10 Things to Look for When Choosing a Food Dehydrator

By Linda Jackson

Have you ever thought about dehydrating your favorite foods at your home instead of buying them from a market? If you have then, buying the best food dehydrator must be on your mind. In all my years of dehydrating all kinds of foods, I’ve bought several dehydrators and let me tell you not all of them are alike.

There are major differences in every model of the dehydrator and you need to do extensive research if you’re looking for a dehydrator that will suit your needs. With the brands and models available in the market, it can be confusing to zero in on a single brand that you want to buy.

Whether you are new to the world of dehydrating or a seasoned dehydrating enthusiast, buying a new dehydrator is always an exciting time and you need to keep certain things in mind before putting down your money. Today, I am going to share with you some of the things that you should look for when choosing a dehydrator.

1) Space – The space inside a dehydrator is going to be of your top concern once you start drying large batches of food. If your budget allows, you should look for a dehydrator that comes with expandable trays. That way, you can buy more trays as per your needs and add them to your dehydrator when you need to dry a large batch of food. If you buy a dehydrator with a fixed amount of trays, you will be at a loss when you need to dry more food.

2) Temperature Controls – There are several models of dehydrators in the market that have a fixed temperature. If you’re serious about dehydrating, always choose a model that has a thermostat that allows you to change the temperature according to the recipe that you’re using to dry the foods. Also, different kinds of foods have different drying temperatures, so once temperature can rarely be the ideal case for drying all of them.

3) Timer – While a timer is not a make or break feature in a dehydrator, having a timer can be really convenient when you have to dry a food at a specific temperature for a certain amount of time. A timer can also switch off the dehydrator on its own once the drying is complete.

4) Fan Position – There are basically three types of fan positions available for dehydrators. Fan on top, a fan at the bottom, and fan at the back. The ideal dehydrator is the one with fan at the back as there is no need to rotate the trays in case of such a dehydrator. In case of dehydrators with the fan on top or bottom, there is often less than the effective distribution of heat and these are difficult to clean as well.

 

Image Source: https://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-3926TB-Food-Dehydrator-Black/dp/B008OV4FD0/

 

5) A Clear Door – A dehydrator with a clear door can be a blessing as it can allow you to keep a check on the progress of dehydration. If the door is made of a solid, opaque material you might need to open the door to check the dehydration progress and it can lead to loss of valuable heat.

6) BPA Free Materials – While buying a dehydrator make sure it’s made of BPA free materials and it’s safe for cooking all kinds of foods. Using BPA free materials for construction of the dehydrator as well as the trays means your food won’t be touched by any harmful chemical materials while drying and it will be safe for consumption.

7) Dishwasher safe – Make it a point to choose dehydrator with trays that are safe for use with dishwashers. That will make it much easier to clean the trays with the rest of your utensils.

8) Price – There are several dehydrator models available in the market that are highly priced, but you should look for a dehydrator that offers the features you’re looking for and also falls in your budget range.

9) Warranty – An extensive warranty is a must when it comes to a dehydrator. As dehydrators are complex machines, it makes sense to choose a model that offers warranty for any defects or issues that might crop up in future.

10) Design – The shape and design of the dehydrator also need to be considered when you’re looking for a device. Make sure your kitchen shelf has ample space for keeping the dehydrator. If you buy a square shaped dehydrator, you can stack it in a corner or against the wall in your kitchen, but a round shaped dehydrator might not be so easy to stack in terms of space efficiency.

These are just some of the things that you need to keep in mind before buying a dehydrator. Most of all, use your common sense and be clear about the kind of usage you want from the dehydrator and you will make the right decision regarding a wonderful purchase for your home.

Image Source: Amazon

Author Bio

Hi there! I am Linda Jackson! I am a housewife and Chief Editor at DehydratorBlog.com. I have always been interested in cooking and eating a healthy diet. I felt that there is very little information out there about the advantages of dehydrated foods and that’s why I started my blog; to increase awareness about dehydrators and dehydrated foods. Please visit my blog for more information or simply leave a comment on any of the posts on my blog to get in touch! I’d love to hear your ideas about the kind of posts you’d like to see on my blog.

 

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