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Price Lowered On Presto 6301 Digital Dehydrator

Hot Mama Bearz

Hot Mama Bearz

Been looking at prices here and there on dehydrators since I was planning on dehydrating peppers this season.  And just as I was ready to purchase, I noticed that an often ignored dehydrator went down in price!  It appears that Presto did this on purpose.   So I bit, and am quite pleased. 
 
The price is $57.99 at the Walmart online store.  You can get a similar price at Amazon but those aren't shipping as fast. The reviews on average are slightly better than those for the Nesco.
 
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Presto-Dehydro-Digital-Electric-Food-Dehydrator-06301/20924339
 
http://www.amazon.com/Presto-06301-Dehydro-Electric-Dehydrator/dp/B008H2OEKK
 
Specs:
750 watt (faster dry times)
Digital temp range 90-165
6 trays expandable to 12
Digital timer
On/off switch
2 packs jerky seasoning (warning taped to bottom of unit)
2 mesh screens
2 fruit roll sheets
No tray rotation needed
 
 
What it comes down to is that you are getting a lot of bang for your buck.  Many talked about how it had more fan sounds than the Nesco, but it isn't bothersome to me.  And I feel that it is worth it for the faster dehydration times. 
 
I tried it for the first time just now, and it works great!  Everything but my large strips of Hungarian wax were dried in less than 11 hours at 125 degrees.  I suspect the Hungarians will be about 12 hours or so.  They are cooking as I type.  The few Hungarian wax rings that I made as a test are dried already though.  They come out much nicer in rings by the way.   I thiink all but my habaneros came out best in rings.  All the colors for the Yellow and orange peppers are bright and perfect!  The Jalapenos are a dark green.  The red Hungarian wax seem a tidge deeper in color.
 
I am very pleased with my selection. :)
 
 
If you are a PRIME Amazon member there is yet a better deal :)  
 
$57.99 
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I've been using this model for the past year and really like it, http://www.amazon.com/Presto-06300-Dehydro-Electric-Dehydrator/dp/B008H2OELY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411908206. It's 34.49, 600 watt, four trays and no controls. You just plug it in.
 
I think the model you're looking at is an excellent value. Just the fruit trays alone are around 15.00 if you buy them separately. Plus you're getting two extra trays, mesh screens, jerky kit, more wattage, controls, etc... If you get it please let us know how it does.
 
For me "Presto" is synonymous with "something cheaply made that won't last long and might not really work from day 1." Will be curious to see how it works out for you over time.
 
geeme said:
For me "Presto" is synonymous with "something cheaply made that won't last long and might not really work from day 1." Will be curious to see how it works out for you over time.
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Well with a 1 year warrenty, they would be out of business if they kept breaking.  The reviews are on average better than the Nesco's. And quite honestly, all of the round models appear cheap to me, likely because they are plastic.  But you know what?  I think plastic may just be better for me. 
 
Plus, I just couldn't qualify the expense of an Excalibur for a seasonal hobby along with some cat treats.  Plus storage space is an issue in my small house.  Did not realize it, but this ones trays store smaller when not in use. (You stack them differently.)   Do all the round ones do this?  If so, that is an added perk for the round ones. 
 
Another perk I failed to mention was the clear top so you can see what things are up to without opening the lid.  Yet another perk, is the heat being on the bottom.  Heat rises so I would imagine this is why rotation of trays is not needed.  Strong fan sounds are perhaps (but not certain) the result of a stronger fan?
 
I will report back after repeated use.  I think I I will be doing some chives today while canning peppers. 
 
But the funny thing is I often thought of Presto as an extremely reliable routine household brand with a small pocketbook fingerprint.  A great company for inoften used products such as popcorn poppers and pressure canners.  Their pressure canner is a #1 best seller.  You will have breakage in all brands, since the post office is used so much these days. 
 
Oh almost forgot this...  My husband wants to make jerky.  And some folks mentioned possible spoilage (funny smells) with the lower end Nesco's taking too long.  And I read up on the issue and higher wattage is the ticket,.
 
JoynersHotPeppers said:
Before making jerky test the temperature. I would say with many dehydrators the temperature can be off a little or a ton, 50+ degrees. 
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You know I read about folks having defective dehydrators but never thought to check the temp of mine since it works so well.  BRB...
 
Whoa...  So mine was set at 100 degrees but was off by 10 degrees (90 degrees) on the top shelf and furthest from the motor.  Then my husband said, you probably need to recalibrate the thermometer.  Whoops!  BRB yet again...
 
Yeah the temp is fine, the thermometer was off by 10 degrees prior to recalibration. :oops:   But thanx for the reccomendation to test the temp, that was an excellent idea!
 
And on another good note, I learned how to calibrate our thermometer. :)
 
JoynersHotPeppers said:
If you are a PRIME Amazon member there is yet a better deal :)
 
$57.99 
check-prime-45x13._V325679749_.gif
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"Usually ships within 3 - 6 weeks."
 
Or maybe not at all. With that big a price drop it it sounds like a model closeout. Better get 'em from Wally World while you can!
 
PS The WM deal is free shipping too.
 
mecdave said:
 
"Usually ships within 3 - 6 weeks."
 
Or maybe not at all. With that big a price drop it it sounds like a model closeout. Better get 'em from Wally World while you can!
 
PS The WM deal is free shipping too.
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When I order PRIME its at my house 2 days MAX. I live less than 2 miles from one of their largest facilities and only about 20 from another :) For them to have a 3 to 6 week lead time does suggest something for certain. 
 
Yep, longtime Prime member too. Free shipping is great, especially for those like me that live out in the country.
 
The best part though, imo is the free streaming video. I cut the cable and Netflix many years ago and just rely on Prime and broadcast TV now. One month of cable costs nearly as much, or even more, as a year of Prime, and I still find plenty to watch.
 
Back on topic, the only drawback I can see to getting one from WM is you will pay sales tax. With Amazon, you may or may not depending on your State's policy and/or from which fulfillment center the item ships from. Flip a coin in Texas.
 
Just an update...  The chives took over a day at 100 degrees!  Perhaps I packed it a bit too much, but well I cut too many...   And I left them in 4 inch pieces.  But in the meanwhile I read that they would have no flavor after all that! :(  But guess what?  They are spectacular in flavor!  Maybe because they are garlic chives, or perhaps since they were done on low heat?
 
Now the Hungarian wax, I am sick and tired of eating.  But tonight I finally ate a dehydrated piece.  OMG the flavor!!!!  I am gonna keep some chopped up to add to baked potatoes along with my chives!  Plus I will just be eating them for tasty snacks.  This dehydrator was the best :dance:  :dance:  :dance: :dance:  
 
Oh wow!! I just love this thing to death! It is running at home while I am at work. My peppers are finally all done, and I am working on more catnip. The cats LOVE, my super fresh catnip better than even cosmic catnip. Gave my daughter a dime bag, and her cat who didn't care much for nippy went hog wild. But I am growing the, "real catnip" species vs. a lessor one often sold in pet stores etc..

I can' trait to try something different. Does anyone know of something else that works extremely well in a dehydrator? Oh and I did some peppermint and spearmint also

I have a bag of dried, less optimal peppers, ya know the ones that were slower to ripen on my window and were a tidge softer.. I am giving them to my co-worker for her bird. It seems her bird stole the hot lemon drop peppers I gave her. And here I go rewarding the little thief. Lol....
 
I love my Presto! No problems what so ever. Now if they would just lower the price on the extra trays. For what it would cost me for four trays I could almost buy another machine. 
 
My Presto just finished its second year without a hitch - easily many months of continuous running time. It's the analog version with temp control. Max trays I have run is 9. I picked it up on sale from a local retailer (~$35 with 6 trays I believe). If it broke tomorrow, I would still be happy with its performance.
 
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