Nesco Food Dehydrator manual

Food Dehydrator & Jerky Maker Care/Use & Recipe Guide 8425Cover 12/12/01 12:41 PM Page C1[...]

1 Printed in the U.S.A. Bolger Concept to Print W elcome to the fun and exciting world of food dehydration, and thank you for c hoosing NESCO ® American Harvest ® — “The world’s fastest, most even drying dehydrators.” ® — Our long history of developing and manufacturing food dehydrators and accessories enables us to bring to you the be[...]

2 Important Safeguards —This product is designed for household use only— When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following: 1. Read all instructions. 2. Do not touch hot surfaces. 3. T o protect against electrical hazar ds, do not immerse power unit or any part of the dehydrator cord o[...]

Product Information — FD-50/FD-50T Snackmaster ® Pro ® The Snackmaster Pro dehydrator is per fect for amateurs and professionals who want to make their own natural snacks, including fruit rolls, dried fruits, and beef jerky . The Snackmaster Pr o comes with four trays and is expandable to 12 trays (with additional Add-A-T ray ® accessories) fo[...]

FD-50/FD-50T Product Information (continued) Use and Care T rays Y our dehydrator trays are easy to clean. Simply soak the trays in warm water with a mild deter gent for several minutes. A soft-bristle brush will loosen food particles that resist softening by soaking. Don’ t clean trays with any metal objects or scour- ing pads as they tend to da[...]

5 Product Information — FD-60 Snackmaster ® Express ™ The Snackmaster Express dehydrator is perfect for amateurs and pr ofessional who want to make their own natural snacks, including fruit rolls, dried fruits, and beef jerky . The Snackmaster Expr ess comes with four trays and is expandable to 12 trays (with additional Add-A- T ray ™ access[...]

6 FD-60 Product Information (continued) Use and Care T rays Y our dehydrator trays are easy to clean. Simply soak the trays in warm water with a mild deter gent for several minutes. A soft-bristle brush will loosen food particles that resist softening by soaking. Don’ t clean trays with any metal objects or scour- ing pads as they tend to damage [...]

7 Product Information — FD-1000/FD-1010 Gardenmaster ® The Gardenmaster ® dehydrator is the ultimate garden pr eser ver . It is ideal for people who dry produce, flowers, herbs, and spices on a regular basis. The Gardenmaster dehydrator comes with four trays and is expandable up to 30 trays with Add-A-T ray® accessories. Each tray holds up to [...]

8 FD-1000/FD-1010 Product Information (continued) Use and Care T rays Y our dehydrator trays are easy to clean. Simply soak the trays in warm water with a mild deter gent for several minutes. A soft-bristle brush will loosen food particles that resist softening by soaking. Don’ t clean trays with any metal objects or scour- ing pads as they tend [...]

9 T here ar e no absolutes and quite a few variables in food dehydration. The only way to become proficient is to dry , dry , and dry some mor e! Certain varieties of pr oduce, the humid- ity in the air , and even methods of food handling make a differ ence in the drying time and quality of dried product. • Experiment with differ ent drying tem- [...]

Dr ying T ime Because of the unique design of the patented Conver ga-Flow ® system of your NESCO ® American Harvest ® dehy- drator , you’ll be surprised at how quick- ly most foods dry . Drying times may vary , depending on the type and amount of food, thickness and evenness of the slices, per centage of water in the food, humidity , tempera- [...]

11 • Fruit r olls should be leathery with no sticky spots. • Jerky should be tough but not brittle. • Dried fish should be tough. If the fish is high in fat, it may appear moist due to the high oil content. • V egetables should be tough or crisp. Packaging Some pieces may dry in a shorter time than others and should be removed and placed in[...]

The ideal storage temperature for dehydrated food is 60°F (15°C) to below freezing. The ideal storage place is your freezer or r efrigerator , particu- larly for storing low acid foods such as meats, fish, and vegetables. All fruits dried with skins intact should be packaged and frozen for a minimum of 48 hours to prevent any possibility of insec[...]

13 F ruits are ideal to dry because they have a naturally high sugar con- tent. They are high in acid (and consequently less prone to spoilage and micro-or ganisms), and taste delicious! Seasonally , fruit can be obtained in bulk from or chards or farms for considerably lower prices than what you may find in the supermarket. Selection Fruits picked[...]

14 Should I Pr e-Tr eat? Pre-tr eatment isn't necessary for most fruits. The majority of fruits are simply sliced and dried. However , some fruits tend to oxidize more than others. Oxidation causes browning of cut food surfaces when fruit is dried, This causes a loss in flavor and vitamins A and C. Pre-tr eatment minimizes oxidation, and gives[...]

Conditioning Moisture will tend to equalize thr ough- out a container of dried fruit when left at room temperatur e for several days. If some pieces are drier than others, the conditioning process will allow the moisture to equalize. If any condensa- tion appears on the lid of the container , fruits are insuf ficiently dried. Return to the dryer an[...]

Fr uit Roll Recipes Strawberry Rhubarb Leather 1 cup rhubarb 1 ⁄ 4 cup water 2 cups strawberries 1 ⁄ 2 cup honey Combine 1⁄4 cup water and 1 cup r hubarb. Simmer on stove over medium high heat for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups strawberries and 1⁄2 cup honey . Purée to smooth consistency in blender . Pour on a Fruit Roll sheet and dry . Boysenberry[...]

17 Fruit Drying Guidelines Expect a variance in the time needed to dry differ ent fruits. Drying times are af fect- ed by the size of the load, fruit thickness, the moisture content of the food itself, as well as other variables discussed in Drying T ime, page 10. If pre-tr eatment is suggested, use one of the pre-tr eatments indicated on page 14. [...]

A verage Food Pr eparation Dr ying Time Uses Grapes Leave whole, remove stems 10-36 hrs. Raisins; use in baked goods, cereals and snacks If blanched 6-10 hours Kiwi Peel, slice 3/8" to 1/2" thick 5-12 hrs. Snacks Mangos Remove skin, slice 3/8" 6-16 hrs. Snacks, cereals and thick from seed baked goods Melons Remove skin and seeds. 8-2[...]

19 Drying V egetables S ome vegetables are quite good dried. Others lose their appeal and are better frozen or fr esh. Some vegetables are far better frozen than dried, if you must preserve them. V egetables have a low acid and sugar content that makes them more subject to spoilage, and tend to have a far shorter shelf life than dried fruits. Packa[...]

20 and cook on high for about 1⁄2 of the time requir ed to completely cook the fresh vegetable. Depending on the age and design of your microwave, you may want to stop the cooking half way through and stir the vegetables to achieve a more even blanching. Dr ying Load blanched vegetables onto drying trays, making sure that air can move freely betw[...]

A verage Food Pr eparation Dr ying Time Uses Artichoke Cut hearts into 1/8" strips, 6-12 hrs. Marinade or dip in batter Globe blanch and fry Asparagus W ash and cut into 1" 3-10 hrs. Rehydrate, serve in pieces. Blanch cream sauce Beans Remove ends, cut into 6-12 hrs. Stews, soups and casser oles Green/W ax 1" pieces. Blanch Beets Ste[...]

22 A verage Food Pr eparation Dr ying Time Uses Mushrooms* Clean with soft brush 4-10 hrs. Rehydrate for soups, meat or cloth. Don't wash dishes, omelets or frying Onions Remove skins, tops, and 6-12 hrs. Soups, stews and sauces. root ends. Slice 3/8" thick Powder for seasoning salt Package immediately Peas Shell, wash and blanch 5-14 hrs[...]

23 J erky is a favorite snack for school, lunch, trail or just about anywhere! It is made by seasoning raw meat in a salt mixture, and then drying it without cooking. The finished product is an exer cise in chewing and ever so delicious! Meat Jerky Y ou won't have to pay the exorbitant prices for jerky slices or sticks at the supermarket. Most[...]

surface bacterial gr owth during the initial stages of drying. If you are making jerky fr om a ground meat, add one package jerky seasoning mix per pound of ground meat. Mix well and form strips by using the Jerky W orks™ kit or a cookie press. Place on trays in your dehydrator and dry . Beef Jerky Marinade Note: Use this recipe on beef, venison [...]

Dr ying Cooked Meats If you are drying meat for other purposes than jerky such as for stew , sandwich spreads, or str oganoff, the meat should be tender and choice. It must be cooked so that it will not be tough and chewy when reconstituted. Using the remainder of a dinner r oast or left-over steak saves the step of precooking the meat. Dehydrate t[...]

F resh herbs and spices have a str onger aroma and flavor than dried herbs and spices. They are prized by food lovers and gourmet cooks. Dried herbs and spices are next-best. They are used mor e often than fresh because they are mor e readily available and convenient to use. Although some flavor is lost when they are dried, it becomes more concentr[...]

27 outer covering may be removed. Rub the seeds between the palms of your hands while blowing on them to remove the husks. Place lar ger seeds on a Clean-A-Screen ® sheet. Place smaller seeds loosely on a Fruit Roll sheet. Dehydrate until there is no moistur e evident. If seeds are to be used for planting, dry at room temperatur e to maintain germ[...]

28 Herb Dr ying Guidelines Most herbs may be dried in your NESCO ® American Harvest ® dehydrator right on the plant stalk or stem. Seeds and leaves are easily stripped fr om the plant when dry . Drying temperatur e should not exceed 90°-100°F (35°C). Do not dry herbs with fruits and vegetables. Store in glass containers in a cool, dark place t[...]

29 A verage Food Par t of Plant Pr eparation Dr ying T ime Uses Fennel Leaves Rinse in cold water 1-3 hrs. Salads, soups or stews Fennel Seeds Rinse in cold water 2-5 hrs. Cakes, cookies, breads Garlic Clove Cut in half 6-12 hrs. Salt, powder , recipes lengthwise Ginger Root Rinse, slice 3/8" or 2-5 hrs. Meat, vegetables, grate cookies and des[...]

30 Y ou've all seen a flower so perfect in form, color , and texture that you wish you could keep it forever . With the Snackmaster ® and Gardenmaster ® dehydrators, it now can become a reality . Dr ying Flowers Preserve gar den and natural favorites for attractive dried flower arrangements, Christmas and holiday decorations, party favors, p[...]

31 Dried Apple W r eath Supplies: Mod Podge sealer (available in craft supply stores) brush 1500 mgs. vitamin C (dissolved in 1 gallon of water or lemon or pineapple juice.) 8 or more apples (depending on the size of wreath) hot glue gun & glue sticks styrofoam wr eath grapevines straw cardboar d ribbon thin wire baby's breath cinnamon sti[...]

32 enough to secure. Do not push the wir e through the top of the r ose. T rim wire to desired length. Push wir e into styrofoam to hold r ose upright. Using small brush, seal rose with Mod Podge. When dry , add baby's breath and silk leaves around the top of the r ose. Using floral tape, place a small drop of glue on one edge. Starting at the[...]

33 Lar ge ornaments should be strength- ened with wire. Dough has no str ength and requir es support for larger orna- ments. If the dough connects in small pieces (head and neck, arms or legs), insert toothpicks or wir es between parts to keep the portions fr om separating over time. Make impressions on dough with a variety of instruments. Impressi[...]

34 transparent and non penetrating so that the surface of your dough-art is strengthened with a har d protective coating. The best choice is a polyure- thane varnish. Be sure to r emove your ornaments from your dehydrator and place in a well ventilated area (pr eferably out-of-doors) before applying varnish. Car efully place objects (on aluminum fo[...]

35 12 to 24 hours. In the dehydrator , they are usually dry in 6 to 12 hours. Paint and seal as directed in the salt dough recipe. Potpour ri Home dried potpourri and sachets are fun and easy to do in your dehydrator . T ake advantage of your flower garden in the summer by dehydrating petals, for potpourri, to use the rest of the year . Combine pet[...]

36 Breakfast Recipies Banana Br ead Chunks of dried banana gives this old favorite a new twist. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Gener ously grease and flour 3 small (3" x 5") loaf pans or two medium (3-1⁄2" x 7-1⁄2") loaf pans. Cut waxed or par chment paper to fit bottoms and line pans. In a lar ge bowl, cream mar garine or[...]

A wesome Bran Muf fins Make these for breakfast, and pop the extra in your childr en’ s lunch box! Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Fill 24 muf fin pans with muffin liners. Spray muffin liners with vegetable spray . In lar ge bowl, pour boiling water over 1 cup bran and let stand. Add 1⁄2 cup mar garine to bran/boiling water mixture. Stir in bu[...]

38 Fr uit Hors d’oeuvres Serve these at your next party . Dried fruits should be pliable. If too hard, allow to stand in boiling water 5 minutes to soften. Drain. In small bowl, beat cream cheese until fluf fy . Stir in sour cr eam, papri- ka, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese and chopped almonds. Spoon 1 teaspoon filling into pit cavity of each p[...]

39 Fr uit Carmel Co rn A new twist on an old favorite… Dried Apple Pastr y Squar es This is an elegant dessert or tasty br eakfast pastry . Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Place dehydrated apples in lar ge bowl. Cover with 2 cups boiling water . Let stand until pastry is finished. In lar ge bowl, stir flour and salt together . Cut in butter with[...]

40 Classic Oatmeal Cookies These keep well in an airtight container for a couple of weeks. Apricot Cr eam Cheese Cof fee Cake Strawberry preserves and dried strawberries can be substituted for the apricots. Or try pineapple or apple. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Gr ease and flour a 10 inch spring form pan. In a lar ge bowl, combine flour and 3 [...]

41 Dried Fr uit Filling T r y this in cookies and pastries. Crispy Pinwheels Dates, apricots, and other dried fruits can be used to fill these delicious cookies. Prepar e dried fruit filling. In a medium bowl, cream butter or mar garine with brown sugar and granulated sugar . Add egg and vanilla. Beat well. In a large bowl, com- bine flour , baking[...]

42 Condiments Dressing Stuffing Sauces & Salads Soups & Snacks Dried T omatoes in Olive Oil These tomatoes taste better than the expensive "sun dried" ones at the supermarket . Dip dried tomato slices in vinegar . Shake off excess. Pack in a jar and cover with olive oil. Store at a cool temperatur e 1 month before use. Refrigerate[...]

Salad Cr unchies Zesty for any salad! Herb Stuf fing Great in turkey or chicken. Mix all ingredients, plus juice fr om roasting pan or other liquid, to moisten. Bake covered for 1 hour in 325° oven. Makes about 2 quarts. Mix thoroughly and sprinkle on salads. Add salad dr essing and toss. Keep unused portion in the r efrigerator in an airtight con[...]

44 Homemade Chili Powder Add to your favorite Mexican recipe or use in gr ound meat for tacos. Remove and discard stems and seeds. Whirl pods in a blender until finely gr ound. Allow powder to settle. Add remaining ingr edients and whirl briefly . Store in an air tight container . *Dry peppers according to Drying Guidelines in the vegetable section[...]

Cheesy Corn Chips Great for after school munchies. In a blender or food processor , blend together all ingredients at high speed. Spread mixtur e thinly onto Fruit Roll sheets. Dry at 130°F (55°C) for approximately 10 hours or until dry on one side. Lift entire corn ring off of the Fruit Roll sheet, turn over and dry for two hours longer or until[...]

46 Har vest Granola Most often served as a breakfast food, it can also be a snack or an ingredient in desser ts, cookies, or main dishes. Mix together very well so that all ingredients ar e distributed evenly . Adding dry ingredients to wet ingr edients makes a crunchier granola. Spread onto a Fruit Roll sheet. Dry at 145° until crunchy . Crumble [...]

Look for these exclusive accessories wherever NESCO ® American Harvest ® Food Dehydrators are sold. Add-A-Trays ® NESCO ® American Harvest ® Add-A-T rays ® allow you to expand your dehydrator to meet your needs. L T -2W (Set of 2): For use on FD-40, FD-50, FD-50T and FD-60. FD-40 is expandable to 8 trays. Other models are expandable to 12 tra[...]

Jerky Making Kits NESCO ® American Harvest ® Jerky Kits are the fast and easy way to make deli- cious jerky at a fraction of the cost of store bought jerky . Jerky gun with three attachments included with each kit. BJW -1: Jerky W orks™ Kit (Includes 5 spice packs) BJW -10: Beef Jerky Factor y™ Plus (Includes 10 spice packs) Jerky Spices NESC[...]

49 Index Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47-48 Breakfast Recipes A wesome Bran Muffins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Banana Bread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

Index (continued) Fruits Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Fruit Drying Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-18 Fruit Rolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

51 ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY This appliance is warranted for one year from date of original pur chase against defects in material and workmanship. This warranty does not cover transportation damage, misuse, accident or similar incident. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from state to state. Y our[...]

52 About Y our Warranty and Service Satisfaction One simple step sets you on the road to complete customer satisfaction: Mail in your warranty card and file your food dehydrator’ s exclusive registration number now! Y our serial number and dehydrator model number are located on the bottom of the base power unit on the FD-50 and FD-1010, and the b[...]

Food Dehydrator & Jerky Maker The Metal Ware Corporation, 1700 Monroe St., T wo Rivers, WI 54241 © 2000 The Metal Ware Corporation 300-01448 8425Cover 12/12/01 12:40 PM Page C4[...]