If you are a jerky enthusiast and would love to relish homemade delicious jerky at an affordable price, then Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun is exactly what you are looking for. This dehydrator comes at a reasonable price and saves you the exorbitant cost incurred from store bought dried jerky.

The dehydrator is coupled along with a jerky gun with three types of tip attachments, which are a welcome addition, especially for new dehydrator users or ones who do not have sufficient prior experience of drying meat.

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This dehydrator can be used to dehydrate a plethora to food items ranging from herbs, fruits, vegetables or meat, just like all other dehydrators. However, the product being supplemented with a jerky gun, four exotic flavors of spices to make tasty jerky, and the expandable feature (which is usually seen in higher end models) is what gives it an upper hand when compared with its competitors in the market

Quick Specification of Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress:

Product Name	Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun
Dehydrator Type	Stackable
Temp Range (°F)	165
Wattage (Watts)	350
Tray	4
Max Tray	7
Air Flow	Vertical (Top mounted fan)
Thermostat	No
Timer	No
Dimensions	14 x 9 x 14 inches
Add-ons	Jerky Gun with three tip attachments
Warranty	1 Year
Color	White and Red
Price	$$
Weight	5.5 pounds
Editor Rating	4/5
Product Link	Check this Product on Amazon →

Key Features of Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun:

This is a product which is designed predominantly for making delicious jerky however it does a great job of dehydrating other kinds of food stuff as well like fruits, herbs, and vegetables. The key features of Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun are explained in detail below that will help you to understand the product better:

Distinctive Air Flow Technology
The product embodies a top mounted drying fan supported with patented air flow technology. This allows even drying and the manufacturer claims that this eliminates the need to rotate the trays in between the dehydration process. The airflow is from top to bottom, driven by the power head seated at the top of the dehydrator.
Detachable Top Cover
The Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun has a completely detachable top cover which allows the cleaning of the trays below easier.
Allows Large Volume of Food to Be Dehydrated at Once
This product is expandable up to a maximum of seven trays. This allows the user to dry a considerably large volume of food at a point of time. Almost Seven pounds of food can be dehydrated at a time, which is huge. Even high-end models of almost more than double the price do not provide their users with this luxury. Some of them are not even expandable.
The Jerky Gun with Three Tip Attachments
The dehydrator comes with a jerky gun with no less than three types of tip attachments. A flat shaped tip to prepare jerky strips while two other tips are round to make jerky sticks. The best part is that the jerky gun can be opened completely (see the video), both at the top and the end. This makes the cleaning of the gun very easy. The tip ensures the preparation of uniform jerky pieces.
Four Spices and Cure Pack
The dehydrator is accompanied with four packets of mouth watering spices and cures to make the jerky in four different flavors. This is an attractive feature for jerky lovers who wish to experiment with food. The four flavors are Teriyaki, Hot & Spicy, Pepperoni and Original.

Full Technical Specification of Nesco FD 28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun:

Following are the complete technical specifications of Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun:-

Dehydrator Type
Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun is a stackable dehydrator in which the trays can be stacked on one top of the other. This helps reduce the counter space occupied by the dehydrator.
Temperature Range
The maximum temperature is 165°F, which is fixed. However, this temperature is high enough to dehydrate all types of food products ranging from herbs and fruits to meat and dairy products.
Wattage
The wattage of Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun is 350 Watts.
Tray
There are 7 circular plastic trays of which measure 13.5 inches in diameter, making it spacious and allowing a total of almost seven square feet of drying area. The trays are removable. The product is expandable up to a maximum of seven trays, however, requires a minimum of five trays to function efficiently, this included the one tray at the bottom.
Air Flow
The airflow is vertical from the top to the back. The unique power head which is mounted on the top gives good drying results and speeds up the dehydration process. The patented airflow technology with the fan on the top, ensure even drying which is an important factor when choosing a dehydrator. The manufacturer claims that being assisted with this special fan flow technology eliminates the need to rotate the trays in between the drying process. However, this may largely depend upon the type of food you are drying. Occasional rotation of the trays is recommended for best results.
Dimension
The dimensions of this food dehydrator are 14 x 9 x 14 inches which helps accommodate a good quantity of food at one point in time.
Warranty
The manufacturer of this dehydrator offers a one year limited warranty period to its buyers.
Product Weight
The total weight of this dehydrator is 5.5 pounds and is made of plastic.

What Comes with It?

The Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun comes with the following accessories

4 Trays and 2 Pieces of Add-A-Tray – Circular shaped white plastic seven trays allow room for approximately 7 pounds of jerky at a time. These trays offer the user a drying space of seven square feet. The diameter of the plastic trays measures 13.5 inches.

Jerky Gun with Three Attachment Tips The jerky gun makes preparing jerky a fairly easy task, giving uniform pieces which are essential for even drying. The three tip attachments are a value-add:-
- A Flat Tip – This type of attachment tip helps the user make flat jerky strips
- Two Round Trips These assist the user to make large and small jerky sticks
Four Packets of Spices and Cure The dehydrator is accompanied with four packets of spices and cures which can be used to make almost four pounds of delicious jerky infused with different flavors. The four flavors given along with the dehydrator are namely:- Teriyaki- Hot & Spicy- Pepperoni- Original.

Best Things About Nesco FD 28JX Jerky Xpress Food Dehydrator:

It is always great to know and compare your product with the different available products in the market, especially before you buy it. As this aids you to decide whether to purchase a particular dehydrator and why to buy it? This helps you to understand whether you should buy another better model or brand of a dehydrator for your specific needs.

It also helps the user know how your dehydrator is superior to the others. The following are a few best things about Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun which makes it a popular product with its users:

Price
Price is one of the major factors we look into while buying a product. Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun comes at a very reasonable price given the features it offers, for instance being expandable, this is typically a feature seen in dehydrators which are available at a higher price range.
Patented Drying Technology
The manufacturer of the product claims the dehydrator to have a patented drying technology, which is a unique feature and sets Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun apart from other dehydrators. This helps expedite the drying process thereby reducing the time needed to dry more rigid items like meat and bananas
Jerky Gun with 3 Attachment Tips
The Jerky Gun with three types of attachment tips is one of the most loved features of the NESCO FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun, especially amongst the jerky enthusiasts. This is also a very friendly feature for the new dehydrator users or beginners at making jerky. The jerky gun nozzles are designed in a way which makes them easier to clean preventing any food material from clogging. This helps in keeping the dehydrating process hygienic.
Expandable
This dehydrator offers its users the flexibility to expand the number of trays up to a maximum of seven trays at a time. Usually, five trays are required to run the dehydrator, including the one bottom tray. However, the same can be expanded up to seven trays depending upon the volume of food being dried. This is a feature usually seen in more expensive dehydrators. This allows the user to dehydrate large volumes of food items at a time, hence easily catering to a large number of guests, without the need to re-run the dehydrator again. This, therefore, enhances the products life by preventing the need for frequent usage.
Light Weight
The dehydrator weighs about 5.5 pounds and is very light. This allows the user the ease of movement of the product. The dehydrator can be lifted easily and moved from one location to another if needed. The stackable trays also occupy less counter space in the kitchen, giving you the freedom to use the space for other activities simultaneously.

Bad Things About Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun:

Like every product, this product also has its share of drawbacks. The points which make this dehydrator-less desirable among customers are as follows:

Makes Noise When in Operation
The dehydrator is equipped with a small fan to distribute heat. However, this produces a substantial amount of noise, therefore making the product being tagged as a noisy dehydrator. There are plenty of dehydrators that do their job silently and therefore could be more attractive to users, who prefer it that way.
Material Is Not Very Great
The construction material is not of a very good quality. There are instances where the plastic trays of the dehydrator have melted over a prolonged period of use. Also, the jerky gun or the tray if placed on the last rack of the dishwasher can cause considerable damage to the plastic as it melts due to the heat generated in the dishwasher. This is another drawback which makes it less popular among users.
No Thermostat
The dehydrator does not have a thermostat, thereby making it tough to control the temperature and time required to dehydrate the desired food items. Lack of thermostat also leads to overheating of the product. Overheating compromises the product’s life and inflicts damage to the plastic material.
No Timer
The dehydrator lacks a timer, and this is a major drawback as you have to closely monitor the dehydrating process. Unlike other dehydrators, where you can set the time and leave the dehydrator to function independently, unregulated. As being aided with the timer, the dehydrating process stops post the input time length is run through. Lack of the timer feature involves investment of more effort and time of the user
Fixed Temperature
The temperature is fixed at 165 degrees F. Although this temperature is high enough to dehydrate the more resistant meat items as well but takes away the flexibility to regulate the temperature as per the user’s wishes for a particular food product. At times, when the food load is significantly less, that high a temperature can be avoided.
Overheating Is a Problem
The dehydrator gets overheated easily when used continuously for long time periods or used for high volumes of food to dehydrate at a time. This is highly undesirable, as once the dehydrator is overheated it is damaged for life.

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Video Review of Nesco FD-28JX:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Q: Can This Dehydrator Be Used to Dry Fruits and Vegetables?

Yes, the dehydrator can be used to dry fruits, herbs, and vegetables. The pieces should be cut in a little bigger in size as the mesh of the tray’s is wider than the normal dehydrator. In case you want to dry thin slices, it is recommended to by clean a screen sheet, compatible with the FD-28JX dehydrator (Nesco LM-2-6 Clean-A-Screen Tray), which the manufacturer of the product offers separately.

Q: Can the Trays Be Washed in a Dishwasher?

The plastic material used is not of a very great quality. The trays are dishwasher friendly but it suggested not put the trays or the gun on the lower rack of the dishwasher, where the source of heat is closer, as this may cause the plastic to melt. It is recommended to wash the gun and nozzles by hands. The gun and tips are easy to clean.

Q: What Is the Temperature Set?

This dehydrator is preset at a fixed temperature of 165 degrees F.

Q: How Many Trays Can Be Used at a Time in This Dehydrator?

The dehydrator can operate efficiently with seven trays. A minimum of 5 trays is required for the dehydrator to function properly. It is categorical that more the number of trays loaded in the dehydrator, the longer will be the time needed to complete the drying process.

Q: Does the Fan in the Dehydrator Run Constantly?

Yes. The fan helps in circulating the hot air evenly for drying, and therefore it is required to run constantly, throughout the drying process

Q: Can the Dehydrator Be Used to Make Jerky from Marinated Meat, or Can This Be Used Only for a Dry Rub?

The product is designed to make jerky with grounded meat. However, it can be used to make jerky with marinated meat in an equally efficient manner.

Q: Is the Dehydrator a Silent One or a Noisy One?

This is a makes a constant sound while in operation due to the top mounted fan, and can be noisy.

Q: How Is the Quality of the Plastic Material?

The material quality is really is not very good and does get heated easily on prolonged use.

Q: Is the Product Accompanied with a Jerky Gun?

The dehydrator comes with a jerky gun.

Q: Can the Dehydrator Be Used to Dry All Kinds of Meat?

Yes the dehydrator can be used to dry a variety of different types of meat like turkey, chicken, beef, liver, etc

Q: Should We Use Only the Flavors (spices) Provided along with the Dehydrator or Can We Use Our Own Spices to Flavor the Jerky?

You can use your spices to flavor your jerky the way you want. A dry rub type of seasoning is recommended

Conclusion

Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun is one the most economical dehydrators available in the market and does its job efficiently. The product is designed predominantly for making jerky, given the wider tray perforations, the jerky gun, spices, and cures that it comes with; nevertheless it does an excellent job of drying fruits, herbs, vegetables, etc. It is an affordable product great for beginners.

It is popular among its users, given the added feature of being accompanied with a jerky gun. This saves the need of buying a dehydrator and then separately ordering a jerky gun. Being expandable is a feature to love it for, as typically high-end dehydrator models are seen to have this specification. It can help you dry high volumes of food at a time, eliminating the need to run the dehydrator again and again, and therefore improving its lifespan.

However, if you are looking for a dehydrator (for making jerky and a one which comes with a jerky gun), it is recommended to opt for Nesco Snackmaster Express Dehydrator with Jerky Gun. This is a little more expensive but has an adjustable thermostat and therefore overcomes the key drawbacks of Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun. Having said that, Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Xpress Dehydrator Kit with Jerky Gun still remains the product of choice given the range of features it provides at a low price and does the job proficiently.