Dehydrators Can anyone recommend

[mickeydownunder]

as would like to get into canning, preserving and pickling

thanks for all recommendations and approximate price...perhaps a link and where you purchased it from too

Thank you!

WHOO HOO!

[Peter J]

Hi Mickey, I've got a Fowlers Vacola Ultimate Dehydrator 4000 that seems to work well and give nice even results.I bought mine from e-bay (new) but just looking it was a few years ago and none are listed there at the moment, just some accessories.

Just doing some Googling it looks like they're around the $230 mark which is the rough sort of price I remember, I think mine was around $200 but that was a few years back.

I've never bothered buying any for the amounts I dehydrate but you can get extra stackable trays to take them from 4 up to 12 trays, and also fruit leather sheets but I haven't tried them either.

[mickeydownunder]

Peter J wrote:
Hi Mickey, I've got a Fowlers Vacola Ultimate Dehydrator 4000 that seems to work well and give nice even results.I bought mine from e-bay (new) but just looking it was a few years ago and none are listed there at the moment, just some accessories.

Just doing some Googling it looks like they're around the $230 mark which is the rough sort of price I remember, I think mine was around $200 but that was a few years back.

I've never bothered buying any for the amounts I dehydrate but you can get extra stackable trays to take them from 4 up to 12 trays, and also fruit leather sheets but I haven't tried them either.

Thanks Peter J

I was thinking of doing it the old fashioned way but with the weather here in Adelaide and all over the world, it is not practical and thought the dehydrator was plan B

Am sussing out various models and didn't know if timers were a bonus so you can just set it but then again, I would possibly worry that an electrical product such as this was running for 30 - 40 hours!

Thanks WHOO HOO!

[Peter J]

I was about to say I didn't think anything would need that long, although just having a quick look through the drying guide that comes with it the longest I could spot was grapes to raisins takes 36 hours. I think most of the things I've done have been more like 12-14 hours.

I've always just used my phone alarm as a reminder to check it, I guess a timer might be handy although a few times I've checked things and found they need an hour or two more so unless you were doing things you'd done enough in the past to be really sure of the time a timer probably wouldn't be that much of a benefit.

I probably wouldn't worry too much about leaving them running, the heat is really low. They do also contain a small fan that I guess technically could fuse together and catch alight, but I guess just about any appliance or something like a PC can do that. That's me worming around that part of the question and saying it's not 100% safe but I wouldn't worry about it myself . Just don't leave it right near curtains or anything else obviously flammable just in case the unlikely occurs.

[mickeydownunder]

Peter J wrote:
I was about to say I didn't think anything would need that long, although just having a quick look through the drying guide that comes with it the longest I could spot was grapes to raisins takes 36 hours. I think most of the things I've done have been more like 12-14 hours.

I've always just used my phone alarm as a reminder to check it, I guess a timer might be handy although a few times I've checked things and found they need an hour or two more so unless you were doing things you'd done enough in the past to be really sure of the time a timer probably wouldn't be that much of a benefit.

I probably wouldn't worry too much about leaving them running, the heat is really low. They do also contain a small fan that I guess technically could fuse together and catch alight, but I guess just about any appliance or something like a PC can do that. That's me worming around that part of the question and saying it's not 100% safe but I wouldn't worry about it myself . Just don't leave it right near curtains or anything else obviously flammable just in case the unlikely occurs.

BIG thanks Peter J VERY helpful indeed too!

[Tisme]

I have a 1 vacola and 2 sunbeam, this is the first year I have not used them constantly.... but neither take that long, maybe 18 hours max with tomatoes, but neither has a timer, I just time it suit and changing the trays helps a lot... e.g..... changing tray's top to bottom in sequence after every few hours drying.
Vacola takes a little less time, but I must admit my sunbeam have more trays (which I purchased seperately afterward) so it does take a little longer.
I put both outside in the pagola/b.b.q dining area and just cover the dehydator with a fine mesh wire.................. to avoid any moths getting into them through the vents....moths can cause a problem later with the food, and can enter the vent's either inside or out......but the dehydratopr's seem to work more efficiently outside and are faster for some reason.
I have also done semi dried tomatoes for many years outside, just using the old fashioned sun drying method .... again covering them with a fly mesh to avoid any nasites...... this year with the dry weather we have had.... it has been just perfect!!!! So I have not had to use the dehyrators hardly at all..... big bonus!!!!
But I am also looking for another few to purchase next year... so am interested in what is suggested here.

[mickeydownunder]

Tisme wrote:
I have a 1 vacola and 2 sunbeam, this is the first year I have not used them constantly.... but neither take that long, maybe 18 hours max with tomatoes, but neither has a timer, I just time it suit and changing the trays helps a lot... e.g..... changing tray's top to bottom in sequence after every few hours drying.
Vacola takes a little less time, but I must admit my sunbeam have more trays (which I purchased seperately afterward) so it does take a little longer.
I put both outside in the pagola/b.b.q dining area and just cover the dehydator with a fine mesh wire.................. to avoid any moths getting into them through the vents....moths can cause a problem later with the food, and can enter the vent's either inside or out......but the dehydratopr's seem to work more efficiently outside and are faster for some reason.
I have also done semi dried tomatoes for many years outside, just using the old fashioned sun drying method .... again covering them with a fly mesh to avoid any nasites...... this year with the dry weather we have had.... it has been just perfect!!!! So I have not had to use the dehyrators hardly at all..... big bonus!!!!
But I am also looking for another few to purchase next year... so am interested in what is suggested here.

Gday and BIG big thanks for your time and reply! Pickling, Preserving etc are definitely on the list