Food dehydrators are designed to dry and preserve vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, and other foods. They can bring you savings and a healthier lifestyle, so they are very beneficial.
Since there are many food dehydrators of varying quality and price on the market, knowing which food dehydrator to choose can be tricky.
To help you save time, we have conducted a lot of research, compared various equipment available on the market, and finally listed the 10 best food dehydrators worth buying.
10 Best Food Dehydrator Reviews
Excalibur 9-Tray Dehydrators
Excalibur 3926TB food dehydrator is our selection of the best household food dehydrator, you can find it on the market.
This excellent food dehydrator has a temperature range of 105°F-165°F, with 9 trays (without BPA) and a total of 15 square feet of drying space, allowing you to dehydrate various foods.
The fan and heating element on the Excalibur 3926TB is located on the back of the machine, which provides you with horizontal airflow to help food dehydration faster and more evenly while preserving the taste, appearance, and nutrition of the food.
Due to the continuous horizontal airflow, there is no need to remove the tray from the machine during operation. A flexible multi-screen tray insert is included to prevent any food from sticking.
The machine has a built-in on/off switch, and an adjustable thermostat with a 26-hour timer, which can automatically shut down the machine when the time is up.
Another advantage of this dehydrator is that it is very easy to clean. Since the dehydrator is made of stainless steel, you only need a wet cloth.
The trays are also easy to clean, all you have to do is remove them and soak them in warm soapy water for a while.
Excalibur 3926TB food dehydrator also has many additional accessories (need to be purchased separately), such as transparent doors, food dehydration plates, and many other items.
From the date of purchase, Excalibur provides an incredible 10-year limited warranty on the product, which is the best warranty available on the market, and it usually clearly shows that it is an excellent product.
What the owner says: Excalibur 3926TB food dehydrator is a very popular product, and it has become one of the highest ratings of Amazon food dehydrators.
The product has almost nothing, only positive reviews, and there is a big difference between negative reviews.
Most owners are impressed with the cooking results and they also report that the dehydrator is very suitable for cooking basically any food that can be cooked in the dehydrator.
A small number of reviewers reported that the fan on this unit may be a bit noisy.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches
- Product weight: 22 pounds
- Colour: Black
- Wattage: 600W
- Temperature range: 105°F – 165°F
- Capacity: 15 square feet of drying space (9 trays)
- Timer: 26 hours
Pros
- High-quality built-in-large capacity
- Very suitable for cooking all kinds of “dry” food
- Adjustable thermostat
- Horizontal airflow
- No BPA
- 10-year limited warranty
Cons
- A bit noisy
- A bit expensive
Nesco Gardenmaster 075 Food Dehydrator
Our runner-up is Nesco FD-1018A Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator.
This powerful device has a drying power of 1000W, which can quickly and evenly dehydrate and dry any food, while still maintaining the good taste and nutrition of the food.
With 8 trays, and can be expanded to 30 trays at most, you can make many dehydrated foods at a time, and with 8 mesh blades to prevent smaller pieces from falling into the cracks, and each tray uses a plastic Dry plate made of fruit rolls.
The adjustable thermostat on the Nesco FD-1018A allows you to adjust the temperature from 95°F to 160°F, and the Converga flow system will ensure that the air is forced to flow upwards and through the tray without the need to rotate the tray and without any flavor mixing.
This machine does not have an adjustable timer or automatic shut-off device. If you think these functions are necessary and do not want to participate in the situation where the food is not cooked, then you may want to go to another dehydrator (Excalibur, chef… .).
However, Nesco FD-1018A is still worth the money, because the round tray (and lid) is dishwasher safe, so it is very easy to use and easy to clean whether it is manually or in the dishwasher.
Another advantage of the device is the “Vita-Save” appearance, which is designed to block light and help retain vitamins and nutrients during dehydration.
FD-1018A comes with a recipe/instruction, a jerky spice pack, and a 1-year limited warranty.
What the owner says: Like the Excalibur dehydrator, this product has also been highly rated on Amazon, and most of the reviews are mainly positive.
Most owners are very satisfied with the “cooking” result, and most people find it very easy to use this dehydrator.
However, some reported that they missed the timer and automatic shutdown function, and some reported that it was a bit noisy.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 17 x 15.5 x 14 inches
- Product weight: 17 pounds
- White color
- Wattage: 1000W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 160°F
- Capacity: 8 pallets, up to 30 pallets
- Timer: No
Pros
- Easy to use
- Nice design
- High capacity
- Dehydrate various foods evenly with good effect
- Powerful (1000W) and fast
- Easy to clean (dishwasher safe tray and lid)
Cons
- The warranty period is relatively short
- No timer and automatic shutdown
- A bit noisy
NESCO FD-75A, Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
If you are looking for an affordable food dehydrator, then we recommend you to use Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster pro.
This inexpensive and popular device is very easy to use, very suitable as an entry-level food dehydrator, and thanks to its unique Converga flow drying system, it can quickly and evenly dehydrate various foods.
Since a powerful (600W) fan is installed on the top of the equipment, the drying system presses air to the external pressurized chamber.
This forces the hot air across each tray horizontally, so there is no need to rotate the tray to provide you with fast and nutritious drying.
Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster pro comes with 5 trays, but if you need to dry a large amount of food, you can expand to 12 trays.
In addition to being relatively powerful and large-capacity, the adjustable thermostat of this dehydrator also allows you to adjust the temperature between 95°F and 160°F, providing the flexibility you need to get the best results.
Like Nesco Gardenmaster, the Snackmaster Pro dehydrator also has a “vitamin saving” appearance, which ensures that any harmful light is blocked and nutrients and vitamins are retained during the drying process.
The Gardenmaster Pro dehydrator comes with some useful accessories, including two fruit rolls, two “screen cleaning” flexible screens, three jerky spice packs, and a 52-page cookbook and manual.
If this product has any defects, Nesco provides a 1-year limited warranty from the date of purchase.
What the owner says: Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro is a very popular device, and it is one of the best-selling dehydrators on the market.
It has also received high ratings on Amazon and has received many positive reviews, and most people seem to think that this dehydrator has a high-cost performance.
There are reports that after several uses, the tray has begun to melt, but this does not seem to be a common problem.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.8 x 22.1 x 13.9 inches
- Product weight: 7.75 pounds
- color: grey
- Wattage: 600W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 160°F
- Capacity: 5 pallets (expandable to 12 pallets)
- Timer: No
- 8.5/10
- Our rating
Pros
- Affordable
- Small footprint compared with other models
- Easy to use and easy to clean
- Contains useful accessories
- Quiet compared to other models
Cons
- No timer and automatic shutdown
- The warranty period is relatively short
Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine
The Chefman RJ43-SQ-6T food dehydrator is equipped with 6 spacious, adjustable, and BPA-free plastic trays, and the very easy-to-use digital touch setting provides accurate drying time and temperature.
The built-in countdown timer can be up to 19.5 hours, it will automatically turn off after the timing is completed, and the temperature can be precisely adjusted between 95-158 degrees Fahrenheit.
The fan is located on the back of the device and uses an innovative design to achieve maximum hot airflow. You can always cook food evenly without the risk of overheating.
Since the door of this device has a transparent window, it is very easy to monitor the dehydration process.
The modern design of the Scheffman food dehydrator is also something we really like. It is a device that can be used comfortably on the kitchen counter.
The device is equipped with a drip tray and a protective food plate, which can collect tiny residues and liquids remaining in items and make cleaning easier.
When you buy Chefman products, you can also access hundreds of recipes online for free. If something goes wrong, this product is backed by a 1-year comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty, and you will get “after-sales” service support through its customer service team.
What the shopkeeper says: People who bought this product are usually very satisfied with their purchase, and this Chefman food dehydrator is one of the highest-rated products in Amazon’s food dehydrator.
Most owners are impressed by the “cooking” performance, but a few people report that it takes a much better time than they expected.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.6 x 17.5 x 12.4 inches
- Product weight: 15.5 pounds
- Colour: Black
- Wattage: 480W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 158°F
- Capacity: 6 trays
- Timer: 19.5 hours
Pros
- Nice design
- Easy-to-use digital touch settings
- BPA-free plastic pallets
- Operate quietly
- Value for money
Cons
- The pallet is not safe
Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine
Magic Mill professional food dehydrator is user-friendly and efficient equipment, equipped with 6 stainless steel trays (there are also 9 tray models), 2 fine meshes, 2 non-stick paper, and a set of oven gloves.
This machine has many similarities with the Chefman dehydrator because it has an easy-to-use digital thermostat (95°F-158°F), has 8 preset settings, and a timer (19.5 hours) that automatically turns off during dehydration The processing is complete
. The fan on the Magic Mill Professional is located at the rear of the device and provides a uniform flow of hot air, which makes it unnecessary to rotate the shelf when drying food, but you can still get good results.
A very convenient thing about this food dehydrator is the transparent door on the front of the device, which allows the drying process to be monitored from the beginning to the end.
The device is also equipped with a drip tray, which is very easy to clean, which is a huge advantage for food dehydrators.
In general, this dehydrator brings you many value-for-money advantages, and its reasonable low price and outstanding features make it one of the best dehydrators on the market.
If there is any problem with the dehydrator, Magic Mill provides a 1-year limited warranty from the date of purchase.
What the shopkeeper said: The people who own this device are very satisfied with the quality and “uniformity” of the dehydrated food, and have received high ratings on Amazon.
Among all the positive reviews, some owners reported that the dehydrator emits a slight plastic smell. However, this does not seem to affect the food, and it does not seem to be a problem for most people.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 19 x 13.5 x 15 inches
- Product weight: 15.6 pounds
- Colour: Black
- Wattage: 600W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 158°F
- Capacity: 6 trays
- Timer: 19.5 hours
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Digital timer and thermostat
- The fan is located on the back and has excellent heat dissipation
- Transparent door
- Stainless steel tray
Cons
- Some reports of accidental plastic smell
Gourmia GFD1950 Premium Electric Food Dehydrator Machine
Gourmia’s GFD 1950 Premium desktop food dehydrator has many similarities with the two devices (Chefman and Magic Mill) rated #4 and #5 because the dehydrator is equipped with an easy-to-use digital timer (19.5 hours) and Thermostat (95°F) -158°F).
The rear fan on the GFD 1950 can provide consistent and even hot air, eliminating the need to rotate the shelf during the drying process.
When the timer keeps counting down, the machine will make a small sound and then it will automatically shut down.
Gourmia GFD 1950 comes with 9 removable non-stick trays, providing you with enough space to dry all your favorite foods.
The casing of this device is made of BPA-free plastic, which means that it will not produce any harmful chemicals or toxins during use.
When in use, the noise of the device is also very small, and the cooking process can be monitored at any time through the front transparent door, which is very convenient.
When cleaning, the shelf is not dishwasher safe, but it can be easily cleaned with only a damp cloth and some soap. As a protective measure, in case something goes wrong, you have a one-year limited warranty from the date of purchase.
If you think the warranty period is shorter, then it may be a good idea to purchase an extended warranty.
What the owner said: The product has been highly praised by buyers, and the reviews are mostly very positive.
People seem to be very satisfied with the quality of the product and various dry foods. Some people think that the power cord is a bit short, while others say that it takes longer to make it jerky.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 17.8 x 13.5 x 16 inches
- Product weight: 14 pounds
- Colour: Black
- Wattage: 600W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 158°F
- Capacity: 9 pallets
- Timer: 19.5 hours
Pros
- Digital (LCD panel) timer and thermostat
- Operate quietly
- Transparent door
- Rear fan-to evenly dry food
- Includes free recipes
Cons
- The power cord is a bit short
- Some people report that drying certain types of food takes longer than expected
LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator
If you are looking for a powerful device that can dry many foods at once, then the LEM Products 1153 food dehydrator is definitely one you should consider.
This sturdy device is made of solid aluminum, has 10 removable trays (capacity of 15 square feet), and has enough space to cover food.
The rear fan on the LEM 1153 distributes the air horizontally, saving you the trouble of rotating the tray during the drying process.
The machine has a digital timer, which can be set up to 30 hours and 55 minutes, and it will automatically turn off after the timer is completed.
You can also use the control knob to adjust the thermostat with a range of 95°-155°F.
In addition to being easy to operate, the machine is also very easy to clean, and the trays can also be washed in the dishwasher, which saves a lot of time.
Since the LEM 1153 food dehydrator has a transparent door, you can check the food status without opening the door, which is very convenient. You should note that this device does take up a lot of space.
If your kitchen is small, this device may be too large for countertops. It does make a little noise when food is dehydrated. If you plan to use it at night and close to sleep, you may want to go to another food dehydrator.
Having said that, this is still a great food dehydrator, and it provides you with a lot of value for money. If there are any defects, LEM Products provides you with a good 2-year warranty from the date of purchase.
What the owner said: The owner of the product is very satisfied with the cooking performance of the LEM 1153 food dehydrator, and the product has been highly rated on Amazon.
As we mentioned in the summary, the device is a bit noisy, and a few buyers report that they are not satisfied with the loudness of the fan.
Specifications
- Size: 23 x 19 x 19 inches
- Product weight: 15.4 pounds
- Color: dark gray
- Wattage: 800W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 155°F
- Capacity: 10 pallets
- Timer: 31 hours
Pros
- Very large drying capacity
- Rear fan-horizontal airflow
- Easy to clean (dishwasher safe tray)
- Digital timer
- Easy to operate
Cons
- The holes in the tray are too big for some foods
- The fan is a bit noisy
- Missing accessories
BioChef Arizona Sol Food Dehydrator
Biochef’s 9-tray Arizona Sol food dehydrator is ideal for those who need equipment that can perform large-scale dehydration.
With a beautiful and stylish white design (black is also available), the device will look good on your kitchen countertop.
All 9 trays on the Arizona Sol food dehydrator are made of stainless steel, which is easy to keep clean, and they are completely BPA-free and durable.
Use the 19.5-hour timer and adjustable thermostat (95°F-158°F) to easily set the time and temperature, and view them on the digital display, and when the timer keeps counting down, the machine will shut itself down.
Like many other dehydrators on our list, this dehydrator also has a fan installed at the back, and the horizontal drying system used ensures consistent drying. It also runs very quietly, which is a huge advantage.
The transparent door on the Biochef Arizona Sol dehydrator makes monitoring of the drying process very easy and worry-free.
In addition, you will also get 3x non-stick paper, 3x fine mesh paper, a drip tray, an instruction manual with dehydration skills, and a good warranty on the motor and parts for a period of two years.
You should be aware that the equipment is very large, if your kitchen is small and not much space, you should choose a 6-plate (or less), model.
What the owners say: The Biochef Arizona Sol food dehydrator has a relatively high rating on Amazon, and most owners think it is good value for money.
A few people said that they are not satisfied with the temperature setting that can only be moved in units of 9 degrees, and the drying time of some foods is longer than expected, and the results are satisfactory.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 17.7 x 13.6 x 16.3 inches
- Product weight: 18.5 pounds
- White color
- Wattage: 600W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 158°F
- Capacity: 9 pallets
- Timer: 19.5 hours
Pros
- Large dehydration machine
- Does not make a loud noise
- The fan is installed on the back horizontal drying system
- Durable and BPA-free-stainless steel tray
- Nice design
- Motor and parts 2-year warranty
Cons
- Some people report that certain foods take longer to dry than they expected
BESTEK Food Dehydrator Machine
If you are unwilling to spend more than $50 on a food dehydrator, the Bestek KYS-323A food dehydrator is one of the best choices on the market.
This reasonably priced, beautifully-looking, well-made unit with 5 stackable trays can provide you with 5 square feet of drying space.
The manufacturer and the person who bought the device said that the fan and heating element on the Bestek KYS-323A are installed at the bottom of the device to provide constant hot air without rotating the tray.
The dehydrator does not have a timer, you need to keep track of the time and turn it off after the food is cooked and completely dehydrated.
On the other hand, you can use the front rotatable knob to easily adjust the temperature between 95°F and 158°F in 9-degree increments.
In addition to the 5 removable drying trays that come with the Bestek dehydrator, you will also get a fruit roll, a mesh paper, and a lid, which are dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
Since this is a fairly new product, it does not have much history, and it is difficult to make any conclusions about the expected product life, but you do get a reasonable warranty of 18 months from the date of purchase.
If you want to choose a similar product with a long history, you should look at Nesco FD-75A.
What the owners say: Since the product is a new product, not many owners leave comments. A few people (at this point in time) were all positive and gave the dehydrator the highest score.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.8 x 13.8 x 11.8 inches
- Product weight: 8.4 pounds
- White color
- Wattage: 450W
- Temperature range: 95°F – 158°F
- Capacity: 5 trays
- Timer: No
- 7.5/10
- Our rating
Pros
- Compared with other dehydration machines, it has a small footprint
- Affordable
- Nice design
- Comes with some useful additional accessories
- Trays and other accessories can be used in the dishwasher
Cons
- The fan is installed at the bottom of the device
- No timer
Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
The Presto 06301 dehydrated food dehydrator is ideal for those looking for dehydrators in the sub-$100 market segment.
This device is equipped with 6 trays, each of which has an area of about 1 square foot, and can be expanded up to 12 trays.
The fan and heating element on Presto 06301 is located at the bottom of the device, which can generate a steady flow of hot air to achieve the best drying effect.
If you want to dehydrate something juicy, you need to put a solid fruit roll in it on the bottom tray to prevent confusion.
As for time (up to 48 hours) and temperature (90°F-165°F), these settings can be easily adjusted using the buttons on the front panel of the device and the digital display, and when the machine is turned off, the device will automatically turn off. Time has passed.
All food contact parts on Presto 06301 are BPA-free. The dehydrator also includes 2 fruit rolls, 2 non-stick mesh screens, a bag of jerky spice and curing agent samples, and an instruction manual containing recipes and other useful information.
In addition to being easy to use, the machine is also very easy to keep clean, and the tray and lid can be washed in the dishwasher, while the screen and solid flakes need to be cleaned manually. The warranty period of this product is 1 year.
What the shopkeeper says: People who buy this device are mainly satisfied with their purchase, and the Presto 06301 dehydrated food dehydrator has a high rating on Amazon.
Some reports said they found it to be a bit loud, and some reports said it took longer than it took to get a perfect drying result.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 14.5 x 15 x 7.25
- Product weight: 8.5 pounds
- White color
- Wattage: 750W
- Temperature range: 90°F – 165°F
- Capacity: 6 trays
- Timer: 48 hours
Pros
- Easy to use and clean (trays can be dishwasher safe)
- Digital setting
- Affordable
- With some useful supplements
Cons
- A little loud
- The fan and electronics are located at the bottom of the device
What is a food dehydrator-how does it work?
A food dehydrator is a device that uses a heat source and a fan to dry and reduce the moisture in food.
By using a blast of hot air and removing moisture/moisture from the food, the food can be prevented from spoiling as quickly as usual, and various bacteria can be prevented from breeding and spoiling.
This preservation process will retain most of the original nutritional value of the food, prolong the service life, and reduce the weight of the food at the same time so that you can more easily store the food and take it with you.
The food dehydrator is very easy to use and very suitable for drying fruits, vegetables, meat, herbs, and fish.
Place the food on the tray, and the device will slowly distribute the heated air to the entire tray.
For the best results, it is important that the machine generates gentle heat and dries the food at an even speed to retain organic matter and prevent “crust hardening” (caused by food heating too fast) outer.
It is obviously very important to remove as much water as possible during the drying process. Each food dehydrator will work in its own way, and the drying speed of the food will change accordingly.
With the accumulation of experience, after working on the machine for a period of time, you will know what size food should be cut to achieve the best results.
What are the main benefits of making dehydrated food?
Dehydrated food tastes good
removing water from foods such as fruits, vegetables or meat can make the food naturally concentrated and delicious because it will not be “watered”.
Cheap
Organic dehydrated foods are usually very expensive and overpriced.
In the long run, you can save a lot of money by buying your own dehydration machine, buying large quantities of fruit, and doing it yourself.
It reduces food waste
you can cut nearly spoiled fruits and vegetables into thin slices and put them in a dehydrator, which can extend their shelf life to 2 years.
Another benefit is that dehydrated food can be easily replenished with water, just use water or add it to soups, sauces, stews, etc.
It is a healthy and purely natural food
By making your own dehydrated food, you can completely control the food in the food because there are no additives/preservatives normally found in processed foods.
The dehydrator is very easy to use
All you have to do is cut the food into thin slices, put it on the tray, put it on the timer, and let the dehydrator do its work.
What kind of food can you dry with a food dryer?
As mentioned earlier, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and herbs are the most common foods that are dried and preserved using a food dehydrator, but there are many other foods that can be dehydrated.
This dry food list will give you some ideas for new foods to try in the dehydrator.
How to choose the best food dehydrator-what are the characteristics?
When choosing a high-quality food dehydrator, some functions are more important than others. The dehydrating fan is the most important feature of a food dehydrator.
The fan is usually placed on the back, top, or bottom of the device. It is recommended to choose equipment with a fan in the -back- position, because the rear fan can dry your food evenly throughout the equipment.
Fans installed at the bottom and top may first dry the food to the closest level, and then blow the smell from one level to merge with the food at another level.
When buying a food dehydrator, you should also consider the thermostat, heating element, automatic shutdown timer, and capacity.
Choosing the right size should depend on how often you plan to use the dehydrator and the amount of food you plan to spin at one time.
If you do not plan to dehydrate a lot at one time, then choosing a smaller dehydrator is obviously the best idea.
You should also check and compare the warranty of the product you are buying.
Reading and comparing customer reviews online is also a great way to find the best product. If you want to save time, we have researched and compared the best food dehydrators on the market.
Our rating is based on price, features, cooking ability and performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning++. Hope we can make it easier for you to make the best choice.
Final thoughts
Food dehydrators are usually very easy to use, and dehydration is a good way to preserve and store food. In the long run, owning a dehydrator can bring you health benefits and save money, which is definitely worth it.
Any of the machines we reviewed can add luster to your home, and they can dry all kinds of food to a satisfactory level.
We found that Excalibur 3926TB food dehydrator is the best choice because it combines structural quality, functionality, ease of use, and drying effect.
Let us know your thoughts on the best food dehydrator, if you agree/disagree with our review, or if you have anything to share, please leave a comment.