NESCO FD-80A Square Food Dehydrator for Healthy Snacks, Dried Fruits, Homemade Beef Jerky - Perfect for Camping, Hiking & Meal Prep - White

I had sought out a Dehydrator after having a scare of the Chicken Jerky Dog Treats that were being made in China. I have two beautiful Papillon children and would just die if I fed them something that would cause them harm. I figured I could make chicken jerky and dehydrated sweet potato snacks for the dogs that would be healthy and poison free.I read several reviews of the Nesco brand models and decided on the FD-80A square shape unit because it just seemed to be the most logical for what I wanted due to the amount of usable rack space.When the unit arrived I immediately unpacked it and pulled out the instruction manual. The instruction manual is very comprehensive and the recipes included are extensive!Honestly, this unit is larger than I had originally thought at purchase. The size isn't really a deterrent to me but if you have limited counter space you might want to consider the dimensions before purchasing if your desire is to keep it on the countertop. The dimensions are as following (in case you missed it like i did in the Amazon product description). Dimensions: 15.2 x 10.2 x 15.6 inches ; 9.9 pounds (as stated by Amazon).Those dimensions are wonky if you ask me. I measured this unit all put together (with the included base and 4 trays) to be about 13 inches squared (width and depth) and 8.5 inches in height (with the handle laying flat). I didn't have a way to weigh it but I also doubt the 9.9 lb weight claim. I mean all the weight would come from the top fan unit because the trays are as light as an empty take out container! The power cord measures 4 feet. This seems more than adequate.The manual states that the trays and the base (NOT the top fan unit people!) are dishwasher safe, top rack only but you must remove them from the dishwasher BEFORE the dry cycle. Well, I don't know how many of YOU have a dishwasher that informs you when the dry cycle is starting but I sure don't have one of those. I won't trust it in the dishwasher because I wouldn't want to take the chance of a tray getting misshaped by the hot water/steam. But to me that is a moot point because they are soooo easy to wash by hand. A quick rinse with your sink sprayer and you are done.I really like the fact that this dehydrator has a TOP fan. Some are fanned from the bottom up, resulting in slower and more uneven dehydrating. The top fan fits easily onto the top layer rack. It has a dial that starts at 95 degrees F to 160 degrees F and their Celsius equivalents. Printed on the top of the fan is a degree guide. Herbs & Spices 95 degrees, Nuts & Seeds 105 degrees, Fruits & Veggies 135 degrees and Jerky, Meats & Fish 160 degrees. I want to tell you guys though that ONE fine mesh screen that lays on one of the regular trays is INCLUDED with this unit. So if you have seeds or smaller items that might slip through that you want to dry, you don't have to worry about having to order the "extra" fine mesh screens.Yes I agree with all that say this dehydrator is quiet. I am a light sleeper and I can hear my stupid GE Profile fridge easier than this dehydrator overnight. At first I got concerned that because it was so quiet it wasn't working right. Then, after it dried everything perfectly, I figured it was just a design win.As I mentioned at the top of this post I got this dehydrator mainly for the use of making safe treats for my dogs. But as I go along day to day I find a lot more uses. For example: Two days ago I peeled about 15 "Cutie" oranges to put through my juicer. In the past I would have taken those peels and tossed them in the trash. But as I was peeling them I thought "Hey, these peels would be good after dehydrating to use in baked goods or teas or several other things! I also had some apples in the produce bin on their last legs that had been intended for an apple cobbler that didn't happen...so I thought "hey..I can dehydrate these and use in baking or for snacks or to put in my oatmeal!" Then I realized I had a score of cilantro in my produce bin as well that I had used for guacamole...YES..I dehydrated that! So, you really will be amazed at the amount of money you can save by dehydrating the items you would normally be tossing in the trash.A TIP FOR EASY CLEANUP: Only use the amount of trays that are housing items. If you have an empty tray(s), remove before starting the process. Line the bottom catch base with foil or parchment to catch anything that might "drip".I highly recommend this dehydrator. I love it and I think everyone should have one!ON A SIDE NOTE: If you want to make Jerky for your dogs (or for yourselves) research the Nesco Jerky Gun here on Amazon. I bought the dehydrator and then realized that the Jerky Gun is imperative to make nice Jerky treats from ground meats (cheaper to do it that way too).