Foods like vegetables, fruits, meats, and fish, can be preserved by dehydrating. Dehydrating food removes the moisture and, as a result, destroys one of the elements needed for bacterial growth. This ensures that food is preserved without compromising the nutritional value. Understanding how hard it is to sort through the multitude of products, as well as how the manufacturers attempt to sell them, is something that we understand.

Picking a dehydrator that does everything you need without spending a small fortune on a device that won’t be used every day can be difficult. Using a dehydrator will expand your culinary horizons, and it will save you space and preserve foods from your own garden and farmers’ market for years to come. From citrus powder to fruit roll-ups, you can get creative and use it for everything from dried herbs and seasonings like ramp powder.

Putting each food dehydrator through a series of tests and evaluating airflow, heating elements, size, weight, and overall design, our product testers selected the best dehydrators on the market. In our full list of the best food dehydrators, you will find the top choices for both beginners and professionals, as well as models that preserve jerky, herbs, and fruits.

1. COSORI Food Dehydrator For Jerky

One of the models in our review includes 50 dehydrator recipes to help you along the way. The machine is made of stainless steel. The lightweight and wipe-clean material makes it a greamakeition to kitchen counters. Against that steel, the wall is a clear glass door that keeps an eye on the dehydrating process.

There are stainless steel components inside. A total of six metal trays are present. Because of the smooth metal surface, it can easily be cleaned and offers plenty of workspace for bulk preparation. That’s for sure! A four-button control panel lets us set the temperature and adjust the time. A digital screen shows all the important information on the device accurately.

It’s even better than those controls are silent. A lthat engthy process of dehydrating food may require adjusting the temperature overnight. Since these buttons are totally soundlee won’t be any unwanted beeps waking everyone up. I think it is. Overheating is eliminated thanks to the auto-shutdown feature.

There’s no need to be concerned about unwanted chemicals contaminating the meat since the tray liners are BPA-free. It is not the cheapest option available. Yet it sure has great features!

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2. NESCO Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator

Now let’s take a look at this Nesco snack master food dehydrator. Nesco is a brand that many home cooks will be familiar with! They have been producing awesome kitchen appliances since 1931 at an affordable price. I would like to talk about capacity first. The dimensions of this container are 13 by 13 by 11 inches. Those are great, but with only five trays included, you might find the volume a little low.

But there’s good news! Expansion is possible! With the ability to fit 12 trays of food, it offers a surprising amount of space that we had not anticipated. This makes it an awesome option for storing things. The package can be compressed until not in use. The box won’t take up much space on the counter and can easily be tossed into the kitchen cupboard out of the way.

The technology used by Nesco is Converga-flow. We know this sounds confusing! No need to fret, it’s actually a simple process. The air is pressed into a container under pressure. Once there, it’s forced across the trays horizontally. This system ensures that all ingredients are dried evenly and speeds up the drying process.

Plastic means that it will be somewhat unsubstantial. These trays might easily break. In addition, it does not have a timer, so the user must carefully monitor it. But it’s reflected in the price. There’s no need to break the bank with this one! Here is a well-functioning food dehydrator with a spacious interior at a very reasonable price.

3. Presto Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator

We’ve gotten back to basics on the last food dehydrator machine. We don’t have any complicated controls. We found this model to be the most straightforward to operate and old-school. You can’t even turn it on! It automatically begins working when you plug it in. And you can shut it off by unplugging it once again.

The answer is yes and no. There is no denying that we love its simplicity! There are times when it is pleasant to avoid the hassle, and this takes the stress out of adjusting the settings. However, it does also mean that constant care is required. Users will have to ensure that their food stays in the right consistency. There is a risk of forgetting about this and in the end end up with bitter, brittle jerky.

The temperature needs to be different for different kinds of food as well. Beef is cooked at a constant temperature of around 165°F on this machine. The temperature is too high for herbs and fruit. This temperature will require very short cooking times; otherwise, they will be unpleasant to eat.

Basically, it has a tremendous capacity. It fits all your drying needs with its dimensions of 14.5 by 15 by 6.25 inches. There are eight trays worth of jerky on that list! The only drawback is that there are only four trays included.

It is necessary to purchase more to make full use of the machine. This can inflate the price. This situation has both positives and negatives. However, we tend to focus on the positives. That is a great way to end our review.

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4. Hamilton Beach Digital Food Dehydrator For Jerky

This review of the food dehydrator concludes with Hamilton Beach’s penultimate product. Surely you’re familiar with this brand! This name has become synonymous with high-quality kitchen appliances thanks to its well-known and wide popularity. It measures 10.5 by 13 by 11 inches and has a decent size. You can put five plastic trays inside. Even though it’s not as spacious as some, you can still store plenty of ingredients and save on counter space.

You don’t have to worry! BPA-free trays are provided. They will not leach any chemicals into the jerky, preventing nasty substances from interfering with its taste. Using continuous flow technology. An air stream is circulated in a circle within the drying chamber. The result promises uniform dehydration every time.

Keeping it simple is the key. The design is extremely user-friendly. Dehydrators work by simply setting the timer and temperature and letting them do the rest. I’m sure the instructions will help! Incredibly comprehensive manual included.

With its easy-to-use interface and plenty of information on choosing the most appropriate settings, this item is a good choice for newbies. There are many things to like here! The design looks rather boring and basic. We’d rather focus on substance than style.

5. COSORI Food Dehydrator

It’s now a bargain hunter’s dream! With this Cosori food dehydrator machine, you may even be able to stretch those old purse strings. This product is made of BPA-free plastic and measures about 14 inches by 14 inches by 12 inches. The cylindrical drying chamber can fit five trays snugly. It comes with trays as well as a fruit roll and a mesh screen.

There is no problem! The dehydrator will get the job done. We also get a useful recipe book with all those accessories. There are even some instructions for making dehydrated ornaments, perfect for hanging on Christmas trees!

It’s really simple to use! You only have four buttons to use. A superb digital display makes it easy and straightforward even for home cooks who have no idea what they are doing! It also has memory capabilities. Users can program their own settings. This feature is extremely useful for selecting the right temperature quickly.

It isn’t as spacious as some other products we’ve looked at due to its shape. A square machine utilizes more space. Other machines here had more trays as well. In any case, it’s reflected in the price. Besides the low capacity, there are not too many other concerns. What is there to say? I think this will be tough to beat!

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6. Excalibur Electric Food Dehydrator

Here we have this 9-tray Excalibur dehydrator. Featuring stylish, sleek lines and a matte black finish, this countertop is a great addition to any kitchen. Capacity is great here. We have 15 square feet this time. I can dry huge amounts in bulk in that amount of space, and my family will be fed for weeks to come. Our earlier conversation mentioned that this volume is spread out across nine trays. We can separate our ingredients this way.

Dehydrating a variety of food items at the same time is not a problem since cross-contamination is not a concern. Temperatures begin at 105°F and go all the way up to 165°F. That is a great temperature for cooking most types of foods. Fruit leather or dried herbs can be made at the lower end, and venison and beef at the higher end.

The temperature can also be changed easily. That is made possible by an easily adjustable display. You only need to turn the dials to the desired temperature and time in order to see the digital display. Are those trays we mentioned still in your mind? While the machine may contain BPA-free parts, the rest is not.

This could lead to nasty chemicals getting into the jerky and affecting its flavor. The price for this one is jaw-droppingly high! It definitely has some awesome features that make it a worthwhile purchase. We would expect that something with this kind of price would not include any unpleasant surprises in the plastic.

7. Gourmia Premium Electric Food Dehydrator Machine

We aim for consistency when developing our next food dehydrator. With this one, you can expect even heat distribution. It does that without rotating the trays! The Cirusmart system explains everything. An air current circulates 360° all around the chamber.

By employing this superior airflow technology, meat pieces end up uniformly crisp and not overly soggy. That system is completely automated. Controls are not difficult to implement. The electronic fan of the dehydrator works without the user having to make any manual adjustments.

It comes with eight temperature presets. Their temperature ranges from 95°F to 158°F, and they can be easily selected with a single press of the button. There is also a separate option to set the timer for total ease of use. Not a problem! We’ve got some adjustable buttons here as well. With a few presses, you can adjust the temperature and time.

The machine does have a slight problem that we would like to point out. Both the tray and housing are made of plastic. However, they are somewhat flimsy and can crack. I find this a shame because this is otherwise a wonderful dehydrator! It has plenty of capacity and offers a broad range of temperature and time options. We just love how the hot air flows 360°, too.

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8. Cuisinart Food Dehydrator

If you want a dehydrator that can live on your countertop permanently, this Cuisinart model is the best choice since it has the largest base of all the devices tested, as well as non-slip feet that maintain its stability. Unlike most dehydrators, this dehydrator has not been designed with a timer or an adjustable temperature dial.

The generous size of this unit allows it to fit approximately six to eight apples and two pounds of beef. For easy cleaning, all the trays, lid, and fruit roll-up sheet can be placed into the dishwasher. This dehydrator offers an accessible price for a notable brand, which should definitely appeal to users who don’t use their dehydrator regularly.

9. Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine

This model presents a very professional and eye-catching appearance, thanks to its transparent door and digital touch screen display. Despite the see-through nature of the dehydrator, there is little to no risk of the food inside being damaged. There are six trays in total, which gives this unit impressive capacity, allowing you to prepare several different flavors at once without having to worry about cross-contamination.

The Chefman dehydrator has a temperature range of 95 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, making it useful beyond jerky production. You can make jerky in as little as four hours with good airflow and temperature control. With a moderate price tag and a one-year warranty, the company offers a moderately priced product.

It is important to remember that the trays may need some light treatment before beginning, such as a dousing of cooking spray. Occasionally, the door will catch on the edge or not completely close, so check it before turning the unit on. Additionally, the drip tray makes cleanup a breeze, and it is quiet enough that it doesn’t distract from other activities.

10. SAHARA Folding Food Dehydrator

Basically, this set is too good to be true, and that’s why we love it so much. Its 7 large racks can hold up to 4 pounds of beef or a large bag of apples, which is by far the largest capacity of any test machine. The Sahara’s biggest advantage is that it folds down to about 20 percent of its operating size when in storage.

As well as its 86-165 degree temperature range and a programmable timer with automatic shut-off capabilities, the Sahara also features a fan-only setting. Because of the machine’s impressive capacity, the wire racks cannot be machine washed, so they must be rinsed by hand. Although a drip tray provided with the dehydrator helps keep the dehydrator clean.

With its well-engineered design and ample space for large batches, the Sahara is extremely well suited for precise temperatures and larger batches. This table has the size and functionality needed in a restaurant, but folds up to make it easy to store at home. With its solid construction, easy-to-use controls and stylish design, this dehydrator is one of the best in its class.

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Buying Guide: Best Food Dehydrators For Jerky

Finding the food dehydrator isn’t easy. You just saw how many options are available on the market today! Whenever you shop for a dehydrator, keep in mind a few key features.

Size

You should also consider the size of your dehydrator. Dehydrating jerky in a smaller unit won’t be as efficient as using a larger one. The time it takes to dehydrate meat depends on the kind of dehydrator you purchase. If you want to make lots of jerky, you’ll likely want to do it in advance rather than whenever you feel like snacking on meat.

You should determine how much jerky you plan to consume in the future. Buying a larger unit, even if it’s more expensive, will save you money if you enjoy jerky for snacking every day. For jerky you only want to make occasionally, use a smaller dehydrator.

Temperature range

Temperature ranges are very important when preparing jerky, as we discussed. Cooking meat and poultry to 160°F and 165°F is essential for making safe jerky. You should ensure that your dehydrator reaches those temperatures, at the very least.

Just to be on the safe side, you might want to get a model that goes even higher. To ensure that your machine is safe, you may want to set the temperature just a little higher if you have an unreliable thermostat. It’s for that reason we chose products whose top ranges between 158 and 167 degrees Fahrenheit.

Adjustable Trays

Several of the better products on our list come with removable stainless steel trays, which adds to their convenience. Accessing food items is more convenient than with stackable designs. We have found that most of our top picks use stainless steel trays. Plastics aren’t as durable and easy to clean as these, so they’re a better value.

Noise level

The last thing you should do is examine the dehydrator’s likely noise levels. Since the machines use fans and air flow to dry your meat strips, they can be pretty loud. Dehydrator instructions or product specifications should disclose the exact noise levels of each model.

There are usually quieter fans or soundproofing measures on more expensive dehydrators. Their comfort makes them easier to use for longer periods of time. Units that are cheaper will probably have a louder overall sound. When you plan on using your dehydrator frequently, you’ll definitely need a quieter model.

Frequently Asked Questions