Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express Review

The Nesco FD 61 WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator is specifically designed to help the people with the numerous advantages of food dehydrating without any additional cost and time. This appliance is one of the most reasonable machines that are currently available in the market. It is also a mid-range device that aims to offer fast and more significantly- an extremely delicious food items in very less time.

This is similar to other models of food dehydrators. This appliance is completely equipped with an extensive variety of features which will definitely help you in the procedure of dehydrating. With the current price tag, the Nesco American Harvest FD-61 WHC is a user-friendly product and will impeccably suit every buyer who is looking to buy budget food dehydrator.

NESCO FD-61WHC
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Owing to its multipurpose dehydrating features, this food dehydrator can be utilized for drying any type of food i.e. fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, etc. Actually, it is one of the exceptional machines that can be safely used for making quick and healthy dehydrated meat as well as jerkies.

However, if a person is on a diet, then this appliance will surely help him/her a lot in their entire journey of weight-loss as well.

​Indeed, rendering to the experts, a person can quite effortlessly substitute his regular candy, chocolate and other fatty appetizers with the satisfying pieces of homemade dehydrated vegetables and fruits.

Besides this, it will also assist you in easily evading the dangerous toxins and elements that exist in the fruit rolls and jerky which is bought from the supermarket stores.

Quick Overview of Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express

Product Name

Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator

Temp Range (°F)

95 – 155

Wattage (Watts)

500

Trays

5

Max Trays

12

Air Flow

Horizontal

Thermostat

Adjustable

Timer

No

Warranty

1 Year

Editor Rating

 4.7/5

Product Link

View this Product on Amazon

​Key Features of Nesco FD 61 WHC

​The Nesco American Harvest FD 61WHC Food Dehydrator is fully equipped with many eye-catching and valuable features which make this appliance dissimilar from other existing models. The below is the list of some significant features of this product:

1#  Comprehensive Variety of Accessories

This food dehydrator originates with several fruit roll sheets as well as a sheet for dehydrating sticky fruit and herbs. These sheets are also known as “clean-a-sheen”. In addition, it also offers a jerky handgun that helps in preparing jerky quite easier than earlier.

​In actual fact, if you have another food dehydrator at your place, you may also use the Nesco FD 61 Food Dehydrator accessories with it. These accessories are too compatible with the non-Nesco appliances. Besides this benefit, these accessories also offer outstanding functionality for a longer time period irrespective of the quantity of work they are needed to do.

2#  Fan Fixed at the top as well as strong Heating Component

This food dehydrator is quite similar to all top stackable food dehydrators as it also contains a fan fixed at the top that is compact and effective also. The fan, as well as the heating device, devises a power capacity of 500 Watt which is considered perfect for the maximum number of dehydrating purposes. When this product is combined with the Converga air flow technology, it lets the air go down the external shell and outward across the shelves. The heating device also verifies to be a frontrunner irrespective of the conditions.

3#  Decent Number of Compact size Trays and Racks

The number of trays that are provided with the other food dehydrators is either too low or of cheap quality. But this is not the case with Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster as it derives with five strong trays made up of plastic which can be effortlessly detachable without touching the vital hot parts. Moreover, this appliance is compact in size and can be easily placed in the less space area.

4#  Manufactured from BPA (Bisphenol A) Free Plastic Material

The normal plastic material can lead to the production of harmful toxins when heated for the longer duration of time. A food made of BPA-free plastic material eradicates the risks intricate and also allows the person to retain the food dehydrator whole night without worrying about the damage of the food as well as the appliance.

Full Technical Specifications of Nesco Food Dehydrator FD 61

​The below are the details about the technical specifications of the Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator:

1. Type of dehydrator

​This food dehydrator is stackable that mainly consists of number of racks that possesses a tray for preserving the items of foods.

2. ​Fan

​The air flow in the horizontal direction with the help of a fan mounted at the top.

3. ​Range of temperature

​The temperature of this food dehydrator varies between 95°F to 160°F.

4. ​Size

​The dimensions of the Nesco Food Dehydrator FD 61 are 13 x 11 x 13 inches and its weight is around 9 pounds that make it easy to move and store.

5. ​Expandable trays

​This appliance includes five trays that can be expanded up to twelve as per the requirement of the user. The trays are also removable which can be removed if you want to dry out a larger size food item.

6. ​Power

​The power capacity or the wattage of this food dehydrator is 500 watts.

7. ​Warranty period

​The manufacturers of this food dehydrator offer one year limited warranty period to the buyer.

8. ​Modifiable thermostat

​The Nesco American Harvest Food Dehydrator FD-61WHC possesses 500 watts capacity of power which is really a plus point for all the dehydrating processes. The modifiable thermostat of the product ranges between 95F to 160F which enables the user to dehydrate a large variety of foods rapidly and uniformly.

9. ​System of Converga Air Flow

​The Converga Air Flow structure of the appliance guarantees the equivalent distribution of heat all over the unit.

10. ​Additional accessories

​Along with the Nesco American Harvest Food Dehydrator FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express, the buyer will also get a clean-a-screen for dehydrating herbs, a jerky handgun, a sheet for fruit roll as well as a recipe guidebook.

​Best Things about Nesco Dehydrator FD 61

​The Nesco American Harvest FD 61WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator has an enormous amount of benefits that will make every person a fan of this appliance. Hence, the following are some of its significant advantages:

​1#  Smoky Exterior

​Due to the Vita-Save external body, no lights can pass through the appliance. It also aids in preserving the vitamins as well as minerals of the food.

2#  ​Less Loud

​There are so many food dehydrators that are quite noisy and loud but this food dehydrator does not lead to any insufficient noise. This benefits a lot if you are using this appliance during the night-time.

3#  ​Stress-free To Clean

​This appliance is quite stress-free to clean and it also helps in saving the precious time of the user. You can simply take out its parts in order to clean this product. This product can be washed in a dishwasher that helps in saving your time.

4#  ​Expandable Dehydrating Space

​The dehydrating space of this dehydrator can be expanded whenever required. It normally comes with five trays but if you want to dry out some more food items, then you may increase the number of trays up to twelve. It provides a great support to the big family.

5#  ​Quick Drying Process

​The Nesco Dehydrator FD 61 does not take too much time for drying the foods like other models of food dehydrators that usually takes a day. It just needs few hours to dehydrate the food items.

6#  ​Preserve the Natural Taste and Nutrition

​This food dehydrator never destroys the nutrition and the natural flavor of the food. After dehydrating the foodstuffs, you will surely get the similar taste as well as fragrance. It moreover preserves the nutritive values of the food that leads to the creation of delicious snacks filled with nutrition.

​Bad Things about Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster

​After the above benefits of the Nesco American Harvest FD 61WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator, we must know some of its disadvantages also as there is not a single thing in this world that do not possess a single shortcoming. The below-stated drawbacks are not so much serious issues as you can easily solve it at your place on your own.

1#  ​Sticky

​This is the main disadvantage that you may face while using this appliance. While dehydrating the meat, it gets stuck on the edges of the five trays which become quite difficult to remove sometimes. So, you have to use non-sticky dehydrating sheets in order to safeguard the meat from getting stuck on the sides of the trays.

2#  ​Food left inside the jerky gun

​The next main issue is not with the food dehydrator but with the jerky gun that is provided along with the product. During the time of preparing jerky with the gun, sometimes the food left inside it which is not good.

3#  ​No Inbuilt timer

This appliance does not have an inbuilt timer, so you have to keep an eye while dehydrating your food items perfectly.

​Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: There are certain models of food dehydrators that state they are BPA-free and others models do not possess it. So, does Nesco American Harvest FD-61 WHC Snack master Express Food Dehydrator BPA free or not?

This food dehydrator is BPA free as mentioned on the product’s website. The surfaces which come in direct contact with the food are BPA-Free.​

​Q: What are the dimensions of this appliance?

The width (distance diagonally) is 13.5 inches and the perimeter of the product is 42.5 inches. The height of this food dehydrator depends on the number of the trays that are used i.e. with five trays, the height turns out to be is 10 inches. It takes total space of 13 ½ inches x 13 ½ inches of the counter.​

​Q: Is this product made up of anodized aluminum?

No, the Nesco FD 61 Food Dehydrator is made from the plastic material.​

​Q: Can you describe that for what a jerky gun is used?

A jerky gun is just similar to a cake decorator. This is basically utilized to extrude the ground meat as well as providing seasoning over the trays that are used for preparing jerky. It can also be used for extruding the fruit mash for fruit skin while not filling the entire tray.​

​Q: Can we find an adjustable thermostat in this food dehydrator?

Yes, this food dehydrator includes the feature of adjustable thermostat i.e. 95 F to 155 F. This works amazing for the beef jerky and vegans.​

​Q: Is there automatic on/off timer?

No, there is no timer in this product, so you have to check the food on your own in the middle of the dehydrating process.​

​Q: What is the normal time period required for dehydrating sweet potatoes?

In order to make sweet potatoes flakes, it depends on your choice mainly that you want it in raw form or in the form of chips. For a raw form, the potatoes need to be dehydrated at 104 degrees and if you wish to have it as chips, and then dehydrate it at 135 degrees. It takes around 5 to 6 hours if you marinating in advance. Some people suggest that blanching can help in increasing and decreasing the dehydrating time.​

​Q: Can I dehydrate nuts like filberts in this appliance?

Yes, you can dehydrate nuts in this food dehydrator. For this, you have to soak the nuts for at least two hours and after draining place them in the appliance. It will take around twelve hours most probably.​

​Q: How many trays are provided with this product? Can we increase the number of trays later or not?

This food dehydrator comes with five trays but you can increase that to twelve as per your requirement. However, you can rotate them during the process of dehydration.​

​Q: Can we buy additional trays from the online shopping websites?

Yes, unquestionably, you can purchase the extra trays from the online shopping websites like Amazon.​

​Q: What is the maximum temperature on Nesco American Harvest FD-61 WHC Snack master Express Food Dehydrator?

The maximum temperature of this food dehydrator is 160 degrees.​

​Q: Can I prepare a deer jerky in this food dehydrator?

Yes, you can make a deer jerky in this food dehydrator by grounding it and using the strips of deer sirloin. You may also use the pre-packed jerky mixture, garlic, Worcester sauce, soy sauce along with the deer jerky in order to enhance the taste more. It is much healthier than purchasing a beef.​

​Q: What is the power capacity of this food dehydrator?

This appliance works on the power of 500 watts.

​Q: The trays of the food dehydrator are very tough to clean after preparing jerky, can you explain the cleaning process that needs to be followed?

You can soak the trays in a sink that is filled with warm water. After this start washing it with soap and ¼ tablespoon of diluted blanch. You must turn the trays on both sides so that its each and every part gets soak perfectly. You can use a soft sponge for cleaning also. This washing method of trays is quite easier.​

Q: For how much time period do dehydrated foods persists?

The time totally depends on the type of food that is dehydrated basically. For example, a container of apple pieces that are dehydrated can easily last for more than six months with full freshness and taste. But you should follow all the steps of a dehydrating process in a correct manner so that food can be dry-up for a longer period.​

Q: Is this food dehydrator noisy and does it produce any kind of heat if used in the house?

This appliance is not so much noisy like other dehydrators do. But, you may hear the sound of a fan. If you use it at night, then do not worry about the disturbance of others if they are sleeping as this product does not make that much noise. However, it does produce some heat but its trays are gently warm to touch.​

Q: How much electricity power does this appliance use?

It does not consume so much electricity. The cost of electricity is just similar to the bathroom lights. This appliance is quite efficient and very fast.​

Q: Is the Nesco American Harvest FD-61 WHC Snack master Express Food Dehydrator dishwasher safe?

Yes, this product is dishwasher safe as you can simply put the trays in it without nay issues. You just have to hand washed the top part of the product and the accessories.​

Q: Is this appliance beneficial to dehydrate Italian tomatoes?​

Yes, you can also dehydrate the Italian tomatoes in this appliance. After dehydrating, you can store it in an airtight container by putting olive oil on it. It will not absorb the oil and offers the best flavor also. You can also use these tomatoes win your soups.​

Conclusion

You should never get mislead by purchasing an inexpensive, wasteful and faulty food dehydrator without analyzing the dehydrator reviews, particularly if you are a new user. After reviewing the product, it can be concluded that Nesco American Harvest FD-61 WHC Snack master Express Food Dehydrator does not fall into the classification of such cheap appliances.

Actually, it’s an all-in-one product that consists of long-lasting accessories, great heating apparatus and the usage of good quality materials that makes it one of the best values for money food dehydrators in the current market.

​In fact, the manufacturers also offer a recipe book with the product so that you can prepare some innovative and healthy recipes with it. The Nesco American Harvest FD-61 WHC is intended to encounter the requirements of the people who want to dehydrate their foodstuffs in a quick way. The all-in-1 kit that is given along with the product also makes it more useful to the user. This appliance definitely beats the others similar priced food dehydrators that are available in the market. You will never regret after buying this economically priced product.

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