Preferred dehydrator.?

[ghost9mm]

Looking into purchasing a dehydrator, is there a brand that is better or are they pretty much alike...? thanks in advance...

                           Gary

[muebe]

I have a Cabela's 10 tray that works really well ;D

[NePaSmoKer]

The cabelas 10 tray digital blows my cabelas 80L away

[Smokin Soon]

The cabelas 10 tray digital blows my cabelas 80L away

In what way??

[Mr Walleye]

I have a Cabelas 80L and couldn't be happier with it. I've done jerky loads up to 20 lbs in it depending on thickness and had no problems with it. It's well constructed with a smooth aluminum interior and 58 sq ft of metal racks, 12 in total. This makes it easy to clean. It has a 1600 watt element along with a blower for air circulation. It has a door on the unit. This may not seem that important but it gives you the ability to dry things that are larger by simply leaving a rack or two out. This is not possible on the dehydrators that are designed with drawers.

The only 2 complaints I have heard on them are as follows:

1) They are noisier than some others. I don't view this as an issue mainly because mine is in my heated garage. I don't think you will get away from having some noise if you have a blower which is a must for circulation.

2)  The lower racks finish sooner. This can be dealt with two ways. Simply rotate the racks or remove the product as it finishes which is usually the way I do it.

Just my 2 cents...

Mike

[NePaSmoKer]

The cabelas 10 tray digital blows my cabelas 80L away

In what way??

Operation

Not so noisy
Very little rack rotation
racks clean easy in the sink
I can store the digital in a closet in the house, My 80L is in the garage
frogmats for my Bradley racks fit perfect in the digital trays where as i need larger ones or 2 for the 80l racks

[cobra6223]

Now finally something I familiar with , they all talk hi tech , a little lower tech , a digital Nesco gardenmaster about 130.00 . I'm on my second one and since I have very limited space for one would buy another in a heartbeat , we get 3# of ground meat , mostly turkey on the four racks and I believe you add way more racks than you will ever need, don't quote me but without looking I think it goes to 30 racks , hope you enjoy what ever one you decide on , I know we sure liike ours .
Tim

[OU812]

I have this one and its close to 10 years old with no problems at all.
http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/9-Tray-Large-Excalibur-3900-68-37-regular-prod.htm

The price has gone up a bit sense I bought mine.

[josbocc]

Cabelas 80l now, LEM Stainless before that, and Excalibur prior to that.  Cabelas is by far the best I have used.  15 lbs of meat at a time with room to spare.  Digital timer and temp control.  LEM stainless was OK, but as your jerky dried, that metal on metal contruction made it louder than a busted chainsaw.  Excalibur worked very well, but my housing developed a crack iin the bottom front corner after only about two years.  It was repairable, but I much prefer the Cabelas.

Good Luck,
Jeff

[carnie1]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Heavy-Duty-Dehydrator/728907.uts?destination=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D106994880%26WTz_l%3DUnknown%253Bcat105591780   

Still $99.00   Tough to beat at that price

[muebe]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Heavy-Duty-Dehydrator/728907.uts?destination=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D106994880%26WTz_l%3DUnknown%253Bcat105591780   

Still $99.00   Tough to beat at that price

That is the one I got....I got mine for $79.00

[cathouse willy]

Nothing fancy but my kitchen range has a convection bake cycle. The heat is all provided by the small element in the back wall and blown around by the fan.With the oven temp on low and the door just cracked it maintains 150f with a nice breeze. It works great for drying food.I'd still like a proper dehydrator but in the meantime this works fine.

[bundy]

Go with the Cabelas 10 tray digital, the most for the $.

[Scotty-G]

Have the Excalibur 9 tray with timer and love it
http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/9-Tray-Large-Excalibur-with-26-hour-Timer-3926T-28-37-regular-prod.htm

make all sorts of dried fruits and fruit wraps (the kids love them), homemade yogurt, bread proofing, dried herbs & chilli peppers, etc.

Haven't done jerky in it yet

[NePaSmoKer]

I have the Cabelas 80L and the digital 10 tray.

Yeah the 80L does more but the 10 tray blows the 80 away. Its quiet, light weight and like bundy said.