Is it possible for you to describe the process? I bought an inexpensive electric dehydrator once and it was a disaster.
We used to pick fruit that was close to being ripe, slice pears or apples really thin, put the slices on a towel and and let dry on the screened in porch.
Peaches were cut into halves and seeds removed. We also put them on towels, cut side up and let them dry on the screened in porch. After a few days, just turn them over. It takes about two or three times on each side to make dried fruit to eat in the winter.
I remember my Mother drying fruit outside on old rusty window screens in FResno County in the 30s and 40s. She covered the fruit with cheese cloth to protect from flies and bugs. I still buy dried apricots to this day but I have to be careful as I now have type II Diabetes...
What was the disaster, particularly? I have a Excalibur 9-tray dehydrator, because I do a lot of drying fruits, veggies, and meats. Even my first batch came out very well.
For peaches or pears, I pit the fruit and slice it up about 1/4 inch thick. I immediately put them in a bath of cold water with Fruit Fresh added ... this keeps the fruit from turning brown while drying. Take them out of the water/Fruit Fresh bath and quickly dry them on a towel. Then I place them in the dehydrator in single layers, set the temp for fruit, and let the dehydrator do the rest.
If I can help you in any way, please let me know. :)
I have an inexpensive Nesco. I dried my first peaches last week. They taste great.
I got about six slices per peach. I dipped the peach slices in a solution of fresh squeezed lemon in about a pint of water, and then spread them on the rack skin side down. I turned them a couple of times and rotated the racks a couple of times. If I has a better dehydrator (Excalibur), I probably would not need to do that.
Next time I might skin them to speed up the drying.
Give it a shot.