10 Best Food Dehydrator Reviews
It is true that anybody who wants to get a fit body needs to eat healthy foodstuffs and using a food dehydrator can quickly help them in achieving their fitness targets. Preparing food in a dehydrator is a far much better option than the commercially dried food. Do you know how?
In the commercially dehydrated foods, there are lots of toxins and chemicals are added which can affect your health in the long run. In fact, such food is costly to buy also. But if you have a food dehydrator in your home, then you don’t have to worry about your health and pocket at all.
With the help of a food dryer machine, you can make delicious and healthy dried foods using your organic ingredients. So many people around the world are using food dehydrators today for making tasty homemade snacks.
There are so many fantastic food dehydrators that you can find on the market. We know that picking the best product among them is not an easy task to do. That is why we are providing you here the reviews of 10 best food dehydrators after doing extensive research and study.
So, let’s begin our journey!
Comparison Chart
| Product Name | Temperature range | Watts | Timer | No. of trays | Adjustable thermostat | Where to Buy? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAGIC MILL PRO | 95º F to 158º F | 400 | 19.5 hours | 6 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| Excalibur 3926TB | 105?F to 165?F | 600 | 26 hours | 9 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| Presto 06301 | 90?F to 165?F | 750 | 48 hours | 6 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| Nesco FD-75A | 95º F-160º F | 600 | No | 5 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| Nesco FD-1040 | 90º F-160º F | 1000 | 48 hours | 4 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| Nesco FD-61WHC | 95º F-155º F | 500 | No | 5 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| NutriChef | maximum of 180 F | 1200 | No | 5 | No | Check on Amazon |
| Magic Mill | 105°F to 158°F | 600 | 19.5 hours | 5 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| Excalibur 3526TB | 105?F to 165?F | 400 | 26 hours | 5 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
| Hamilton Beach 32100A | 100°F to 160°F | 500 | 48 hours | 5 | Yes | Check on Amazon |
Things to Take Care While Buying Food Dehydrator
If you do not pick the right food dehydrator, then you will only regret your buying decision later. Thus, it is essential that you consider some important things and features while selecting the best food dehydrator for yourself, such as:
1. Airflow and heat distribution
For the proper drying of the food, it is imperative that your machine has even flow of air and circulation of heat all over the trays. Usually, the horizontal flow of air in the food dryer considered being the best option, but there are some dehydrators also which comes with the vertical flow of air including fans and some other heating elements that make the drying process better.
2. User-friendliness
Drying food in the dehydrator is an effortless and uncomplicated process. Some models of the dehydrators come with simple features that make the process easy for you. But some of them need trays rotation also in between the drying process which might turn out to be a burden for you if you have a busy day.
There are few machines whose parts can be washed in a dishwasher and thus that makes the cleaning process of the unit easy. So, you have to keep all these features in mind while picking any model.
3. Capacity and size
You must check that the machine which you are willing to buy can cook food which you required in one single batch or not. You must also check that how much space it will take in your kitchen. There are few models which might not make much room, but they also provide you less drying capacity. If you have a big size family and your requirement is vast then going for the big size is always a better choice.
4. Noise
Since the food dehydrators come with a fan, they might produce some sound also. But the level of noise varies with the model you buy. If you do not want any noise on your machine then, it’s better to read the reviews about the product before purchasing.
5. Adjustable Thermostat
Every food needs different settings of the temperature for drying. But you can only adjust the temperature of your machine if it has adjustable thermostat feature in it. Such feature helps in the uniform drying of the food without the problem of over-drying and under-drying.
6. Timer
It takes lots of time for drying food in the dehydrator. Some of us might forget about it when we get busy in our lives. But if your food dehydrator has a timer in it, then you don’t have to worry about your food. It will make you alert as soon as your food gets ready.
7. Automatic Shutoff
Some people prefer to leave their food in the food dehydrator for drying during the night time. So, if it has an automatic shut off feature in it then, the machine will shut-down automatically when its drying process gets over. It also means that you do not have to get up from your bed to shut down the appliance.
8. Warranty period
It is imperative that before buying any machine, you must check the warranty period and the other essential policies of the company. In case of any defect or issue, you can return or exchange the product if it’s under warranty.
Reviews of the 10 Best Food Dehydrator
Below you can find the analysis of the ten best food dehydrators which we have picked by their usefulness, features, effectiveness, popularity, customer reviews, price, and ratings:
1. MAGIC MILL PRO Food Dehydrator Machine
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The Magic Mill pro food dehydrator is a BPA free machine that helps you in cooking healthy homemade snacks without adding any additives. It comes with the rear mounted fan that benefit in the uniform drying of the food without the issue of overheating. The incredible features of this unit include the automatic shut off and an adjustable thermostat that certifies that the whole food gets cooked at the optimum temperature with full crispiness.
What we love more about this product is that you get six large size stainless steel trays, two nonstick trays, two plastic mesh trays and one set of oven mitts along with it that helps you in drying a large variety of foods. With the help of its timer (19.5 hours) and digital thermostat (95º F to 158º F), you can set the desired time and temperature of the product anytime. There is 400-watt drying fan located on the back side that promotes the uniform drying of the food without the tray rotation.
2. Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator
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It is a very popular food dehydrator which comes with nine big trays. You get an ample amount of space for drying also, i.e., 15 square feet. For the convenience of the user, an inbuilt ON/OFF switch also present. You can adjust the temperature of the machine as per your need with the help of the adjustable thermostat that ranges between 105◦F to 165◦F. In case of any busy schedule; you can use the 26-hour timer of the unit that helps you in cooking your food on time with even drying. In fact, there is no need to do any tray rotation during the process of drying.
There are lots of things which impressed us about this product. The manufacturers offer a flexible poly screen tray insert also that stops the food from getting stick to the shelves. It is a fantastic appliance for the big size families or a party gathering at your home. It runs on the 600 watts power only that does not affect your monthly electricity bills. You can safely use it for drying fruits, herbs, yogurts, veggies, bread, meat, and jerky. The trays of the appliance are removable so that you can take them out while adjusting any big size food.
3. Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
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The next product which we have taken on our list is Presto 06301 food dehydrator. It comes with the six trays that allow you to dry ample amount of food in one single batch. You can make dried jerky, poultry, meat as well as seafood in this unit. You get sample packets of the jerky spice and cure along with it that allows you to cook some delicious and yummy recipes easily. There is no need of adding any preservatives or additives in the foods that you dried in this incredible appliance.
There are few things which allure us towards this unit. It has a digital thermostat and a timer that let you set the exact temperature and time of drying. The digital thermostat range of this unit is 90 degrees F to 165 F that helps in drying nutritious and healthy food items. You can also use frozen, fresh or canned fruits in it for dehydration. The existence of the bottom mounted fan, and the heating element helps in providing an even flow of air for the uniform drying. There is no need of doing the tray rotation in between the process. You get two nonstick mesh screens trays and two fruit roll sheets along with it.
4. Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
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Nesco FD-75A is an imposing food dehydrator unit that has a useful feature of the adjustable thermostat which let you dehydrates your food at different temperatures. There is a powerful fan fixed at the top along with the 600 watts of wattage power that cooks the whole food on all the trays evenly. It comes with the five numbers of shelves which you can expand it to twelve if needed during bulk drying.
The best part about this product is that it has an Opaque Vita-Save exterior that benefits from blocking the damaging light which can extinguish the food’s nutritious content. The Converga flow of air also helps in the uniform and fast food drying without rotating any tray. There is no issue of flavors mixing in this unit. The top mounted fan of the appliance does not let the liquids from the food to drip over the bottom heating chamber. You get additional accessories like fruit roll sheets, clean-a-screen flexible screens and jerky spice packets with the product. An instruction booklet and a recipe book also provided that helps you in cooking various yummy recipes.
5. Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator
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Nesco FD 1040 Gardenmaster food dehydrator has 1000 watts of dehydrating power that helps in fast and quick drying. It has the programmable timer which runs digitally. The patented Converga airflow technology helps in drying the food evenly and perfectly. You can expand it to twenty trays while drying bulk food items. The top mounted fan of the unit does not let the liquid of the foods to get drip over the heating chamber during the process of drying. There is no need of rotating the trays during the drying process.
It is a very quiet food dehydrator that has a 4-1/2 inch fan and a 2,400-RPM motor for nutritious and faster drying. It dries out your food in just a few hours and not in days. You can adjust its temperature between the ranges of 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit for getting best drying results. The dense exterior of the unit stops the light from entering into the chamber so that more and more healthy nutrients of the food can retain.
6. Nesco FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator
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Nesco FD 61 WHC snackmaster is an all-in-one food dehydrator machine that let you dehydrate vegetables, fruits, and jerky evenly as well as quickly. The main features of this appliance include the top mounted fan and 500 watts of the wattage power that provides the maximum amount of drying speed and range of quality. You get five trays and a jerky gun along with the unit. Besides this, the additional accessories that you will get are two clean-a-screens; two fruit roll sheets, and a recipe guide.
What we like more about this product is that it dries your food very fast than any other machine. You can dehydrate vegetables, fruits, jerky and meat in it. The patented Converga flow of air technology helps in the even drying of the food on all the trays. You do not have to rotate the shelves in between the drying process. This appliance is entirely dishwasher safe expect its powerhead.
7. NutriChef Food Dehydrator Machine
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It is an electric food dryer machine that has an inbuilt single button usage. The maximum range of temperature at which you can dehydrate food in it is 180 degrees F. You can efficiently operate this unit without any guidance. It comes with the five removable trays which you can take out at the time of cleaning the appliance. You can make some healthy and nutritious snacks with the help of this food dehydrator like kale chips, potato chips, fruits, etc.
Since the heat in this machine circulated adequately, the whole food eventually gets a longer shelf life after drying. It dehydrates the food by removing the maximum water content from it after retaining the 97 percent of minerals and vitamins.
8. Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine with Five Tray Drying System
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This food dehydrator allows you to cook some fantastic healthy and delicious snacks. You can take such food for backpacking trips also as they do not get spoil easily. This machine has the digital adjustable thermostat feature (105°F to 158°F) which provides you accurate settings of temperature for drying different categories of food like apple chips, banana chips, dried soups, etc. It comes with five dishwasher safe trays that allow you to dehydrate ample amount of food.
The best part about this BPA free food dehydrator is that it has a safe automatic shut off feature that saves your food from getting overheated. The manufacturer offers you one year warranty on the product. You can program it up to 19.5 hours. Its bottom mounted fan provides an even flow of air that eradicates the need of trays rotation during the drying process.
9. Excalibur 3526TB 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
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It is a five-tray food dehydrator machine that offers you 8 square feet of space for drying. It has a five inches fan and a 440 watts motor that gives you fast and even drying of food. There is an inbuilt ON and OFF switch also presented for your convenience. It is a perfect appliance for the families who have small gardens in their homes.
You will love to know that this unit has incredible features like 5 inches fan, adjustable thermostat and 26-hour timer that allow you to dry your food without any stress. You get one flexible polyscreen tray inserts also that helps in preventing the foods from getting stick to trays.
10. Hamilton Beach 32100A Food Dehydrator
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The last name on our list is Hamilton Beach 32100A Food Dehydrator. This unit comes with the 48-hour timer and an automatic shutoff feature that let you dehydrate your food conveniently. It also has a transparent cover which helps you in checking the drying status of your food in between the dehydration process. You can adjust the drying temperature of the machine with the help of its adjustable digital thermostat feature that ranges between 100 degrees F to 160 degrees F.
The manufacturer provides five stackable trays along with the unit. It has a powerful 500 watts motor that helps in fast and even drying of the food. You also get one fine-mesh sheet and one solid sheet that allow you to dehydrate small food items and fruit rolls. The whole food on all the trays gets dried evenly without the trays rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is a food dehydrator?
A food dehydrator is an electrical appliance that helps in drying and removing the water content from the food so that you can preserve them for a longer time. With the help of the hot air, the whole food gets dried without decreasing the nutritional value of the food.
- Can you tell me that how does the food dehydrator functions?
The food dehydrator comes with the trays on which fruits, meats, vegetables, etc. can place. In the machine, the flow of hot air with the help of a fan evaporates the water from the food without spoiling its nutritional value and flavor. In the end, you get healthy dried food.
- Are there any benefits of dehydrated food?
There are lots of benefits which you get from the dried food. You can easily keep and preserve the dried food without adding any chemicals or preservatives for a longer time. Such food has a low content of moisture that does not let the bacteria and fungus to grow. These foods take very less space at the time of storage.
- How many types of food dehydrator are there in the market?
There are mainly two types of food dehydrators that you can find on the market, i.e., Shelf and stacked. The shelf food dehydrators possess separate trays and have a horizontal flow of air whereas the stacked food dryers have the heating element either on top or below the shelves.
- How much time does the food dryer take for drying the food?
The time which the food dehydrator takes for drying depends on many different factors like the content of water in the food, levels of humidity, the thickness of the food and the category of the food. In fact, the power and quality of the food dehydrator machines also play a very significant role in the timing of drying. Typically, it takes between 6 to 24 hours for drying food.
- How can I know that my food has dried if I am new to food dehydrator?
One of the best and easiest methods to check the status of your dried food is to touch it. It might be leathery, hard, sticky or moist by the drying time. You cannot tell that whether your food has dried when it is hot. So, you can take out one piece and kept it aside for a minute and then check its consistency.
- Which type of foods can I dry in the food dehydrator?
You can almost dry very type of food in a food dehydrator, but sometimes it also depends on the features which your machines possess. Foods like fruits, meats, vegetables, sauces, soups, herbs, spices, etc. quickly dried in this appliance.
- How should I store the food dehydrated in the food dryer machine?
As soon as the procedure of dehydration gets over, you have to cool down the dried food. Then, you can store it in the airtight jars or containers. The vacuum sealing is also one more option to stock dried foods as it provides more shelf life to the dried food.
- Is there are any food dehydrator for a beginner like me?
Yes, various food dehydrators are suitable for the beginners. Such machines come at the reasonable price on the market. With the help of the instruction booklet and recipe book, you can quickly cook the dried foods even if you are a beginner.
- How can we clean the food dehydrator?
You need to clean and wash the shelves or the trays of the food dehydrator after every single use with the help of soapy water and cotton cloth. Some machines are dishwasher safe, so you can clean them in the dishwasher if it mentioned in the manual book that they are dishwasher safe.
Final word
The popularity of the food dehydrator as a useful kitchen tool is increasing day by day. You not only healthily cook your food with this appliance but also fetch lots of health benefits in return.
In a food dehydrator, you can dry your food and preserve them for a more extended period without adding any harmful chemicals or preservatives. The food dried in the food dryer is much better and healthy than the dried food which you buy from the market.
In the above article, you have read our reviews of 10 best food dehydrators which we conducted after doing an extensive study and research. All of them possess different features and advantages, but the usual thing among all of the products is that they all offer you the best-dehydrated food. Thus, we are sure that whatever product you pick from the above list, it will be going to serve you and your family healthy and nutritious dry food’s varieties.
We hope that you enjoy reading the above article. If you have any query to ask, then please write to us in the below comment box. We will reply back to you soon. You can also share this article with all your near and dear ones who are in search of a good food dehydrator.
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