Nesco, Wow!

[Wise Old Owl]

Based on numerous votes and recommendations here at WB, my next to only birthday present was a Nesco 75 dehydrator..

OMG it is wonderful, fast, efficient.

For the price it is a clear winner!

Thank you all for the help you provided. The 2nd batch of Jerky is on its way.

[Loneoak]

Happy for you, now get busy and make enough jerky to share :)

[Seeker]

Happy for you, now get busy and make enough jerky to share :)

yeah. what Loneoak said. :D

seriously, congrats. you'll enjoy it.

[Jonnycat]

I hope you brought enough for the whole class! :D

[Wise Old Owl]

sure did, mmm bubblegum jerky!

[longhiker]

I assume you are talking about the Nesco FD-75 PR? (Amazon seems to have another 700 watt dehydrator with a slightly different code for more $$)

I'm really on the fence about buying this... con: I'm afraid it'll be too complicated to use and we'll never use it, pro: I can have much better meals on the trail.. I primarily need it to make gluten-free recipes at home (various rice pastas , heavy soups with meat like goulash etc) and taken them on the trail. (My partner has a gluten allergy which rules out most freeze-dried foods..)

[longhiker]

While we are on this, could someone recommend a good book focused on dehydrating your own meals for hiking?

So far, I've come across a Fork in the Trail but not sure how much of its focus is on dehydrating and also not sure how 'vegetarian' the book is.. I don't have that constraint (of being vegetarian) and am more interested in most nutrition for min weight.

[Wise Old Owl]

LH the books or pamphlets are included with the dryer.

[Toolshed]

I assume you are talking about the Nesco FD-75 PR? (Amazon seems to have another 700 watt dehydrator with a slightly different code for more $$)

I'm really on the fence about buying this... con: I'm afraid it'll be too complicated to use and we'll never use it, pro: I can have much better meals on the trail.. I primarily need it to make gluten-free recipes at home (various rice pastas , heavy soups with meat like goulash etc) and taken them on the trail. (My partner has a gluten allergy which rules out most freeze-dried foods..)



It's as complicated as slicing veggies. OK OK, so making jerky takes a few extra steps, but virtually any meal you make as home can be plopped on the trays and dehydrated.

[medicjimr]

I just got done with a batch of venison vegetable soup with mini past shells and barley. I am making lasagna for dinner today for the wife and mother in law sow I am making extra just to dehydrate It,s addicting enjoy your Nesco I have one too there great for price.

[Wise Old Owl]

I just made a top quality Turkey Jerky with Pappys xxx white lightening BBQ Sauce!
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ipdLId1Lk0uOtM:http://www.grillfitti.com/images/productimages/TH_Pappys_xxx.jpg (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.grillfitti.com/images/productimages/TH_Pappys_xxx.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.grillfitti.com/category.cfm%3FCategory%3D13%26StartRow%3D1&usg=__0hJfljkaA1CNR-OfQ_uGli0HpiM=&h=282&w=125&sz=7&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=ipdLId1Lk0uOtM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=51&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpappy%2527s%2Bwhite%2Blightning%2Bbbq %2Bsauce%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4GG LG_enUS310US310%26tbs%3Disch:1)

[Navy Salad]

I just made a top quality Turkey Jerky with Pappys xxx white lightening BBQ Sauce!
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ipdLId1Lk0uOtM:http://www.grillfitti.com/images/productimages/TH_Pappys_xxx.jpg (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.grillfitti.com/images/productimages/TH_Pappys_xxx.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.grillfitti.com/category.cfm%3FCategory%3D13%26StartRow%3D1&usg=__0hJfljkaA1CNR-OfQ_uGli0HpiM=&h=282&w=125&sz=7&hl=en&start=4&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=ipdLId1Lk0uOtM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=51&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpappy%2527s%2Bwhite%2Blightning%2Bbbq %2Bsauce%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4GG LG_enUS310US310%26tbs%3Disch:1)

Mmmmm, sounds great! Do you pre-cook your turkey or do anything other than dehydrate it to kill any potential nasties?

[LaurieAnn]

The Nesco 75 PR is my dehydrator of choice. It's not complicated... you set the temp dial (they even tell you on the dial what to dry at what temp), place the food on the trays and plug it in. Easy peasy. I sometimes use a light timer if I am not going to be around to turn it off at the right time and I like to use a power bar with an on/off switch. In fact, that would be my only complaint - no on/off button. I use mine more than the average backpacker and it has stood up to four years of abuse.

[Wise Old Owl]

Mmmmm, sounds great! Do you pre-cook your turkey or do anything other than dehydrate it to kill any potential nasties?

No. Turkey ground meat is now shipped in a special container that looks like other meat packing, but contains a gas that keeps it stable. One opens the pack, mixes in an ounce of Tenderquick per pound, then adds spices. I use a power timer and the highest setting of tempreture and the machine is set to cut off in four hours. You will need a Jerky gun there is no way around that. It reduces waste, and mess. The heat and air will get the nastys. The Turkey lasted more than a week.

[Bags4266]

Just got back from a 4 week section hike using all dehydrated food from my new Nesco.... Bottom line, never ate so well.

[Wise Old Owl]

Yea that's my feeling and the best part is lean burger for making dry speggetti for Freezer Bag Cooking no longer needs to be gravel, I can stop it at soft with Tenderquick and it will keep for weeks.