Top 5 Best Food Dehydrators for Your Family | 2016 Reviews

Beef jerky, dried fruits made into chips and other healthy snacks are starting to be viable options to healthy snacking. Not that they have not been in the circulation for the previous years, but the search for more nutritious food are ramping up every day. The types of food we mentioned are dehydrated, meaning that the water content is reduced to 0.75 water per 1 serving of protein. So you might ask, is dehydrated food healthy? Definitely! The reason why foods are dehydrated is to increase their shelf life, imagine stocking up fruits available for a certain season only, like apricots and wanting to serve them 6 months after.

This is where food dehydrators come in; they lock in the nutrients of the fruit by taking away most of the water content that could cause them to spoil and therefore extending their consumability by leaps and bounds. Yes, that beef jerky you’re chewing on is dehydrated.

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Quick Comparison Table

Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A

Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator

Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator

Nesco FD-37A American Harvest Food Dehydrator

Waring Pro DHR30 Professional Dehydrator

Conclusion

So before you jump in to searching for the best dehydrator for jerky, here are some tips on choosing a great food dehydrator you can have at home to use for your family’s needs.

Once you decide that having a food dehydrator at home could be a big step to encouraging the consumption of healthy foods for your family, you must be able to discern between the various types of food dehydrators in the market today.

First to look out for is the size and space it could occupy in your kitchen, let’s face it, not every house is big enough to have those commercial looking food dehydrators so this is a great factor to start with. Also, you have to go for the ones that use certified food grade materials; you wanted to be healthy so it is therefore imperative that the plastic and metal components are FDA approved. So using the categories mentioned, we now have a list of 5 best food dehydrators for your family to consider.

Quick Comparison Table

Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A	Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator	Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator	Nesco FD-37A American Harvest Food Dehydrator	Waring Pro DHR30 Professional Dehydrator
$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
5 Trays	9 Trays	4 Trays	4 Trays	5 Trays
22 pounds	9 pounds	7.5 pounds	4.7 pounds	7.6 pounds

Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A

If you are interested in knowing how to make bacon jerky in a dehydrator, then you are definitely on point with this dehydrator. Drying meat could be a long and arduous process, especially if you are new to it. However, the Nesco Snackmaster aims to make the dehydrating a lot easier to deal with, as this unit boasts of the Converga-Flow drying system enables you to complete the drying process in a matter of hours compared to the usual days it used to take. As explained on their website, the Converga-Flow drying system forces air down the pressurized chambers and allows for the air to flow horizontally in each trays, making sure that all the food items are dehydrated in evenly. This system takes into consideration that all the food items included on individual trays are all properly dehydrated, according to your expectations.

If you fear that if you add differently flavored food items in the Nesco and come up with something that has a weird taste, then, worry no more as the flavors do not mix in this appliance., because the fan makes sure that the liquid do not drip anywhere in the chamber.

Since the Nesco Snackmaster has an adjustable thermostat , you could define the needed temperature for a certain type of food to be dehydrated. Although the Nesco Snackmaster only comes with 5 trays, you could definitely expand this to 12 based of your needs, individual trays are sold separately, which is why we love it even more.

When it comes to cleaning, since virtually every component is made of BPA free plastic, it is very easy to clean and maintain, the total package. It’s also lightweight and generally small for its value so keeping it in your counter would not be a problem. This electric food dehydrator is something you would really want in your home, compact, lightweight, easy to use, and best of all, not very noisy compared to most of the dehydrators out there, definitely the top on our list.

Details of the Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A
Temperature Range (in Fahrenheit)	95 to 160 degrees
Trays	5
Weight	22 pounds
Dimension	19 x 17 x 12.5 inches
Color	Grey and Marble
Features	2 Clean-A-Screens, 2 Fruit Roll Sheets, 3 Original Jerky Spice Packets, and a 52-page Recipe and Instruction Book

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Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator

The Excalibur food dehydrator comes in close second for its durability and modifiability. First the dehydrator has the capability to dry a wide range of items, from making fruit leathers, and meat jerky, to potpourris and even treats for your pets. All of these are made possible by the Hyperwave Fluctuation technology which helps keep the temperature of the food low enough for the essential enzymes and nutrients to be preserved, but maintaining a high temperature for dehydrating, sealing in the goodness that we need. When it comes to making sure the evenness of dehydration, the device has the parallex horizontal airflow technology. In essence, the cool air is sucked in, processed and distributed evenly to the trays.

If you plan to host a party and introduce your dehydrated food items, or if you are one of those people who likes to prepare, maybe for the winter, for when your kid’s next vacation or just love having parties, then this dehydrator is definitely for you. It has 9 trays, that’s a total of 15 square feet of drying space at your disposal. What’s awesome is these 9 trays are not fixed, you could easily remove any of them if you need additional space, perfect if you want to raise dough, or have bigger pieces of meat or fruits you want to dehydrate.

The timer of the Excalibur is also beneficial in making sure that the items you dehydrate are processed only at the time you need them to be, no more frequent checking, you just have to pop the items in the trays, set the timer and go back finding your dehydrated food as you like. The only thing that held us back in naming the Excalibur the top rated food dehydrator of all time, is that it could be a bit bulky for everyone to have at home. Remember, not everyone may have the need to dehydrate more than the required amount of items that their family could consume.

Details of the Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator
Temperature Range (in Fahrenheit)	105 to 165 degrees
Trays	9 Drying Trays
Weight	9 pounds
Dimension	13.8 x 22.1 x 13.9 inches
Color	Black and white
Features	15 sq. ft. drying space, removable trays, 26-hour Timer, 7-inch fan and poly-screen tray insert to prevent foods from sticking

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Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator

Most of us have not yet encountered a food dehydrator before and what we wanted to know is how does a food dehydrator work? The Presto makes it easy for anyone to use a food dehydrator, you just have to turn it on and leave the food items to dehydrate to the required amount of time advised on the manual. What we absolutely loved was the fact that it has a see through cover, making it very easy for us to tell whether the food is ready or not to be taken out of it. The fan is at the bottom, and the air flows horizontally on each of the trays generating a good amount of hot air for drying.

Since it’s made of BPA free plastic, it is fairly easy to clean and use, even without the nonstick mesh screens. It is dishwasher safe, so that’s one less thing for you to think about, the next time you decide to use it. Should you need to process more items, it is also expandable up to 8 trays, but because it is lightweight and relatively small in size, it would be very easy to move around even to take with you when you travel.

But because the aim of the dehydrator is for relatively ease of use, there is no thermostat. This is unfortunate for those who are looking forward to using varied sizes of meat or food items that you would want to dehydrate at the same time, as it may be a little troublesome. Not that it won’t be able to do so, you just have to put in a little extra effort in making sure that you are drying your meat or fruit properly. This could be easily solved by proper research and noting the characteristics of the food items you are drying, as herbs and fruits might have a different drying time from meat. You just have to adjust accordingly and determine the best foods to dehydrate one at a time to maximize its use.

Details of the Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator
Temperature Range (in Fahrenheit)	preset temperature of approximately 165 degrees
Trays	4
Weight	7.5 pounds
Dimension	14.5 x 15 x 6.2 inches
Color	White
Features	See through cover, dishwasher safe trays, fruit roll sheets, nonstick mesh screens

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Nesco FD-37A American Harvest Food Dehydrator

Similar to the top food dehydrator on this list, the Nesco American Harvest dehydrator also shares the durability of the brand. Made with materials of the highest quality, you surely could never go wrong on this one either. In essence, this comes with a guarantee that you are most likely to spend lesser time in dehydrating food items compared to other dehydrators. This food dehydrator comes with 4 drying trays, but is still also expandable for up to 7 trays. That is a lot of dehydrated items waiting to happen!

What you need to remember is that even if this dehydrator is relatively small, it has a lot to offer, you definitely could save a lot of counter space even having this around. It has a pretty straightforward way of working, making use of a preset temperature of approximately 160 degrees perfect for the novice ones to use. You won’t have any need to rotate the items as well because of the way the fan is designed enabling radial air flow within the stack of trays.

All of the components are dishwasher safe except of course for the power head, so no problem with cleaning, definitely easier to use it for your every day needs. Similar to the Presto food dehydrator, it also comes with a clear cover enabling you to tell if there is something wrong with the items you are dehydrating and easily solve the source of the problem.

If you are keen on knowing how to dehydrate herbs in food dehydrator, then this is the best choice for you. This is great for beginners who want to start on exploring the world of dehydrating. This is also the reason why it is our number 4; you might need to consider buying a different dehydrator once you start appreciating the dehydration process. Also, note that it would be best if you could grease the trays to prevent items such as fruits and meats from sticking on it, otherwise, everything is great.​

Details of the Nesco FD-37A American Harvest Food Dehydrator
Temperature Range (in Fahrenheit)	preset temperature of approximately 160 degrees
Trays	4
Weight	4.7 pounds
Dimension	14.1 x 9.2 x 14.2 inches
Color	White
Features	Expandable up to 7 trays, Clear top monitor, dishwasher safe components

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Waring Pro DHR30 Professional Dehydrator

Finally, to round up our top 5 best food dehydrators, we have the Waring Pro DH 30. This professional food dehydrator has 5 stackable, interlocking trays and boasts of the horizontal air flow. This air flow type lets the air in from top to bottom into each tray which allows for even processing on each and every layer without the need for manual rotation. The interlocking trays are amazing in such a way, that you would not be wary of your dried items from easily toppling over when you accidentally mishandle the equipment.

One of the things we loved about this is that the thermostat has the following settings, fan only, low, medium and high. This therefore allows you to control the temperature you want your items to be processed in, definitely great if you are starting out on experimenting the varying range of items you would like to consider dehydrating, especially those that you have not used before in any way. Just keep in mind we highly recommend that it would be best not to mix a batch of different items when drying as they could have different drying temperatures needed. It could be very difficult to gauge a unified temperature for all of your items, but if you stick to low it could work but with longer time involved.

If you worry about leaving the dehydrator on overnight, you do not have to, just keep the temperature at a lower setting and you could sleep soundly, as there are no notable noise with this machine. Clean up is also just a breeze, no need for extra scrubbing as the dried items slide off the trays pretty easily even fruits.

The Waring Pro also comes with fruit roll-up sheets, perfect for preparing fruit leather for your kids snack, packed with a lot of nutrients and needed vitamins. This is one meat dehydrator you could count on, as this is made of durable materials making it stronger to handle even bigger chunks of meat. It is also just the right size that could easily fit on your counter top, no more worries after that.

Details of the Waring Pro DHR30 Professional Dehydrator
Temperature Range (in Fahrenheit)	110 to 175 degrees
Trays	5
Weight	7.6 pounds
Dimension	14.7 x 12.4 x 11.8 inches
Color	Black
Features	Adjustable thermostat includes Fan Only, Low, Medium and High settings for more options, and a top-venting system

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Conclusion

To sum it all up, we are starting to see how dehydrating food in oven is so last season, and the demand for food dehydrators is slowly getting higher in the market. This comes hand in hand, as we discover that the nutrients of the food that we eat could be preserved without actual additional preservatives. All natural, flavorful fruit or meat goodness in less than the time it used to take. We leave it up to you however, to determine best home dehydrator that would fit your family’s needs.

Originally posted 2016-08-22 04:34:00.

The post Top 5 Best Food Dehydrators for Your Family | 2016 Reviews appeared first on ParentsNeed.

Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies | 2016 Reviews

Walkie talkies? Those are still a thing?

They sure are. They’re no longer the toy that every kid dreams of; they’re now programmed to start asking for their own phone by the time they start school. And “walkies” are no longer indispensible for most service businesses, which largely have switched to cellphones because of their weight and convenience.

Walkie talkies, though, can do many things that smartphones can’t. Most importantly, they can be used in areas where there’s no reliable cell service. But they’re also a godsend in noisy environments like construction sites and concert halls, and have the ability to continuously connect a workforce spread out throughout a large area on a single channel (or set of channels). Hotels and convention centers, retail stores and warehouses – all are perfect environments for the use of walkie talkies, particularly when workers are equipped with earpieces or headsets. And naturally, they’re still widely used by police and security forces.

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Quick Comparison Table

Midland GXT1000VP4 FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)

Cobra Electronics ACXT1035R FLT Walkie Talkie 

Uniden GMR5088-2CK Camo Submersible Two Way Radio (Pair)

Uniden 16-Mile 22 Channel Two Radio (Pair)

Garmin Rino 650 US GPS

Just as commonly, walkies are essential equipment for campers and hikers who frequently travel through areas where phones will do no good. Whether it’s for locating other members of your family or hiking party, calling for help, or accessing NOAA weather channels, walkie talkies can be invaluable. Some even have a vibrate mode for hunters so the game they’re tracking won’t be alarmed.

Today’s best walkie talkies are extremely powerful and able to communicate across distances as long as 50 miles in the right circumstances. Many are lightweight and waterproof, provide access to channels on both the FRS (Family Radio Service) and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) although you’ll need a government license for the latter, and there are even walkies with a record function so you can keep messages for the long term.

Kids still love walkie talkies too, even though they’ll be likely to outgrow them once they reach “phone age.” You’ll find that most of the units in our rundown of the top 5 best walkie talkies focus on units for campers, hikers and professionals, but we’ll also make mention of the best ones for children, too.​

Before going on our list, make sure to read our "Best Walkie Talkie Buying Guide" too!

Let’s get started. Over and out.

Quick Comparison Table

Midland GXT1000VP4 FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio	Cobra Electronics ACXT1035R FLT Walkie Talkie	Uniden GMR5088-2CK Camo Two-Way Radio	Uniden 16-Mile 22 Channel Two Radio	Garmin Rino 650 US GPS
$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
4.8 ounces	5.6 ounces	1.5 ounces	9 ounces	11 ounces
36 miles	37 miles	40-50 miles	16 miles	None claimed

Midland GXT1000VP4 FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)

These Midland walkie talkies are a perfect example of what today’s modern radios can do, boasting an amazing number of features. They can access both FRS and GMRS channels, and have a separate set of those channels with pre-set privacy codes for a total of 50; the FRS channels are meant for short-distance communication, while you’ll need to use high-power mode and the GMRS channels (which require a license) for longer-range transmissions. Midland claims a 36-mile maximum range, but that depends greatly on terrain, with city buildings or mountains often limiting transmission range (as is the case with all walkie talkies – the best way to get better range is to get a better or longer antenna). The GXT1000VP4s are among the best for distance over unobstructed ground, though.

We like these units because they provide outstanding sound quality with auto-squelch, but also because they’re sturdy and waterproof (up to a point – you can’t submerge them, but they can handle splashes and light rain) which makes them ideal for camping and hiking. These are also one of the walkie talkie models for hunters we alluded to earlier; they have vibrate mode, as well as a “whisper” mode which lets whispered transmissions be heard perfectly. (Some hunters may prefer the similar, camo-finished 1050VP4 model, which also has five signal tones which can also be used as animal calls.) You can also scan and monitor weather channels for local alerts (and not just for storms, but everything from fires to biohazards), and send out an SOS alert with the push of a button.

That’s just the start. The Midlands have hands-free operation capabilities (with nine different sensitivity levels), included headsets, direct-call functions that let you contact some people on your frequency without letting others hear, 142 different privacy codes to create thousands of “private” channels, a scan function to quickly find active channels, ten different call alert tones, selectable power-saving levels, a backlit LCD display (a nice feature, since there’s quite a lot of programming involved to get these working to their full capabilities) and much more.

You can clip these walkies onto your belt or carry them in a pocket since they’re about the size of a phone (not counting the antenna) and lightweight. The GXTs have a rechargeable battery pack which can power the units for about eight hours and can also run on AA batteries, and come with a dual desktop charger and a car adapter. If they’ve left anything out, we can’t think of it. There are two radios per set.

For a combination of good range, great quality and terrific features, this pair of Midland walkie talkies can’t be beat at about $60.

Details of the Midland GXT1000VP4 FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio
Channels	50, including FRS and GMRS
Power	5 watts
Claimed Range	36 miles
VOX/headset operation/vibrate mode	Yes/yes/yes
Waterproof	Yes (splashproof)
Weather Alerts	Yes
Power	Rechargeable battery pack or four AA batteries
Size	2.5 x 2 x 10 inches (including antenna)
Weight	4.8 ounces
Warranty	Three years

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Cobra Electronics ACXT1035R FLT Walkie Talkie 

The Cobras aren’t quite as full-featured as the Midlands, but they have one feature that can be invaluable to campers and hikers, and you probably noticed it in the title of this review: if you drop them in the water, they float. That means they’re completely waterproof, so some readers have probably just found the walkies they really need when out in the backcountry. They’re also built more sturdily than the GXTs (although they’re also fatter and shorter, so they don’t fit as well in the pocket).

The range on these units is similar to that of the Midlands, a nominal 37 miles which is completely dependent on terrain, as you know by now. They have 22 available channels in the FRS and GMRS ranges, there are plenty of privacy codes, and they have emergency alerts plus an SOS signal.

So why do these rank at #2 instead of #1? Quite honestly, we think they’re more difficult to operate than our top choice. The display is cluttered, with a plethora of hard-to-depress buttons all around it. We think you’ll find it as confusing to figure out as we did, and in these days of simple LCD displays and touchscreens, the Cobras feel like a throwback – and not in a good way.

Rechargeable AA lithium batteries power these walkie talkies, which are more convenient than having to use a proprietary battery pack, and most of the other features you’d expect like VOX and headphone capability are included, as is the ability to replay the last 20 seconds of a message. We’d say that both of the models we’ve looked at so far are very good; the Cobras should be your top choice if you need truly waterproof units, but the Midlands are better if you don’t.

Details of the Cobra Electronics ACXT1035R FLT Walkie Talkie
Channels	22, including FRS and GMRS
Power	5 watts
Claimed Range	37 miles
VOX/headset operation/vibrate mode	Yes/yes/yes
Waterproof	Yes
Weather Alerts	Yes
Power	Three rechargeable AA lithium batteries
Size	1.5 x 2.5 x 7.5 inches (including antenna)
Weight	5.6 ounces
Warranty	One year

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Uniden GMR5088-2CK Camo Submersible Two Way Radio (Pair)

This is the first of two sets of Uniden walkie talkies we’ll be examining; the next ones will be for the kids, while these are for the grownups. Like the Cobras, these walkies are waterproof; unlike them, these are actually submersible for up to 30 minutes at a depth of three feet. They also have the highest-claimed range of any of the units on our list of the top 5 best walkie talkies, at 40-50 miles. As we keep saying, though, always take those numbers with more than a few grains of salt. There are 22 channels (FRS and GMRS), a decent number of privacy codes, direct call capability, a “power boost” button for extra oomph when a signal isn’t quite getting through, and NOAA weather alerts. They operate on rechargeable NiMH batteries and come in a camo pattern.

One plus is that the headsets for these walkie talkies are included in the package but that’s offset by the lack of “extra” features we’d expect to see like whisper and power-saving modes, considering the fact that these are more expensive than the Cobra and Midland walkies at $120 for the set. They’re fine, but not good enough to be top-ranked for that price.

Details of the Uniden GMR5088-2CK Camo Submersible Two Way Radio (Pair)
Channels	22, including FRS and GMRS
Power	5 watts
Claimed Range	40-50 miles
VOX/headset operation/vibrate mode	Yes/yes/yes
Waterproof	Yes
Weather Alerts	Yes
Power	Four rechargeable NiMH batteries
Size	8.5 x 4 x 13 inches (including antenna)
Weight	1.5 ounces
Warranty	One year

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Uniden 16-Mile 22 Channel Two Radio (Pair)

And here is the second set of Unidens we mentioned, the ones that are our best choice for kids. They have most of the same basic specifications as the expensive ones, covering 22 channels (FRS and GMRS) with a nominal range of 16 miles (and a functional range of much less). They’ll scan all channels for existing users, have decent audio quality with auto-squelch, and are easy to operate for preschoolers and elementary school kids (the ones who don’t have phones yet).

There aren’t any fancy features like headset operation or voice activation – but trust us, your kids won’t miss them. The walkies will communicate around the block or neighborhood just fine, and while they may go through lots of lots of AAA batteries, so will any other toy you purchase. Don’t count on these for commercial use or if your life might depend on being able to communicate out in the wild, but for $30 you can let your kids venture back to the days when every kid on the block had a walkie talkie, and loved it.

Details of the Uniden 16-Mile 22 Channel Two Radio (Pair)
Channels	22, including FRS and GMRS
Power	Not specified
Claimed Range	16 miles
VOX/headset operation/vibrate mode	No/no/no
Waterproof	No
Weather Alerts	No
Power	Three AAA batteries
Size	8 x 3 x 7 inches (including antenna)
Weight	9 ounces
Warranty	Three years

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Garmin Rino 650 US GPS

For this final review we’ll take the word “best” in “top 5 best walkie talkies” literally, without regard to price – because these units combine an excellent walkie talkie with a Garmin GPS device, electronic compass and altimeter – for the low, low price of $440 apiece. For those of you who had trouble in math or are in shock, that adds up to nearly $900 for the pair.

But if you’re a serious hiker, trekker or camper, you may fall utterly in love with the Rino 650. The true selling point on this unit is the GPS functionality, but we’ll first deal with the communications aspects. The walkies can access 22 channels (FRS and GMRS) with 121 privacy codes, voice activation capabilities and vibration mode, with a functional range similar to that of the Midlands subject to the same caveats on terrain. Audio quality is good, and there’s also a texting function on these radios. There are customizable weather alerts which can be displayed on the TFT screen or heard audibly.

Now, for the “other stuff.” The Rino 650 has a sensitive receiver and a quad-helix antenna allowing you to find and maintain your position, view your position on maps and images which can be downloaded or imported via microSD card (the Rino is compatible with BaseCamp software), and send your exact position to other Rino users. There’s a three-axis, tilt-compensated electronic compass and a barometric altimeter built in, along with calendars complete with sun/moon rising and setting times. If you’re an avid outdoor type, are you in love yet?

Everything is controlled on a well-lit 2.6-inch touch screen and held in a waterproof case, and runs on a rechargeable lithion-ion battery which can go up to 14 hours between charges. In short, if you spend a good part of your time in the backcountry and have a spare $440 (per unit) to spend, you need one of these Garmins. Otherwise, they’re cool to think about.​

Details of the Garmin Rino 650 US GPS
Channels	22, including FRS and GMRS
Power	5 watts
Claimed Range	None claimed
VOX/headset operation/vibrate mode	Yes/yes/yes
Waterproof	Yes (splashproof)
Weather Alerts	Yes
Power	Lithion-ion battery, rechargeable
Size	2.5 x 2 x 7.5 inches (including antenna)
Weight	11 ounces
Warranty	One year

Check Price On Amazon

Whilst we aim to provide you the best priced products in the market in 2016, there are always special occasions like Black Friday & Cyber Monday where, all products are available at an extremely discounted price on Amazon through deals. Click Below!

Originally posted 2016-06-09 07:31:21.

The post Top 5 Best Walkie Talkies | 2016 Reviews appeared first on ParentsNeed.