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[Free Mr. Tony]

I've never had a dehydrator before. I always just used my grill on low. I bought the Cabelas 10 tray yesterday to use mainly for fruit.

My question is whether beef jerky scents hang around forever on the inside that would affect the flavor of the fruit?  I use some pretty potent marinades, and I just can't see those plastic shelves not holding onto to odors for quite some time after being used for jerky.

Any experiences with this?

[BigDave83]

I have one of the 80L cabelas, it is metal inside with metal racks so not sure on the plastic ones. The only time i notice any left over odor is if i get fat or dripping on the bottom and don't clan them out before next use.

[Bar-B-Lew]

I've never made anything but jerky in mine, but I would think hot soapy water would take any odors out of the trays if there is any.  I usually smoke the jerky on frog mats cut to the size of the dehydrator trays.  After 2-3 hours, I then transfer the frogmats to the plastic racks in the dehydrator.  That may be why it doesn't seem like there is much of an odor for me.

[ylr]

Can you run the plastic trays through the dishwasher?

[Bar-B-Lew]

Can you run the plastic trays through the dishwasher?

Cabella's does not advise doing that.  Apparently the water may be too hot and could warp them.

[Bentley]

Plastic can hold scents?  If they are polypropylene you could try this...How to Deodorize Smelly Plastic Food Containers

[Bar-B-Lew]

One other thing, I use carolina reaper, ghost peppers, scorpion peppers, etc. in some of my marinades and as a dry rub on the top of the jerky and have not had any issues with that crossing over to other cooks later.  My buddy has the same dehydrator and uses it to dry raw peppers of the same kind and has had no issues with the odor or oils lingering on the trays.

[Canadian John]

 I have zero experience with dehydrators..What i have had experience with were, raw meat left in a sealed trailer.The trailer was metal with a wood floor..The stench was so bad it was breathtaking..After cleaning up gooey mess and washing out the inside(it still reaked)a layer of baking soda was spread on all the horizontal surfaces. The doors shut and left for several days..That took the smell away..What I don't remember is if there was a baking soda clean-up and re apply, or if the one application did it..It worked well as there was no detectable smell afterwards..

In the trucking business, refrigerated trailers that had  lingering smells were often treated by spreading coffee grounds on the floor and left until the next pick-up, @ which time would be swept out carrying the away the smell..A shipper could refuse to load product in a oder laden trailer as it would contaminate the product..

 The above should work as long as you have TIME..HEAT will also reactivate most smells..Then there is a possibility of developing a new fad, jerky flavored fruit..

[bregent]

I've never noticed any problem switching between jerky and fruit drying. I soak my plastic trays in a sink full of plain warm soapy water to clean.

[yorkdude]

I have no idea if there would be the transfer of smells going from one to the other but I will add this. I have an excalibur and used it for jerky only, haven’t used it in about 2 years. I kept the inside clean, racks and trays. It still smells like a smokehouse. It was also used after smoking the jerky on the pellet grills when we were making lots. Not sure if “start to finish” jerky in the dehydrator would have the same effect.

[Free Mr. Tony]

Thanks for all of the responses. I will do a little of both and report back if I have anything of note to report.

[Bar-B-Lew]

Thanks for all of the responses. I will do a little of both and report back if I have anything of note to report.

I would be interested in what you find even if you find it was not an issue.  That in and of itself would be good for folks to know.