Gourmia GFD1650 Review

So, you want to get a food dehydrator. We get it. These incredible appliances are getting more and more popular by the day. Deservingly so. After all, we’re talking about a device that will transform easily spoiled produce into healthy snacks that can be stored and preserved for surprisingly long periods of time. Whether you want to burst into the exciting world of food dehydration or are a dehydrating veteran looking to upgrade your machine, there are an intimidating number of options out there. Fortunately, with machines as impressive and reliable as the Gourmia GFD1650, it’s hard to make a bad choice.

What makes the Gourmia GFD1650 so impressive? Well, there are actually quite a few reasons. First among them are the dehydrator’s features. This machine offers 6 adjustable shelves with 6.5 square feet of drying space, giving it the ability to handle up to a pound of food. It also has 8 preset temperature settings. So, it’s not the biggest or most versatile dehydrator on the market, but it will fit well into a small apartment kitchen and provide plenty of dehydrating options for customers who have never used one of these machines before. It also comes with the noiseless airflow circulation that homogenizes the airflow and temperature within the dehydrator so that all trays dry evenly. That way, you don’t have to worry about rotating your trays as the food dehydrates.

Boasting 400 watts of drying power, the Gourmia GFD1650 is suitable for meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. Pretty much anything that you could imagine dehydrating! Trail mix and other snacks are also recommended by the manufacturer. So, you’ll be able to get creative, should you wish. The dehydrator offers temperatures between 95º-158º F and it dries in 30-minute increments. So again, while this might not be the most powerful machine on the market, it certainly packs a punch and will get the job done.

Construction

The construction of the dehydrator is mostly plastic, which is less than ideal. Fortunately, it is at least safe and sturdy. Based on our experience with the Gourmia during the review period, the machine certainly feels like it will hold up well over time. The plastic is not the flimsy kind that comes with cheap appliances, it is a professional product and the plastic does not stain, either, allowing for very easy cleanup after any dehydration session. Overall, this food dehydrator seems to be built to last and should be a fixture of your kitchen for years to come. The Gourmia GFD1650 is practically designed, which means it does not add any flash or style to the kitchen. The plastic comes in either black or white and is generically flat. Stylistically, this appliance is indistinguishable from most. The folks behind the Gourmia didn’t waste time or resources making a sexy machine, they were more concerned about delivering a dependable dehydrator at a reasonable price. You’ve got to respect that.

Efficiency

The Gourmia will get your foods to your desired level of dehydration far faster than most of the competition. How? By offering a range of controls over temperature and time. However, it does not offer many other options for control. This is good for a newer user who wants a simple machine to do one specific task, but can be a downside for some who want more control. You won’t be able to experiment with food dehydration as freely as you might with a more expensive machine, but anyone new to food dehydration will value the efficiency and simplicity of the Gourmia more.

Another downside might be the maximum temperature of 158º F. Although this may be enough for most users, diehard jerky fans who want to dehydrate rapidly with higher temperatures might find it lacking. Again, think of this as more of a “starter dehydrator.”

The airflow circulation works extremely well and produces no noise whatsoever. This machine is very quiet as it worked through the night on a 10-hour cycle. There was almost no variation between each of the 6 trays of food, which is always nice. While it’s easy to quibble with some of the limitations of this machine, there’s no denying that it gets the job done and does it well.

Ease of Use

This dehydrator is very user-friendly. Only allowing two variables, time and temperature, makes the use of this appliance very intuitive. While it does not come with a user manual, very few people would need one with this machine.

Versatility

The dehydrator only has one function: dehydration. However, that does not seem to limit its uses. The manufacturer recommends a number of foods that can be made with this dehydrator that are all quite healthy and easy to make. Jerky is one of the most common uses of this dehydrator. We dried out some beef and it seemed to work just fine during our trial. Yogurt and any other fermented foods can also be made in the dehydrator as it maintains a constant temperature. Proofing sourdough breads or making tempeh are, too, possible in this machine. So while it might not be the most versatile dehydrator on the market, it’s no slouch either.

Overall

For first time dehydrators or semi-serious enthusiasts who will use the appliance more than a few times a month, the Gourmia GFD1650 is a great choice for household use. The spacious trays allow for batches and batches of food to be made quickly and efficiently. Making your own healthy, and preservative-free snacks for your family can be an economical way to ensure you are getting the most nutrition from your food. Over the course of a few months, you will save far more than you paid on the price tag on the dehydrator. Eventually, you may find yourself noticing the limitations of this machine and may wish to upgrade. However, that’s only because food dehydrating is such an exciting way to get the most out of your shopping list. There’s no denying that this is an impressive and quite affordable machine for dehydration virgins. So if you’ve been tempted to try your hand food dehydration, the Gourmia GFD1650 is an ideal machine to get your started!