Review: NESCO FD-60

The NESCO FD-60 Snackmaster Express combines powerful performance with compact size and an affordable price tag. For users that are looking for a reliable unit that will offer consistent results and is easy to use, this USA-made food dehydrator is an excellent choice.

The innovative technology by the industry’s giant, NESCO, ensures that the food is dried evenly and much faster than with other units that have the same motor. From drying meats for jerky to making healthy snacks from fruits and veggies, NESCO FD-60 will exceed your expectations with its performance, no matter the food you select. Add its budget-friendly price and compact size to the mix, and it’s no surprise that this particular food dehydrator is one of the most popular on Amazon.

We see what makes NESCO FD-60 a smart purchase and what about it will leave you wanting more. 

NESCO FD-60 Key Features

• Powerful 500-watts motor
• Opaque Vitta exterior that preserves nutrients in the food
• Superior Converga-Flow technology 
• Comes with 4 trays
• Includes 1 fruit roll sheet and 2 original-flavor jerky spice and cure packets

In some cases, it’s not about more horsepower, but rather about smarter design. The NESCO FD-60 Snackmaster Express is an excellent example of this. Instead of upping the wattage of their motor, the company employed their revolutionary Converga-Flow technology to get superior drying results. The process is faster than you’d expect with a food dehydrator of similar characteristics, and the results even, each time. This is achieved by pairing a 500-watts motor with a top-mounted 2,100 RPM fan. As the 4 trays that come with the unit are stackable, the hot air circulates throughout all of them without transferring smells but at the same time, transferring the heat evenly. This also eliminates the need for rotation of trays, so you can sit back or go about your day without any concern for your drying foods.

While the fast and more powerful drying performance might indicate a greater loss of nutrients in the food, the opposite is true. The patented Opaque Vita-Save exterior blocks harmful lights and ensures that all the essential nutrients remain in the food—even after they are completely dehydrated.

In addition to the 4 standard mesh trays that are included with the NESCO FD-60, you’ll get a fruit roll sheet so you can preserve sauces and soups, as well as make your own fruit leathers. Moreover, you can buy Add-a-Trays on Amazon and upgrade the unit to contain up to 12 trays. As your dehydrating needs evolve, so can your food dehydrator!

NESCO FD-60 Pros

• Adjustable temperature
• Trays don’t have to be rotated
• Top-mounted fan for fast and reliable performance
• Trays can be upgraded
• Compact size

Owing to innovative technologies incorporated in this dehydrator, you’ll get consistent, optimal results without having to rotate the trays. This makes the whole process hassle-free, and gives you the chance to dehydrate various types of food at the same time without worrying about scents getting mixed up. After all, no one likes strawberry slices that smell like cucumbers or apple crisps with a pungent onion odour. It’s not only a powerful performance that NESCO FD-60 boasts, but smart design as well. It’s compact—it has 13.5-inch diameter—and has the Opaque Vita-Save exterior for preserving nutrients and vitamins.

Another important feature that this unit has is the adjustable thermostat that ranges from 95°-155° F. This makes sure that you always get optimal results, whether you’re frying fine herbs or thick meat strips for jerky.

Once you start looking for the perfect food dehydrator for your family, you quickly realize that there are many features and specifications you’ll have to consider. On that list of things which your preferred unit needs to have, as a rule of thumb, ease of use and maintenance should be at the very top, otherwise it can easily end up in the cabinet that acts as the Bermuda Triangle of your house. Luckily, the NESCO FD-60 ranks high in both of these categories. Not only are its trays really easy to clean after use (they’re dishwasher safe), but even absolute beginners will find this machine easy to use. The controls are intuitive, and you’ll get a booklet with instructions (and that’s all there is to it!).

NESCO FD-60 Cons

• Solid white trays prevent monitoring
• No built-in timer

Even though the Opaque Vita-Save exterior preserves nutrients, the solid white color of the trays that blocks the light will also prevent you from keeping an eye on your food. While this doesn’t matter to some users, others prefer a hands-on experience and trays without clear sides are a deal breaker. If you’re a curious personality, you know exactly what we’re talking about.

The biggest downside to the NESCO FD-60 Snackmaster Express, however, is the lack of a built-in timer. You won’t be able to set the food to dry and go off about your business, instead you’ll have to make sure that it’s off when it’s done. Usually, people start their food dehydrator in the evening and it’s all done in the morning. Of course, this means you’ll probably have to use a personal alarm, but if it’s an additional stressor for you, with “what if I forget about it?” or “what if my alarm doesn’t go off?” ringing in the ears, you may prefer to have a built-in timer with a safety auto shut off feature. If you prefer to have a food dehydrator with this measure of precaution, check out the Magic Mill MFD-500 or Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine RJ43-SQ-6 as alternatives.

The Verdict

If you want reliable performance, fast results, and a reasonably priced food dehydrator, the NESCO FD-60 Snackmaster Express is what you need. A balanced combination of smart design and innovative technology results in a food dehydrator that can offer more for less money. Unless you really want the latest the market has to offer, a  food dehydrator with all the bell and whistles, or one that’s made for commercial use, you’ll find this industry’s classic is a perfect fit for your family.