Nesco Snack Master FD-60 Review

Owning a food dehydrator has been on my wish list, for a few years. On occasion, I have borrowed my in-law's Excalibur dehydrator, to do some major food dehydrating. I found that I would like to dry snacks for my kids once or twice a week, so owning my own was my ideal. I was delighted when the folks at Nesco sent me a FD-60 Nesco Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator to review.

One reason to own a  food dehydrator is because many store-bought, dried fruits contain harmful ingredients. Many dried fruits, especially store-bought banana chips, are fried in oil, and some dried fruits are gassed to preserve color and for preservation purposes. I enjoy knowing exactly what goes into my children's snacks. A dehydrator can be a great way to stretch out your budget. I am planning on utilizing my dehydrator, extensively, this summer, to aid in preserving some of our garden bounty. It will be a great tool for drying some of our typical vast tomato harvest, as well as a way to preserve herbs.


FD-60 Nesco Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator

Nesco claims that the air flow system of the FD-60 Nesco Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator prevents flavors of the items you are drying from mixing. I decided to put that claim to the test by drying apples, bananas, and kale at the same time. The kale crisps were marinated in a wet mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic, so they were quite wet. I placed them on the bottom two trays, so they wouldn't leak onto the fruit. I was so impressed when I tasted the dried bananas, which didn't have a single hint of garlic and kale. I was very impressed, to say the least.

Kale Crisps

Bananas, prior to dehydration



What I love about the Nesco Snackmaster:

Price:
I love that the price of this model is about $50-$65. This is much more affordable than the dehydrators which retail for $150- $200.

Adjustable Thermostat:
One of the great benefits of drying your own food is that you can set the temperature. I love being able to make raw snacks with the Nesco Snackmaster. Heating snacks at low temperatures preserves enzymes and nutrients in foods. It is rare to find an adjustable thermostat on a food dehydrator, at this low of a price.


Noise:
Noise levels of the Nesco Snackmaster  were fairly quiet, which I greatly appreciated.

Fruit Leather made from a jar of applesauce

Fruit Leather Tray:
 My children love fruit leathers, but they are either really expensive, or full of unhealthy ingredients. I love that the Nesco Snackmaster comes with a fruit leather tray. Just puree some fresh fruit, or spread a jar of unsweetened applesauce on the fruit leather tray and dry. Homemade fruit rolls are so much tastier than anything you can find in the store!

Applesauce Fruit Rolls

Tray Size/Expandability:
I was impressed by how much food I could place on each dehydrator tray. The Nesco Snackmaster comes with four trays, but is expandable to 12 trays, with the affordable Add a Trays.

Three of my little ones, enjoying fruit leathers


Taste:
We loved the  crispy kale crisps, chewy banana/apple chips,  and scrumptious fruit leathers that we have made in the Nesco Snackmaster. It is so exciting to think of new treats to make in our dehydrator.

If you are looking for a quality, affordable food dehydrator, I doubt that you will be disappointed with the Nesco Snackmaster.

Do you dehydrate? If so I would love to hear what your family's favorite treats to make are.



Disclosure: I received a Nesco Snackmaster Dehydrator in exchange for an honest review.