Nesco Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator Review: 8 Trays
The Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator has 8 trays, 1,000 watts and a 95°F to 160°F thermostat in a round plastic body. It suits fruit leather and garden batches, and it gives up a steel housing and a higher top setting to get them.
On this page (13 sections)
- What the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator is made of
- How big is the Nesco Gardenmaster on the counter?
- How low and how high does the thermostat go?
- What do 1,000 watts mean for drying?
- Eight trays, and a claim of up to 30
- Is the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator good for fruit, vegetables and herbs?
- Is the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator fit for jerky?
- Nesco Gardenmaster vs Cosori and Excalibur food dehydrators
- Cleaning the Nesco, and what the manual should tell you
- Who should buy the Nesco Gardenmaster Pro
- Who should skip the Nesco Gardenmaster Pro
- Why the Nesco scores 8.0
- Verdict: is the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator right for you?
The Nesco Gardenmaster Pro (model FD-1018A) comes with 8 trays, 8 fruit roll sheets and 8 Clean-A-Screens. Nesco says the trays expand from 8 up to 30.
We compared its specs and included parts with a 6-tray Cosori and a 6-tray Excalibur. If you dry mostly meat, start with our food dehydrators for jerky guide.
What the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator is made of
The body is plastic, and Nesco says all 8 trays are BPA-free. That is the biggest difference from the stainless steel Cosori and Magic Mill Pro.
Nesco describes a top-mounted fan and a Converga-Flow system that forces air up and across the trays to the center. Nesco says this dries food evenly without tray rotation, so watch your first batch to see if that holds for your load.
Stainless steel vs plastic tray dehydrators covers how the two builds compare.
How big is the Nesco Gardenmaster on the counter?
The round body measures 17 inches deep, 15.5 inches wide and 14 inches tall. That is wider and taller than the Cosori (17.8 x 13.4 x 12.4 inches), but not as deep.
Measure the height first if you plan to tuck it under a cabinet. Nesco doesn't publish a weight, so check the box or the manual before you plan to lift it between a shelf and the counter.
How low and how high does the thermostat go?
The thermostat runs from 95°F to 160°F. That is a lower top setting than the Cosori and Excalibur (both 165°F) and the Magic Mill Pro (176°F).
For the heater and fan basics, how a food dehydrator works covers each part. Nesco doesn't mention a timer, so check the manual for timer and shutoff features before you plan a long cycle.
What do 1,000 watts mean for drying?
The 1,000-watt rating is the highest of the three machines here, but watts only show how much power the machine draws. They don't tell you how fast it dries your food.
Cosori's motor is 600 watts and the Excalibur Select is 700. Slice thickness, humidity and load size shape drying time more than the number on the box, so judge the Nesco on tray count and temperature range first.
Eight trays, and a claim of up to 30
The box has 8 trays, and Nesco says the system expands from 8 up to 30. Check which extra trays Nesco sells for this model before you count on 30, since that figure is Nesco's own claim.
Nesco doesn't give a drying area. Cosori gives 6.5 square feet for 6 trays and Excalibur gives 9.6 square feet for 6, so tray count is the one number you can compare across all three.
What comes in the box with the Nesco food dehydrator
The box has 8 fruit roll sheets, 8 Clean-A-Screens, a sample of jerky seasoning and cure, and a 52-page recipe and instruction book. There are 8 fruit roll sheets for 8 trays, so a full batch of fruit leather doesn't need extra sheets.
Read the cure label on the seasoning sample before you use it. Never add cure amounts from another source.
Is the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator good for fruit, vegetables and herbs?
Nesco names fruits, vegetables, herbs and jerky as foods it dries, and 8 trays leave room for a mixed harvest. Keep each food on its own tray when you can, since mixed loads make it harder to see which pieces are ready.
Thin, even slices dry faster and more evenly than thick ones, and juicy or whole pieces take longer. Humidity and load size change drying time too.
You can judge doneness by feel. Dried fruit should be pliable and leathery, not sticky or wet when torn, vegetables should be brittle or crisp, and herbs should crumble easily.
For cues by food, see how long to dehydrate fruit, how to dehydrate vegetables and how to dehydrate herbs. The National Center for Home Food Preservation has drying charts to check against Nesco's manual.
If you grow a lot, the best food dehydrators for herbs and garden produce roundup compares more models for the job.
Is the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator fit for jerky?
It can dry jerky if you follow USDA's steps and the manual. Nesco names jerky among the foods it dries, and the box includes a jerky seasoning and cure sample.
USDA advises heating meat to 160°F before the drying step, checked with a food thermometer. It then advises holding the dehydrator at 130 to 140°F while the meat dries, and you can read the full guidance on USDA's jerky and food safety page.
The Nesco's 95°F to 160°F range covers that 130 to 140°F drying window. USDA also notes that many dehydrator manuals leave out the pre-heat step.
USDA adds that a dehydrator on its own may not reach a temperature that is high enough to heat meat to 160°F. So check whether the Nesco manual covers pre-heating, and keep a food thermometer handy.
For machines built around jerky, see best dehydrators for jerky.
Nesco Gardenmaster vs Cosori and Excalibur food dehydrators
The Nesco wins on tray count and watts, and it trails on body material and top temperature. Both close alternatives have a stainless steel build, a timer and a 165°F top setting, and Nesco doesn't mention a timer.
| Feature | Nesco Gardenmaster Pro | Cosori 6-tray | Excalibur Select 6-tray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trays | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Power | 1,000 watts | 600-watt motor | 700 watts |
| Temperature range | 95°F to 160°F | 95°F to 165°F | 85°F to 165°F |
| Timer | Not mentioned | Up to 48 hours | Up to 60 hours |
| Body | Plastic | Stainless steel | Stainless steel and glass |
| Warranty | Manufacturer warranty, term not stated | 2 years | 3 years, limited |
Cosori 6-tray stainless steel
Cosori's 6-tray model has a 600-watt motor with a rear-mounted fan, a 95°F to 165°F range and a timer of up to 48 hours. Cosori says the motor runs below 48 dB, and it comes with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
Read the Cosori 6-tray stainless steel review for the full details. If Cosori is also on your list, Cosori vs Magic Mill puts it next to the Magic Mill line.
Excalibur Select 6-tray
The Excalibur Select 6-tray has 9.6 square feet of drying space, an 85°F to 165°F range, a timer of up to 60 hours and glass French doors. It runs on 700 watts, and Excalibur backs it with a three-year limited warranty.
For how the Select and Performance lines differ, see Excalibur dehydrator models.
Magic Mill Pro 7-tray
The Magic Mill Pro sits between them on trays, with 7 stainless steel trays, a 48-hour timer and a 95°F to 176°F range. Our Magic Mill Pro 7-tray review has the details.
Cleaning the Nesco, and what the manual should tell you
Nesco doesn't say whether the trays are dishwasher-safe, so wash them by hand until the manual says otherwise. The Cosori's 6 trays are dishwasher-safe, which matters if cleanup is your main chore.
Nesco says the unit comes with a manufacturer warranty, but you'll need the paperwork in the box to see how long it runs.
Who should buy the Nesco Gardenmaster Pro
It suits a gardener or fruit-leather maker who wants 8 trays and fruit roll sheets in one box. It also suits a cook who is fine with a plastic body and a drying plan that stays at or below 160°F.
Who should skip the Nesco Gardenmaster Pro
Skip it if you want a steel housing, a top setting above 160°F or a timer you can confirm. Skip it too if you need a rectangular footprint, since the body is round.
Why the Nesco scores 8.0
The 8 trays, 1,000 watts and included parts are clear strengths. The plastic body, the 160°F ceiling and the lack of a stated timer hold the score back.
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
Nesco Gardenmaster Pro 8-Tray
- 1,000 watts with a top-mounted fan
- 8 trays, which Nesco says expand to 30
- 95°F to 160°F adjustable thermostat
- 8 fruit roll sheets and 8 Clean-A-Screens in the box
An 8-tray dehydrator with a plastic body and fruit roll sheets in the box. It fits garden and fruit batches, with a lower top setting than the steel models compared here.
Pros
- 1,000 watts with a top-mounted fan
- Nesco says the trays expand from 8 up to 30
- Fruit roll sheets and Clean-A-Screens in the box
Cons
- The body is plastic, not steel
- The 160°F top setting is lower than the Cosori, Excalibur and Magic Mill models compared here
Verdict: is the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator right for you?
Pick the Nesco Gardenmaster food dehydrator if you want 8 trays, fruit roll sheets in the box and Nesco's expansion path. Pick the Cosori for a stainless housing and a 48-hour timer.
Pick the Excalibur if you want glass doors and 9.6 square feet of space.
Compare it with more picks in brands and accessories before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How many trays does the Nesco Gardenmaster Pro have?
It has 8 trays, and Nesco says the system expands from 8 up to 30, so check which extra trays Nesco sells for the FD-1018A before you plan around that claim. Nesco also says all 8 trays are BPA-free, which is worth knowing if you compare tray materials.
What temperature range does the Nesco Gardenmaster reach?
The thermostat runs from 95°F to 160°F, a lower top setting than the 165°F on the Cosori and Excalibur models. For jerky, that range covers USDA's 130 to 140°F drying window, but USDA's 160°F pre-heat step is separate, so check your manual and use a food thermometer.
Is the Nesco Gardenmaster Pro made of plastic?
Yes, the body is plastic, so it isn't steel like the Cosori or the Magic Mill Pro. The body is also round rather than rectangular, which changes how it sits on a counter and how you measure for a cabinet shelf above it.
What comes in the box with the Nesco Gardenmaster Pro?
The box has 8 fruit roll sheets, 8 Clean-A-Screens, a sample of jerky seasoning and cure, and a 52-page recipe and instruction book. Read the cure label before you use the sample, and follow the instruction book for setup and everyday use.
