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The 5 Best Food Dehydrators in 2023

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Best for Beginners
COSORI Food Dehydrator for Jerky, Usable Area up to 6.48ft², 600W Dryer Machine with 6 Stainless Steel Trays, up to 48H Timer,165°F Temperature Control, for Fruit, Meat, Dog Treats, Herbs, and Yogurt
Best for Compact Storage
Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator, Standard
Best Expandable Drying Tray
Nesco FD-1018A Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, for Jerky and Snacks, White
Feature 1
Adjustable temperature control
Energy-efficient even if used for hours
It comes with eight drying trays 
Feature 2
Stainless steel tray and glass front door
Operates at a preset temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Adjustable temperature dial
Best for Beginners
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COSORI Food Dehydrator for Jerky, Usable Area up to 6.48ft², 600W Dryer Machine with 6 Stainless Steel Trays, up to 48H Timer,165°F Temperature Control, for Fruit, Meat, Dog Treats, Herbs, and Yogurt
Feature 1
Adjustable temperature control
Feature 2
Stainless steel tray and glass front door
Best for Compact Storage
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Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator, Standard
Feature 1
Energy-efficient even if used for hours
Feature 2
Operates at a preset temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Best Expandable Drying Tray
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Nesco FD-1018A Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, for Jerky and Snacks, White
Feature 1
It comes with eight drying trays 
Feature 2
Adjustable temperature dial

Dehydrating food is a great way to preserve it, but not all dehydrators are created equal.

It’s hard to find the best food dehydrator for your needs when there are so many options with different features and price points.

We’ve made finding the best dehydrator easy by reviewing five of our favorites in detail below.

Best Food Dehydrators in 2023

1. COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator

Best for Beginners

COSORI Food Dehydrator for Jerky, Usable Area up to 6.48ft², 600W Dryer Machine with 6 Stainless Steel Trays, up to 48H Timer,165°F Temperature Control, for Fruit, Meat, Dog Treats, Herbs, and Yogurt
  • DESIGNED IN CALIFORNIA: Dehydrated foods keep all their…
  • STAINLESS STEEL: Made with food-grade stainless steel and…
  • EASY TO USE: Use the digital control panel to set the timer…

Key Features

  • Adjustable temperature control
  • Quiet usage of about 48dB
  • Stainless steel tray and glass front door

Cosori food dehydrator consists of a 6-food stainless steel tray with 9 square feet of drying space. It features buttons where you can easily adjust the time and temperature settings.

As a safety feature, it automatically shuts off when it overheats or when the timer ends. It’s a horizontal flow dehydrator with a shelf design.


2. Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator

Best for Compact Storage

Sale
Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator, Standard
  • Great for homemade jerky and dehydrating nutritious fruits…
  • This particular model is 06300-05.
  • Top-mounted fan and heating element provide consistent air…

Key Features

  • Bottom-mounted fan
  • Energy-efficient even if used for hours
  • Operates at a preset temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit

This four-tray dehydrator system has a see-through cover for you to monitor the drying process conveniently.

The Presto brand offers accessories compatible with this food dehydrator, like fruit roll sheets, nonstick mesh sheets, jerky guns, and jerky spice kits. It has a consistent airflow for the optimum drying of different kinds of food products suitable for homemade snacks.


3. NESCO Gardenmaster Pro Dehydrator

Best Expandable Drying Tray

Sale
Nesco FD-1018A Gardenmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, for Jerky and Snacks, White
  • EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION: 1000 Watts of drying power provides…
  • ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT: Allows you to dry different foods at…
  • EXPANDABLE TO 30 TRAYS: Comes with 8 dishwasher safe trays…

Key Features

  • It comes with eight drying trays 
  • Adjustable temperature dial
  • Expandable up to 30 trays

The Nesco food dehydrator features a Converga-Flow drying system that ensures that heated air circulates across each tray to dehydrate food consistently.

It uses 1000 watts of power, so there is no need to wait for days to try out your dried foods. In addition, the Package includes fruit roll sheets, a jerky spice pack, a recipe book, and Clean-a-Screens.


4. NESCO Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator

Most Versatile

NESCO FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, For Snacks, Fruit, Beef Jerky, Gray
  • EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION: 600 watts of drying power provides…
  • ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE CONTROL: The adjustable temperature…
  • EXPANDABLE TO 12 TRAYS: Comes with five (13 1/2″ diameter)…

Key Features

  • Expandable to 12 trays
  • Adjustable temperature between 95°F-160°F
  • Top-mounted fan to prevent liquid dripping

This Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator has a top-mounted fan to distribute heat with 600 watts of drying power.

Its opaque exterior blocks feature Vita Save exteriors to ensure that the food’s vitamins and nutrients are retained during the drying process.


5. Excalibur Food Dehydrator

Most Spacious Drying Space

Sale
Excalibur 3926TB Electric Food Dehydrator Machine with 26-Hour Timer, Automatic Shut Off and Temperature Control, 600-Watt, 9 Trays, Black
  • Large Capacity: Equipped with 9 Excalibur dehydrator trays,…
  • Versatile Uses: Features a 26-hour dehydrator timer and an…
  • Low & Slow for Immune Boost: Cooking foods at no higher than…

Key Features

  • 15 square feet drying tray
  • 26-hour adjustable timer
  • flexible poly-screen tray inserts

The Excalibur food dehydrator is a slow-drying dehydrator suitable for drying fresh produce for healthy snacks. Since it has a slow drying process, essential components of the food are preserved.

Compared to other food dehydrators, it uses a patented Parallex Horizontal airflow, so there’s no need to rotate the tray to achieve a better-tasting and good-looking dried food.


Source: Canva Pro

Things to Consider When Buying the Best Food Dehydrators 

Before investing in a food dehydrator, its functionality must suit your needs. Here are the factors to check to say if its a worth purchasing for you:

Capacity

Food dehydration takes time. It will usually take hours, or it may even take a day for it to be completed. To save time and effort, it would be practical to choose the one that can cater to more pieces so you can dry more foods all at once.

Choose the one with a bigger capacity if you dry foods regularly, but it would matter less if it’s done infrequently or if you only use it for small quantities. 

Style

There are a lot of styles in the market to choose from. However, some people choose the style of their dehydrators based on what will match their kitchen’s aesthetic.

The style would determine how much food it can cater to and its overall efficiency in most cases. Its style is greatly influenced by your chosen type—vertical and horizontal food dehydrators.

Temperature Accuracy

Each piece of food must dry out consistently. This can be achieved through the heating element that circulates delivered by the fan and vents of air equipped in the machine. 

The temperature you’ll set must be suitable for the kind of food you’ll be drying. For example, beef jerky requires at least 150°F for it to dry perfectly. If you decrease the temperature, it might affect the quality of the dehydrating process.

Trays

A tray food dehydrator can be vertical flow (stacked trays) or horizontal flow (slide-in trays). 

The vertical flow (stacked trays) is suitable for drying slices of meat or puree for fruit leather. Its fan is usually designated on top or at the base of the machine.

The horizontal flow (slide-in trays) has trays like that of a convection oven. Its heating element is designated at the back of the machine.

Temperature Range

Dehydrators have varying temperatures that can range between 90°F to 160°F.

Make sure that you are setting the right temperature depending on the food that you are drying. If you are drying apple slices, make sure not to go over 140°F because it may result in case hardening.

Tips for Successful Dehydrating

Here are some tips to maximize the use of your dehydrator efficiently:

Cut the pieces evenly

If each food piece is sliced evenly, then it will be done at the same time. Use a food slicer like a food mandoline to have consistent slices.

Follow the right temperature

Before starting the dehydrating process, make sure to know the right temperature and time required suitable for the food slices to be dehydrated. Most units include a manual or a label with instructions or guides to follow.

Don’t rush

The drying process takes time. To achieve the perfect food texture and intense flavor, follow the drying time required. Some people adjust the temperature to make the drying faster.

If you bypass the whole process, the food may look dry on the outside, but the moisture is just trapped inside, leading to molds or rot infestation when you store it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a food dehydrator worth it?

The use of a dehydrator allows you to control the quality of the food, especially for long-period storage. It also prevents food spoilage, so it is a worth it purchase.

How does a food dehydrator work?

It’s a machine that removes moisture from different food products like fruits, vegetables, and meat. It primarily utilizes heat and airflow for the food’s flavor to be more pronounced.

How do you store dehydrated food?

To preserve the quality of the dried food, make sure to store it in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture.

Who should get a food dehydrator?

The use of a dehydrator is time-consuming, so it is applicable for those who have the patience to preserve food.

What are the types of dehydrators?

Vertical flow dehydrators have stackable trays. Its heat source may come from the top of the base of the unit. The horizontal dehydrator is comparable to a conventional oven. Its fans blow air from the backside of the unit.

Conclusion

Through a food dehydrator, you are able to preserve your own food conveniently. However, it is important to know how to use it properly to gain benefits from it.  

Diana Nadim
Fishing Expert
Diana began fishing at the age of seven, as it has been a long-time family tradition. From catching small bullheads to catching strippers on the backwaters of Bighorn, she loves to get out in the wild and have a marvelous day on the water. Her dad was an expert angler, and he taught her fishing along with her two siblings. They used to go to the Bighorn River in Montana and Henry’s fork, Idaho. As a pragmatic person, she is obsessed with creating well-researched and practical guides and reviews of the best fishing methods and gear.
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Articles » Gear Reviews » The 5 Best Food Dehydrators in 2023