This morning I put the jerky in. I layed the pieces flat on the racks. It only filled 1.5 of the shelves. Put a chunk of the Jack Daniels oak in & set to 180. Ran a few errands & when I got back (2.5 hrs later) reduced heat to 160 & placed the dryer on top & plugged it in. 4.5 hrs later I removed them. Twice during the cook I checked the meat, rearranging & flipping. The flavor was good but next time I will increase the heat substantially. Originally, I cut the meat approx. 1/4" thick. As per my girls, they would like it thinner next time. Overall the jerky was good. The dryer is a simple but well built accessory. It performs as advertised and well worth it if you like jerky.