Presto 06300 Dehydro Review: All the jerky you can eat
If you are looking to buy a dehydrator that offers value for your money, the Presto 06300 Dehydro might just be the right unit for you. Presto is a household name when it comes to pressure cookers, but during the past few years they have stepped up their game in the dehydrator market. Let's find out if the Presto 06300 is the best dehydrator for you.
Easy to clean, easy to use
If you have been dehydrating food for some time now, you will know that cleaning this appliance is no fun at all. The durable construction of the 06300 is dishwasher proof and can by fully submersed, meaning you won't be spending 30mins cleaning out this dehydrator once that jerky is done.
With your dehydrator, you get a handy guide on dehydrating everything from fruits and vegetables to beef and chicken jerky. Armed with this guide, and the simplicity of the Dehydro, you can have some tasty fruit roll ready in no time.
Punching above its weight
Considering this appliance usually retails for less than $40 (check the latest price here), it performs at the same level as some more expensive models. There are however some drawbacks which comes with the easy-on-the-wallet price.
Firstly, the 06300 does not come with a thermostat which is used to regulate the temperature depending on what you are drying. This unit runs at 165 degrees. Unless you are drying some unusual items (like hops for brewing beer), this shouldn't be a problem. In fact, my opinion is that for the beginner dehydrator it is probably easier working at just one temperature, and adjusting the time required for drying certain foods.
Another shortcoming is that the Presto 06300 does not come with a built-in timer. This convenient function comes standard in more expensive units, but to be honest, who doesn't have a kitchen timer these days?
Now that we have those out of the way, let's look at what the 06300 has going for it:
- This appliance comes with 4 trays, but you can buy expandable storage to increase capacity up to 8 trays.
- Unlike some other cheap dehydrators, there is no need to rotate the tray.
- The trays are dishwasher friendly, which means more time eating jerky, and less time cleaning.
- Excellent dehydrating guide included to show you the ropes, and get you off to a flying start.
What are the alternatives?
Let me start off by mentioning that this product is aimed at those looking to dehydrate on a budget. If you will be drying a variety of different foods, you might want to consider the upgraded Presto 06301 that comes with a timer and a thermostat. You can read more about Presto 06301 here.
However, if you are looking for the best dehydrator on the market, the Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator FD-75A has no peers. It does come with a considerable price tag, so it might not be for you.
A video of dehydro in use
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CHjg4ShVho
Is this the best dehydrator for you?
The Presto 06300 Dehydro gets some rave reviews on sites like Amazon, and deservedly so. It comes at a great price tag, and is easy to clean. While it does have some things going against it, overall it is a great unit for someone just starting off with drying foods, or for those looking for the best jerky dehydrator.