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You are here: Home / For the Money / Best Dehydrators for Food to Buy

Best Dehydrators for Food to Buy

August 31, 2021 By Susan

Best Food Dehydrators Mommyhighfive

No one likes to throw food away, but sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with excess produce. Enter the food dehydrator. It makes preserving fruits and vegetables easy and keeps food waste down.

My family has a huge vegetable garden (over 6,000 square feet). Yearly, that equals thousands of pounds of tomatoes, squash, green beans, broccoli, peppers, and on and on. We preserve that produce in a variety of ways (canning, freezing, juicing), but one of my favorite ways is dehydrating. It requires much less hands-on time than canning and still yields delicious food. Additionally, dehydrated food takes up less space than its canned or frozen counterparts.

Why dehydrate?

  • Studies have shown dehydrated foods retain more nutritional value than canned or frozen foods.
  • Dehydrating is much easier and less labor-intensive than canning or freezing.
  • Dehydrated foods require much less storage space than canned or frozen foods.
  • Purchasing dehydrated foods is expensive. When you dehydrate your own food, you can buy food on sale.
  • Dehydrating is an easy way to preserve food you would otherwise throw away.

Table of Contents

  • What to Look for in a Dehydrator
  • 10 Good Food Dehydrators for Fruit and Jerky Meat in 2020
    • 1. Presto Dehydro 06301
    • 2. Nesco Gardenmaster
    • 3. Nesco Snackmaster Pro
    • 4. National Presto Dehydro
    • 5. Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator
    • 6. Elechomes Dehydrator
    • 7. NutriChef PKFD12
    • 8. Chefman Food Dehydrator
    • 9. Rosewill Dehydrator
    • 10. NutriChef PKFD06
    • 11. VIVOHOME 400W
    • 12. Cusimax
  • Our Favorite Food Dehydrators
  • FAQs
      • How does a food dehydrator work?
      • What are the important features in a food dehydrator?
      • How long does dehydrated food last?

What to Look for in a Dehydrator

There are a few things to look for in a dehydrator.

  • Size. How large of a machine do you need? Will you be drying large quantities at once or would a smaller machine be sufficient?
  • Good quality parts. You want a machine with a high quality motor and good, BPA-free trays that won’t melt during dehydrating.
  • Ease of cleaning. Look for a machine that is easy to wipe down and has dishwasher safe trays.
  • Noise level. Depending on where you are planning to use your machine, the noise level may or may not be important to you. If you plan to use it in your kitchen, you will likely want a quieter machine.
  • Temperature control. This is important if you are going to be dehydrating meat. Temperature control will reduce the risk of food poisoning with meat. If you are only dehydrating produce or herbs, a temperature control is not necessary.

10 Good Food Dehydrators for Fruit and Jerky Meat in 2020

ModelFeatures
Presto Dehydro 06301
Presto Dehydro 06301




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  • 6 trays
  • 2 nonstick trays
  • Thermostat control
  • Timer
  • 750W
  • Nesco Gardenmaster
    Nesco FD-1040




    Read Review
  • 4 trays
  • 1 fruit tray
  • Adjustable temp
  • 1000W
  • Nesco Snackmaster Pro
    Nesco Snackmaster Pro




    Read Review
  • 5 trays
  • 2 fruit trays
  • 600W
  • Adjustable temp
  • Quieter
  • National Presto Dehydro
    National Presto Dehydro




    Read Review
  • 6 trays
  • 2 fruit tray
  • 2 mesh sheets
  • Adjustable temp
  • 750W
  • Hamilton Beach
    Hamilton Beach Dehydrator




    Read Review
  • 5 trays
  • Fruit tray
  • Mesh sheet
  • Adjustable temp
  • 500W
  • Elechomes Dehydrator
    Elechomes Dehydrator




    Read Review
  • Sleek design
  • 6 trays
  • Fruit tray
  • Digital controls
  • Timer
  • NutriChef PKFD12
    NutriChef PKFD12




    Read Review
  • Black or white
  • Temp control
  • 5 trays
  • BPA free
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Chefman Food Dehydrator
    Chefman Food Dehydrator




    Read Review
  • 6 trays
  • Timer
  • Warranty
  • Temp control
  • 480W
  • Sleek look
  • Rosewill Dehydrator
    Rosewill Dehydrator




    Read Review
  • Inexpensive
  • 5 trays
  • 2 fruit trays
  • 2 herb trays
  • Adjustable temp
  • 250W
  • NutriChef PKFD06
    NutriChef PKFD06




    Read Review
  • 5 trays
  • Temp control
  • Quiet
  • 250W
  • Small
  • VIVOHOME 400W
    VIVOHOME 400W




    Read Review
  • 8 trays
  • Temp control
  • Quiet
  • 400W
  • Moderate price
  • Cusimax
    Cusimax Dehydrator




    Read Review
  • 5 trays
  • Temp control
  • Timer
  • 400 W
  • Warranty
  • 1. Presto Dehydro 06301

    Presto Dehydro 06301

    If you are looking for a powerful machine that can dry a large amount of food at once, check out this fantastic dehydrator from Presto. It is more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but it does have some significant upgrades and works great with vegetables, fruit, and jerky.

    With a powerful motor, excellent quality trays, a timer, and a thermostat control, there isn’t a better home food dehydrator available.

    Pros:

    • Stores easily, with trays nesting and cord storing in the base
    • BPA-free and dishwasher-safe
    • Comes with two nonstick screen trays and six drying racks (can fit up to 12)
    • Thermostat goes from 90° to 165° F
    • Timer
    • Comes with jerky spice packets
    • 750 watts

    Cons:

    • Noisier than some dehydrators (about as loud as a bathroom fan)
    • Bottom trays tend to dry faster than top trays

    This is a great machine. It works well and has a thermostat, which ensures jerky is safely processed. You do have to watch to see if trays need to be rotated, but that is the case with most of the dehydrators on our list.

    2. Nesco Gardenmaster

    Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Food DehydratorThe Nesco Gardenmaster is another good choice for a dehydrator. It not only has a timer, but it also has a temperature range. This is a powerful machine and is good quality. With only 4 trays included, you will likely want to purchase some additional trays if you want to do more than a small amount at once.

    Pros:

    • Comes with four trays (can fit up to twenty)
    • Fruit roll-up sheet included
    • 1000 watts
    • Adjustable thermostat (95° to 160° F)

    Cons:

    • Can be a bit noisy with that much power
    • Can be a little inefficient

    Overall, this is a  good machine. It has a few different temperature settings to help reduce drying time.

    3. Nesco Snackmaster Pro

    Nesco Snackmaster Pro

    The Nesco Snackmaster Pro has a lot of bells and whistles that make a great dehydrator. It comes with a top mounted fan. The temperature can be adjusted to 7 different temperature levels from 95°-155° F.

    Pros:

    • Comes with 5 trays (can fit up to 12 trays) which are BPA-free
    • Comes with 2 fruit roll trays, 2 mesh screens, and 2 jerky seasoning packets
    • Top mounted fan means food doesn’t drip down to the fan
    • Adjustable thermostat (95° -155° F)
    • 600 watts
    • Quieter than many dehydrators

    Con:

    • Dishwasher can warp trays

    This machine does a good job dehydrating food, but it does require more time and effort on your part. With trays that need to be hand-washed, you will spend more time on this dehydrator than on others. However, the finished product is good and well worth the extra time.

    4. National Presto Dehydro

    National Presto Dehydro

    If you want a good machine at a reasonable price, this Presto might be the one for you. It has an adjustable thermostat as well as automatic shutoff. It includes 6 regular trays, 2 fruit trays, and 2 non-stick mesh screens to allow you to dehydrate almost anything.

    Pros:

    • Comes with 6 trays (can fit up to 12)
    • 2 fruit roll-up sheets included
    • 2 non-stick mesh screens included
    • 750 watts
    • Adjustable thermostat (90° to 165° F)

    Cons:

    • Takes longer than other machines
    • Loud

    Overall, this is machine is pretty good, but it does take longer to dry foods than those listed above.

    5. Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator

    Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator

    The Hamilton Beach dehydrator offers a good bang for your buck. It has a digital adjustable thermostat that goes from 100°-160° F. Included are 5 trays, a mesh sheet, and a fruit roll sheet. Another great feature is the 48 hour timer with automatic shutoff. Just set the timer for whatever time you desire, and the machine will shut off when the timer runs out.

    Pros:

    • 48 hour timer with auto shutoff
    • 500W
    • 5 trays
    • Includes mesh sheet and fruit roll sheet
    • Adjustable digital thermostat (100°-160° F)
    • BPA free

    Cons:

    • Louder than other options
    • Difficult to clean

    While this is a good option, be aware that it is considerably louder than other food dryers on this list. It is also harder to clean, which means it will require more of your time and attention.

    6. Elechomes Dehydrator

    Elechomes Food Dehydrator

    The Elechomes dehydrator not only dries food, it also looks great on your countertop. This sleek machine comes with 6 dishwasher safe trays and a fruit roll sheet. Each tray has 2 adjustable heights to accommodate different types of foods. The digital control panel allows you to adjust the temperature between 95°-158° F. A timer helps you keep track of how long your food has remaining.

    Pros:

    • 6 dishwasher safe trays
    • Easy to clean
    • Digital control panel
    • Includes fruit roll sheet
    • Timer

    Cons:

    • Smaller trays than other options
    • Takes longer than other machines

    Since the trays on the Elechomes are smaller than on other machines, if you are looking to do larger quantities of food, another choice might be better.

    7. NutriChef PKFD12

    NutriChef PKFD12

    This NutriChef dehydrator is another good choice. It is available in black or white and comes with five dishwasher safe trays. It has a temperature control knob so you can adjust the temperature according to what food you are drying.

    Pros:

    • Comes in black or white
    • Trays are dishwasher safe
    • Comes with five trays
    • BPA free
    • Temperature control knob

    Cons:

    • Trays have to be rotated for even drying
    • No fruit roll tray
    • Takes longer to dry than the manual states

    While this is a pretty good unit, it is just average in comparison to those listed above. With no fruit roll tray included (or even available for purchase) as well as the long drying times, I would go with one of those listed above.

    8. Chefman Food Dehydrator

    Chefman Food Dehydrator

    The Chefman dehydrator is a pretty good machine at a decent price. It looks more sophisticated than most of the other options. With 6 trays included, this unit has a transparent viewing window as well as a countdown timer. A timer with automatic shutoff as well as 14 temperature presets make it easy to customize to the foods you want to dry.

    Pros:

    • 6 BPA free trays
    • Automatic shutoff (with timer)
    • 14 temperature presets from 95°-158° F
    • Transparent viewing window
    • Countdown timer
    • 1-year warranty

    Cons:

    • 480W
    • Poor instructions
    • Longer dry time than claims

    Unfortunately, the cons on this machine make it not as good as its competitors. The poor instructions mean you have a lot of trial and error to get a good result. Most other machines of this size have more power.

    9. Rosewill Dehydrator

    Rosewill Dehydrator

    If you want a budget food dehydrator that you won’t be using often, the Rosewill might be a good choice for you. It comes with 5 dishwasher safe trays as well as 2 fruit roll trays and 2 herb trays. It has an adjustable thermostat and is easy to clean.

    Pros:

    • Inexpensive
    • 5 trays
    • 2 fruit roll trays
    • 2 herb trays
    • 7 temp settings from 95°-158° F

    Cons:

    • 250W
    • Small
    • Longer dry time
    • Trays crack after a while

    Overall, this is a pretty good unit, but the trays do tend to crack over time and will need to be replaced. The small size and limited power of this machine would lead me personally to choose a different product.

    10. NutriChef PKFD06

    NutriChef PKFD06

    If you want a smaller option, check out the NutriChef PKFD06. This machine comes with 5 dishwasher safe trays. One of the biggest positives about this option is that it is relatively quiet compared to other units. The temperature is adjustable from low to high (with high being 180° F).

    Pros:

    • 5 trays
    • Adjustable temperature control
    • Dishwasher safe trays
    • BPA free
    • Relatively quiet fan

    Cons:

    • 250W
    • Small
    • Long dry time

    Although this is a very small unit, it does take longer to dry food than some of its larger counterparts. Its 250W capacity makes it hard to compete with the bigger machines.

    11. VIVOHOME 400W

    VIVOHOME 400W Dehydrator

    The VIVOHOME is a great choice if you are looking for an attractive, compact and simple to use machine. It has 8 large capacity food-grade drying racks that will dry the food in a uniform way. The drying temperature can be set from 95℉-158℉ and you can set the time from 0-24 hours. It’s made of stainless steel and BPA-free plastic and is easy to clean.

    Pros:

    • 8 trays
    • Adjustable time 1-24 hours
    • Thermostat 95℉-158℉, fan to balance
    • Premium stainless steal, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe
    • Easy to take apart for storage and cleaning

    Cons:

    • 400W
    • Limited temperature choices

    This is a moderately priced 13.5 inch machine. It also comes in a 9.8 inch version with 5 trays instead of 8. While this machine is very affordable, the quality doesn’t measure up to most others on this list.

    12. Cusimax

    Cusimax Dehydrator

    The Cusimax is a good machine because it is easy to use, clean, store, and set. It comes with 5 trays, and the bottom-mounted fan provides airflow circulation. It is safe, with overheat protection and an 18-month warranty.

    Pros:

    • 5 trays
    • Adjustable LED timer and temperature
    • Trays are detachable, BPA-free and dishwasher safe
    • Quiet as a fan
    • 18-month warranty

    Cons:

    • 400W
    • No instructions or recipes

    This is a great 6.6 pound machine for most people, but some will want more trays and efficiency.

    Our Favorite Food Dehydrators

    Any of these dehydrators would be a good choice. However, after comparing the features, costs, and results of each machine, I most highly recommend the Presto Dehydro machines. They both have BPA-free trays which are dishwasher safe. Both these machines are affordable and produce great results. Happy dehydrating!  Herbs from a home herb garden work great in these dehydrators.

    FAQs

    How does a food dehydrator work?

    A food dehydrator blows warm or hot air through trays stacked in the dehydrating machine. The air dries the food. Dehydrators have the fan either on the bottom or the top of the unit.

    What are the important features in a food dehydrator?

    An adjustable temperature is important because it allows you to customize each cycle to the food you are dehydrating. Other good features are extra trays and fruit trays if you want to dry fruit leather. Dishwasher safe trays are also a plus.

    How long does dehydrated food last?

    It depends on the food and how it is stored. If vacuum sealed and stored in a cool, dark area with low humidity, dehydrated foods can last up to 5 years.

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