Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The children and I purchased this item for Dad for Christmas. One thing we did not plan for was Dad being home when the UPS truck arrived. Since it was delivered in its original box (and we knew this could happen) he of course could not wait until Christmas. Since I have not read the manual or used the unit, I can only tell you of my observances and the enjoyable outcome. They (my husband and son) are using this daily. They have made dried apples, pears, pineapple, peaches, and fruit roll. They all were great! My son had to put a note on the unit so we would stop "stealing before completion". My husband bought a roast, sliced it thin, and marinated it in teriaki overnight. The beef jerky was the best. I am not a beef eater ~ but I had to taste it. My son even tried canned fruit. Please note: If you do this, expect the fruit to be teeny tiny and a bit sweet. My husband orders homemade smoked bratwurst, which is supposed to hang dry for two to three weeks. He placed it in the dehydrator and it was ready to eat in 3 hours. It takes some adjustment hearing the fan. This is not really a problem as you can relocate it to a basement or laundry room as we do. I am the only person this sometimes annoys, as I am not one for extra noise in the evening. Cleaning is also very quick and easy. Before I bought this make and model ~ I researched websites, catalogs, asked coworkers and relatives that have the much cheaper brands from discount stores. I decided to spend the extra dollars for a system that can be added to at anytime, has a fan for better drying, and has easy cleanup. This was a wonderful Christmas gift. I highly recommend it. It is now March 24, 2009; The guys still use and love this unit. I, on the other hand, get to wash it when they are finished. This was a great gift ~ keeps giving!