Food dehydrators are an invaluable asset, whether you want to create homemade beef jerky or reduce spending on store-bought fruit snacks. With fans and heating elements that circulate hot air while simultaneously extracting moisture from foodstuffs, dehydrator investments are sure to pay for themselves quickly while expanding shelf life and prolonging product shelf-life.
This model includes 11 dishwasher-safe trays, as well as solid and fine white mesh sheets for drying larger chunks of food or creating fruit leather. Furthermore, there is a manual temperature dial and clear lid to complete its arsenal of features.
Trays
If an overwhelming trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market leaves you with more fruit and veggies than you know what to do with, consider drying. This simple preservation method offers quick results without oven baking or other outdoor techniques being inefficient or unpredictable.
Food dehydrators utilize a fan and heating element to circulate warm air over food trays, drawing out moisture through ventilation channels at the bottom of the unit and venting it out through its top. This process reduces bacteria and mold growth while simultaneously cutting back on nutritional loss since only water is removed during dehydration.
This nine-tray machine comes equipped with fruit leather trays, fine-meshed inserts for herbs and extra solid drying sheets (you can purchase separately for about $8), making it one of our top choices because of its ease of operation and clear lid, enabling users to monitor work without opening the unit itself. Furthermore, this model was amongst the lightest and smallest we tested.
Temperature Settings
Food dehydrators offer an economical, natural method of food preservation without using preservatives, making it simple and cost-effective compared to methods such as canning or freezing.
Food dryers should be operated at low temperatures to prevent “case hardening”, in which food may cook before fully dried resulting in irreparable case hardening which cannot be reversed and causes mold growth.
Temperature control is equally essential in food dehydrators. A thermometer with an operating range between 85 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit will give accurate readings, and should ideally be placed near where food is drying so as to provide as close an accurate reading as possible. RuuviTag offers real time temperature monitoring of dehydrated food dehydrator environments.
Noise
Food dryers may seem quiet, but some prefer more noise. This unit features a fan and heating element built directly into its lid; its stackable trays ensure constant airflow; their clear plastic construction helps you monitor progress easily while they’re also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. Furthermore, this model comes equipped with an accessory set consisting of fruit roll sheets and jerky guns – an excellent way to start drying without spending a ton of money!
