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Owner Review - Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Express FD-60 Dehydrator
Reviewer Profile
| Name: | Ben Mansfield |
| Age: | 29 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 6'0" (1.8 m) |
| Weight: | 180 lbs (82 kg) |
| E-mail Address: | benmansfield27 AT gmail DOT com |
| City, State, Country: | North Ridgeville, OH, USA |
| Date: | 29 August 2006 |
Backpacking Background
Over the past 15 years or so, I've tried to average at least one weekend trip per month year round, primarily in PA, WV, and VA. During the last 8 years, I've tried to take a weeklong trip somewhere further, but still usually in the eastern US. I have hiked many sections of the AT, and am planning to backpack the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine next year. I consider myself a mid-weight hiker, preferring some luxury over an ultralight load. I am also an avid fly fisherman, mountain biker, and snow skier, and enjoy sailing my homemade dinghy.
Product Information
| Manufacturer: | Nesco/American Harvest |
| Model: | American Harvest Snackmaster Express FD-60 |
| Manufacturer URL: | http://www.nesco.com |
| Product Description: | Food Dehydrator |
| MSRP: | $59.95 (website) |
Detailed Product Description
The Nesco/American Harvest Snackmaster Express FD-60 Food Dehydrator is an entry-level food dehydrator. It comes with four trays and a solid sheet for drying liquids and making fruit leathers. According to the manufacturer, the FD-60 is capable of supporting up to twelve trays. A number of other accessories are also available, including a fine mesh screen for drying smaller solids that would otherwise fall through the openings in the standard trays.
The unit is white, and the four trays interlock and sit on top of the base, which has three slotted openings placed around the bottom to allow moist air to escape. The domed top includes the heater and fan assembly, as well as an adjustable thermostat. Around the thermostat dial are seven temperature indications, ranging from 95 F (35 C) to 155 F (68 C). The thermostat is infinitely adjustable through this range, so that the user is not forced to choose one of the seven temperatures. The rated power consumption of the unit is 500 W (500 J/s).
With all four trays installed, the unit measures approximately 9.5" (24 cm) high. The individual trays are each 1.25" (3.2 cm) high and 13.5" (34.3 cm) in diameter.
The dehydrator package also includes an instruction guide that includes not only care and cleaning instructions, but also helpful hints for dehydrating food (such as suggested temperatures for different foods) and a variety of recipes.
Personal Use & Impression
Use Experience
I have owned this dehydrator for one year, and have dehydrated over 20 batches with it. I tend to dry mainly fruit and jerky, but have done a few trays of vegetables and flowers. I have not made fruit leathers, as I don't really care for them.
Temperature Control
Using an instant read thermometer inserted into one of the openings at the bottom of the unit, I have verified that the actual bottom temperature reached is within +/- 2 % of the thermostat setting. The instruction manual includes recommended temperature settings for different materials being dried. For times when I dry several trays of fruit along with several trays of jerky, I tend to set the temperature between the two recommended temperature settings, erring on the high side when meat is involved.
Drying Times
I find that drying times are a bit shorter for meat and a bit longer for fruit than what the manual recommends. However, the ranges given in the instructions are quite broad. This discrepancy is perhaps because I tend to cut meat a bit thinner, and fruit a bit thicker, than the recommended sizes. I also tend to leave more space empty on the tray when drying meat, and pack the fruit and vegetables a little closer together which can hinder air flow a bit.
Food Preparation
To prepare meat for jerky, I first trim as much fat as possible off of the piece of meat. It is important to eliminate as much fat as possible, as it will allow the dried jerky to last much longer. I then tenderize the meat using a mallet, and apply a dry rub consisting of salt, pepper, and a blend of spices that varies depending on what flavor I'm making. I also prepare a marinade (the recipe of which also varies depending on variety), which typically consists of Worchester Sauce, Soy Sauce, and liquid smoke. I have added other ingredients in the past, but these three ingredients are typically the main ones. I then slice the meat, some pieces with the grain and some against the grain to get a variety of textures. I allow the meat to marinate for a day or so, stirring a few times to ensure consistent coverage before laying it out on the trays.
To prepare fruit or vegetables, it's simply a matter of peeling or skinning (if necessary - for things like pineapple) and slicing it into uniform size pieces. For some fruits, such as apples, I give it a quick citrus bath in lemon or lime juice to prevent it from browning. The fruit is then laid out on the trays for drying.
Operation
Once the food to be dried is prepared, I lay it out on the trays, trying to keep the individual pieces from touching. The trays are stacked on the base, and the head unit is placed on top. I turn the thermostat to the appropriate temperature setting for the food that I'm drying. There is no on/off switch, so the unit turns on immediately when plugged in.
Once running, I typically check the food once per hour to ensure even drying. For jerky, it is necessary to occasionally dab the surface of the meat with a paper towel to absorb any liquid that has risen to the top. Although the instructions indicate that tray rotation is not necessary, I sometimes do rotate the trays if I don't think I'm getting adequate air flow, or if the trays are drying at different rates. I also tend to turn the food over at least once per drying session to ensure that both sides dry evenly. While this is probably not necessary, I find that it gives a more even texture through the entire piece.
As some pieces do tend to dry faster than others, I often remove smaller or thinner pieces as they are finished to prevent over drying. Food is done when tearing it shows no moisture beads on the inside. Different foods will dry differently; for example, apples will often be crisp, whereas pineapples will remain pliable but show minimal moisture if torn.
Once all the food is done, I remove it from the trays, allow it to cool, and package it in vacuum sealed bags. I label each package with the contents and the date it was prepared, then typically place the sealed packages in the freezer if I don't intend to eat it within a week or so.
I'm not sure how long food prepared in this way will last in the freezer or on a shelf, but I have eaten a variety of dried foods that have been vacuum sealed and frozen up to six months after dehydrating. I have not noticed any degradation in flavor or texture after six months of storage. I don't store any dehydrated food outside of the freezer for longer than a few weeks, but the instruction manual indicates that shelf life of dehydrated food increases 3 to 4 times for every 18 F (10 C) drop in storage temperature.
Cleaning
The individual trays are top-shelf dishwasher safe. I typically rinse or scrape off any large pieces of residue left from the dehydrating process, then stagger the trays in my dishwasher. All four trays and the bottom piece barely fit into my dishwasher in this manner, and little space is left for anything else. However, this method is much simpler than trying to wash the trays by hand, as there are many tiny spaces in the plastic grids of each tray.
The top unit cannot be submerged in water, as the unit is not sealed from water ingress which could cause a short or other damage. Though I don't typically get any food on the unit, I do wipe it with a damp cloth after each use.
Summary
I received this dehydrator as a gift, and have been very happy with it. I have been able to make a wide variety of trail foods that will keep much longer than fresh food, but still retain their nutritional value and flavor. I enjoy trying out different recipes for foods like jerky that need prepared, and dried fruit is a great snack on the trail or in the office.
What I like
- Ease of use
- Simple to clean in the dishwasher
- Good included instruction manual with recipes
What I dislike
- No on/off switch
What my wife dislikes
- Making jerky makes the house smell like drying meat
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