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Product Details
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Product Description
Nesco/American Harvest - "The Best Food Dehydrators in the World"
The Snackmaster Encore features 500 watts of drying power that 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 adjustable thermostat allows you to dry different foods at proper temperature 95-160 degrees, providing the flexibility to produce the best drying results. The top-mounted fan prevents liquids from dripping into the heating chamber. Patented Converga-Flow drying system forces air down the exterior pressurized chamber, not through the trays, then air is forced horizontally across each individual tray, converging on the core for fast, even and nutritious drying. There is no flavor mixing and no need to rotate trays.
Features:
- 500 watts of drying power with top mounted fan
- Adjustable thermostat
- Dries food in hours, not days
- Precision drying for best quality
Detailed Highlights:
Top-Mounted, 500 Watt:
Dries faster with more power getting great results in hours, not days. 2,100 RPM fan.
Expandable:
Comes with four trays; can operate with up to 12 trays. Drying pressure automatically adjusts to the number of trays in use.
Fastest and Most Evening Drying Dehydrator:
Easy and economical way to make delicious fruit snacks, vegetables, herbs and beef jerky at home.
Patented Converga-Flow Drying System:
Provides even heat distribution, so no need for rotating trays. Flavors won't mix.
Adjustable Thermostat (95 degrees to 160 degrees):
Allows user to dry different foods at their proper temperatures.
Opaque Vita-Save Exterior:
Helps block harmful light and retain vitamins and minerals.
Drying Temperature
Fruits, fruit rolls and vegetables should be dried at 130 degrees F to 140 degrees F (55 degrees C to 60 degrees C). By drying foods in this temperature range you will minimize the loss of heat-sensitive vitamins A and C. All foods sweat when they begin to dry, the temperature may be set higher than 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) during the first couple of hours of drying. The actual temperature of the food will remain 15 degrees F to 20 degrees F (6o to 8o degrees C) lower than the air temperature for the first couple of hours. Meats and fish should be dried on the highest temperature setting of your dehydrator. These temperatures also keep bacteria and other spoilage micro-organisms, common to meat and fish, to a minimum during the first stages of drying. Nuts and seeds are high in oil, and if higher temperatures are used, they will tend to become rancid, developing off flavors. The best temperature is from 90 degrees F to 100 degrees F (30 degrees C to 40 degrees C). Herbs and spices are most flavorful when they first open and should be harvested while very fresh, before they begin to blossom. Because the aromatic oils are very sensitive, temperatures should be 90 degrees F to 100 degrees F (30 degrees C to 40 degrees C) for drying. Take care not to load trays too heavily as this will prolong the drying time. Dried flowers, herbs and spices used for potpourri should be dried at temperatures ranging from 90 degrees F to 100 degrees F (30 degrees C to 40 degrees C) to maintain aroma and color.
Drying Fruit Rolls
Fruit rolls are a favorite snack for young and old alike. It is a chewy fruit product made from pur degrees ed fresh fruit canned or frozen, which has been dried and rolled into snack sized pieces. Most fruits can also be combined with others. Some fruits, such as apples, are high in pectin and fiber, and have an excellent texture when dried. Use fresh fruit in season. You can also use slightly overripe fruits, irregularly shaped fruits, or slightly bruised fruits that would be unsuitable for canning or drying. Some fruits, such as citrus, should be used in combination with other fruits because they have so much liquid and very little pulp. If you find that a fruit is too runny, combine it with apple, applesauce or a similar fruit that will give it more substance. When fresh fruits are not available, canned or frozen fruits (either sweetened or un-sweetened) can be used. Simply drain the liquid, and pour the fruit into the blender. Applesauce can be taken directly from the container for wonderful fruit rolls.
Drying Jerky
Jerky is a favorite snack for school, lunch, on the trail or just about anywhere. It is made by seasoning lean, raw meat in a salt mixture, then drying it without cooking. The finished product is a protein-rich exercise in chewing and ever so delicious. Jerky also makes a savory broth base for soups and stews.
Drying Meat
Jerky may be made from a variety of wild game meats, fish and poultry. Use filets of fish and the breast of chicken. You can make delicious jerky from ground meat, using the NESCO/American Harvest Jerky Works TM kit. It's best to use ground round or lean (or extra lean) meat. Season with NESCO/ Harvest Jerky seasoning mixes.
FAQ
1. Q: How Dehydration Works
A: The process is very simple. Increasing the temperature of food makes its moisture evaporate. Air moving over the food carries the moisture away. Controlling the temperature and air circulation prevents food from spoiling while it is drying. If sufficient water is removed from the food, micro-organisms and enzymes that would make the food spoil are disrupted.
2. Q: How do you know when foods are dry?
A: Always let foods cool for a few minutes. Check to see if the food is still moist or sticky. If it is leathery and pliable, it is usually done. However, foods that are over dried may become brittle and turn brown.
3. Q: If I powdered my dried vegetables, what could I use them for?
A: Powdered onion and garlic, of course, are great seasonings for meats and sauces. Powdered tomatoes can be reconstituted into tomato sauce, paste, catsup, juice or soup. A blender or food processor will give you the finest texture. Store in air-tight container. Try making our own lemon zest, pepper flakes or corn meal.
4. Q: Will flavors mix if I dry different foods together in the same dehydrator?
A: If you dry foods in the same category, such as fruits with other fruits and vegetables with other vegetables, the flavors should not mix. However, we do not recommend drying onions with any other foods.
5. Q. What are the benefits of food drying?
A: There are many benefits of drying food. Here are some:
- You are in control of the quality of food you eat.
- You will save money.
- You can take advantage of supermarket specials.
- You can create a tasty snack that is good for you.
- You can take advantage of your own garden by drying your fruits and vegetables to be used year round.
- Cheapest way to preserve foods - costs half as much as canning and seven times cheaper than freezing.
- Storing dried foods requires 1/10 of the space of canned foods.
Available Extended Warranties for This Appliance
Customer Reviews
I got this because I am switching over to a more raw diet. I got a few cookbooks that have lots of mouth watering recipes but they required a food dehydrator. I love it. This one is soft, just a low hum. I have kept it on for days at a time making lots of goodies.
One thing i noticed when i put a thermometer in the machine is that is is 10 degrees off and so i keep it at 105 to give me the perfect 115 for "cooking" raw foods. So i suggest you do the same if you get this machine. I put it in the bottom vent.
This machine is so easy to use i am having tons of fun. If you are buying your first dehydrator this is the one to get. If you are getting it for raw foods buy extra fruit roll up sheets. It comes with one but i use them a lot!
The jerky maker gun works ok, the spices are a little 'ick' that came with it. We used the jerky gun once, and then we stuck with london broils or flank steaks as our meat of choice for jerky.
Most people say my beef jerky is the best they've ever tasted. I slice london broils (bought on sale) against the grain("on the bias")very thinly. Use a very sharp filet or chefs knife. I marinate the strips in a bowl in the frig for 12-24 hours in 1cup soy sauce, 1cup teriyaki, 2 tbs brown sugar 1tbs black pepper.
My machine holds about 3 lbs of marinated jerky, and it takes around 4-5 hours to dry. I let the jerky rest/cool on a plate, then i store in a ziplock baggie.
GREAT VALUE - makes INCREDIBLE jerky. Only wish this product had a timer or an on off switch.
I wouldn't use the temperature settings that they suggest for jerky again though. The Jerky was kind of crunchy. I made another batch at the lowest setting and it's perfect. You are, after all, dehydrating, not cooking.
I hooked a timer to it so I wouldn't have to stay up for when it is done. Read more
I did not see an off switch and I had to unplug it when I finish dehyrating the above... Read more
