Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product Food Dehydrator Nesco
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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.
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.
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 .
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 .
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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 .
49 Index Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47-48 Breakfast Recipes A wesome Bran Muffins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Index (continued) Fruits Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Fruit Drying Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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.
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 registr.
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.
An important point after buying a device Nesco Food Dehydrator (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Nesco Food Dehydrator yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Nesco Food Dehydrator - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Nesco Food Dehydrator you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Nesco Food Dehydrator will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Nesco Food Dehydrator, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Nesco Food Dehydrator.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Nesco Food Dehydrator. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Nesco Food Dehydrator along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
