It is very straightforward, just a lot of prep work. The dehydrator I have was a expensive but is one of my favorite pieces of equipment on the farm. I use it all the time with gangbuster crops like the tomatoes and apples. I make most of my Christmas presents with it. Dried lemons and power bars. I have a nine tray Excalibur. I did a lot of research to find the perfect one, and this one is the best. The Excalibur doesn't have any other competition on the market that I saw. They are anywhere between 150 to 300 depending on the timer you want it to have. Thanks for reading, if you have any more questions ask.