Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making my own dried goodies for ages – you know, ditch the store-bought stuff packed with who-knows-what. But those fancy dehydrators? They can cost a small fortune! That’s when I stumbled upon the Elite Gourmet EFD319. It promised to be a simple, no-fuss way to get started without emptying my bank account. Did it deliver? Let’s dive in.
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First Glance:
Honestly, the EFD319 isn’t going to win any beauty contests. It’s mostly plastic and pretty basic-looking, but hey, it’s BPA-free, which is a huge win in my book. The five trays stack easily, and the black color? It just kind of fades into the background, which is fine by me. The controls are about as simple as they get: an on/off switch and a temperature dial. We’re talking bare-bones here, folks, but sometimes that’s all you need.
My First Try:
Apples! I’m a hiking nut, and those pre-packaged dried apples are seriously overpriced. So, I grabbed a few Honeycrisps, sliced them super thin (pro tip: keep them uniform!), arranged them on the trays, cranked the temperature to around 135ºF, and crossed my fingers. The instructions said no tray rotation was needed, which sounded pretty sweet to me.
The Moment of Truth:
About six hours later, I had the chewiest, most delicious dried apple slices I’d ever tasted! Seriously, they were a hit with everyone, and I felt like a snack-making superhero knowing exactly what my kids were munching on. I did notice the bottom tray seemed to dry a tad faster, so maybe a little shuffle wouldn’t hurt. Live and learn, right?
Next up? Beef jerky! Now, this was a bit more of a challenge. I whipped up a marinade for some flank steak, laid it out on the trays, and bumped the dehydrator up to 155ºF. This took a good 8-9 hours, but the result? Amazing! The jerky had that perfect chewy texture, and the flavor was spot-on. Again, slight unevenness, but hey, nobody’s perfect.
The Good Stuff:
- Seriously Affordable: If you’re on a budget, this is a fantastic way to get started.
- Easy Peasy: The controls are so simple, anyone can use it.
- Good Enough Space: Five trays give you plenty of room for a decent-sized batch.
- BPA-Free: Gotta love that peace of mind.
- Easy Cleanup: The dishwasher-safe trays are a lifesaver.
A Few Hiccups:
- No Frills: Don’t expect any fancy features like timers or automatic shut-off. You get what you pay for.
- Slightly Uneven Drying: Keep an eye on things and maybe rotate those trays.
- Feels a Bit Flimsy: It’s plastic, so it’s not the sturdiest thing in the world.
- Temperature Cap: The 158°F max temp might not be hot enough for everything.
The Bottom Line:
If you’re curious about dehydrating but don’t want to spend a fortune, the Elite Gourmet EFD319 is a great place to start. It’s not the fanciest machine, but it gets the job done, and it’s super simple to use. Just be ready to experiment a bit to find the sweet spot for your favorite snacks. And hey, a little tray rotation never hurt anyone! For the price, you really can’t go wrong. It’s a solid little workhorse that’ll get you started on your journey to homemade snack heaven.