food dehydrators

[RhodyRams]

does anyone have one, and how often do you use it.

Wifey wants one but I am hesitant to order one and have it taking up what little cabinet space we have left.

 

[PhxRam]

does anyone have one, and how often do you use it.

Wifey wants one but I am hesitant to order one and have it taking up what little cabinet space we have left.

Unless that is your lifestyle I would hesitate getting one. I am sure we all have cabinets full of gizmos and gadgets which we used a few times and then never used them again.

One gadget that DOES get used quite frequently in our house is a food saver. That has paid for itself more then a few times.

 

[RhodyRams]

See, thats my argument...even the other day she came home with a new mop... I asked why, ya never even used the old one.

Just starting to feel my face again !!!

 

[Yamahopper]

I have one. Since i always seem to have a endless supply of deer meat I use it to make jerky. They are really simple to use.
Other than that I haven't used it much for anything else. Some people use them to dry fruit or veggies, me I'd rather be a Niner fan than eat that crap. But I digress.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I own two Nesco Garden Masters. I make Jerky all the time. The wife and kids love it. The deer burger jerky is what they prefer but we also get a quarter of a cow and have lots of hamburger to use up so I use that once the deer is gone. I also hunt for wild mushrooms and if I get a surplus of the right kind I dehydrate them. I have not tried too much of the other stuff, like fruit leather and dried veggies, but have always intended to because we hike a bit with the kids and always try to eat healthy on the trail and just in general. We don't want to teach the kids to eat donuts and chips everytime they are hungry. Our problem has just been time. The youngest is almost 3 yrs old and she demands constant surveillance because she can reach the door knobs and loves to be outside.

The Nesco Gardenmaster is around $80.00 and you can get extra trays if you like. The only reason I have two instead of extra trays is that it was on my Amazon list and both my wife and mother purchased it. I like having both though. One comes with 4 trays and will make two pounds of burger into jerky without extra trays. Sometimes I make 4 lbs and use them both. If you add trays I imagine it slows down the drying time.

I keep mine in the original boxes on a shelf in the basement.

 

[V3]

I'm not sure if you need a new oven or not(perhaps your current one has this feature and you don't even know it?) but some newer ovens have a drying feature. I just used it the other day to make some jerky. That way you won't be using up more cabinet space. Just a thought.

 

[Dagonet]

They are great for my peppers and herbs. Plan to do my own garlic powder with them soon.

 

[Dagonet]

I have one. Since i always seem to have a endless supply of deer meat I use it to make jerky. They are really simple to use.
Other than that I haven't used it much for anything else. Some people use them to dry fruit or veggies, me I'd rather be a Niner fan than eat that crap. But I digress.

If you can send some of that deer meat my way.... I'll trade you many herbs and hot peppers to dehydrate for seasoning.

 

[Pancake]

Phx is right. I have one taking up a whole shelf for the last 10 years. I made jerky one time but I have to admit it was tasty.

 

[PhxRam]

Phx is right. I have one taking up a whole shelf for the last 10 years. I made jerky one time but I have to admit it was tasty.

My aunt has one and made some jerky as well. You are right, It is killer. My problem is that I will eat most of it in one sitting.