I've used this one for years and don't have any complaints. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0090WOCN0/?tag=view284-20

Though it's rated up to 700 watts it doesn't usually use much energy mostly just a few spikes. I have tested it with a meter. It's rated highly on amazon with over 2000 reviews.

I second Greg's suggestion! Here's the one I have!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nesco-Professional-700W-5-Tray-Food-Dehydrator-FD-75PR/10982697#about

I don't know what the difference is between the FD-75PR and the FD-75A! They seem to be identical! Mine was bought as the PR. It has 5 trays (you can add more) and it came with a couple of the "solid sheets," and a couple "mesh sheets."

I love that the motor/fan is on top so there's no mess dripping down onto it, and the "plain" bottom is easy to clean, and I like it because it has a completely adjustable thermostat, unlike some that only have "on" and "off." I've had it for, I think, 3 years now and haven't used it a whole lot, but I'm really glad to have it when I want it. I wouldn't call it "noisy" at all, but there is the constant sound of a fan running and I wouldn't want to constantly have it in the same room with me, but that's no problem at all! Sometimes I just leave it down in the basement, and when I was drying basil a couple months ago and wanted to check it often I just put it in the living room--where I seldom am!

When I was deciding which one to get some people were complaining that this one doesn't have an on and off switch--but I was like: how awful is it to have to unplug it if you want it off, and you can take the top off to check inside without turning it off anyway! When I had it in the living room I plugged it into a switched plug and just flipped the switch off if I was checking it!

Here's a site I used when I was trying to decide what to get.

http://www.dehydratorbook.com/food-dehydrator-reviews.html

When I got mine WM had it at $65 but I got it online on sale for $55. I don't think you're gonna find it that cheap anymore (tho it's always worth looking on eBay!), and the price Greg found on Amazon looks pretty good to me.

I consider mine to have been a very good investment.

Skybird

Thanks Skybird and gjcore! Bed Bath and Beyond has the Nesco fd-61 (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/nesco-reg-american-harvest-reg-snackmaster-reg-dehydrator-and-jerky-maker/1014099344?Keyword=nesco) and fd-81b3 (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/nesco-reg-square-food-dehydrator/3262171?Keyword=nesco) models. The 81b3 is square, and has 200 watts more power then the 61 model, so I might go for that one. With the 20% discount offer they always have going, that makes the price more affordable! And it having 700 watts instead of the 500 of the 61 model probably makes the most sense.

I'm with you, Skybird, on having to pull the plug instead of hitting the button to turn if off is no big deal! So smart of you to plug it into an outlet that has a switch, though!!

Thanks :)

A really big difference between the two that I'm seeing--besides the wattage--is that the square one has six trays while the other one only has four trays. I recommend definitely not getting one with less than five trays like Greg and I have. If you got the one with four trays, yes, you can buy more trays separately, but they're very expensive that way and when I was checking things out to get mine, It came out cheaper to get one with more trays than to add trays later. So I'd recommend either the round one each of us has or the six-tray one you found.

Also, they recommend different temps for different things, so I don't think the wattage would make too much difference for many things (i.e. they recommend drying herbs at a lower temp), but if you're gonna be drying things they recommend higher temps for--or that need longer drying times, then I think the wattage might make a significant difference.

If you want to check the temperatures for different things, here's the manual that comes with it. Drying info starts a few pages down!

http://www.nesco.com/files/pdf/nah_adj_cu_manual_30001451_update_102011.pdf

Skybird

Finally got my dehydrator today! I did get the square one, Skybird. You were right - it had six trays and more wattage, so I went for that one. Also, when I got to BBB it turned out they didn't have any of them in the store besides the display model. So they sold me that one (everything was there, except the box) for 10% less. And I got to use my 20% coupon as well! So I got it for $70, instead of $100!!

Love a great deal :)

Thanks!!

Marj

Thanks for letting us know, Misty! After you use it a couple times, come back and let us know what you think of it. I've never used a square one. Pineapple dehydrated is really good, so if you run into them when they're $1 apiece, pick up a couple and try them. Great--chewy--snack----with no unpronounceable ingredients. Dried apples are really good too--another thing to keep an eye out for good sales.

Have fun,

Skybird

Skybird - K.Soopers' ad says they have pineapple for $1/lb! Going to get some and try out the new dehydrator on them :) Once before I dried some, but let them go too far and they came out too crispy. Going to stop sooner this time so they are still chewy.

Misty, I picked up one when I was shopping yesterday, but didn't get any to dehydrate this time. But, the time I did it I think I sliced mine "too thin," not realizing how much "goes away" as they dry, so I don't know how you did it before, but I recommend making them thick enough that "there's something there" after they're dried. I think I dried mine a little bit too much too! They were still a "little bit" chewy, but very little! I think I'd go with a little "moister" too when I do them again the next time! The one I got is nice and ripe and ready to eat, but if you wind up with some mostly green ones, they DO ripen after they're picked, so I'd wait till they're gonna be nice and sweet.

Have fun,

Skybird

Edited to add: I just saw you said they're $1 a POUND. They're $1 EACH--really cheap!