Do you enjoy dried fruits, jerky, or fruit leathers and want to make them on your own? How about making your own fresh seasonings from your homegrown dried herbs?
Well, you can… with food dehydrators.
If you’re growing vegetables and fruits in your backyard, you can also use dehydrators to preserve much of a year’s harvest. And it can be really enjoyable, too.
To get started, you just need to get the right equipment. That’s what we’re going to talk about in this article. Today, I want to give you a list of some of the best dehydrators on the market.
Hopefully, this post will help you make the best decision possible when it comes to purchasing equipment for your food preservation.
The 15 Best Food Dehydrators
- Commercial Chef CCD100W6 Compact Dehydrator
- Presto 06300 4-Tray Dehydro Electric Dehydrator
- Presto 06301 6-Tray Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator (Our Top Pick)
- Excalibur 3926TB 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
- Ivation Stainless Steel Tray Electric Food Dehydrator Machine
- Nutrichef Electric Food Dehydrator Machine
- Excalibur 3900B 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
- Nesco Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator
- L’EQUIP FilterPro 6-Tray Food Dehydrator
- Aroma Houseware Professional 6 Tray Dehydrator
- Excalibur 4-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
- STX International STX-DEH-1200W-XLS Dehydra Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Digital Food Dehydrator
- TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator
- Hauture 6-Tray Food Dehydrator
- Nesco Food & Jerky Dehydrator
Our Top Pick for the Best Food Dehydrator
Our top pick for the best food dehydrator is the Presto 06301 6-Tray Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator.
The Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator is destined to become one of your favorite kitchen gadgets. It has all the necessary features you need in a dehydrator: six trays that can accommodate sweet and tasty treats, an efficient heating element, adjustable thermostat and timer, wide temperature range, easy to clean trays, and a compact design.
Check the price on Amazon15 Best Food Dehydrators – Reviews
1. Commercial Chef CCD100W6 Compact Dehydrator
The Commercial Chef CCD100W6 Food Dehydrator is a very budget-friendly option.
One of the best things about this dehydrator is that it has five height-adjustable circular shelves that can be set up to accommodate food of different sizes such as fruit, banana chips, vegetables, and beef jerky.
Equipped with 280-watts of power, this powerful Commercial Chef dehydrator effectively removes moisture and locks in the original flavors of the food. The clear lid lets you check on the progress of your tasty snacks inside.
It also has an adjustable thermostat that can be set between 104 and 158° Fahrenheit. Because the dehydrator is very compact, it won’t take up too much counter space in a smaller kitchen.
Check the price on Amazon2. Presto 06300 4-Tray Dehydro Electric Dehydrator
This is another budget-friendly option. The Presto 06300 4-Tray Dehydro Electric Dehydrator is a four-tray dehydrating system.
It’s small, so it won’t take up much space. When you are working in a smaller kitchen, having an appliance that can get the job done while not taking over the kitchen is a must!
This dehydrator has a bottom-mounted fan and a clear top so you can check the progress of your food easily.
There’s one thing you need to know: Presto 06300 doesn’t have the digital thermostat.
For some people, this could be a turn-off. But, for someone that just wants a simple dehydrator that you plug in and forget…it wouldn’t really matter.
Check the price on Amazon3. Presto 06301 6-Tray Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
This dehydrator is the family member to the Presto 06300 above, hence the name. It’s quite similar, but with a few upgrades. Instead of four, like 06300, the Presto 06301 Dehydro is a six-tray system that requires no rotation.
The fan is located at the bottom of this dehydrator. The top is also clear, so you can check the progress easily.
Another bonus of having this dehydrator that 06300 doesn’t have is that it offers a full digital thermostat and timer. The temperatures range from 90 to 165° Fahrenheit.
Check the price on Amazon4. Excalibur 3926TB 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
The Excalibur 3926TB 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator means business.
In its description, it says it is meant for those that are serious gardeners and sportsmen. So if you have a large garden or if you love to hunt and fish for your food, this might be the dehydrator for you.
The Excalibur 3926TB offers 15-square feet of dehydrating space. That equates to nine trays.
It also has an on/off switch, a digital thermometer, and a 26-hour timer. These are amazing features to have on one machine.
However, unlike the ones above, you can’t simply plug-in and forget with this dehydrator.
Check the price on Amazon5. Ivation Stainless Steel Tray Electric Food Dehydrator Machine
The Ivation Stainless Steel Tray Electric Food Dehydrator Machine has a lot of bells and whistles in a smaller grade package.
First of all, it is a countertop dehydrator so it won’t take up massive amounts of room in your kitchen. If you are like me and have limited counter space, you’ll appreciate it.
The Ivation Electric Countertop Dehydrator has a fan mounted in the back of the dehydrator so it’ll make the drying process more evenly.
You can use the six trays for beef jerky, fruit, vegetables, or bread. The digital thermostat ranges from 95 to 158° Fahrenheit.
It also offers a timer and an automatic shut-off.
Check the price on Amazon6. Nutrichef Electric Food Dehydrator Machine
This is another budget-friendly option. It is also fairly simple to use. The Nutrichef Electric Food Dehydrator Machine is known for its simplicity.
It has six trays and one on/off button. The maximum temperature for this dehydrator is 180° Fahrenheit.
It has a clear top and clear sides which allow you to check the progress of your food easily.
Check the price on Amazon7. Excalibur 3900B 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
The Excalibur 3900B 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator is a heavy-duty machine.
However, if you preserve a lot of your food with this method or have a large family, then this could be a great option for you.
It has 15-square feet of drying space which equates to nine trays. This dehydrator also has an on/off switch.
There is no digital thermometer or timer but if you are someone that doesn’t really need it then this is a great way to get a heavy-duty dehydrator with a little less expense.
If you find the thermometer and timer essential, have a look at its sister product, the Excalibur 3926TB Dehydrator mentioned above.
Check the price on Amazon8. Nesco Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator
This Nesco Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator has all of the features of its previous family members already mentioned in this post. However, it also has some added upgrades without a lot of price difference.
If you are someone that doesn’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a quality dehydrating machine but still wants a few upgrades, this could be a great option for you.
This dehydrator comes with only four trays. But, it can be expanded up to 20! You can do some serious dehydrating with 20 trays.
It also allows you to adjust the temperatures and offers a digital timer.
Check the price on Amazon9. L’EQUIP FilterPro 6-Tray Food Dehydrator
The L’EQUIP FilterPro 6-Tray Dood Dehydrator is a great option for someone that wants to dry a variety of things from herbs, flowers, and food.
This dryer comes with six trays which equate to 1.2-square feet of drying space. It also comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Check the price on Amazon10. Aroma Houseware Professional 6 Tray Dehydrator
I really like the chic look of the Aroma Houseware Professional 6 Tray Dehydrator. It just looks very easy to use and organized.
It is a horizontal food dryer which makes it all-around easier to use, in my opinion. All you have to do is pull the trays out towards you.
There is no stacking and restacking. This dryer comes with six trays that can hold up to 1-pound of food per tray.
It also has an adjustable thermostat that ranges from 95 to 155° Fahrenheit. It has a drip tray as well.
Check the price on Amazon11. Excalibur 4-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
This four tray Excalibur 4-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator can be used for meat, fruit, and vegetables.
It comes with an easy-to-use standard built-in on/off switch and the trays are easy to clean.
If you have a smaller kitchen with limited countertop space, this dehydrator is a good fit for you as it has a compact design.
This machine also includes an adjustable 95 to 165° Fahrenheit thermostat.
Check the price on Amazon12. STX International STX-DEH-1200W-XLS Dehydra Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Digital Food Dehydrator
Also known as the ‘Mack Daddy’ of dehydrators. It comes with 10 stainless steel trays. That equates to 16-square feet of drying space. The STX International Dehydra is also a horizontal dryer which means there is no stacking, unstacking, and then restacking again.
It also has easy pull-out drawers. The fan is located in the back of the dehydrator which makes for even airflow. The heat settings range from 95 to 155° Fahrenheit. It also has a 15-hour timer.
One of the greatest things about this dehydrator is the warranty. It comes with a one-year fix or replace guarantee. This includes parts and labor.
Because of such a great package, this company has managed to maintain a 99.8% overall customer satisfaction rating.
If you decide to purchase this dehydrator, it sounds as if you are purchasing from a company that really stands behind their product.
Check the price on Amazon13. TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator
This TSM Products Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator comes with five stainless steel shelves. It has food-grade stainless steel which will not rust.
The design of this product allows for the back panel to be removed for easier cleaning and maintenance. It also includes an adjustable thermostat that ranges from 95 to 165° Fahrenheit plus a timer.
This is not a machine that’s easy on your budget. However, it has a 4.5-star rating and has many great reviews on Amazon.
Check the price on Amazon14. Hauture Food Dehydrator Machine
The Hauture Food Dehydrator Machine is a sturdy stainless steel machine and the trays are made from non-stick stainless steel.
It has an adjustable thermostat that ranges from 95 to 167° Fahrenheit. One thing that isn’t stainless steel is the clear door so you can see what is going on inside while your food is dehydrating.
The Hauture has a convenient horizontal design and the six trays give you enough drying space for fruit, vegetables, or meat.
This dehydrator also comes with a 12-hour timer.
Check the price on Amazon15. Nesco Food & Jerky Dehydrator
After strolling through the ‘fancy’ section of dehydrators, I wanted to end on another budget-friendly machine. This is definitely it! The Nesco Food & Jerky Dehydrator has a 4.5-star review and a great price to boot.
It is another stackable dehydrator. It comes standard with four trays, however, it can expand up to seven trays.
This dryer offers a clear top so you can see what is going on while your food is dehydrating. All parts are dishwasher safe.
The best part is there is no rotation of the trays needed during the dehydrating process.
Check the price on AmazonOur Top Pick for the Best Food Dehydrator
Our top pick for the best food dehydrator is the Presto 06301 6-Tray Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator.
The Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator is destined to become one of your favorite kitchen gadgets. It has all the necessary features you need in a dehydrator: six trays that can accommodate sweet and tasty treats, an efficient heating element, adjustable thermostat and timer, wide temperature range, easy to clean trays, and a compact design.
Check the price on Amazon
