LEM Products 1153 Review

If you’ve recently stumbled into the world of food dehydration or are someone who is already a pro at it and are looking to make a new purchase, you’ve come to the right place. Yes, we too know the benefits of food dehydration. After all, this seemingly simple process does lock in vital nutrients in addition to inhibiting microbial growth and spoilage. Whether you dehydrate foods for the convenience of enjoying them at a later date or are health conscious and believe there is much to gain by consuming a raw diet, there are many food dehydrators at your disposal. The dehydrators available to the consumers today are simple to use, hasten the process of drying foods, and come with a variety of features. The LEM 1153 dehydrator is one of the latest models. Today we’re going to break down everything there is to know about this model so you can make a conscious decision about whether its the right match for you or not.

Convenient Design

The 10-tray LEM 1153 aluminum-body dehydrator is similar in design to the Excalibur 3900. However, the LEM 1153 is less expensive. If budget is a concern for you, then surely you can lean on this product. The dehydrator features a rear-mounted 800 watts heating element and fan. The strategic positioning of the technology is ideal, as the fan sends the heat horizontally across each shelf. The design ensures that all areas of each shelf receive an even amount of heat simultaneously, which eliminates the need to rearrange food or shelves during the dehydration process and avoids any over or under dehydrating. Each tray also features openings measuring approximately ½ inch in diameter, which enable warm air to circulate around the food during dehydration.

The bottom-hinged, clear but sturdy food-grade, ABS plastic door on the front of the device opens fully for easy tray insertion or removal. The door is also removable. The transparent design enables users to see the food contents throughout the dehydration process. In this way, you do not need to open the door to check the dehydration process, which causes heat loss and lengthens the drying time. When closed, the door effectively contains the internal heat and maintains the temperature. A key feature as constantly fluctuating temperatures in the dehydrator isn’t ideal. Yes, the two-temperature timers are great, but those also cost a lot more than what this horizontal flow dehydrator does.

Dehydrating Capacity

The LEM 1153 measures 19.5 inches x 16.6 inches x 16.9 inches and weighs 26.3 pounds. The unit comes with a five-foot power cord, which makes finding a place to put the LEM more convenient. It also comes with 10 removable trays measuring 15 inches each and providing 1.6 square feet of drying space, which brings the total capacity to 15 square feet—large enough to hold 30 apples (not too shabby). The square design also means the trays need not be inserted in any particular direction, a seemingly small benefit but when you’ve actually got your trays loaded with food and are struggling to insert them in, you’ll understand the gravity of it. The trays are made from food-grade, ABS plastic. Plastic also lines the aluminum dehydrator housing. The LEM 1153 can be used with all 10 trays inserted or with fewer trays when dehydrating larger food items, another benefit that doesn’t seem noteworthy but if you’ve previously used vertical flow dehydrators, you know that it’s a good feature to have.

Operation

The controls for the LEM are located on the top rear of the unit. Set the drying temperature from anywhere 85°-155° F using the control knob, based on what you’re dehydrating. A convenient printed display correlates the time and temperature setting with different types of foods to help guide you through this stage. The built-in digital timer allows you to set the operation time for up to 30 hours and 55 minutes. After the desired time expires, the dehydrator automatically turns itself off.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The ABS plastic of the trays and dehydrator lining make cleaning a snap. However, you should always keep in mind that the dehydrator needs to be completely cool before opening the door, removing trays, and attempting cleanup. Unplug the unit. Simply remove the bottom drip tray and the food trays, and wash by hand. The trays can be cleaned in a dishwasher as long as the heat setting is not applied to the drying cycle. Simply use a warm, soapy cloth to wipe down the dehydrator interior. Rinse and repeat. With the fan and heating element positioned in the rear, safely away from food, these areas of the dehydrator are protected by a screen and do not need cleaning.

Final Verdict

There’s a lot to like and some that it leaves you wanting, but at the end of the day, this dehydrator is powerful, delivers great results, and doesn’t crack a dent in your wallet. If you’re on a budget and are looking for something that can compare to the likes of Excalibur, then look no further, because the LEM 1153 dehydrator is the right choice for you! Sure, it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles, but it still holds its own.