Nesco Dehydrators: Why This Brand Is The “Master” of Food Dehydration

Food dehydrators are extremely useful appliances, unassuming but extremely versatile to own. These durable machines can cut the drying time of a whole array foods down from a few days to a matter of hours.

Needless to say, if you find yourself drying a lot of different foods as a part of your weekly routine, you’ll find the process much easier with the help of a reliable food dehydrator. One of the leading brands with a deep history of manufacturing food dehydrators, is one that prides themselves on proven technology, durability and nutrition — the Nesco label.

Meet The Brand

A brand that has long been associated with small kitchen appliances, Nesco has been a product of the Metal Ware Corporation since 1981. A manufacturer of well-built appliances themselves, it seemed only right that the Nesco brand became a product under the Metal Ware product umbrella.

The company now produces primarily slow cooking roaster ovens and dehydrators under the Nesco brand, holding numerous patents over the technologies that make their products so popular among their loyal customers.

Why Buy A Food Dehydrator?

For those who frequently consume dried foods, or simply aspire to, a dehydrator is a well-priced, efficient way to ensure even drying and quicker dry times. The upsides of drying fresh food are fairly obvious; dried food lasts significantly longer than fresh, especially when vacuum-sealed after dehydration. In addition, many recipes often call for various dried fruit, vegetables and other dehydrated food, and having your own means of production can significantly cut down the cost of buying specialty foods for specific recipes.

The Benefits of Owning a Nesco Dehydrator

Nesco dehydrators are uniquely prepared to handle a wide variety of foods, including jerky, soup mixes, dried fruits and vegetables, and much more all without spending more than your budget allows. Here are the key benefits of owning one of these versatile devices:

• Cost: Nesco food dehydrators come in a wide array of cost options, leaving shoppers with the ability to find a product that works for their budget, no matter how large or small it may be.
• Ease of Use: Reviewers of Nesco units commonly tout them as being the easiest kitchen dehydrator that they’ve ever used. Simply load up the shelves, set the dial to the desired temperature and timer setting, then walk away. It’s just that simple.
• Ease of Cleanup: After using a Nesco dehydrator, cleaning up is a breeze. Once you have unloaded the dried food, you can easily take it apart, rinse it off and toss in your dishwasher. The fact that it is safe to use in a dishwasher is a benefit that is, oddly enough, still not available in all food dehydrators.
• Versatility: You can prepare a wide variety of dried foods in a single use. The separate shelves make it easy to separate wares, no matter what foods you’re dehydrating.
• No Rotating: Due to Nesco’s ventilation system, you will never have to rotate, flip or maneuver the foods inside the unit. This allows you to complete the drying process in mere hours, instead of days.

Overview of Nesco’s Product Line

When it comes to dehydrators, Nesco offers a series of different products. They all have plenty of positive reviews and share many of the same features. However, the main factor that separates each model from the other is the number of bells and whistles available.

The lower end of Nesco dehydrators ranges from approximately $40 to $80, and despite a capacity that’s lower than high-end models, these units will get the job done. They are ideal for the casual hobbyist that wants to occasionally dehydrate a few of their favorite foods, or just learn more about the art of doing so.

If you’re interested in having a few extra features, such as increased capacity, programmable timers, or expandable trays, then Nesco has a few higher-end models that may be a better fit for you. These will typically range from about $100 to $150, and include some of the most popular and widely-used models on the market.

What You Should Consider While Shopping

When it comes to buying a Nesco dehydrator, your choice really boils down to two things: The price and the features you want.

Across the board, Nesco has a reputation for manufacturing attractive and reliable appliances, all of which are designed to last for many years and backed with a warranty. Here are some useful criteria you’ll want to take into account when shopping Nesco’s extensive line of food dehydrators:

What Price Are You Looking to Pay?

Cost variability of Nesco dehydrators is high, so no matter what your budget may be, you’ll be able to find a product that gets the job done for the right price. Whether you go with the most expensive or the most affordable, it’s hard to go wrong with Nesco’s line of food dehydrators. The overall price will range from about $40 to $150, with many accessories and tools that you can add on to get the most out of the unit you buy.

What Features and Size Do You Need?

Since all of Nesco’s dehydrators work as they’re intended, the only thing separating the higher-end models from the lower-end is the features and dehydration capacity. As you might expect, the large the capacity and the more features you add on, the more expensive each unit will get. So, it’s important to consider how you plan to use it and determine which features are important to you. We would strongly recommend going with a unit that features automatic settings, including precise temperature gauges and programmable timers. Reading over customer reviews, these seem to be the two features that customers regret not buying. But, perhaps those aren’t necessary for you, which is why it’s essential that you examine the key features of each food dehydrator and use that to select the one that best suits your needs and your budget.

Converge-A-Flow Ventilation: The Key Advantage of Nesco Dehydrators

While Nesco offers a variety of small kitchen appliances, all of which have their pros and cons. When it comes to their line of food dehydrators, Nesco offers one particular feature that give them a notable advantage over other dehydrating units from other brands — Converge-a-Flow Ventilation.

This patented ventilation system is unlike any other. Every Nesco food dehydrator, whether it’s the Snackmaster, Gardenmaster, or American Harvest, comes standard with their innovative ventilation system built into the machine that dries the food from top to bottom. This design ensures that all of your foods are dried quickly and evenly, no matter where it is placed within the unit. You no longer have to rotate trays or flip over food, two of the most common complaints from other dehydrators on the market.

Other popular features found in Nesco dehydrating products include — programmable timers, adjustable thermostats, multiple tiers for food separation, easy cleaning, and expandable trays. Not to mention a durable outer construction with a sleek look to help improve the overall look of the decor in your kitchen.

Customer Reviews: Positive vs. Negative

As you might expect from any company widely considered as a leader in their market, Nesco’s entire line of food dehydrators receive wholly positive reviews from novices and experts alike. We read over the reviews, both good and bad, and have summed up what customers are saying down below.

• The Positive: The vast majority of reviews discussed the fact that their Nesco product was simple to use, easy to clean and quick when it came to completing the dehydration process. Another popular praise I occasionally saw discussed the compact nature of the dehydrator, and why users were happy that they didn’t take up much of that scarce counter space or take too much room to store when not in use.
• The Negative: When it came to negative reviews, they were mostly concentrated on lower-end models. Many of which were discussing issues they experienced due to that particular unit lacking a feature only found in more expensive dehydrators. A common theme was the lack of a timer, which lead to users dehydrating their food for too long. A valid frustration that we could all experience.

With a reputation for creating reliable dehydrating machines, it’s easy to see why Nesco has received so many positive reviews. But, don’t take my word for it. I would strongly encourage you to read the reviews for yourself.

In Conclusion

As you might have figured out by now, Nesco has a strong reputation when it comes to dehydrators. From customer reviews to a variety of features, this brand is as reliable as their units are durable. No matter which model you decide to purchase, we are confident that you will not only be satisfied, but you’ll be using it for many years to come. This equates to a high value, even among the lower end models; in our opinion, it’s tough to go wrong with a Nesco food dehydrator!