NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator Instruction Manual

Introduction

The NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator is designed for efficient and convenient food preservation. This appliance allows you to dry various foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and herbs, creating healthy snacks and ingredients. Its fan-forced radial airflow system ensures consistent drying without the need for tray rotation.

Important Safety Instructions

Please read all instructions carefully before using your NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator. Failure to follow these instructions may result in electric shock, fire, or serious injury.

Always unplug the appliance from the electrical outlet when not in use, before cleaning, or when adding/removing parts.
Do not immerse the powerhead unit (containing the motor, heater, and controls) in water or any other liquid.
Ensure the dehydrator is placed on a stable, dry, and heat-resistant surface, at least six inches away from walls and other electronic devices, to allow proper ventilation.
Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
Do not operate the appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or after the appliance malfunctions or has been damaged in any manner.
Use only accessories recommended by the manufacturer.
Do not use outdoors.

Parts Included

Your NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator comes with the following components:

Powerhead Unit (with fan and heater)
Clear Top Cover
4 Drying Trays (expandable up to 7 trays)
Base

NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator disassembled showing powerhead, clear top, trays, and base — **Figure 1:** Disassembled NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator, illustrating the powerhead, clear top cover, multiple drying trays, and the base unit.

Setup and First Use

Follow these steps to set up your dehydrator for the first time:

Unpack Components: Carefully remove all parts from the packaging.
Initial Cleaning: Wash the drying trays and the clear top cover in warm, soapy water or place them on the top rack of your dishwasher. Wipe the powerhead unit with a clean, damp cloth. Do not immerse the powerhead unit in water.
Assemble Base: Place the base unit on a flat, dry, and stable surface, ensuring at least six inches of clearance from walls and other appliances for proper airflow.
Stack Trays: Stack the desired number of drying trays onto the base. Ensure each tray is properly aligned. The unit comes with 4 trays and can be expanded up to 7 trays with additional Add-A-Trays (sold separately).
Place Powerhead: Position the powerhead unit securely on top of the uppermost tray.
Connect to Power: Plug the power cord into a standard 120V, 15A, 60Hz electrical outlet.

Assembled NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator with clear top and powerhead — **Figure 2:** The NESCO FD-37 Food Dehydrator fully assembled, ready for use.

Operating Instructions

Loading Trays

Prepare Food: Slice food items uniformly to ensure even drying. Pre-treat fruits or vegetables as recommended for best results (e.g., blanching, soaking in ascorbic acid solution).
Arrange Food: Place food in a single layer on each drying tray. Avoid overlapping pieces to allow for optimal airflow.
Radial Airflow: The NESCO FD-37 features a unique fan-forced radial airflow system that directs heated air horizontally across each tray. This design eliminates the need for tray rotation during the drying process.

Temperature Control

The dehydrator is equipped with an adjustable temperature control knob on the powerhead unit.

Rotate the knob to select the desired drying temperature for your specific food item.

Refer to the

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