Cut and Dry: These are the Best Nesco Dehydrator Reviews

The race to make our food last as long as humanly possible seems to never slow down. Refrigerators are clearly the most popular way of doing it, but sometimes you need your food to be around for much longer than that.

Maybe you have a rare and expensive treat you want to eat sparingly and save as much as you can. Maybe you’re just trying to plan for the apocalypse. No matter what the case may be, you need your food to last

What better way than a Nesco dehydrator?

With a food dehydrator, you can be sure you have meals for years. The real question is, which dehydrator is best for your needs?

Luckily, we can help you answer that question thanks to these Nesco deluxe food dehydrator reviews.

Introduction to Dehydrating Food

If you’re looking for a way to make your favorite foods last longer without sacrificing flavor or nutrition, dehydrating food might just become your new favorite kitchen hack. Using a food dehydrator, you can transform everything from juicy fruits to savory meats into shelf-stable snacks that are perfect for on-the-go munching or long-term storage. Whether you’re craving homemade beef jerky, chewy banana chips, or sweet fruit leathers, dehydrating food is a simple process that locks in taste and nutrients by removing moisture. The drying process in a dehydrator helps retain nutrients in food by using controlled temperature, ensuring your snacks are as healthy as they are delicious. This not only helps prevent spoilage but also gives you total control over what goes into your snacks—no mystery ingredients here! With a good dehydrator, you can experiment with different foods, create custom blends, and enjoy healthy, homemade treats all year round.

Types of Food Dehydrators

When it comes to picking the right food dehydrator, knowing your options can make all the difference. There are a few main types of food dehydrators to consider:

  • Box Dehydrators: These are the classic rectangular models with multiple trays stacked inside. They’re great for drying a variety of foods at once and often come with features like adjustable temperature control and automatic shut off for added convenience.
  • Stackable Dehydrators: Compact and space-saving, these round dehydrators let you add or remove trays as needed. They’re perfect if you want flexibility and don’t have a ton of counter space.
  • Horizontal Dehydrators: If you’re serious about dehydrating large batches or even running a small business, horizontal dehydrators offer max capacity and even drying across all trays. However, it’s worth noting that round trays, like those found in many Nesco models, can reduce usable drying area due to the central hole, which may impact drying efficiency.

When choosing a dehydrator, think about what foods you’ll be drying most, how much space you have, and which features—like temperature control or automatic shut off—will make your life easier. With so many food dehydrators out there, you’re sure to find one that fits your kitchen and your snacking style.

Key Features to Consider

Not all food dehydrators are created equal, so it pays to know which features will make your dehydrating experience a breeze. Here’s what to look for:

  • Trays: Stainless steel trays are sturdy and easy to clean, while plastic trays are lightweight and budget-friendly. Some models let you add extra trays for more space.
  • Temperature Settings: Adjustable temperature control is a must if you want to dry different foods perfectly—think 135°F for beef jerky and 105°F for delicate fruits and veggies. Meat is dried at the high end of the temperature range, while herbs are dried at the low end, ensuring optimal results for each type of food.
  • Air Flow: A top mounted fan helps circulate warm air evenly, ensuring your food dries consistently without the need for constant tray rotation. This also keeps liquids from dripping into the heater chamber.
  • Accessories: Look for extras like fruit roll sheets for making fruit roll or fruit leathers, clean a screens for drying smaller foods, and jerky seasoning to kickstart your meat jerky adventures.

With the right combination of temperature control, air flow, and handy accessories, your food dehydrator will be ready to tackle everything from banana chips to homemade jerky.

Benefits of Using a Food Dehydrator

Why invest in a food dehydrator? The perks go way beyond just making tasty snacks. Dehydrating food helps preserve nutrients and flavor, so your dried foods are as healthy as they are delicious. You can dry large quantities of food at once, saving time and making it easy to stock up on homemade beef jerky, fruit leathers, and other treats. Plus, you’ll cut down on food waste and save money by preserving foods that might otherwise spoil. With a dehydrator, you’re in control—no added sugars or preservatives, just pure, wholesome snacks. Just remember to follow food safety basics: wash your hands, keep your dehydrator clean, and store your dried foods in airtight containers for maximum shelf life.

How to Choose the Best Food Dehydrator

Finding the best food dehydrator for your kitchen doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by thinking about what you want to dehydrate and how much space you have. Look for must-have features like adjustable temperature control, automatic shut off, and handy accessories such as fruit roll sheets and clean a screens. Don’t forget to check the max capacity, air circulation, and drying power—these will determine how efficiently your dehydrator handles big batches. Popular brands like Excalibur, Cosori, and Nesco offer a range of models to suit every need and budget. Nesco dehydrators are competitive in price and are often considered a good entry-level option for food dehydration. Read reviews, compare features, and you’ll be well on your way to picking the perfect dehydrator for making everything from fruit roll to jerky and beyond.

The Nesco Deluxe Food Dehydrator Reviews to Give You the Answers You Need

Read these summed-up reviews to get the answers you need to pick the right dehydrator for you.

Nesco FD-61 Snackmaster Encore Four Tray Food Dehydrator

This dehydrator is super neat. It comes equipped with a 500 watt fan an adjustable thermostat so you can dry out your foods faster.

What’s more, it starts out with four trays, but can be expanded up to 12 trays, so you can dehydrate loads of food at one time. Some users may prefer to start with fewer trays for small batches, which is ideal for individuals or limited kitchen space, and additional trays can be purchased separately to increase capacity for larger batches. The drying trays are essential for efficient dehydration, and each individual tray can be removed or added for flexibility depending on your needs. If you want more trays for bulk preparation, you can always buy additional trays separately. Accessories like mesh sheets and solid trays are also available and can be purchased separately to customize your setup.

The customers are clearly impressed with this dehydrator, and one buyer from Amazon sums it up for everyone. He says, “The dehydrator is top notch for the money”, which makes sense when you get all of this for a couple of bucks.

For those interested in making jerky, the FD-61 is a great jerky dehydrator, and it compares well to the Snackmaster Pro food dehydrator, as both are excellent choices for jerky preparation.

What’s more, he says that “This product can also be used WITHOUT electricity”, meaning that with some slight modifications that any average Joe could do, you could use the dehydrator in the sun’s heat. The design of the trays helps ensure even drying, and rotating trays or adjusting their position can further improve uniformity during the dehydration process.

Nesco American Harvest FD-1010 Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator

This Nesco dehydrator is so popular that it’s currently not even in stock. But it will be soon – and when it does you’ll want to be ready to get your own.

This dehydrator really pays homage to the land through it’s name and it’s design. It features a 2,400 RPM motor as well as a 4 and a half inch fan to keep the nutrition in the food.

There’s clearly no limit to what foods can be processed by the machine, as a review by one of the customers. explains. It’s apparently capable of “churning out jerky and fruit leather in huge batches”, so you get whatever you want – and more of it. The Gardenmaster excels at the drying process for a variety of dry foods, including dried fruits and fruit rolls, making it ideal for making fruit leather and other snacks. Its temperature controls allow for lower temperatures, which are perfect for making fruit leather and ensuring a high-quality finished product. The Gardenmaster can be expanded with more trays or additional trays for larger batches, and its design ensures consistent drying and helps dehydrate evenly across all trays.

Nesco American Harvest Food Dehydrator and Jerky Maker

Well, it’s pretty clear that this dehydrator is in it for the jerky, which means all sorts of jerky recipes.

This machine’s primary goal is to give you the best jerky known to man, and it does so with four trays and two pre-packaged spices (talk about being prepared). When making jerky, it’s important to slice food pieces evenly, partially freeze the meat for easier handling, and use the dehydrator’s even heat distribution for optimal drying. This model is considered a jerky dehydrator due to its specialized features and accessories tailored for jerky preparation. The drying process ensures a high-quality finished product by removing excess moisture and preserving the jerky for longer shelf life. It also works with 500 watts of power and can effectively block harmful UV light.

Best of all, it can also be used with fruit, in case jerky isn’t your thing – so everyone’s happy. No one could have told it better than Christine Hartman when she wrote: “Works perfect”.

Enough said.

Nesco Gardenmaster FD-1010

Let’s take a close look at the Nesco Gardenmaster. The Nesco Gardenmaster has a drying area of 144 square inches, making it suitable for handling larger batches of food. This capacity allows for efficient dehydration of fruits, vegetables, and even jerky, ensuring you can prepare plenty of snacks in one go.

The Gardenmaster comes standard with five trays, but you can expand its capacity by purchasing additional trays or more trays separately, making it ideal for large batches. Each individual tray is removable, allowing you to place foods of different sizes and shapes for optimal drying. Some models offer metal trays, which are durable, easy to clean, and dishwasher-safe, enhancing the overall quality and longevity of the drying trays.

The Gardenmaster features an exterior pressurized chamber that directs heated air evenly across all drying trays, helping to dehydrate evenly and ensure consistent drying throughout the unit. This efficient airflow system means there is no tray rotation needed, saving you time and effort.

Its adjustable temperature controls allow you to select lower temperatures, which are perfect for delicate foods like herbs and fruit leather, helping you achieve a high-quality finished product. The heating element is conveniently located for easy maintenance and cleaning, further simplifying the care of your dehydrator.

Overall, the Gardenmaster is a great machine that can handle a fair amount of food at once. For best results, pay attention to how you place foods on each tray to maximize airflow and drying efficiency.

Features

A Mighty Motor: With a rocking 2400 rpm motor, this machine is a beast. You won’t be twiddling your thumbs waiting for your snacks to dry. This baby gets the job done fast!

Fan: The 4 1/2-inch fan is the heart of the operation. It circulates air evenly throughout the device, ensuring your food dries out perfectly every single time.

Thermostat: The adjustable thermostat lets you control the heat from 95-160°F. Whether you’re a ‘low and slow’ type or a ‘get it done quick’ kind of person, this dehydrator has your back.

Vita-Save Exterior: This isn’t just any old casing. The Vita-Save exterior blocks out light to keep all those vital nutrients in your food. Your snacks will be as healthy as they are delicious.

Cleaning Ease: Hate cleaning up? Me too. That’s why I love that the cover and trays are dishwasher safe. Pop them in, sit back, and relax.

Expandable Excellence:Nesco American Harvest dehydrator comes with four trays but can stretch its legs to hold up to 30. Perfect for when you’ve got a mountain of apples from the orchard to dry.

Converga-Flow Technology: Thanks to the Double Wall Converga-Flow system, you don’t need to rotate trays.

Perfectly Round: The round shape isn’t just for looks. It optimizes space and enhances air circulation for better drying.

White Wonder: The sleek white color of this machine adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen.

The Upsides

Versatile: With the adjustable thermostat, you can dehydrate a whole array of foods. From herbs to jerky, this machine can do it all.

Nutrient Saver: The Vita-Save exterior protects your food from light damage, preserving flavors and nutrients. Healthy snacks that taste great? Yes, please!

Cleaning: The dishwasher-safe trays make cleaning up a breeze. More time for you to do… well, anything else.

Big Batch: The ability to expand to 30 trays means you can dehydrate large batches. Ideal for big families, parties, or stocking up for winter.

The Downside

No product is perfect, and the Nesco Gardenmaster FD-1010 is no exception. The plastic trays don’t seem sturdy.

Another downside is the fan does feel like it struggles.

Nesco FD-37

Let’s dive deep into this device’s core features, strengths, and weak points.

The FD-37 comes with four drying trays, but you can expand it up to seven trays with additional trays if you need to process a fair amount of food. The drying trays are easy to remove, so you can use just one individual tray for small projects or small batches, making it ideal for limited or occasional drying tasks. Starting with fewer trays can also lead to a faster and more efficient drying process, as airflow is more even and maintenance is easier. The transparent top lets you monitor the drying process without interrupting it.

The Features: Your Dehydration Partner

The Power: 400-Watts of Drying Power

This machine isn’t just about looks—it’s got power. With a robust 400-watt motor, the Nesco FD-37 doesn’t play around when it comes to drying your favorite foods. It’s like having a small, efficient oven right on your countertop.

Room for More: Expansion Up To 7 Trays

Your dehydration projects may vary in size, and the Nesco FD-37 is ready to adapt. You can start with four trays and expand up to seven, giving you the flexibility to dry a small herb harvest or tackle a bumper crop of apples.

Stay In the Know: Transparent Top

With this dehydrator, you’re never left guessing. The transparent top allows you to monitor the process, letting you see your apple slices or beef jerky as they transform into delicious, dried treats.

No Fuss, No Muss: Fan Forced Radial Airflow

Let’s forget the tedious task of tray rotation. The Nesco Food Dehydrator FD-37, with its fan-forced radial airflow, ensures even drying without any manual intervention. That’s convenience redefined!

Origin Matters: Made in the USA

Finally, it’s a product you can trust, made in the USA. That’s quality assurance from the get-go.

The Pros: What Makes it Shine

The Nesco FD-37 isn’t short on advantages. Here are the reasons why this might be your dehydration dream come true:

It’s priced reasonably well for a 400 watt dehydrator.

BPA trays are another selling point; This is really important when it comes to your health.

The Cons: Where it Falls Short

In the spirit of fairness, let’s talk about the cons. Here’s where the Nesco FD-37 could use some improvement:

I didn’t particularly appreciate that there is no adjustable temperature; I like to be in control when dehydrating food.

FAQs

Where can I purchase Nesco dehydrator parts?

You can purchase Nesco dehydrator parts from the official Nesco website or through select retailers such as Amazon or eBay. Some accessories, such as additional trays or mesh sheets, can be purchased separately from the main unit to expand your dehydrator’s capabilities.

Does Nesco have a variety of food dehydrator models?

Yes, Nesco has several different food dehydrator models available for purchase. These include the Snackmaster Series and the Gardenmaster Series, and more.

We’ve Got What You Need

Now that you’ve read up on your Nesco Professional Food Dehydrator reviews, you know which dehydrator is best for your needs. Why not learn what else you can do with your appliance.

Here at dehydrated foodz, we give the latest and greatest in dehydrated food facts. Learn about the newest dehydrators, quick tips on food dehydration, and even some dehydrated recipes.

Make sure to take a look at through out page; we’re sure you’ll find something new!

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Danny Content Writer
Hey there, since 2016, my mission has been to provide you with the information and guides you need to make food dehydrating simple and fun. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, my site offers helpful guides, reviews, and recipes to enhance your dehydrating experience. I take pride in only recommending products I believe in, ensuring my readers' trust. As an affiliate of various programs, including Amazon Associates, your support helps me continue providing quality content. Thanks for stopping by, and happy dehydrating!