The Elite Gourmet Programmable Food Dehydrator, Model EFD-313B, is an appliance designed for indoor home use to dry various foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, herbs, and flowers. It features a digital control panel for precise adjustments of time and temperature, ensuring optimal dehydration results.
Function Description:
The primary function of this device is to remove moisture from food items through a controlled heating and air circulation process, thereby extending their shelf life and preserving nutrients. It is programmable, allowing users to set specific dehydration times and temperatures according to the type of food being processed. The dehydrator is equipped with multiple trays to accommodate a variety of food items simultaneously.
Important Technical Specifications:
- Model: EFD-313B
- Dehydrating Timer Range: 30 minutes to 24 hours (in 30-minute increments).
- Temperature Range: 95°F to 160°F (in 5°F increments).
- Trays: Includes six dehydrating trays.
- Additional Accessories: One Fruit Roll Sheet/Drip Pan.
- Power Supply: Intended for use with a properly grounded electrical outlet.
- Safety Features: Polarized plug to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Automatic shut-off for heating element and fan upon completion of the drying cycle.
Usage Features:
- Digital Control Panel: Allows users to easily adjust time and temperature settings.
- TIME/TEMP Button: Toggles between timer and temperature functions for adjustment.
- +/- Buttons: Used to increase or decrease desired time and temperature settings.
- START/STOP Button: Initiates and terminates the drying process.
- Swing-Out Door with Viewing Window: Provides easy access to food trays and allows users to monitor the dehydration process without opening the door. It swings out from left to right.
- Dehydrating Trays: Perforated design ensures optimal air circulation for efficient dehydration. They also allow moisture or debris to drip into the lower drip pan.
- Fruit Roll Sheet/Drip Pan: This versatile accessory has smaller perforations, ideal for drying fragile or thinly sliced foods, such as fruit rolls or fruit leather, ensuring they stay intact. It should always be used along with a dehydrating tray. Lightly coating it with cooking spray is recommended for easy food removal after dehydration. It also serves as a drip pan to catch any food moisture or drippings, simplifying cleanup.
- Single Layer Placement: For best results, food should be placed on trays in single layers, without touching or overlapping.
- Pre-treatment Methods: The manual provides detailed instructions for pre-treating fruits and vegetables, including steam blanching, microwave blanching, natural pre-dips (pineapple or lemon juice), and sodium bisulfate. These methods help improve food appearance, increase shelf life, and enhance nutritional value.
- Meat Dehydrating Preparation: Specific guidelines are provided for preparing meat, including trimming fat, slicing thickness (1/8" - 1/4"), and marinating. The manual emphasizes precooking meat to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses, especially for chicken and turkey.
- Nuts, Herbs, and Flowers: Instructions are included for dehydrating these items, covering preparation, drying times, and storage. For flowers, it advises picking them after morning dew and before evening mist, and avoiding those sprayed with chemicals.
- Dehydrating Tips:
- Dehydrating time varies based on food moisture, air humidity, thickness of slices, number of trays in use, and volume of food.
- Use in a dust-free, well-ventilated, warm, and dry room; not outdoors.
- Check food frequently (every hour) during the drying cycle.
- Label food with contents, date, and weight before dehydrating, noting drying time for future reference.
- Blanched vegetables and fruits yield the best results.
- Preheating the dehydrator for at least 5 minutes before use is recommended.
- Fresh vegetables and fruits are preferred over canned goods for dehydration.
- It is generally safe to leave the dehydrator on for long drying times, provided it is in a safe place.
- Keeping a personal notepad to record food type, weight, drying time, and results is suggested due to varying dehydration times.
- Dehydrating Time & Temperature Chart: A comprehensive chart is provided with recommended times and temperatures for various fruits (apples, bananas, blueberries, grapes, mangos, pineapples, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes), vegetables (herbs, beets, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, celery, kale, mushrooms, summer squash, yams), and meats (beef, poultry, fish), along with preparation notes.
Maintenance Features:
- Easy Cleaning:
- Always allow the dehydrator to cool completely and unplug it before cleaning.
- Dehydrating trays, mesh sheet, and fruit roll sheet should be washed in warm, soapy water after each use.
- The exterior and door can be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth.
- Do not immerse the dehydrator in water.
- Use non-abrasive cleaners or soft soap only.
- Mesh sheet and fruit roll sheet are not dishwasher safe.
- Storage:
- Unplug the unit and store it in its original box in a clean, dry place.
- Do not store while hot or plugged in.
- Avoid wrapping the cord tightly around the appliance to prevent fraying or breakage.
- Food Packaging and Storage:
- Dried foods should be packaged in clean, dry, airtight containers (glass jars, freezer containers with tight-fitting lids, re-sealable plastic freezer bags).
- Store in a dry, cool location away from light to preserve quality and nutrients.
- Freezing is recommended for longer storage, especially for vegetables.
- Package vegetables and fruits separately to prevent flavor transfer.
- Vacuum packaging can significantly extend shelf life.
- The shelf life of fruits is generally longer than vegetables due to their natural sugar and acid content.
- User Serviceable Parts: The appliance contains no user serviceable parts. Any servicing should be referred to qualified personnel.
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