Dehydrator suggestions?

The bride's birthday is coming up and she's been asking for a dehydrator for over a year. We're looking for something that works equally well on fruits, veggies and meats.

Preferably not an all-plastic one... but the price limit is around $250.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Well I've got an all plastic Salton one I bought at Wal Mart for $50. It works well for fruits and meat, and haven't had any issues.

My friend had one when were we roomies, it was all plastic but did not have a fan, get one with a fan to help circulate the air and dehydrate more evenly. We found that the ones that just use convection need to have their trays rotated a lot to keep things even.

Mine has a fan too....

Nothing wrong with a plastic one , we have had ours for years use it with fruits, veggies and meat and it is fan equipped.

I just go to the Bulk Barn and buy my dehydrated fruits. My mother in law uses her oven set on low convection and it works great.

I have the Salton as well with 5 racks. You do have to rotate racks…and the wife won’t let me use in the house. I have done peperoni, jerky, banana chips, pineapple with mine. No issues, cleaning the plastic racks can be a pain at times, but I presoak in laundry tub. Lebarons, Sail and BP have the flat rack systems for couple hundred bucks, but so far I am happy. The Salton uses less electricity as the bigger ones too.

Maybe get her the Salton with a bunch of starter rubs, marinades, books and a food sealing system. I just bookmark internet recipes.

Watch Kijiji... I picked up a 9-tray excalibur dehydrator for $200, guy had used it like twice.

Heck, buy it new on Amazon.ca and get free shipping.
$289 http://www.amazon.ca/Excalibur-3900B.../dp/B004Z915M4

or the smaller 4-tray for $168
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B004...3NRZB4T15HFBTF

TSC Stores stocks what looks to be an Excalibur knockoff... a "LEM".

http://www.tscstores.com/5-TRAY-COUN...x#.VWUH65NyP4k

For the month of June, OFAH members can get it for $120.00 (reg $220). I may give it a shot, at least that way if it's no good i can return it easily.