Choosing the Best Food Dehydrator
What does a food dehydrator do?
A food dehydrator removes moisture from food using a fan and a source of heat.
How much should I spend on a food dehydrator?
Prices for good dehydrators range from below $30 to well over $150 depending on features.
While food dehydrators come in many shapes and sizes, their purpose is quite simple: to remove moisture from food using a fan and a source of heat. The amount of water varies, but in fruits and vegetables it is usually between 80-95%, with meats being between 50-75% water. A dehydrator removes that water, preserving foods and extending their shelf life. Drying is the oldest form of food preservation, and even though it doesn’t kill microbes, the bacteria does not grow well in dry environments, which is why dehydrated foods last so much longer.
Dehydrators have fans that circulate the warmed air around the food. The fans can be mounted under the food, above the food, or in the rear or the dehydrator. Rear mounted fans give a more even air flow, therefore reducing the need to rotate the trays and reducing drying time. With bottom and top mounted fans, the trays closer to the fans will dry faster. These still work fine, but the trays may need to be rotated to ensure even dehydration.
An adjustable thermostat is also a consideration when choosing the right dehydrator. Entry level dehydrators do not offer adjustable thermostats. While most foods are dehydrated at 130°F, meats that are being dehydrated into jerky should be dehydrated at 155°F. If dried too slowly, bacteria may have time to multiply, and if dried too quickly, a dry and hard shell may be hiding a still-hydrated interior which could possibly lead to spoiling.
Prices start under $50 and go into the thousands for very high end models. It’s tough to know the differences and decide on the right food dehydrator for you, but we’re here to make your decision easier. We’ve done the research to find what we consider the best models in multiple price ranges. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Below are our picks.
Decisions, Simplified!
The Best Food Dehydrator under $50
Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator (affiliate link)
This entry level dehydrator is a great and inexpensive way to dip your toes in the dehydrating world. It features a bottom mounted fan, and the clear lid lets you watch your foods journey from fresh to deliciously dried! While it lacks some of the options more expensive units offer, it’s simplicity can’t be beat. And coming in way under $50, it’s easy to see why it made our list.
The Best Food Dehydrator between $50 and $100
Nesco FD-75A Electric Food Dehydrator (affiliate link)
This mid level dehydrator is a great way to get into dehydrating without breaking the bank. While it is in the mid tier for pricing, the extra features more than make it a good deal. With it’s included adjustable thermostat and optional expanded set of trays, you’ll be drying lots of food in no time!
The Best Food Dehydrator over $100
Magic Mill 9 Trays SS 2 Food Dehydrator (affiliate link)
While this high end dehydrator jumps in price from the others on the list, it’s features and size make it a good value for a great machine. It features a rear mounted fan, which is the best placement for even dehydrating. This unit offers an adjustable thermostat, and a built in timer that turns it off once the timer goes off. It also comes with 9 trays, which is more than any of the others on the list. If you’re ready to immerse yourself in the world of dehydrating and want something that will keep up, this dehydrator is for you!
Samson”Silent” Dehydrator (affiliate link)
There is actually one more high end dehydrator that makes our list. This dehydrator features 6 trays, so it is still big enough to dehydrate a good amount of food at one time. It also operates at a much lower sound level than the other dehydrators on this list, making it less intrusive into everyday life. The other feature that made us choose to add this to our list is the fact that it is designed to sit on the counter and fit underneath the upper cabinets, while still being able to load it and reach the controls without moving it.
As any high end dehydrator, it features an adjustable thermostat, and a timer that ranges from 30 minutes, to 19 and a half hours. If room is a consideration, but you still want the features of a high end dehydrator, this is the dehydrator you want!
Be sure to also check out our Best Food Scale list!