If you love the taste of dried food and fruits, then you should definitely buy a food dehydrator because this special machine is developed to dry different types of food items, which include from vegetables, fruits, nuts to an assortment of meats. When you begin to search for a food dehydrator, you will come across various types of products, but not all food dehydrators are the same. You need to check as to how broad the range of a food dehydrator is. The broader the temperature range of the unit, the more types of food items it will be able to dehydrate. If you are already confused reading all those details, then you can cut to the chase by going through the list of the 6 best food dehydrator consumer reports. After you check out the reviews, you will definitely be in a position to buy the best product that suits your requirements.
Reviews Of 6 Best Food Dehydrators
1. NESCO FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
NESCO is an American brand, which manufactures world-class food dehydrators. The one we are discussing is an electric version, which has a sleek and compact design, but when it comes to dehydrating food, it gets the job done quickly. The unit can carry up to six circular drying trays, which saves users a lot of their precious time and money because they can dehydrate large batches of food at the same time. The trays can expand to 12 trays as well, just in case you have a larger batch of food to dehydrate.
The food is dried within hours compared to other dehydrators, which dry food in days, and the secret to this incredible speed of the unit lies in its unique drying system known as ‘Coverga-Flow’. The fan is placed in between the dehydrator instead at the bottom, which helps in better distribution of heat.
The food dehydrator comes with a flexible thermostat, having a range from 95 degrees Fahrenheit to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The unit can dry all sorts of foods, but then, some food items may take longer to dry up than others. Then, you can keep dried food in a sealed bag that is sealed using a high-quality vacuum sealer.
2. Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator
One thing that I can say about this product is that it is the most hardworking food dehydrator on the list. The product is effective in terms of drying up the food, as it does it at the fraction of speed and cost of other expensive dehydrators, which are mostly used in commercial setups.
Moreover, the unit dehydrates food without the use of chemicals or preservatives. You can dry different types of food items at the same time in its four trays. You can also look as the food gets dehydrated through its see-through glass cover.
The fan is mounted at the bottom, yet it spreads the heat evenly throughout the unit, resulting in fast and desirable drying of food items. The heating temperature of the dehydrator is preset at 165 degrees. The food dehydrator comes with a number of accessories as well such as jerky gun, fruit roll sheets, spice kits, and mesh screens.
3. Magic Mill SS 2 Food Dehydrator Machine
If you are looking for a convenient and durable food dehydrator, then you will definitely like Magic Mill Dehydrator Machine. Designed with stainless steel, you can expect this machine to last long, really long. Moreover, it does its main task of dehydrating the food in order to preserve them exceptionally well. The product features a flexible thermostat, which you can adjust to a temperature that according to you is ideal for evenly drying the food. The inclusion of a rear-mounted fan along with a digital timer assures you of timely drying of the food. The temperature at which the food dries up varies between 95 degrees Fahrenheit to 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Gourmia GFD1680 Premium Countertop Food Dehydrator
When your motive is ‘spend less and get a quality product’, then you should invest in Gourmia food dehydrator, which you can place on the counter of your kitchen and dry an assortment of food items in one go. The unit features a thermostat and timer, which you can adjust as per your personal preference. While there are many great things about this dehydrator, but one standout point is its 360-degree airflow circulation that dries the food thoroughly, and along with that, a magnetic door has been given to ensure that no heat dissipates out of the chamber. Moreover, you can see the food being dried up through its see-through window. It is an economical product but doesn’t give an impression of one.
5. Gourmia GFD1950 Premium Countertop Food Dehydrator
Another excellent food dehydrator by Gourmia on our list and this product is a perfect blend of elegance and performance. Everything is just so perfect about this product in terms of looks, but then, you check out its performance, and you find that flawless too. The dehydrator sports a 9-tray design, which makes it eligible for drying multiple types of food at a time. You will find a fruit leather sheet along with a drip tray to ensure proper drying up of the food.
The trays are non-stick and easy to remove, thus making cleaning a breeze – you can wash the trays in a dishwasher. The fan is mounted on the back, but it distributes heat evenly throughout the trays. As far as temperature range is concerned, then that starts from 95 degrees Fahrenheit and goes up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Rosewill Countertop Portable Electric Food Fruit Dehydrator
This is another compact food and fruit dehydrator, but it is not short of power. Whatever you expect from a food dehydrator, this product is going to give you exactly that. The unit supports up to five trays, so you can dry plenty of food items in this dehydrator. Having a bottom-mounted fan offers uniform air distribution and optimum heating for fast drying of food and fruits. You can set and adjust the time of drying food, courtesy of a built-in timer. Overall, a budgeted option, which is packed with all necessary features.
What Is Dehydrating A Food?
Dehydrating a certain food is nothing more than extracting the water contained inside. At the moment we finish with this aquatic environment, at the biological level we are contributing to creating an environment free of microorganisms, so that the appropriate conditions are achieved so that the food in question can last as long as possible without getting spoiled. One of the main advantages of food dehydration is that, in addition to enduring the passage of time very well, its nutritional properties will remain practically inert. Another of the advantages that we have that you know is that, when ending the dehydration, the substances will be concentrated much more, so the flavor will intensify.
What Ways Exist To Dehydrate A Food?
To understand a little more what dehydration consists of, I’m going to evaluate the two main types that exist.
- On one hand, you have natural dehydration, which has been carried out throughout life. It is the most economical and requires the use of both, the sun and wind along with a lot of time. It has the advantage that it is a more natural means since to be carried out we will feed on renewable energies.
- On the other hand, you can achieve artificial dehydration using special appliances. These devices work by applying a column of hot air that circulates horizontally. One of the main advantages of buying a dehydrator is that you can use it at all times, both in winter and in summer, without any restrictions in terms of the sun or surrounding atmospheric conditions.
What Can You Do With A Dehydrator?
Surely, you will be wondering about the type of food that can be dehydrated in these machines. Well, there are so many such as bananas, with lemon, with orange, apple, tomatoes, flowers such as mint thyme, lemon balm, infusions, etc. You can practically dehydrate any type of food. However, the main key of the dehydrator is that, although it is true that the texture will be affected at the time you finish the process, but you can get that texture back.
In other words, you can use it to preserve food. Once you have finished using it, it will be crucial that the food is preserved in covered glass jars, and that it has some preservative liquid such as extra olive oil. Some people decide to keep it in metal, but the food kept inside a metal may affect the food in terms of taste and odor.
However, in addition, there are some people who use it as a humidifier (removing the lid, trays and placing a vessel with water), to make fermentations and other different uses.
How Does A Food Dehydrator Work?
There are many ways to use a food dehydrator, which will depend on the food you want to treat, as well as the recipe in question. Usually, the best way is to make thin slices in food with a sharp knife. The idea is that the different sheets must be more or less the same because, otherwise, some pieces could be before others, ruining the taste they should have. On the other hand, the thinner the sheets are, the crispier they will be. However, if you make the pieces too thin, there is a risk that they can get stuck in the machine. Throughout the network, you can analyze the writings of people who have dared with different cuts of different sizes, with more or less success, on which you can rely on to act.
How Much Do You Use A Dehydrator?
This question, taking into account what has increased the electricity bill, dehydrator consumption should be evaluated. The vast majority of models give us the option of being able to regulate the temperature between 42 degree Celsius and 70 degree Celsius. The consumption they usually have is rather low; of course, much cheaper than dehydrating in an oven (remember that an oven is one of the most consumed household appliances).
How Long Does It Take To Complete Dehydration?
It will depend on many factors:
- The amount of water.
- The desired temperature.
- Type of food being dehydrated.
For example, some foods may take 6 hours, others 12 hours, and some more than 24 hours
Factors To Consider When Buying A Cheap Dehydrator
Power: The first point you have to focus on is power; at higher power, before it will be ready to be used but, instead, it will consume more. With an average power of about 240W, you should have more than enough for the use you are thinking of giving it.
Number of shelves: The greater the number of shelves, the more space you will have to place food. For example, with about 5 shelves you will have more than enough space to treat the food that you want; At the same time, you can be trying several at the same time, taking advantage of the consumption of the device.
Cleaning: Although it is true that the maintenance of these devices is minimal, yet you need to keep checking the machine for dust, debris, grease, and other things. It is important that the device be easy to clean; for example, that the shelves can be easily inserted into the dishwasher to forget about having to use by hand.
Recipe book: Some models have a recipe book, which is a feature that is more than recommended. In those models, you can find recipes to make vegetable broth, mushrooms, and many other things.
Cable length: How is a device that is connected to the electric current, you will need to have a cable that is more or less long, (which will depend on the location where you have the plug). With a meter, it should be more than enough.
Non-slip base: Recommended, crucial to prevent the device from moving and causing accidents.
Silent: These devices, in themselves, are very quiet, they will only be heard if you get too close, the air emission. However, there are noisier models than others, so you should choose with your head.
Brand: In addition to all of the above, you should bet on a good brand, so you could process the warranty in case it is needed.
Conclusion
If you want to enjoy dried foods and/or fruits, then you should get a food dehydrator because there is no cheap and better way of getting the best-dried food than making them dried in a dehydrator. I have shared with you, six of the best food dehydrator consumer reports, which have different sizes, operation and food drying capacity, so whichever product suits you the best, you should go for it.