Dehydrating foods is an easy way to make delicious, healthy snacks, and to preserve foods naturally without additives (eliminating the mystery ingredients of some store-bought brands). The dehydration process retains 95-97% of the nutrients in food, whereas canning and freezing may retain as little as 20-40%. In our test of home dehydrators, we found this model easy to use, easy to clean, and compact enough to not dominate a kitchen space, yet still capable of producing large amounts of dried food. Operation is simple: place herbs, slices of fruit, vegetables, or beef, even petals for potpourri, on the drying racks, set the lid, and turn the machine on. The unit's rectangular shape fits in countertop corners, making it easier to store than bulkier round models. Of the models we tested, this unit had the largest square-inch space (172), for extra surface area to dry more or larger items, and it is expandable up to 20 drying trays (6 trays included) for even greater capacity. The 550-watt element distributes heat evenly for consistent drying, even in the corners and along the edges of the the trays, and precise temperature control lets you set just the right heat for a variety of foods (detailed instructions provided). A computer controlled heat sensor monitors the temperature 60 times a second to ensure the most accurate drying environment that results in firm, sweet fruits, crisp vegetables, and succulent jerky. The durable device stands up to years of use and marathon drying sessions (by comparison, one of the other tested dehydrators warped during the drying process). Includes herb screens, fruit leather trays, and potpourri tray. Plugs into AC. 10" H x 11" W x 17" L. (10 lbs.)