Dehydrator blues [Archive]

pepperfever

10-29-2008, 08:14 PM

Just got a Nesco last winter, apparently too many peppers are more than it can handle...it died yesterday. Had to resort to my daughter's Nesco that we gave her for Christmas and hope it can dry the rest of the peppers. That's it...a 9 tray Excaliber is in the budget for next year no matter what...I am not coping with buying a new dehydrator every year. GRRRRRRRR!!!

Josh

10-29-2008, 09:18 PM

a 9 tray Excaliber is in the budget for next year no matter what... GRRRRRRRR!!!

I invested in the 4 tray base model this summer and it has worked great. I cannot speak on the aspects of longevity. But so far so good.

millworkman

10-29-2008, 09:55 PM

So, nesco, nogo? I am getting one for Christmas and just wanted to make sure I get one that is somewhat reliable for more than one year.

chilliman64

10-30-2008, 06:47 AM

why not the Harvest Maid FD1000 with some extra trays - 1000 watts! the only downside is the round trays with the centre hole.

Armadillo

10-30-2008, 07:44 AM

I fear that most of the non-professional household dehydrators are designed for a handfull of apple rings every now and then but not for shitloads of peppers and jerky in 24/7 service. I bought one with 250 W for 30.-€ and it does a good job. But I'm not daring to make a bet that it will survive next year if I get a good harvest.

POTAWIE

10-30-2008, 07:58 AM

Armadillo

10-30-2008, 08:06 AM

My first nesco burnt out after about 4 years and it was because earwigs had made a nest near the heater. My newer 3 year old nesco is doing great but next year I'm hoping to purchase a larger commercial dehydrator which should end up saving me a lot on hydro.

Sometimes it pays off to go big. With harvests like your's I'm sure a big dehydrator with 1000W will dry more in one batch than my little 250 W device will do in four batches. So in the end it will save a little bit of money and a whole lot of time. And since time is money... well...

POTAWIE

10-30-2008, 08:13 AM

Sickmont

10-30-2008, 08:34 AM

I've been running my unit full time for about 2 months now and I still can't keep up. I've been eyeing this cabelas model for a few years now, and I keep saying "maybe next year":)

http://tinyurl.com/63qbb4

You know, it seems to me the Cabelas one is a pretty nice unit, but i haven't found anybody who has one to get a decent review of it. I'd rather get a thumbs up or two before i shell out the cash.

pepperfever

10-30-2008, 08:44 AM

In all fairness to Nesco I had a $20.00 sale one with 4 round trays. It worked great until it died. Daughter's dehydrator is the same brand and kind, maybe we just had one that had a fault but I was upset. Don't interupt my pepper drying lol. I don't actually know what happened, it just quit working. Might have been just the individual unit not the brand specifically.

imaguitargod

10-30-2008, 09:14 AM

Bummer about your loss sir! This reminds me, I need to set the dehydrator up today!

POTAWIE

10-30-2008, 09:34 AM

You know, it seems to me the Cabelas one is a pretty nice unit, but i haven't found anybody who has one to get a decent review of it. I'd rather get a thumbs up or two before i shell out the cash.

Most of the 127 reviews on the Cabelas sight are positive except 1 guy who had to return his twice but had no hassles with customer service. I'm just worried about shipping costs to Canada and if I do have problems, it will be even more shipping $$ for repairs.

Sickmont

10-30-2008, 09:37 AM

Most of the 127 reviews on the Cabelas sight are positive except 1 guy who had to return his twice but had no hassles with customer service. I'm just worried about shipping costs to Canada and if I do have problems, it will be even more shipping $$ for repairs.

I meant some reviews from some people i deal with regularly, like everyone here, you know? I know sometimes a company will load up their own website with a ton of positive 'reviews' to help sales. I'm not saying Cabelas does that, but i have seen it done before.

AlabamaJack

10-30-2008, 09:46 AM

I know sometimes a company will load up their own website with a ton of positive 'reviews' to help sales.

you mean like Reamers?

Sickmont

10-30-2008, 09:59 AM

you mean like Reamers?

Exactly.

Sauceman51

10-30-2008, 10:17 AM

I've had my Nesco for about 5 years n it's still going strong. I've got 12 trays, and it runs 24/7 during harvest. I cut my peppers with a food processor and load up the trays. I fill them to the max. Never had a problem.

Chiliac

10-30-2008, 11:03 AM

Sorry to hear that. I'd hate to lose my dehydrator right now when I need it most. I paid about 50 bucks for mine, works fine so far, let's see how long it'll last!

pepperfever

10-30-2008, 11:55 AM

Bummer about your loss sir! This reminds me, I need to set the dehydrator up today!

sir???

AlabamaJack

10-30-2008, 11:58 AM

I have to give my 9 tray excalibur two thumbs up...I love it...

imaguitargod

10-30-2008, 11:58 AM

sir???

Sorry....I ment "dude".

Chiliac

10-30-2008, 12:01 PM

Maybe something in the direction of gal or Miss would be more appropriate!

AlabamaJack

10-30-2008, 12:02 PM

Sorry....I ment "dude".

you can call her Ms. Jackie Iggy... roflmao :lol:

Sickmont

10-30-2008, 12:13 PM

Sorry....I ment "dude".

Try 'Dudette' instead

imaguitargod

10-30-2008, 01:17 PM

Wait...Chiliac's a chick?!?!?!

AlabamaJack

10-30-2008, 01:37 PM

go home and drink a beer to clear your head Iggy....

Chiliac

10-30-2008, 01:59 PM

Wait...Chiliac's a chick?!?!?!

You got something wrong there, very wrong! :)

Sickmont

10-30-2008, 02:11 PM

Wait...Chiliac's a chick?!?!?!

No, Pepper fever is.

imaguitargod

10-30-2008, 04:31 PM

No, Pepper fever is.
OH! Ok, I got my berring now....

moyboy

10-30-2008, 04:41 PM

I've got a 10 tray 600W "IGLOO" commercial dehydrator and it is the best thing.

Can dry about 400 orange habs cut in half, all at once....Made the house smell pretty funky too....

http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/c-Stuff-for-Sale-homeware-furniture-outdoor-other-household-FOOD-DEHYDRATOR-COMMERCIAL-10-TRAY-IGLOO-BRAND-NEW-W0QQAdIdZ72769173

I paid a whole lot less than the price listed on that site...

moyboy

10-30-2008, 04:49 PM

OH! Ok, I got my berring now....

Good to see you're back with us mate....I'm a guy by the way....:D

Sickmont

10-30-2008, 04:51 PM

Good to see you're back with us mate....I'm a guy by the way....:D

yeah, i could tell by your avatar pic:lol:

moyboy

10-30-2008, 05:06 PM

yeah, i could tell by your avatar pic:lol:

:lol: That pic is of me when i get out of bed in the morning...

But after i don my wig, straighten my teeth and and have breakfast I look a million bucks....:P

Should probably put a pic of myself up in my home page thing....One day....

chilliman64

11-01-2008, 03:58 AM

I just bought another 5 trays for the FD1000, that makes 10 trays so I can boost up the size of my jerky batches now - yeehar!

chilehunter

11-01-2008, 10:38 PM

I have a nesco & dont have a problem with it, granted it doesnt run as much as some others here but it gets used & I've had it for several years (forget how many years)

:lol: That pic is of me when i get out of bed in the morning...

thats a picture of the freak from the movie "goonies"

moyboy

11-02-2008, 05:30 PM

thats a picture of the freak from the movie "goonies"
Yes i know, "Sloth"......:)

imaguitargod

11-02-2008, 06:15 PM

"Heeeeeyyyy you guuys!!"

chilehunter

11-02-2008, 11:20 PM

"Heeeeeyyyy you guuys!!"

easy there chuck, or was it chucky ?

I liked the movie (goonies) still wondering when they'll do a remake of it.

imaguitargod

11-03-2008, 09:05 AM

easy there chuck, or was it chucky ?

I liked the movie (goonies) still wondering when they'll do a remake of it.

It was "Chunk". ;)