James jerky dyer for dehydrating?

[Aspenextreme]

Looking to possibly to get one if these for Christmas. I know you can use it with jerky but can you use it for other things like dehydrating peaches, bananas, etc?  I obviously would use a different grate if it can be done but wanted to ask prior to purchasing. Thanks.

 

[MichaelKelly]

I'm also wondering if the James jerky dryer works well for doing non-meat products. I suppose specifically, will all my dried fruits and kale chips have a meat/smoked taste?

 

[Aspenextreme]

I am thinking they would have a smoky flavor which i am not opposed to but wanted to put the question out there. I have a dehydrator already so not crazy about spending 80+ shipping for the dryer to get some smoke flavor if i can still use my dehydrator.

 

[DivotMaker]

I love the dryer for jerky, but have never used it for dehydrating.  I would think that if you wipe the interior down good, clean the smoke box, and foil as normal, you wouldn't get much of a smoky flavor, but I could be wrong.  Dehydrating is just heat and air movement, which the SI & dryer do very well.  If you ever intend to do sausage or jerky, or want to make some good smoky chipotle peppers, the dryer is fantastic, and worth the money.

 

[Aspenextreme]

Do you use the dryer when you do cheese ir pretty much for jerky and sausage, etc?  I can still use my dehydrator for fruits inside which is fine.

 

[SconnieQ]

I would think that if you wipe the interior down good, clean the smoke box, and foil as normal, you wouldn't get much of a smoky flavor, but I could be wrong.

I think if you have previously smoked meat in your SI, it will need more than a "good wiping down" for fruits, etc., to not end up with at least some smokey taste, but that's just a guess. I think you would need a pretty clean interior, and that would not be worth the trouble. Seems like a dedicated dehydrator would make more sense.

 

[DivotMaker]

I think you're probably right, Kari.  And no, you don't use the dryer on cheese.

 

[Aspenextreme]

Thanks for all of the replies. Think i will pass on the jerky dryer and keep using my dehydrator.  Love my si2 though. Been almost a year with it.

 

[NDKoze]

I have used it for cheese. But, only for the purpose of adding air-flow to prevent my A-MAZE-N from going out. Otherwise it would not be needed.