Food-Dehydrator Machine 12 Stainless Steel Trays, 10.9ft² Meat Dehydrator for Jerky, 800W Dryer for Herbs, 190ºF Temperature Control,24H Timer,Powerful Drying Capacity for Fruits,Yogurt

I've run several batches through this machine since it arrived, and I am very pleased with its performance and construction. It dryes much more thoroughly than others dryers I'be had and in less time. The controls are intuitive, and the all stainless steel construction is very sturdy. And the price is a great value. It is also very quiet, you hardly know it's running. I may buy one of their larger models as I expand my business.

Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round. For today, I have witnessed a miracle in kitchen technology that has singlehandedly transformed my life, my pantry, and my ability to snack without guilt. The stainless steel food dehydrator. A machine so perfect, so wonderfully efficient, that I’m considering starting a support group for people who’ve just realized they, too, need one.Let me begin with the exterior. Stainless steel. I’m not saying it’s better than every other material on Earth, but if the moon was made of stainless steel, I’d be packing my bags to colonize it. This dehydrator gleams like the promise of a perfect, crisp apple chip and honestly, I think it makes me look cooler when I use it. It’s like I’m the Gordon Ramsay of drying fruit, except with zero culinary skill. The sleek design complements any kitchen décor, and by "complement," I mean it dominates the space, subtly telling everyone that you are not just dehydrating food , you are dehydrating it with style.But here’s where things get truly mind-blowing: it works. I know, shocking, right? You'd think a machine this flawless couldn’t possibly live up to its reputation. But, oh my friends, it does. It dries food so evenly and efficiently that even the pickiest of fruits and vegetables have no choice but to submit. I’ve tried everything! Apples, bananas, mangoes, even the most stubborn blueberries and every single one of them emerged perfectly dehydrated, as though they’d just taken a little vacation to the desert.The temperature controls are intuitive, and the timer? Well, let’s just say I’m setting it up to dry things while I’m asleep, and waking up to a kitchen that smells like a farmer’s market except better, because it’s all snackable. I’ve had so much fun experimenting with this machine, I’m considering using it to dehydrate my problems. “Oh, a stressful day? No worries, I’ll just set that anxiety on ‘low heat’ for six hours.” It’s that good.If you think a dehydrator is just a gadget for kale chips and jerky, you are sorely mistaken. This is a gateway to a world where food never goes bad, where fruits and veggies are preserved in their ultimate form and let’s not forget, where snacks are so deliciously healthy, you’ll be tempted to dry EVERYTHING. Yes, even the leftover pizza (don’t judge me).In short, I cannot recommend this stainless steel food dehydrator highly enough. It’s the culinary equivalent of finding a $100 bill in your coat pocket or discovering that your favorite show has been renewed for ten more seasons. It’s life-changing, and frankly, if you’re not already buying one, I’m not sure what you’re doing with your life. Get one, thank me later, and prepare for the most delightful, crispy, dehydrated future imaginable.Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a batch of problems to dehydrate away.

It’s huge. I normally keep it in a closet when I’m not using it when I am not using it because it does take up a lot of space.It doesn’t get so hot on the outside that I’m worried about touching it and burning myself or damaging my counters. It isn’t loud but does make a little sound. I often forget I have it on.My house is filled with big jerky eaters. I dehydrated 6-9 lbs a week. We like it very dry, thin and simple with just salt. I don’t follow the directions in the book for jerky. I turn it all the way up and dehydrate it for much longer than directed to get crisp almost chip like jerky. It doesn’t take 8-9 hours like my 5 tray dehydrator I got from Walmart. I can easily dehydrate meat in 3 hours.I’ve had it for a couple of months and have used it a lot! The machine works great. It’s easy to use. And is easy to clean.When I received it, I washed it, then turned it on high for a couple of hours to get rid of the smell that I read about but didn’t experience.I love it. I hope it works a long time!

I have been making beef jerky since August 2011 when I purchased my first dehydrator, the Nesco FD-80 (it still works). During that entire time, I have dehydrated:- Fruit (bananas, persimmons, pineapples, etc)- Herbs (including leaves and flowers for tea)- Jerky (beef mostly. Other meats require too much preparation to make them safe for dehydration)With the Nesco's plastic trays starting to fall apart, I eyed the premium Excalibur dehydrator, but its high price made me balk every time I was about to purchase. Alternatives were less than desirable because their maximum heating temperature is usually up to only about 158F -- that generally is not a problem for beef although an internal meat temperature of 165F is considered safe (especially for poultry). Furthermore, unlike the Nesco's round trays, the Excalibur has square ones that pack a bit more capacity but also do not dry as evenly.This Colzer appliance caught my eye with its maximum temperature of 194F, but like the Excalibur, its square trays are not immune to the uneven drying effect. What I did find, however, is that the drying is better than with the dehydrator I used to have that was mostly plastic. I am not sure if an all-metal housing is making a positive difference, but it appears to be.PROS- Square trays provide more room for items to be dehydrated- Clear glass allows you to check on the items' status without opening the door- Multiple temperature settings going as high as a whopping 194F! (Warning: going that high may not be a good idea. More on that later)- Built-in timer that goes up to about 24 hours (minimum 30 mins)- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free trays- Generous 8-tray capacity (each is 8.7" x 8.7")- 4 silicone sheets for drying fruit and small herbs that would fall through the metal tray's holes otherwise- All-metal housing- Greater value than the 8-tray Excalibur- Slim, tall design takes up less space than the NescoCONS- Temperature unit is locked to Celsius. There is no way to change to Fahrenheit-- Control panel has a built-in guide that shows Fahrenheith-Celsius conversions (if it did not have this, I would have returned the product)- Square trays dehydrate items more unevenly than rounded ones, partially because the rounded one generally throw heat downward in a more distributed way- All-metal housing makes the entire unit very hot to touch- Bottom of appliance has no tray to catch dripping juices, making cleanup a bit more painful than the Nesco (whose base could be removed for washing). I used a heavy-duty aluminum foil as a liner as a workaround, but will be on the lookout for an 8.4" x 8.4" tray insteadAs I had stated, the price-to-value ratio for this product is very good. It dehydrated my fruit and herb very well, and beef jerky came out pretty well (the pieces facing the glass door were not as dry as the ones at the back. You can alleviate that by rotating the trays half way through the drying.) Oddly, the manual states to pre-cook or boil the meat to 165F internal temperature and THEN dehydrate it (to ensure any germs are fully neutralized), but thankfully, we haven't experienced food poisoning yet. I do keep my jerky in the fridge for up to a month.Keep in mind that although the dehydrator can go up to 194F, a higher temperature may not necessarily be good for food. The high heat will first crisp up the exterior but leave the inside not as dry and potentially invite germs to grow. I stick to 165F for my jerky (Nesco's recommendation) despite the Colzer temperature guide stating up to 155F.RECIPES and TIPSWatch Alton Brown's Good Eats episode of how to make beef jerky. You'll learn quite a lot. After that, simply experiment with various recipes you may find on the internet. You may also consider a meat slicer to help cut some cooking time and to keep the meat at a consistent depth. Some butchers will gladly cut to size for you.For beef jerky, remember that fats spoil faster than meats. As such, for jerky to last as long as possible, trim out as much fat as you can and/or get as lean of a meat you can find. I like having some fat in my jerky, and so I keep it in the refrigerator as an extra precaution, although I have consumed it during a 4-day wilderness backpacking trip before without any issues.FINAL THOUGHTSI am glad to have finally found a square-tray dehydrator that works well without having to spend as much money as for an Excalibur. Should it continue to operate reliably, I will be more than happy to retire my 9-year-old Nesco FD-80 by gifting it to a friend (partially also so she won't ask me to make her jerky as often.) I just wish this Colzer could be changed to Fahrenheit, but no big deal.