Farmgirl
1083 Posts
Robin
Denver
CO
USA
1083 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 5:16:07 PM
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| Mine was only around 40 bucks...20 some years ago. |
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Mamarude
True Blue Farmgirl
107 Posts
Anna
Durango
Colorado
USA
107 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 5:34:55 PM
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I have 3 dehydrators, two are the "cheapo" models I got at Wal Mart and then I have this one
http://www.nesco.com/category_449f7f01f1ea/subcategory_39febe0b9343/product_425bff160394/session_ec27baec7b3c/
I finally splurged for my 34th birthday this year, because I was tired of messing with the other ones. The Nesco models have a temperature gauge, and I think that's important when you make jerky. I have two apple trees, and I run 2 dehydrators around the clock for weeks in the fall, my family loves dried apples! The cheap models have to be watched carefully because they burn my apples, the Nesco dries them perfectly every time! I love the temperature setting ability to dry herbs on low heat from my garden, and I think I'll be buying another Nesco for my birthday this year! My super frugal 84 year old Grandmother told me "You better not buy a cheap dehydrator!" and of course I didn't listen to her before I bought those. She has a Nesco too! Good luck!
Cherian |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 5:41:59 PM
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We have a Nesco also. Husband bought it last fall, and because we live on an apple farm, we dried apples, and apples, and apples, lol!!! The grandkids loved them, so that's what we'll be doing every year.
I am mainly interested in using it for drying herbs....and garlic! And onions!!! I use so much basil and garlic and onion powder that it will be nice to have it.
Dried tomatoes, there's a thought! That would make a great Christmas present for my dad!
Husband also bought a storage bag sealing system at the same time. Haven't used it yet, but I will be once I start drying!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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delicia
True Blue Farmgirl
917 Posts
delicia
cincinnati
ohio
USA
917 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2010 : 5:49:02 PM
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Thank you for all the info. I will not use one a lot so I think I will try and make one. I will use it for herbs.
delicia |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2010 : 03:42:42 AM
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Thanks, the Nesco name is very familiar. My gram had a Nesco roaster for years!
I'm going to show that page to hubby later today. We were sort of looking at the Nesco Gardenmaster at Bass Pro on Sunday. But not knowing what we were looking at. Now I know we want a temperature guage
I'm going to print out the Gardenmaster & the snackmaster to see what the differences are. (besides price)
Farm Girl #790
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2010 : 07:20:05 AM
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I have a snackmaster, bought it about 10 years ago and it has been a very good dehydrator. Alas though we have outgrown it. Dehydrating is alot like canning, once you have done it you are hooked. DH will be building me one this spring, we will be needing one with 12-20 shelves depending on how big he builds the cabinet. I will keep the snackmaster and it will be used for little jobs, like bananas.
Brenda- I dehydrate cherry tomatos every year and use them all winter long in salads, they are great!
Deb- there are so many things that you can dehydrate from your garden, some you probably wouldn't think of. Last year after I harvested the broccoli I just couldn't see the leaves going to waste, so I gave some to the chickens and dehydrated the rest and made broccoli flakes. These work great in soups. Also another idea, take the hard ends of the asparagas and dehydrate them. Once they are dry you can put them into a food processor and make a powder, this makes a great cream of asparagas soup in the middle of winter! So many things you can do, I would reccomend getting the biggest you can afford.
Lillian |
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Farm Kitchen: Food Deyhydrators |
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Food Deyhydrators
