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Nesco FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator with Jerky Gun Kit for Great Snacks and Jerky, 5 Trays, Gray
Brand | Nesco |
Material | Plastic |
Color | Gray |
Wattage | 500 watts |
Item Weight | 6.8 Pounds |
About this item
- EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION: 500-watt 5-tray food dehydrator dries in hours instead of days and opaque vita-save exterior helps block harmful light which destroys nutritional content of food being dehydrated
- ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT: Top-mounted fan; adjustable thermostat from 95°F to 160°F
- CONVERGA-FLOW SYSTEM: Converga-Flow drying system pushes heated air up and across each tray, without having to rotate them
- EXPANDABLE TO 12 TRAYS: Comes with five 13.5 inch BPA Free trays, so you can dry large quantities at once with no tray rotation needed; additional trays sold separately
- MADE IN THE USA: Proudly made in the USA of global and domestic components
- ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: Includes 1 Jerky Gun with 3 tip attachments, 2 Fruit Roll Sheets, 2 Clean-A-Screens, 5 Jerky Seasoning & Cure samples, and a Recipe & Instruction book
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Price | Currently unavailable. | -33% $7.99$7.99 List: $11.99 | -16% $41.99$41.99 List: $49.99 | $9.99$9.99 | -15% $80.70$80.70 Typical: $94.99 | $14.99$14.99 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Easy to clean | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
Temperature Control | 4.4 | 5.0 | 3.3 | — | 4.4 | 4.6 |
Easy to use | 4.4 | 4.6 | — | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
Durability | 3.8 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.4 | — | 4.5 |
Value for money | — | 4.4 | — | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 |
Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
material | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
number of trays | 12 | 2 | 7 | — | 4 | 2 |
shape | Round | Round | Round | Round | Round | Round |
wattage | 500 watts | — | 400 watts | — | 600 watts | — |
dishwasher safe | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
weight | 6.8 pounds | 0.14 pounds | — | 0.1 pounds | 0.01 ounces | 1.15 pounds |
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From the manufacturer
Patented Converga-Flow system ensures even drying
The Best Food Dehydrators in the World.
NESCO/American Harvest has been the leader in food dehydrators for over 30 years! These units feature patented technologies that dry your food faster and more evenly than any of the competing models available, we know, because we've tried them all! Our Converge-a-Flow air flow assures even drying from top to bottom, without the tray rotation required by others.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced 'pro', making beef jerky, drying fruits, vegetables, herbs, or flowers, NESCO/American Harvest offers the best units available.
Nesco Snackmaster Express Dehydrator with Jerky Gun
Model FD-61WHC
Introducing the Snackmaster Express All-In-One Kit. It's sleek, contemporary design features 500 watts of drying power, and generates maximum speed and quality for dehydrating fruits, vegetables, beef jerky, and venison jerky.
Helps dry food in hours, not days like ordinary food dehydrators. The top mounted fan eliminates the worry of liquids dripping into the the heating chamber!
It contains everything needed to dry all types of food including top mounted fan, 5 trays, 5 jerky spices and cures, a jerky gun with 3 tips, 2 Fruit Roll Sheets, 2 Clean-A-Screens, and a recipe book/care use guide.
- Patented Converga-Flow drying system
- No need to rotate trays
- Dries food in hours, not days
- 500 watts of drying power with top mounted fan
- Adjustable thermostat to dry foods at proper temperature
- Dishwasher safe (except powerhead)
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Nesco FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore Food dehydrator, Gray
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Product information
Brand | Nesco |
---|---|
Material | Plastic |
Color | Gray |
Wattage | 500 watts |
Item Weight | 6.8 Pounds |
Shape | Round |
Material Feature | Food Safe |
Number of Trays | 12 |
Temperature Range | 160 Degrees Fahrenheit |
Is Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Product Dimensions | 13.5 x 13.5 x 9.25 inches |
Item Weight | 6.8 pounds |
Department | Cookware |
Manufacturer | Nesco American Harvest |
ASIN | B0002WSQHU |
Item model number | FD-61WHC |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #400,674 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining) #383 in Dehydrators |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | September 19, 2004 |
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Product guides and documents
Product Description
The NESCO FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator is designed to be the ultimate kit for beginners or experts. Accessories include a jerky gun with three tip attachments, two fruit roll sheets, two clean-a-screens, five jerky seasoning & cure samples, and a recipe & instruction book. This dehydrator comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter) trays and expands up to 12 trays so you can dry large quantities at once, with no tray rotation needed. Additional Add-A-Trays sold separately. The adjustable temperature control (95°F -160°F) gives you the flexibility to achieve the best results when drying different foods that need varying temperature settings. The quiet, powerful Converga-Flow fan forces heated air down the exterior pressurized chamber, then horizontally across each individual tray. The air flow then converges in the center for quick, consistent drying that is four times faster than other dehydrators. The top mounted fan eliminates liquids dripping into the heater chamber. The NESCO FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator is great for dehydrating fruit rollups, banana chips, apple chips, jerky, and other healthy snacks.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance, quality, ease of use, and ease of cleaning of the food dehydrator. They mention that the jerky gun is great, the build quality is better than expected, and it's very easy to load up. They also appreciate the value, saying it' is worth the price. Customers also like the taste, noise, and heat.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the performance of the dehydrator. They mention that it does the job well, is solid, and easy to use. They also say that the gun is great and works well, and that the apples came out great. They say that it turns out really well and dried out quickly, and is dishwasher safe.
"...Over all it has been working great and has performed extremely well...." Read more
"...The gun is great and works well...." Read more
"...However, overall given its solid performance and at this reasonable price point, this dehydrator is a good buy and solid fun to use!..." Read more
"...All in all, very worth while. Does the job well. Would recommend." Read more
Customers like the quality of the food dehydrator. They say the top dryer unit does a great job with the jerky, the build quality is better than expected, and it comes with everything that you need in one box. The jerking gun is pretty cool and appears to be made well. It's sturdy, and comes with all the tools to get you started. The dry time is so much faster, and the trays are super easy to clean. It turns out really well and dried out quickly, making it a good deal all around.
"...and the second being my ground beef, they were both done and dried completely...." Read more
"...The unit is very stable and the construction is excellent. This unit really does get warm.o) One extra tray (totalling 5 trays)...." Read more
"...Pros:Pretty quietEasy to useDried quicklySoap and water cleanup..." Read more
"...The jerky gun worked great and made even strips of jerky with minimal effort. The original flavor jerky seasoning this came with tasted great...." Read more
Customers find the food dehydrator easy to use. They mention that it comes with a book with recipes and info on how to use it. The instructions are simple and the product is very easy to load up. Customers also mention that the banana chips are easy to make and the temperature dial is easy to operate. They also appreciate the low hum/fan sound and find the product to be very handy.
"...I am very excited to report that the manual was a breeze to understand and I had the dehydrator together and was ready to use it...." Read more
"...Recipe/Guide. This book has the usual instructions and care handling...." Read more
"...(2) I love using it. It is just plain fun! It works pretty quickly, has nice variable heat control, and things dry quickly...." Read more
"...Pros:Pretty quietEasy to useDried quicklySoap and water cleanup..." Read more
Customers find the ease of cleaning to be a positive aspect of the product. They mention that it is easy to use and clean, and the 5 trays are dishwasher safe. They also say that nothing sticks too much and nothing has really stained it.
"...It isn't. Nothing sticks too much and nothing has really stained it. (2) I love using it. It is just plain fun!..." Read more
"...Comes with 2 easy clean and two fruit roll tray linings.Not as noisy as most.Didnt burn or brown my countertops from the heat...." Read more
"...on the top rack for my dishwasher and one down below and they wash up beautifully...just remember to turn off the heat cycle...." Read more
"...That's awesome! I like that the jerky gun is easily broken down for cleaning. It's a little small, but as a starter piece I have no qualms...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the food dehydrator. They say it's a great healthy and low cost snack for everyone. Customers also mention that it comes in good condition.
"...Overall, this is an excellent kit and well worth the money. All items separate cost quite a bit. Don't forget, it's also made in the USA!..." Read more
"...However, overall given its solid performance and at this reasonable price point, this dehydrator is a good buy and solid fun to use!..." Read more
"...All in all, very worth while. Does the job well. Would recommend." Read more
"...Easy to useDried quicklySoap and water cleanupPrice - pretty good for a complete "jerky-making" kit.Cons:..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the taste of the food dehydrator. They mention that it makes really good beef jerky, and it's easy to clean. Customers are also impressed with the spicy jerk seasoning that comes with the product. The two solid trays are great for sauces and beans and beef.
"...My kids and husband were very impressed with its flavor. Of course, tastes are a matter of personal opinion, so you will have to decide for yourself...." Read more
"...(3) Things taste great after dehydration. Strawberries! Yum! Beef jerky made using ground meat and sliced meat! Yum! Apples! Yum!..." Read more
"...The taste was great and everyone loved it.Important notice: I have done some research and found that the tray designs have been changed...." Read more
"...around with jerky marinades, and have come up with one that is wonderfully spicy...." Read more
Customers like the noise level of the dehydrator. They say it's not as noisy as most, and it produces slight wind-like sounds. Customers also mention that the dried up great, and the jelly/fruit leather plates are nice.
"...Made in the USA! The dehydrator is rated as whisper quiet and is rather quiet. The emitting hum is close to quiet window-mounted AC unit...." Read more
"...Comes with 2 easy clean and two fruit roll tray linings.Not as noisy as most.Didnt burn or brown my countertops from the heat...." Read more
"...Upon plugging it in, my first impression was how quiet it is - about the same as the exhaust fan on my stove when its set on "medium," and even the..." Read more
"...I like how quiet the dehydrator is. You can certainly hear it, but it's unobtrusive.Update 9.26.14...." Read more
Customers generally like the heat of the product. They say that the temperature range it operates in is effective, the jerky gun and its variable heat control are great, and things dry quickly. The air circulation is very evenly distributed, and the electronics are in the top part of the dehydrator, so they are not subject to getting damaged.
"...One base, 4 large trays, and a power head rated at 500 watts, variable climate control (~95-155 temp range for various things)...." Read more
"...It is just plain fun! It works pretty quickly, has nice variable heat control, and things dry quickly. (3) Things taste great after dehydration...." Read more
"...Mine never got up to max temperature and consistently stayed 10-15 degrees cooler than whatever setting I had it on. Fine, a defect...." Read more
"...and it distributes heat evenly (although you may want to rotate the trays occasionally for best results). The bottom solid tray is washable too...." Read more
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I am very excited to report that the manual was a breeze to understand and I had the dehydrator together and was ready to use it. I went out and bought a bag of oranges, since that was my favorite from my sisters dehydrator and cut them as thin as I could manage and placed them on the racks like the manual said to do. I then set the temperature and plugged it in to start it. It was not exactly quiet, but it was not overly loud either. It was just a mid sounding hum. I check on them after about 3 hours just to see where they were in the drying process and they still looked like they had quite a while to go. I ended up having to run it for about 10 hours to get them to the proper dehydration for storing. But it said it could take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours depending on the humidity level in your house. I was very pleased with the end results. I did find a couple of slices that I had not managed to get quite thin enough and were still just a little chewy but only a few, so I just put those few back in and finished them up separately. I didn't have to store them long because my family wouldn't stop eating them. I'm just glad I got a few.
The next thing I attempted was jerky. First off let me tell you that the seasoning that comes with it is very good. My kids and husband were very impressed with its flavor. Of course, tastes are a matter of personal opinion, so you will have to decide for yourself. But here is a tip, the spice is very strong for the salt. The first batch I made I did with a very lean roast. I followed the directions to the letter and the jerky was delicious, but a little heavy on the salty side. I like salty jerky, but this was even a little to much for a salt aholic like myself. So I made another batch with burger that was 98% lean. But this time I used only 3/4 of the package of seasoning and followed the rest of the directions to the letter again using the tool for making flat strips. My husband and I loved the second batch, but my kids preferred the first batch made with the roast. So it just goes to show how different palettes prefer different flavors and consistancy. Also, I am not a experienced dehydrator user and recipe maker, so I don't know if it is actually ok to use only 3/4 of the package for 1 pound of meat, but I did and we ate it all and we did not get sick. We ate it up within about 4 days though. Now as far as the attachment goes, it worked perfectly. I did have a little meat left in the bottom, but I simply took the press apart and (after washing my hands) molded the remaining meat into a strip and placed it in the dehydrator. I guess if you are the type of person that doesn't like to get your hands dirty or touch meat, that might not appeal to you, but I am fine doing it that way and I didn't lose any meat. I was very pleased with just how fast it drys the meat. After only 4 1/2 hours per each of my batches, one batch being the roast and the second being my ground beef, they were both done and dried completely. I had checked on both of them after 2 hours and dabbed off the excess oil like it says to, but there just wasn't much oil in the first place. Then after checking again 2 hours later they actually looked done at that point, but I left them for another 1/2 hour anyway.
Over all it has been working great and has performed extremely well. I have had it for 4 months now and use it almost every week for so many different foods from drying herbs, fruit, vegies and meat. I would recommend this dehydrator for anyone starting out or even for those who have lots of experience drying food. As long as you follow the manual and all its tips and advice and recipes for drying times, you can't go wrong.
When it arrived I opened the box to see:
o) Nesco American Harvest FD-61 Food Dehydrator. One base, 4 large trays, and a power head rated at 500 watts, variable climate control (~95-155 temp range for various things). Most of the accessories that came with the kit were located inside the trays. Made in the USA! The dehydrator is rated as whisper quiet and is rather quiet. The emitting hum is close to quiet window-mounted AC unit. The unit is very stable and the construction is excellent. This unit really does get warm.
o) One extra tray (totalling 5 trays). Keep in mind that although this unit is expandable to 12 trays, you may have to begin rotating lower trays to the top during the drying process. With the included 5 trays it doesn't seem necessary, though I do trade the top tray with the bottom tray after the first hour during jerky drying.
o) A Jerky Kit. The Kit included a jerky gun, 3 tips, and 5 cures and 5 seasonings. The Jerky gun holds almost 3/4lb ground beef jerky mix. The tips included extrude a strip shape, narrow beef stick shape, and wide beef stick shape. The seasonings and cures are for ground beef as well. For each one pound of ground beef, you mix in one packet of cure and one packet of seasoning. The gun is great and works well. My only complaint is that that when the plunger is at the end (expelled all beef mix), there is some jerky left in the tip. This is especially true to the narrow and wide beef stick tips as they hold almost a full piece left.
o) Two Clean-a-Screens. These are screens with narrower holes for placement on a tray to prevent smaller food from falling as well as preventing sticky food (bananas, pineapple) from being hard to release once it's done drying. I have not used these yet though I have seen them used and they work well.
o) Two fruit "roll-up" trays. These are trays that cover the existing trays to prevent anything from falling below. The material is on the softer side so food release will be easy once drying is complete. I haven't used them for fruit rolls yet, though I hear they work great for that. I do, however, use them on the bottom tray to catch grease and other 'junk' when I dehydrate my beef.
o) Recipe/Guide. This book has the usual instructions and care handling. It also includes many recipes and instructions, tips and suggestions for preparing fruits, vegetables, meats (i.e. jerky), herbs, desserts, hobbies/crafts, and more. There are many cool recipes in here along with neat crafts such as wreaths that I plan to use.
Overall, this is an excellent kit and well worth the money. All items separate cost quite a bit. Don't forget, it's also made in the USA!
Note: It's been brought to my attention (thanks Div) that the box may be saying Made In USA, but has origin marks of Foreign & Domestic. I don't have mine ready at the moment (been shuffled a few times for various Keurigs), but I'd recommend checking this contradiction if it's a concern for you.
Top reviews from other countries
The Nesco Snackmaster came with the jerky gun (cool acessory!), jerky seasoning and cure packets, 5 trays, the fruit roll sheet and the clean-a-screen. We have done a few batches of jerky, some dried bananas and cranberries. The fruit roll sheet isn't just for the actual fruit roll-ups as pictured, it would have been a wise choice with the cranberries as they stuck all over the grates...but that was a user error.
Pro's:
- Quiet to operate.
- Dries foods in a reasonable amount of time, keep in mind that if your food holds a lot of water it will take awhile to dry.
- Lots of accessories are included to experiment with, with the option of adding more trays.
- The included jerky seasoning was actually quite tasty!
- Unit is nice looking, not too large or bulky to store (all of the accessories actually fit inside of it with the exception of the jerky gun)
- Has an adjustable thermostat on top of the unit to control temperature.
- Trays are dishwasher safe (although I never wash plastic in the dishwasher for my own reasons)
- I found it maintained it's temperature perfectly. I tested it several times with a thermometer and actually found it to be a bit higher than what I had it set to on the maximum setting. This didn't affect the end result at all however, as I kept an eye on the food anyways.
Con's:
- No on/off switch, you have to manually unplug the unit.
- If you choose to wash the trays by hand it is a bit tricky to get raw food out from between the grates of the tray. This would be the case with any product though so isn't a flaw to this model in particular.
- You couldn't dehydrate jars or large items with this model.
- No timer or auto shut off so you really do have to be "around" if you are dehydrating something that only takes a couple hours.
All in all, not only would I buy this model again I would happily recommend it to anyone looking to get into the world of dehydrating their own foods!
A few of the trays came a bit warped, where one side of the tray is above the centre hole and the other half is below the centre. But as long as I line up the low sides of the trays with each other, the spacing is still fine.
The fruit leather sheets have worked well for me. Everything is easy to keep clean. I'm actually quite pleased with this product. As a starter dehydrator it's an excellent choice.
A few things I have discovered that would be preferred to have (the next time I buy a dehydrator):
1. An on/off switch.
2. A timer feature so that I can have it run for like 6 hours while I sleep and then shut itself off.
3. I think I would prefer a rectangle or square tray shape without the centre hole. This is mostly for being able to make fruit leather that doesn't have to be pie shaped. But it's also because with the hole in the middle you lose some space.