which dehydrator do you have?

mrslifeofreilly · 10-07-2009, 04:38 PM

My budget for it right now is $60. Less would be good, but I want one that will work well and not take forever.

I was looking at this one- anyone have feedback on it or can you suggest another in the same $ range?

http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-AFD-615-...4947718&sr=8-1

Brie+3 · 10-07-2009, 07:52 PM

Is the whole thing plastic? Are there disposable covers for the trays? Someone who uses this talk about sterilization with a dehydrator like this. I would be concerned about that. (this from the girl with tons of body piercing's and a lot of tattoo/piericng artist friends; if it can't be autoclaved, which plastic cannot be, or disposed of as a one time use, then sterilizing for blood borne pathogens is of concern to me.... is my thinking wrong here?)

while this articles talks about stainless steel vs plastic for home use, this isn't really your typical home use, how many fruits and veggies contain HIV/AIDS or Hepatis

This is what I have, and while the trays are plastic I use disposable mats with each placenta so there's no cross contamination: http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/4...gular-prod.htm

TO Doula · 10-07-2009, 10:57 PM

I hear Brie on her concerns. HIV certainly would not survive the drying process in any dehydrator, but I don't know what it takes to kill the hepatitises. (The dictionary doesn't think that's a word. Well, it is now. ;-) ) I used parchment to line the trays on mine so I wouldn't be concerned about sticking.

When I was reading reviews of different kinds of dehydrators, one of the things I came across was that a lot of the less expensive ones have the motor and fan assembly at the bottom, which can be a problem if anything drips. I found one which was more expensive than the "as seen on tv!" jobs but a lot less than the entry-level Excalibur. I've invested a fair amount in getting this started up, so if I keep at it I figure I'll upgrade to or add the Excalibur one down the road. I've only used mine once so far, but it took about 4.5 hours to get the job done, and I could have made my slices thinner (if I was better with a knife!) Here's what I got: http://www.cayneshousewares.com/prod...3&cat=0&page=1

Brie, you can easily make disposable mats for any dehydrator with parchment paper. It's available by the roll at the grocery store, or sometimes in packets at dollar stores. It would be a lot easier to cut it up for a rectangular machine like yours, but I was able to cut the sheets I got at a dollar store using a tray as a template and it worked fine.

Brie+3 · 10-07-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rean

Brie, you can easily make disposable mats for any dehydrator with parchment paper. It's available by the roll at the grocery store, or sometimes in packets at dollar stores. It would be a lot easier to cut it up for a rectangular machine like yours, but I was able to cut the sheets I got at a dollar store using a tray as a template and it worked fine.

Honestly, my thought process hadn't gone that far into it, but I'm glad someone else has come up with a DIY

mrslifeofreilly · 10-07-2009, 11:39 PM

Thanks both of you!

Brie- good point about sanitization.

Rean- that one you have isn't much more than the ones I was looking at. I can get it for about $65 USD.

I'm kicking myself over a lost opportunity to get an excalibur. This summer someone was selling one on our local craigslist for $60, supposedly only used once. I thought about getting it, but I was so busy with a newborn that I forgot and I'm sure someone else scooped it up.

TO Doula · 10-08-2009, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrslifeofreilly

Rean- that one you have isn't much more than the ones I was looking at. I can get it for about $65 USD.

Sounds like it's close enough to your budget! I only used a couple of the trays, so when I assembled it I left a couple of extra trays out. I've set them aside in case I ever want them. I don't know if operating with, say, three trays instead of the five it comes with speeds things up, but it can't hurt. I had an old (REALLY old - like from a house I lived in in about 1985

) timer that I've tossed in my bin of encapsulation supplies. I tried it, and it still works, so I can set everything up at a client's if they want me to, and not have to sit there and wait for it to finish. I figure I'll do a few more to be sure I've got the timing right before I try that, but that's the plan.

Quote:

I'm kicking myself over a lost opportunity to get an excalibur. This summer someone was selling one on our local craigslist for $60, supposedly only used once. I thought about getting it, but I was so busy with a newborn that I forgot and I'm sure someone else scooped it up.

I tried Craigs List and Kijiji, but all I could find was people who were looking for one! There must be other encapsulator wannabees out there!

raeben · 10-08-2009, 02:06 AM

i second the importance of getting one with all the moving/heating/whatever parts on the top rather than the bottom. even with parchment covers, the little crumbly bits can get bumped around during transfer and spill on the bottom of the trays.

it should also be able to be set at a low heat. you've already cooked that placenta once, carefully, so there's no need to go baking it for hours instead of just drying. as far as timing goes though, i tend to err on the side of longer than shorter. if its on a low heat setting, your not going to ruin it but if you under dry it, it won't last very long and will be more prone to spoilage. i run mine at least overnight until the thickest piece is snap-crackling dry.

i also find its easier to cut it really really thin (like deli-sliced lunch meat thin) if you let it rest for a bit after cooking. i actually put the newly steamed placenta in the fridge to chill while i clean up. this helps the tissue and the juices to firm up a lot. its just like thanksgiving turkey - if you let the meat "rest" for 20 minutes or more after cooking, the meat will firm up and be much much easier to slice. also, i find i can cut thinner if i cut on a bias ( like this \\ instead of this ||).

TO Doula · 10-08-2009, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeben

i also find its easier to cut it really really thin (like deli-sliced lunch meat thin)...

I did actually consider one of those deli slicers, but ew. Not sure why, but it just feels wrong.

Garden Doula · 12-10-2009, 01:15 PM

I just got this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=120469888340

I got another "training" placenta for January. The couple is going to pay for expenses... about $75 and that's it. I'm going to do three more this way and see if I enjoy doing it and if there is interest... then I'll start marketing it!

Thank you for this thread. Its interesting!!!

mrslifeofreilly · 12-10-2009, 02:18 PM

To update - I ended up getting a 4 tray excalibur on craigslist for $55. Unfortunately I haven't had any clients lately that are even remotely interested in encapsulation. I think I'll create a new thread about this.

cddoula · 03-09-2010, 03:34 PM

Has anybody tried this one:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/allRe...ct_id=10982699

Supposedly better than the rounds ones others have suggested and the heating element is on top

cali4niachef · 03-09-2010, 08:02 PM

I have a Nesco American Harvest, square.

raeben · 03-09-2010, 08:10 PM

i have one of the round nesco ones. i like it great but think the square one would be easier to cut out liners for the trays.

cindy, does yours have a center hole like the round ones that you would have to cut our for the tray liners or could you just slide in a square sheet? also, do the trays hinge or just stack on top of each other? there aren't any images of that style that shows what it looks like on the inside.

cali4niachef · 03-09-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raeben

i have one of the round nesco ones. i like it great but think the square one would be easier to cut out liners for the trays.

cindy, does yours have a center hole like the round ones that you would have to cut our for the tray liners or could you just slide in a square sheet? also, do the trays hinge or just stack on top of each other? there aren't any images of that style that shows what it looks like on the inside.

This is the one I have

I haven't used it yet, still in the box. Just bought it. It does have a hole in the center, the trays are stackable. I would just use wax paper and cut out a hole in the center.

Hope that helps!

cddoula · 03-10-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cali4niachef

This is the one I have

I haven't used it yet, still in the box. Just bought it. It does have a hole in the center, the trays are stackable. I would just use wax paper and cut out a hole in the center.

Hope that helps!

Awesome, upgrading to this one. Thanks for the link too especially since it's eligible for Amazon prime

which means I get free two-day shipping instead of the site-to-store at Walmart which takes over a week unless I pay extra! I use parchment paper instead of wax paper to line and it's easy to cut the hole in the middle and have one sheet instead of fussing with cutting for the round dehydrator.