Best Dehydrators
The Excalibur 9-Tray Large Dehydrator provides 15 square feet of drying space making this the biggest and best there is! 9-Tray dehydrator, 15 square feet of drying space, Built in on/off switch and adjustable thermostat with 26 hour timer.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I has a much smaller one that couldn't hold much and it was frustrating to go to the effort to prep food to dry only to be able to do so little of it at a time, so I took the plunge and bought this Excalibur model and am so happy I made the change. I'm still fairly new to food dehydration so I refer to a book I bought for the proper way to prepare food items and for drying time and temperature, then I follow those directions and I'm having nothing but success so far."
"You already know about the 9 trays, you know about air moving, you know that it's a bit bulky and may not fit under a smaller kitchen cabinet. - Fairly easy to clean, seems to be a decent quality items, I've had zero issues with it after owning and using for a bit over three months."
"They may only have a guarantee of 10 years in the USA, but since I have had the first one for 35 years, I had no worries about buying a second one for a spare because the 35 year old one might go belly up some day--or maybe not. I didn't get this exact model but went whole hog and got the stainless one with the stainless shelves and the timer. However, it's plastic shelves had started to droop, making for uneven drying of leathers--but that's no big deal because people start to droop after 35 years, too! So, I bought new stainless shelves for the old one. They have not changed the demensions of these things for at least 35 years so brand new stainless mesh shelves fit my ancient dehydrator perfectly. The old one just has a knob that sets the temp and starts it running. I made some amazing smoked salmon and chinese beef jerky and about a dozen different types of fruit leather over about a 3 week period.The dehydrator is great to raise bread, dry nylons or lingerie, or put that "glaze" on the brined salmon for perfect smoking in your smoker! However, the one suggestion I can make is to not bother to replace your drooping plastic shelves with another set of plastic ones if you've lost your "mesh" that came with them. When you add up the cost of buying new plastic shelves and new mesh,you may as well just spring for an entire new set of stainless shelves because you won't need the mesh with them."
"We have owned several dehydrators over the years, Started with a Ronco and the last one was an American Harvest. I only wish I had bought the 5 tray instead of the 9. Who knew that by going with the square design you would gain so much space."
It's top-mounted fan eliminates the worry of liquids dripping into the heater chamber, and an opaque Vita-Save exterior helps block harmful lights in order to retain more of the food's nutrients and vitamins during the drying process. Accessories include two fruit roll sheets, perfect for drying semi-liquids like soups, sauces, and fruit rolls; two Clean-A-Screen flexible screens, which allow for easy drying of small items such as herbs, spices and potpourri; and three original jerky spice packets for making jerky. Opaque Vita-Save exterior helps block harmful light which destroys nutritional content of food being dehydrated. The hot air is forced horizontally across each individual tray, converging on the core for fast, even and nutritious drying.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I bought this dehydrator sort of like many people did: after reading the things you can do with it, I got all excited, thinking, "I'm going to dehydrate EVERYTHING and it's going to be amazing!!!" So far, I've used the dehydrator to make a couple of batches of each of: - Apple chips (thin apple slices soaked for a few hours in a combo of lemon juice and cranberry juice, then dried). - beef jerky (this dehydrator comes with a starter park for jerky, plus I made my own marinade the next time). - chicken jerky. - bacon bits (the ends and "bad cuts" of my own home-cured, smoked bacon, finely chopped, cooked, and then dehydrated. The temperature can be dialed in from 95ºF to 160ºF as printed on the top (remember that problem I mentioned? Well, I have tested the actual running temperature of the dehydrator against the printed values on the dial, and they're not even close. I used several methods to determine the temperature: 1) A Mastercool Digital Infrared Thermometer pointed directly into an exhaust vent (see photo) with the dial set to the maximum 160ºF. 4) A digital metal probe thermometer (Lavatools Thermowand) inserted into both the upper and lower exhaust ports. In all cases (except #3, which responded too slowly) I was able to see the lower temperature at which the heater kicked on, as well as the upper temperature at which the heater turned off (in theory, this would be right around the number printed on the dial). - At the 135ºF setting on the dehydrator, the actual temperature maxed out at around 120ºF, at which point the heater turned off and the temperature dropped slowly until the heater came back on. - At the 160ºF setting (maximum), it was the same story but with an actual temperature topping out at around 135ºF. What concerns me is this unit's suitability for jerky -- the minimum recommended temperature for any meat is 160ºF when making jerky. I'm not too terribly concerned about the beef jerky because I routinely eat beef at a much lower temperature than that (though it does make a good case for refrigerating the jerky in this case), but the chicken jerky could have gone pretty badly!"
"The 3rd reason I love this dehydrator is simple, it produces the best tasting dehydrated foods I've ever had, I'm and avid outdoorsman and have dehydrated everything from deer to turkey, family friends insist I start selling the jerky made with this product. With all that being said, if you have a dehydrator that is getting old/malfunctioning or just want to start making your own dehydrated foods, this product is for you, don't pass this one up, you will not be dissatisfied with your purchase."
"First, lets talk about performance: Only in a few ocasions I could dry something with less than 12 hours using a moderate temperature and thin slices. But a 4,5 or 4,7 stars would be more fair, since this dehydrator has a lot of good points and we live in a very humid area, in the sea coast. I think if you are willing to put some peppers in a dehydrator, you should use very low temperatures, those used to dry herbs and other fragile stuff. I can not believe some people say this dehydrator makes some undesirable noise to the point that they need to put them in a room far from their bedroom otherwise they couldn't sleep! The gray and white marble finish fits incredibly well in any room, like it's camouflaged, hard to explain. Dehydrated fruits leave virtually no residue, they stick very lightly to the trays and can be easily pulled out. Not a single banana or any other fruit like apples got stuck in the trays to the point that they couldnt be removed easily with the fingers, and entire, not in fragments. (Room temperature: 28 Celsius) With 9 trays full of fruits: 1st hour: 650 Watts (average). Explanation: the first hours take more power because the machine is heating the trays so the thermostat rarely turns off. After a few hours, the thermostat only activates ocasionally to refresh the temperature, since the trays are already heated and only need a maintenance to keep the warm air flow. When the electric resistance turns off, the measure of wattage reads 28 watts, that's the power consumption of the fan (negligible). I will update this review if anything unexpected occurs, or if I have any important thing to add, like new food experiences, et cetera. To finish this review, I'd like to apologize for my awful English, I had a hard time writting this because I am not a native speaker, so tell me if something sounds odd or particularly unusual, I can clarify your questions in the comments section."
Dehydrate fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, as well as make great-tasting jerky and fruit rolls. This deluxe digital dehydrator includes six drying trays, expandable to 12 trays for added drying capacity. Digital thermostat and timer for precise drying time and temperature choose drying temperatures from 90 to 165 degree f. The bottom-mounted fan and heating element provide consistant air flow for optimum drying No rotation needed.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I went all out and got the one with the timer (I really...really suggest dropping the extra cash for this upgraded model. You don't have to worry about over "cooking" anything or waking up at like 5 am to turn the thing off). So far I've dehydrated: Bananas, Eggplant slices, Yellow Squash slices, Kabocha Squash, Butternut Squash, Apple slices, pear slices, pineapple slices, mushrooms, blueberries, and oranges. Everything...minus the oranges, came out fan-freaking-tastic."
"The thing I loved most about my old Nesco dehydrator was the digital temp and timer and that is one thing I would not forgo in a new one. With the digital temp control and digital timer that's not really an issue for me because. I get everything ready to go in the evening, set the temp and timer and go to bed."
"We used to buy it at the store in the big bags until about a year ago when they recalled all of it because it was coming from China and had bad things in it that was killing dogs. After a couple of batches of dried chicken I have figured out the exact time and temp to get it done, and now I can get it going and forget about it. The base unit also cleans very easily with just some spray cleaner and a paper towel."
"So easy to use."
"I made some jerky in it, I have dried herbs, I've made some dried fruit for my 4 year old..."
"I bought this to make dehydrated chicken treats for my dogs, and it works beautifully."
"I would definitely recommend this machine to anyone looking for a great dehydrator."
"I've already dehydrated several pounds of tomatoes, and now I'm making pineapple fruit leather."
Best Outdoor Smokers
Other highlights include a water pan, built-in thermometer, individual vents on the bowl and lid, a heat-resistant nylon handle, and a storage cover. At Weber, they continue that tradition of excellence in everything they do from the development of new grills and accessories to the services they provide to customer and dealers. Performance Weber grills have been and will continue to be the true definition of performance in backyard grilling. 2012 Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smokers 18.5" Silver. 22.5" Silver Cooking System Color / Item Black / 721001. Black / 731001 Two plated-steel cooking grates •. • Cooking Area Diameter 18-1/2 inches. 22-1/2 inches Total cooking area 481 square inches. 726 square inches Construction Porcelain-enameled bowl, lid, and water pan •. • Four rust-resistant aluminum vents •. • Rust-resistant aluminum fuel door •. • Glass-reinforced nylon handle(s) •. • Features Lid thermometer •. • Premium cover included •. • Owner's guide •. • Limited warranty •. • Dimensions LxWxH (inches) 21 x 19 x 41. 24 x 23 x 48.5. Size: 18-Inch |. Style: Smoker. Cooking System 2 heavy-duty, plated-steel, cooking grates Two 18.5 inch diameter cooking areas Cooking area = 481 square inches Premium grade cover included Weber cookbook Limited warranty Available lid and bowl color: black Construction Porcelain-enameled bowl, lid, and waterpan No-rust aluminum vents No-rust aluminum fuel door 1 Glass-reinforced nylon handle Built-in lid thermometer Dimensions (With the lid open) Height: 41 inches Width R-L: 19 inches Depth: 19 inches Additional Information A durable built-in thermometer allows you to easily monitor your grills temperature. Water pan; built-in thermometer; individual vents on bowl and lid; storage cover.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After much research and measuring, I realized the 18 inch version was too big as well (& must be equally heavy) - the 18 inch seems like the right size for someone who entertains for 40+ people regularly - overkill for someone wanting to invite his family over or cook for his own family. To put it in perspective, you can fit two pork butts on the 14 and 4 butts on the 18 - I recently did one butt and had enough pulled pork for 6 adults and 6 kids, and there were left overs that could have fed at least one more family (2 adults and 2 kids) - this means I can feed 12-16 with one butt and 24-32 with 2 on the 14 - more than enough. Also, the 14 uses less fuel and will cost less per use in the long run (for example if you smoke 2 butts in the 18 (versus its capacity of 4) u need to use more fuel because of the bigger space to heat up. Remember the unit is engineered/designed for use of Both racks (which makes the 18 more efficient for 4 pork butts versus the 22 for example)."
"November 2017 Update: All it takes is one WSM-18 to win a Rib Championship, even caveman pitmaster style when no foil or electricity is allowed. New WSMs will tend to overheat until you are able to get grease and gunk on the inside and around the rim where the lid sits to ensure an air tight seal. The fastest way to season is to do the following: Phase One - cover the water pan completely with aluminum foil and run a full load of lit Kingsford briquettes and let it run as hot as it can with no water in the pan (over 350 degrees) to burn off any manufacturing residue. Put bacon strips, chicken parts, pork fat, or any other scrap meat you don't plan to eat. Dry heat allows the crust to form faster on the meat (called the bark). To test for properly formed bark, use your finger nail and scrape the meat surface. Remember to always empty the ash from the bottom and grease on the foiled water pan to avoid fires and any rancid old oil smell before you cook. --------------------------------------------------------------. Updated March 18, 2014 - in response to questions on fire and temp management on the WSM-18, I added a link with more tips [...]. OK. A reader notified me that Amazon deleted my link to my bbq team website where I feature easy recipes of the backyard cook. Regardless of the pit you're using, they all have three major components that you'll need to learn to control to maintain proper cooking temperatures: 1) the air intake, 2) fuel you're using, and 3) the exhaust vent/chimney. Besides, I buy them on sale in the summer months for half price and stockpile them for my classes and contest year where I use over a hundred 20-lb bags annually. Yes, I do use other types of fuel like lump charcoal and pellets but I like to compete using KF Blue (no, they are not my sponsor) because I can fly into any city in America and drive my rental car to Walmart to pick up one bag of KF Blue and win a Grand Championship. In the WSM, there are three circular intake damper vents at the bottom that can be opened or closed as needed to allow more or less air to enter the pit. If you're cooking brisket and pork butt (> 12 hours), you want to fill it all the way going past the top of the charcoal ring until it is overflowing. When you're ready to start cooking, carefully dump a half charcoal chimney of lit briquettes into the crater. If you have access to a WSM circa 2008 and earlier, those older WSMs come with a shallow water pan that does not bump into the briquettes. Alternatively, you can go to Home Depot and get yourself a terra cotta planter base that's the same diameter as the WSM water pan. I don't like the terra cotta approach as it's added weight I have to carry when I transport my WSMs which have already accumulated over 100,000 miles of travel all over the US. All seasoned pitmasters know how to intuitively draft their pit using "clean" smoke to color and flavor their barbecue meats. With both of these quick fix approaches, do not leave your WSM unattended as the temps could rise fast and you'll burn your meats."
"I will keep this short, because I know youve already read all about this thing."
"My husband LOVES this smoker."
"He really likes the Weber brand and doesn't think you can go wrong with any of their products!"
Best Vacuum Sealers
Combining both a handheld and standard vacuum sealer, this 2-in-1 FoodSaver appliance is vacuum sealing versatility at its best. Starter Kit includes: (1) 11"x10' Roll, (3) Qt Heat-Seal Bags, (2) Gal Heat-Seal Bags, (3) Qt Zipper Bags, (2) Gal Zipper Bags.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Below is a picture of the older came show model with a separate vacuum bag roll storage and cutter. One problem with the older unit was that it would not allow you to heat seal the bags closed until it achieved a very thorough removal of all of the air. Again the newer model allows me to seal the bags to achieve a tight shrink wrap but without making a mess. I recycled some plastic take-out Chinese containers, filled them with some delicious bean and bacon soup that my wife made today. I bagged several helpings of soup and with the concavity achieved by the plastic containers they stack perfectly in my freezer."
"I thought having the control panel on top would be a good thing (in use it doesn't really make a difference), and I found the brushed stainless steel chassis wrap attractive... neither affects the function of the sealer, and a buyer can get the same functionality and save $30 by purchasing the 4440. Automated sealing works well, and the amount of vacuum can be controlled from the panel for fragile items or partial vacuum sealing. The attached hose unit is used for sealing vacuum zipper bags or vacuum sealing jars or drawing a vacuum in a marinating dish. I found that 2 1/2 inches from the edge to the contents in the bag results in a reliable seal. After 10 or so days, I have used the first beans, and replenish the containers from the freezer, maintaining FRESH ground coffee for a couple of months."
Best Electric Meat Grinders
This Meat Grinder is intended to Grind Meat - This Grinder Will NOT Grind Bones.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first conclusion: the most important feature of a meat grinder is the motor power. This STX has a powerful 1,800 watts motor, more than enough to do all of the duties of a home kitchen (and maybe even of a small restaurant). The ground meat texture results very similar to that from a supermarket grinder. We didn't notice that, and what went to the dishwasher was damaged: the shining was gone and those parts became some rough to touch. So, I contacted the seller (The Mercantile Station) and asked them the price of the replacing parts, since I would buy them. What a pleasant surprise: they promptly sent me an email asking for my address, and they kindly offered to send the parts for free (despite, I must stress, the damage was caused by me). IMPORTANT NOTE: a few months after we bought our STX, the motor was improved to 2,000 watts, i.e, an increase of about 11%."
"Put a bit of already ground meat back into hopper to push through the last piece of steak so it doesn't get stuck - push down with pusher."
"First time use was for grinding London Broil at $1.99 a pound rather than buy 80% hamburg at $3.99 a pound. Ground a bunch of chicken and it made delicious burgers, @.99 lb."
"Being a machinist I took a good sharpening stone and dressed the disks and blades, they broke in perfectly. Determining the right amount of tension on the disk retaining ring is not exact science."
"My mom seems to love this thing and grinds everything in it, mainly meats and vegetables."
"While this machine does produce a loud whirring sound while operating, it is a very efficient machine and gets the job done quickly!"
"It saves me money and I can now insure the quality of the meat that I'm eating."
"Easy assembly, good fitting parts except the meat trough is loose when in use and has no way in which to secure it."
Best Hunting Knives, Axes & Saws
Our new key knife just might save the day, unless of course you lock it in the trunk. Black key handle is made of stainless steel that's shaped like a house key.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This little knife is really sharp, has a good locking mechanism, and a hefty metal build."
"I like having mine around and readily available for opening packages, cutting strings off clothing, or gettings those little plastic tags off of merchandise."
"My only complaint is to fold it back you can only grip it from the sides which is awkward to me."
"Awesome emergency knife with limitations of course."
"With the index and middle knuckles wrapped around each side of the head. For $5 SOG mades an alarmingly dangerous and easily-concealed self-defense weapon, especially if used by the right hands."
"Incredible quality, looks awesome, and an extremely high quality blade."
"Great little addition to my clip-on keychain."
"Love this little knife I’ve had it on my keys for about a year now and it’s still very sharp and in good condition."