Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator for Great Jerky and Snacks, 4 Trays, 13.5" X 9.75", white and grey

I have been dehydrating copious amounts of fruit late summer into fall for the last 4 years. I have 4 dehydrators and have kept detailed notes about each. I got so much good info with the Amazon reviews when buying the dehydrators that I thought I might help someone out like I was. However, I do remember going back and forth, back and forth between two dehydrators and decided to buy one of each since I needed two anyway.Here's what I've learned through A LOT of experience. The Nsco FD-60 is BY FAR the best dehydrator of the 4. It dries the fastest, about 25-30% faster than my second best, the Nesco FD-75PR. (I'm using model numbers because one of the the most confusing things while trying to decide which to buy was the names of each. They overlap from one model to another, so my advice is to go solely by model numbers when comparing one to another.)The FD-60 is easier to handle because the actual handle on the top lid doesn't flip out like it does on the FD-75PR, makes picking up the lid a bit unwieldly. You've got to balance the lid a bit, whereas the FD-60 has a solid, well designed inverted handle that makes it super easy to lift the lid. I do a lot of lifting, putting the lid down top side down on the counter, and checking, so this is actually a really important feature.Other than the FD-60 drying faster and the lid being easier to handle, I like them both very much. Even though one dries faster than the other, it doesn't dry out the fruit any more than the other one. Both work equally well drying out the fruit very well if the temp is set properly. I go a tad hotter than the suggested temp for fruit, which they suggest 135 degrees. I go to 140 degrees and watch the fruit like a hawk, so it doesn't dry out.One thing to add about the slower FD-75PR - I've chosen this one over the FD-60 when I needed to arrange the drying time, so I'd be home or not asleep when the fruit needed tending to. It takes at least 8 hours to dry even the smallest fruit, so timing is essential, so this slower one is actually better, so I don't have to get up at 5 am, or I can load the trays at 10 pm instead of midnight. It usually takes me 8-11 hours on my faster dehydrator, and my slower dehydrator 9-13 hours to complete all the fruit. I use up to 8 trays, but I like to not go over 7. I've dried as many as 9 in one dehydrator, but that was not optimal. There was way, way, WAY too much checking and rechecking required. I've learned that 7 trays total in any of the dehydrators is where the dehydrators' sweet spots lie.None of my trays have warped, but I only dry fruit, so have never gone over 140 degrees. They clean up well even with dried-on sticky fruit juice and goo when left to soak in a sink of water. I use my dehydrators only about a month a year, but they get intense use in that month, essentially working 24 hours a day for about 4 weeks straight with the only breaks being when I'm washing then reloading the trays with more fruit, which takes about an hour. Of the four dehydrators I have, all make the same amount of noise, so noise level wouldn't play a factor if choosing between these two. My other two dehydrators are heat-from-the-bottom types, and I would not recommend them. Trays have warped when too close to the bottom heat source, so I now always use an empty tray on the bottom. They are the slowest to dry, and they tend to dry out the fruit edges on the lower trays but leave the inner part of the fruit wet, so they're not done, but the edges can fry. In order to have the fruit done properly, there is a lot of high-maintenance work involved. Maybe the higher end dehydrators with the heat source on the bottom work better. The ones I have are older and definitely not as high end, so that could be the problem. Still, logically it makes sense that the heat source from the bottom may make things too hot on the bottom and not hot enough on top. I know that heat rises, but for some reason, it's just too hot on the bottom and not hot enough on top, so I'm constantly shifting trays from one level to another to accommodate these heat-from-the-bottom dehydrators.I would enthusiastically recommend both the FD-60 and FD-75PR, but if I could only buy one, hands down, I'd buy the FD-60 because it's faster and the handle is better designed for how I use it - frequent checking, so lots of handling and having to invert the lid onto the counter as I check the fruit - super easy to pick back up without the flip-out lid.

I own two of these for about 7 years. And I bought my daughter-in-law one for Christmas. I told her if she likes it I'll buy her a second one for her birthday.I believe in having two.... Because you can be cooking your fruits and your herbs in one and then your beef jerky and another one.The price is perfect and this is a perfect dehydrator. I literally have two of them for 7 years old and it's this brand.The secret in dehydrating is keep to keep it simple. For fruit lemon juice is your preservative with a pinch of salt. For the beef jerky I literally use my favorite barbecue sauce to marinate and then cook the beef jerky. Voila that's all you need to do.One more thing and your dehydrating that you do also makes a great gift for anyone in the family it's an original gift and I guarantee you they don't have it... When I dehydrate I put in a mason jar and I give it away as a gift.This is a great gift for anyone or for yourself!

So easy to use, works excellant, is a discribed and a huge value at this price! I've already made 4lbs of jerky, 2lbs beef and 2lbs Turkey. Super fast making them and taste better then store bought. gave my wife some and she thought I bought it at the store, when I told her I made it in a couple of hours, (times will vary depending on your location) she was amazed. Shared some with friends and they've asked me to make them some. To start with I used their recommended seasoning which makes it easy, my next batch I'm going to try some seasoning I really like. Get one today! You wont regret it!

Top dryer with catch pan on bottom is much better. Had earlier bottom model that collected jerky juice into fan and motor...such is the reason I had to buy this one. You will need to put in on a hard flat surface away from other thins as it vents to the bottom perimeter.FD-60 will take up to 12 trays, but just know that drying time goes up with that volume. Temp control is a nice feature.But only gets 4 stars because it does not have on/off switch and short cord if you want to sit it any where other than conventional kitchen counter top. Also the drip tray could use some re-design to prevent dried items that drop thru from blowing out the vent holes. Still thinking of a way to do without restricting air flow.

I used this to make beef jersey and to dehydrate fruit for our macaw. It's easy to clean and stores away nice when not in use. The fan on it makes a little noise but it's not to loud.

This dehydrator is great! It's just loud enough to let me know it's running. I thought abut putting an on/off switch on the cord, and if I use it as much as I hope to next year I'll probably do just that. If you are doing habaneros or something like that, you may wish to use this thing outside, but I thrive on that wonderful aroma. I should have bought this thing years ago.