Instructions / Assembly

ManualsBrandsNesco ManualsSmall Kitchen AppliancesDehydrator and Jerky Maker

Dehydrator Use & Care

Before using your dehydrator for the first time, wash the trays and top cover in

warm, soapy water, or in the dishwasher on the top rack (remove before drying

cycle). Caution: Do not put the power unit/blower in water or in the dishwasher.

Wipe with a damp cloth.

• Set base tray on a sturdy countertop or table, away from sinks or any source of water.

• Stack additional trays on base tray. Your dehydrator requires a minimum of 5 trays

to operate properly, the base tray is included as one of your 5 trays. (You may expand

your dehydrator to 7 total trays with the use of Add-A-Tray

accessories)

• Place top cover on top tray, insert blower into trays and rotate to lock in place.

• Plug cord into an electrical outlet, switch power to ON and you’re ready to dehydrate!

Trays and Top Cover

Your dehydrator trays and top cover are easy to clean. Simply soak in warm water with a mild

detergent for several minutes. A soft bristle brush will loosen food particles that resist softening by

soaking. Do not clean with any metal objects or scouring pads, as they tend to damage the surface.

Trays and top cover can be washed on top rack of dishwasher, but remove before drying cycle.

Blower

It is important that the air vents on blower remain clean and unobstructed. UNPLUG BLOWER

BEFORE CLEANING. Use a damp cloth or towel to remove dried food particles from blower.

Do not use scouring pads, abrasive cleaners or sharp utensils. Avoid dripping any liquid into

electrical parts. Do not operate blower alone, or use in any capacity other than the intended

use. DO NOT OPERATE NEAR OR IMMERSE BLOWER IN WATER OR OTHER LIQUID.

Precautions

When drying meat and dairy products, blot frequently with a paper towel to

absorb excess oils.

Follow these safety rules when dehydrating foods:

• Wash hands thoroughly prior to handling food.

• Clean all utensils and containers with a mild solution of detergent, bleach, and water before using.

• Make sure all counter surfaces and cutting boards are thoroughly cleaned.

• Keep foods in refrigerator before preparing for drying. Store dried foods in refrigerator or freezer.

• After opening sealed containers of dried food, use food as soon as possible.

• Store unused portions of dried food, tightly sealed, in refrigerator to maintain freshness and quality.

• Do not dehydrate foods that have been prepared with or marinated in alcohol.

• Trays are only intended to be used with your Nesco

/American Harvest

Food Dehydrator.

Do not use in a conventional oven or with any other appliance.

• Do not spray vegetable oil directly onto surface of trays.

4 1-800-288-4545

Summary of content (6 pages)

PAGE 1
Dehydrator Use & Care Before using your dehydrator for the first time, wash the trays and top cover in warm, soapy water, or in the dishwasher on the top rack (remove before drying cycle). Caution: Do not put the power unit/blower in water or in the dishwasher. Wipe with a damp cloth. • Set base tray on a sturdy countertop or table, away from sinks or any source of water. • Stack additional trays on base tray.
PAGE 2
General Drying Guidelines There are no absolutes and quite a few variables in food dehydration. The only way to become proficient is to dry, dry, and dry some more! Certain varieties of produce, the humidity in the air, and even methods of food handling make a difference in the drying time and quality of dried product. • Experiment with different thicknesses of produce, pretreatment versus no pretreatment, and different rehydration methods.
PAGE 3
All fruits dried with skins intact should be packaged and frozen for a minimum of 48 hours to prevent any possibility of insect infestation. Onions and tomatoes are especially prone to absorbing moisture from the air and should be packaged immediately after removing from the dehydrator. Record Keeping Recording the following information can be helpful in improving your dehydrating techniques and determining quantities of food to dry each season. • Date dried.
PAGE 4
Drying Fruit Selection Fruits are ideal to dry because they have a naturally high sugar content. They are high in acid (and consequently less prone to spoilage and microorganisms), and taste delicious! Seasonally, fruit can be obtained in bulk from orchards or farms for considerably lower prices than you may find in the supermarket. Fruits picked at their prime have the highest natural sugar content and the best nutritional value. For the best quality product, choose only fresh, ripe, unblemished fruits.
PAGE 5
Pre-Treatment Pre-treatments can vary from soaking in fruit juice, ascorbic acid mixtures, syrup blanching, steaming, to sulfating. The results of each of these methods also vary. Experiment and decide for yourself which one you like best. Use one of the following methods of pretreatment Natural Pre-Treatment Fruit juices containing ascorbic acid may be used as a natural pre-treatment to reduce browning. Although there will still be some loss of color, pineapple, orange, lemon, or lime juice can be used.
PAGE 6
Drying Fruit Rolls Fruit rolls, also known as fruit leathers, are a favorite snack for young and old alike. They are a chewy fruit product made from puréed fresh fruit which has been dried and rolled into snack sized pieces. Fruit rolls are easy to make and cost less than those bought at the store. Selection Almost any fruit will make an excellent fruit roll. 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.