Food dehydrator recommendations

[Snowfire]

I'm looking for recommendations for a dehydrator. I know there are plans on here for home made ones but a) making one's not going to happen any time soon and b) HWTHMBLT has offered to buy me one as a pressie

But before he splashes out his hard earned cash I'd be interested in other people's views of which ones work and which don't, features to look out for, what's not worth paying for etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rik_uk3]

Been talked about a lot. See link in post #17
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56299&highlight=dehydrator

 

[chas brookes]

Hi
we have one of these after a recommendation on the forum seems to operate quite well and comes with several drying trays

http://www2.westfalia.net/shops/hou..._food/dehydrating_/193811-food_dehydrator.htm

and was cheap enough if it did not work out

 

[Shewie]

Another vote for the Westfalia

 

[Toddy]

Me too
It's been in constant use since the topic was brought up here; for around £30 it owes me nothing
Lots of trials, lots of bulk drying, lots of good food and it's still going strong.

Tip; it dries stuff quicker without the lid over the top layer

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Kepis]

another vote for the Westfalia

 

[TeeDee]

There doesn't seem to be much of an 'inbetween' price margin does there? The Westafalia comes in around at £30-40 for a small ( but perfectly formed ) dehydrator and then there seems to be a monumental jump up in price to the circa £200 for a larger unit.

Anyone know of a middle ground ?

 

[Shewie]

There doesn't seem to be much of an 'inbetween' price margin does there? The Westafalia comes in around at £30-40 for a small ( but perfectly formed ) dehydrator and then there seems to be a monumental jump up in price to the circa £200 for a larger unit.

Anyone know of a middle ground ?

Bob at BPL sells a few for around a ton ...
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/page39.asp

I think you start to pay extra when you go for a timer, I use one of those plug in timers we use for the lamps when we're away on holiday

 

[rik_uk3]

You could buy three £30 jobs and plug them into a socket timer which cost a fiver. £100 ain't good value for what is essentialy the same as the £30 drier.

 

[TeeDee]

Cheers Shewie , Thanks for the link but I think I'm going to have to agree with Rik.

I think I'll see about making my own.

 

[Shewie]

Cheers Shewie , Thanks for the link but I think I'm going to have to agree with Rik.

I think I'll see about making my own.

I agree with Rik too, £30 jobbie here that works a treat

 

[daveO]

My Westfalia dehydrator just packed in last week. It hasn't had a huge amount of use either. It started to fluctuate fan speed so we turned it off but it hasn't got better now it's cooled down. Must have just had a dodgy one I guess since everyojne else's seems ok.

 

[rik_uk3]

My Westfalia dehydrator just packed in last week. It hasn't had a huge amount of use either. It started to fluctuate fan speed so we turned it off but it hasn't got better now it's cooled down. Must have just had a dodgy one I guess since everyojne else's seems ok.

It happens, I'm on my third Tesco Cree torch, no problem for other people but I did

 

[Nagual]

The Westfalia one I have has had lots of use and I really like it, the only thing I'd like to have really is an adjustable temp control.

 

[Toddy]

My Westfalia dehydrator just packed in last week. It hasn't had a huge amount of use either. It started to fluctuate fan speed so we turned it off but it hasn't got better now it's cooled down. Must have just had a dodgy one I guess since everyojne else's seems ok.

Sorry to hear that I presume you've unscrewed it and had a looksee, if it's out of guarantee ?

*If* you're going to dump it, and not replace it with a similar model, you could offer the trays to other folks for barter

cheers,
Toddy

 

[daveO]

It's got security screws on there and the holes are too slim to get my special bits in there. I'll have to grind a notch out of an old screwdriver. It's in the 'to fix' pile for now anyway...

Had to go right as the tomato glut needed drying too

I won't bin the trays though don't worry.

 

[Toddy]

You could try the old, "Give it a good hard shoogle", trick. Like giving the old tv's a thump on the side

Hope it's fixable, I know I'd miss mine if it died.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Sherwood]

My Westfalia dehydrator just packed in last week. It hasn't had a huge amount of use either. It started to fluctuate fan speed so we turned it off but it hasn't got better now it's cooled down. Must have just had a dodgy one I guess since everyojne else's seems ok.

Taken from the Westfalia website..(terms and conditions)
"Westfalia 10 year guarantee

Every article carrying the Westfalia Quality label is guaranteed for 10 years, irrespective of the statutory warranty period, during which time we will repair the goods free of charge or deliver an equivalent replacement of our choice.

Please note that this guarantee applies only to the personal use of the products purchased and excludes commercial use. Items under guarantee should be sent to Westfalia at the FREEPOST address above."

So you may not need to break out the tools

 

[Toddy]

10 years ! :yikes:
That's a heck of a guarantee

cheers,
Toddy