NESCO FD-8TSS 8-Tray Digital Dehydrator Manual

NESCO FD-8TSS 8-Tray Digital Dehydrator

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

This product is designed for household use only when using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:

1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING THIS APPLIANCE.
2. Do not touch hot surfaces.
3. To protect against electrical hazards, do not immerse the power unit or any part of the dehydrator cord or plug in water or other liquid.
4. Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
5. Unplug from the outlet when not in use and before cleaning. Allow the unit to cool before putting on or taking off parts.
6. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or after the appliance malfunctions, or has been damaged in any manner.
7. The use of accessory attachments is not recommended by the appliance manufacturer; it may cause hazards.
8. Sharp utensils should not be used inside the dehydrator.
9. Do not let the cord hang over the edge of the table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
10. Do not use outdoors. Always dehydrate indoors on a flat surface to allow sufficient airflow. Never place a base on carpet, towel, newspaper, etc., which can block airflow to the bottom of the base and cause failure. Never cover the entire unit with anything, as that will cause failure. The dehydrator needs an open, breathable space to function properly.
11. Do not place on or near a gas or electric burner. Do not place on top of a glass top stove or inside an oven.
12. Do not use this appliance for anything other than its intended use.
13. This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory, or mental capabilities, or a lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.

Before First Use

1. Read and follow all instructions and save this care and use guide for future reference.
2. Remove all packaging and labels. Make sure all components are included.
3. Before using your dehydrator the first time, wash the metal mesh trays and plastic drip tray in warm, soapy water. Rinse, dry, and set aside. The metal mesh trays are dishwasher safe. CAUTION: Do not place the dehydrator base in water or in the dishwasher. DO NOT IMMERSE IN ANY LIQUID.
4. It is necessary to run the dehydrator the first time without any food. This first operation is to remove any residue left after the manufacturing process. You may notice some odor or light smoke; this is normal and will quickly dissipate. NOTE: You will only need to do this the first time you use the dehydrator.
   • Place the dehydrator on a stable, level, heat-resistant surface. Leave at least 6 inches of free space around the entire appliance.
   • To start the dehydrator, press the power button twice. The dehydrator will start and run at the factory default setting. Run the dehydrator for 30 minutes. To stop the dehydrator, press the power button once, and the dehydrator will go into standby mode.
   • When complete, unplug the dehydrator from the electrical outlet and allow it to cool.
   • Wipe inside of dehydrator base with a moistened cloth.
5. Your appliance is now ready to dehydrate food.

Overview of Components

Control Panel Functions

1. Lamp
2. Time Setting
3. Down Button
4. Display Window: Time/Temperature
5. Up Button
6. Temperature Setting
7. Power Switch

Operating Instructions

1. Place dehydrator in a warm, dry room on a stable, level, heat-resistant surface. Leave at least 6 inches of free space around the entire appliance.
2. Place food onto the trays and load trays into the dehydrator. Avoid overloading trays or overlapping food. Close the dehydrator door.
3. Plug the appliance into a 120-volt power source. The entire control panel will illuminate for 3 seconds and then turn off except for the POWER button, which will remain illuminated while the dehydrator is in standby mode. The dehydrator will remain in standby mode while it is plugged in.
4. Press the power button to activate the dehydrator. All control panel functions will illuminate for 3 seconds, after which the arrow buttons will turn off. TIME, TEMPERATURE, POWER, and INTERIOR LIGHT buttons will remain illuminated.
5. To set the time, press the TIME button. The display will flash the countdown time, and the increase and decrease arrow buttons will illuminate. If the arrow buttons are not pressed within 3 seconds, they will become inactive. To reactivate, simply press the TIME button again and enter the desired countdown time. Pressing either arrow button will result in a 30-minute increment adjustment. To adjust the time faster, press either arrow button for more than 1 second. After the desired countdown time is set, the time display will stop flashing, and the arrow buttons will turn off. The countdown time range for this dehydrator is from 1 hour to 24 hours.
6. To set the temperature, press the TEMP button. The display will flash the current temperature setting, and the increase and decrease arrow buttons will illuminate. If the arrow buttons are not pressed within 3 seconds, they will become inactive. To reactivate, simply press the TEMP button again and select the drying temperature desired. Note: pressing either arrow button will result in an adjustment in 5° increments. After the desired temperature is set, the display will stop flashing, and the arrow buttons will turn off. The temperature range for this dehydrator is from 90°F to 160°F.
7. After the time and temperature are set, press the POWER button to start the dehydrator’s programmed drying cycle. The fan and heater will turn on. The display shows the amount of time left during the countdown cycle. NOTE: You can change the time and temperature at any time by pressing TEMP/TIME.
8. After the display has counted down to 00:00, the fan will continue to run for an additional 10 seconds and then turn off. The display will also go into a standby mode, only leaving the POWER button illuminated.
9. Unplug the dehydrator. To remove trays, use a kitchen towel, heat-resistant glove, or oven mitt to handle them.
10. For final clean-up, reference the Care and Cleaning of this manual.

NOTE: If you press the POWER button during operation, the dehydrator will turn off and go into standby mode. The dehydrator will always save your previous temperature and time settings. To restart the dehydrator, press the POWER button, confirm the time and temperature, then press the POWER button again.

Dehydrating Tips

Loading Trays

Lay food pieces evenly on trays. Don’t overlap food pieces, as this will create uneven drying conditions. As each tray is loaded, place it in the dehydrator to begin drying. Meat should be frozen or refrigerated until it’s ready to be used. Do not allow raw meat to come in contact with the finished product. If marinating meat for jerky, always marinate in the refrigerator.

Drying Time

Drying times may vary, depending on the type and amount of food, the thickness and evenness of the slices, percentages of water in the food, humidity, and temperature of the air.

Storage

Dried food should be stored in airtight, moisture-proof containers or vacuum-sealed bags in a cool, dry place. Dehydrated food will naturally have less moisture in it than the air around it and will absorb moisture if left out for an extended period of time. Refrigeration or freezing will extend shelf life as long as food remains properly packaged.

Jerky

1. While there are many jerky recipes, we recommend using a prepackaged jerky seasoning and cure kit. NESCO offers a wide variety of flavors and quantities for a fast and easy way to make jerky. Simply follow the instructions with the kit. Jerky can be made from slicing strips of meat from a larger piece of meat, or it can be made from ground meat. If slicing strips from a whole meat, make sure to place the meat in the freezer until it is slightly hard to the touch but not frozen. This will help it slice more evenly. For best results, slice into 1/4″ thick slices. Marinate the meat with the seasoning of your choice and refrigerate. If using ground meat, mix in the seasoning and cure. Insert the mix into a jerky gun, choose the strips or sticks attachment, and form strips or sticks to your desired length on the dehydrator tray.
2. Make sure strips or sticks are not overlapping or touching each other. Jerky typically takes 4-8 hours to dry based on thickness, moisture content, and the amount of jerky being dehydrated.
3. When done drying, remove jerky from trays and let rest for approximately 30 minutes. Use paper towels to blot excess oil or fat from the jerky.
4. Store finished jerky in an airtight, moisture-proof container or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry place. To store jerky for more than a month, store it in the refrigerator or freezer.

Fruits

1. Wash fruit thoroughly in cold water to preserve freshness.
2. Fruits with skin will need to have the skin punctured to allow moisture to escape. You can puncture the skin by halving, slicing, pitting, or blanching (dipping in boiling water just long enough to crack the skins).
3. Pretreat cut fruits that tend to brown in ascorbic acid or a mixture of lemon juice and water with a 1:1 ratio. Pineapple juice may be used in place of lemon juice.
4. Place fruit in a single layer. Do not overlap.
5. Reference the fruit drying guidelines chart on page 8 for drying times.
6. Dried fruit should be stored in a sealed container, vacuum-sealed bag, or canister. Store in a cool, dry place, preferably below 60° F, away from direct light. Do not store fruit in metal containers, as it may give an unpleasant flavor to the fruit.

Herbs

1. Wash herbs in cool water to remove any dirt.
2. Lightly dry them off and place them on the dehydrator trays.
3. Drying times for herbs vary from 1 to 8 hours based on thickness, quantity, and temperature setting.
4. Herbs are considered dry when they easily crumble.
5. Once herbs are dried to your liking, allow them to cool for 30 minutes.
6. Store dried herbs in an airtight, moisture-proof container or vacuum-sealed bag. Exposure to air and light will result in loss of flavor. Store in a cool, dry place, preferably below 60° F.

Vegetables

1. Thoroughly wash your vegetables to remove any dirt. Peel the vegetable, if desired, and slice it into even sizes so that they dry at the same rate.
2. Pretreatment is necessary for all vegetables to neutralize their natural enzymes. Specifically, steam blanching is the preferred method.
3. Bring a large pot that is filled 75% with water to a boil. Place your vegetables in a colander or basket and place them carefully in the pot, ensuring that there is a small gap for the steam to enter, and cover with a lid. See the vegetable drying guidelines chart on page 9.
4. When you are done blanching, place the vegetables in cold water to cool them off.
5. Remove vegetables from the water and dry them.
6. Place them in a single layer on the dehydrator trays, making sure they are not touching or overlapping.
7. To determine if your vegetables are done drying, take out a few pieces from different trays in the dehydrator. If you cannot break the vegetables in half with little effort, place them back in the dehydrator for more time. Repeat the process until finished.
8. Once the vegetables are dried to your liking, allow them to cool for 30 minutes.
9. Store in a sealed container or vacuum-sealed bag in a cool, dry place away from direct light, preferably below 60° F.

Care & Cleaning

1. Before cleaning, the dehydrator must be disconnected from the power supply and cooled thoroughly.
2. Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe inside the dehydrator. DO NOT use metal scouring pads, abrasive cleaners, or harsh chemicals to clean your dehydrator, as these could damage the appliance. NEVER IMMERSE THE BASE IN WATER OR ANY OTHER LIQUID.
3. The drip tray and drying trays should be washed in warm, soapy water, rinsed, and dried thoroughly. Do not soak with detergent or similar cleaners. Drying trays can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher. DO NOT wash the drip tray in a dishwasher.
4. Ensure that all the parts are completely cooled, clean, and dry before storing the dehydrator.

One-Year Limited Warranty

The Metal Ware Corporation warrants to the original purchaser that your product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Product must be used for personal or sole household usage in accordance with the instructions. Should your product prove defective within one year from the date of purchase, contact the NESCO customer service team at 1-800-288-4545 or [email protected] with an explanation of the claim.

If a viable warranty claim is determined, a customer service member will provide you with the necessary details to have your unit replaced. Under this limited time warranty, we undertake to replace any parts found to be defective at our sole discretion. This limited-time warranty is void if the unit is connected to an unsuitable electrical supply, dismantled, interfered with in any way, or damaged through misuse. This warranty is not transferable.

LIMITATION OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES: Except for the limited time warranty and remedies expressly stated above, the Metal Ware Corp shall not be liable to you, or to anyone claiming by or through you, for any obligations or liabilities, including, but not limited to, obligations or liabilities arising out of breach of contract, breach of warranty, statutory claims, negligence, or other tort or any theory of strict liability, with respect to the product or the Metal Ware Corp’s acts or omissions or otherwise.

Buyer agrees that in no event shall the Metal Ware Corp be liable for incidental, compensatory, punitive, consequential, indirect, special, or other damages. Warranty does not cover consequential or incidental damages, such as property damage, and does not cover incidental costs and expenses resulting from any breach of this warranty, even if foreseeable. Some states or provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitations of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you depending on the state or province of purchase.

You may register your product on our website, but you will need to retain a copy of your proof of purchase should a warranty issue arise. We suggest you staple your receipt to this care and use guide. www.nesco.com/customer-service/warranty-registration.

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NESCO FD-8TSS 8-Tray Digital Dehydrator -FAQs