[Repeat Offender]

What about the cost of the stove running and the AC to cool the place? And is it as good homemade?

My wife bought me a dehydrator for Christmas..... after using it a few times making jerky.... it "paid for itself.' I needed a dehydrator anyhow.

Using the stove..... you only set the oven at 110 (with the oven door cracked slightly) for about 1hr to 1 1/2 hrs. Of course, I made my first batch of the fall (didn't need the AC) in the oven, and the rest in the dehydrator (didn't notice any spikes in the power bill. I stuck several pounds in the freezer (had too, it's addicting to eat).

The Eastman Outdoors jerky is absolutely AWESOME. I wanted to use "store bought" seasoning packages before I started experimenting with scratch made recipes...... but for $4.50 a box and the flavor.... can't beat it. So I added several boxes to my pantry with the rest of my stores.

[posterchild]

Is the dehydrator useful for fish?

[Repeat Offender]

FYI, the package instructions recommend using meat as lean as possible. But, I found grounding in a little bit of deer fat and hand mixng..... the end result is a lot better. When the jerky reaches room temp, dry off extra oil from the jerky with paper towels.

I wouldn't go overboard with the fat though. Also if you are using a jerky gun (pretty cheap at Wal Mart), people seem to prefer the tube "slim jim" pieces of jerky vice the thin strips. I usually make half and half.

[Woebama]

Dehydrator and packets of spice. Check. What cut of meat do you like?