Nesco FD-1018A Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, for Beef Jerky, Fruit, Herbs, and Snacks, 8 Trays, White

I originally had this exact model - the 1018A, and it worked great. I loved experimenting with it, and drying all sorts of things. But then I heard all kinds of great things about the Excalibur, so I gave my old-faithful Nesco to my niece, mortgaged the house (just kidding...), and got the Excalibur. I used it a lot, too - and loved it. This is just subjective, but I didn't really think the Excalibur worked any better than the Nesco. (I hope all my fellow raw foodists don't hate me for saying that!) I will say this for the Excalibur - it looked better in my kitchen. It was quieter, too - so it was more of an "indoor" dehydrator. The Nesco is a "garage" dehydrator. (At least that's what my wife says.) But in my opinion, they both work the same. When I moved, I gave the Excalibur to my Mom, and she loves it. I didn't want to ask for it back again (kind-hearted son that I am), so I just went out now, and re-purchased the 1018 - just like the one I had before. What I like about this: 1) It's expandable - up to 30 trays. (That's something that the Excalibur - as great as it is - couldn't do.) It would be a ton of work to fill 30 trays, so for now I'll just stick with the 8. To have trays that I'm not using would cause me to lay awake at nights - with overwhelming guilt and anxiety. 2) This "package deal" is really a great savings. I priced what it would cost if I did all the accessories (screens, roll-up trays) individually, and this is much cheaper. I ALWAYS use the screens, even for things that don't need them, because they help keep the trays a little cleaner. Screens are easier to wash than trays. (BTW, I found it easiest to wash the trays in the bathtub. They are too big for the kitchen sink and for the dishwasher.) I know that this model has been around for years - so I anticipate that I'll have no trouble whatsoever with this. If there were any bugs in the design, they would have been worked out a long time ago. Any questions? Just holler, and I'll do my best to answer them.

Kinda new to dehydrating so this is what happened. Reading reviews and trying to get into this reasonably cheap, not knowing if the kids (twin B/G 16 & 13 year old daughter) would even eat it. Snackmaster seemed to be the best choice. I also bought 6 more trays along with the mesh liners. After doing several batches testing how long it took, how much yield, how many minutes it took the kids (and myself) to devour the 11 trays of banana chips, one dehydrator was not going to cut it. Ordered the Gardenmaster within a week along with 6 more trays and screens. The inch or so larger trays do make a difference, along with being able to stack 30 trays??? Has anyone done that? Love it, I use both now. The Gardenmaster is a lot noisier, but with the 8 trays it comes with, is a lot shorter drying time. It's loud like you don't want to be on the phone next to it. It is more convenient loading, no motor to pick up. Counter space, yeah, a little more. The snackmaster is very quiet and still does the job, just takes longer. 600w vs 1000 w gardenmaster. The Gardenmaster is one the left with just 7 of the trays on it, the Snackmaster on right with 11 trays. Wish I'd started with the gardenmaster now, I have yet to get any stockpile of fruits or jerky, it's gone by nightfall it seems. Update 9/23/20 Been using 20 trays for fruits and jerky the past year. Still going strong, no problems. Still no headway on stockpile. I do not find the noise an issue, will order another ten trays for fruits. I don't think I'd try jerky with 30 trays, don't feel its hot enough. Love the unit. Update: still using after 3 years. One thing I do, with jerky is rotate the trays through, each one has 30 minutes or so near the highest heat at the bottom I’ve taken the temperature at the top of 10 trays and it was only 140*. 3/4/22 Ordered more trays, apparently they changed them, the “new” trays are a bit concave vs a slight cone on the originals. The new ones have a “castle” center ring. You cannot use these as the first tray, they do not fit the gardenmaster. 3/8/22 Nesco had this to say; New trays do need to be heated so the plastic relaxes and the crowns would point up just as when you open a new dehydrator we recommend heating the unit for an hour to relax the plastic same applies to new trays. Stack 4 and let the new trays heat. Please try this as this usually fixes the problem. “Usually” mine must not be usual. Nesco lost a customer, sad, I loved the unit, just wanted more “useable” trays.

Excelente producto

I was hesitant to buy this Nesco dehydrator after reading many reviews about the trays not fitting the base properly and that the machine was very loud. I placed the 8 trays on the base and let the dehydrator run for 1 hour. Everything was perfect. The noise is a little more than my Hamilton Beach. Comes 8 fruit leather trays and 8 fine mesh. So overall, this is a great value, great machine at a great price. No regrets at all. Works very well, dehydrates fast and no need to rotate the trays. If you are still hesitating, don't!

I grow paste tomatoes and these plants produce a lot of them. This dehydrator did a fine job at dehydrating them all. Lots of capacity. As well inserts are included that are solid for fruit roll ups and a finer mesh inserts for dehydrating fine herbs like thyme. Well thought out. I am very pleased with this unit for home use.

Está máquina viene de mala calidad ya los discos no traen el mismo grosor y resistencia que las anteriores que he comprado ya están igual de frágiles como la de marca mexicana que es pésima en durabilidad

We're very picky ppl and have been lookign for one for year, this genuiely fit the bill. Price is a bit higher, but you get 8ish tray plus covers to make your own fruit roll-ups, has been great for dryingout fruit slices, herbs, vegtables. It does the job in a good amount of time, cant be too quick as then the drying process isnt proper and this machine does it right. A suggestion to those who liek to dry their herb though- if you wish to keep the colour of your herbs dry them regularyl and not in this- the colour fades. In end- product worth it, have been using it for a while and can say that you if you are looking ofr a long term good quality drier- this is it.