Top Best Dehydration Machine for Food in 2020
Storing meats and or vegetables in a refrigerator can prolong their shelf life by a few days or weeks. However, such foods lose their flavor and nutritional value over time, which often leads to wastage. To maximize the shelf life of your food without using preservatives, you should consider dehydrating them instead. This is a straightforward process. All you need is a high-quality food dehydration machine that you can use effortlessly at home. To ease this process for you, we have shortlisted and reviewed a few high-quality dehydrators that work well.
Checkout the Best Dehydration Machine for Food
1. NESCO FD-75A Pro Food Dehydrator and Snackmaster
Dehydrated foods not only have a long shelf life but also come in handy during disasters such as a hurricane. They are also delicious and offer significant cost-savings by preventing wastage. However, to retain the nutritional value of your food as well, look for a professional dehydrator such as NESCO FD-75A. Its 600-watt 9-pound design has five 13-1/2 inch trays, which you can adjust to twelve. These enable people to dry up to 12 different types of food at the same time. Depending on the kind of food that you are drying, you can also adjust its temperature (95-160F) to optimize its performance. Finally, in a NESCO FD-75A, flavors of food do not mix. The patented drying system (Converge-Flow) in its pressurized chamber blows hot air horizontally over its trays instead of vertically. This shortens the drying time of food and retains its natural flavors.
Pros
- Pressurized chamber
- Converge-Flow technology (patented)
- Six adjustable trays (up to 12)
- Adjustable temperature (95-106F)
- Dehydrates most food
- Top-mounted 600-watt fan
Cons
- Takes long to dehydrate (at times days)
2. Presto 06300 Electric Dehydro Food Dehydrator
Salting and drying food under the sun takes days to be effective. To get better results in a fraction of the time, order this electric Presto 06300 dehydrator today. Its four-tray system enables people to dry up to four different types of foods at the same time. If you need more space, you can quickly expand its trays to eight. With Presto 06300, you do not need preservatives and or additives to prolong the shelf life of food. At its preset temperature of 165 F, you can prepare delicious jerky and dried fruits in a few hours.
Moreover, the consistent airflow it’s heating element and bottom-mounted fan generate dries food evenly. Presto 06300 has dishwasher-safe parts. After use, you can immerse its jerky gun, mesh sheet (non-stick), and fruit roll sheets in water and clean them quickly.
Pros
- Preservative and additive-free
- Expandable 4-tray system
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Trays nest compact for easy storage
- Durable see-through cover
Cons
- Temperature is non-adjustable
3. Nesco/American Harvest FD-80 Dehydrator
Are you tired of spending a lot of money on dehydrated foods? Nowadays, with the help of a dependable dehydrator such as Nesco/American Harvest FD-80, you can prepare your own quickly. It is the right product for homeowners for three broad reasons. First, with an original model, you will not wait for long for your food to dehydrate. Because it has a fan that circulates air uniformly, dehydration is fast and even. It also has an adjustable thermostat for regulating temperature and long lasting dishwasher-safe parts that are under a limited warranty (1-year)
Pros
- Limited warranty for one year
- Adjustable thermostat/temperature
- Durable, dishwasher-safe parts
- Detailed instruction manual
- Sturdy square shape
Cons
- Plastic trays crack over time
4. Excalibur 3926TB Electric Food Dehydrator
The average household size globally is between three to four people. In such a family setting, the need for high-capacity food dehydrators that are easy to use has grown tremendously. Excalibur has responded to this demand with this electric 3926TB model. Its sturdy 9-tray design has approximately nine feet of drying space. You can dry jerky and or different types of fruits in this machine without running out of space. Its poly-screen trays are non-stick, while its large (7-inches) fan circulates air evenly for faster drying. Finally, to most people, this 600-watt food dehydrator is ideal because of its versatility. You can customize its temperature easily via an adjustable thermostat. You can also customize time (26-hour timer) and turn it ON and OFF effortlessly using an onboard switch.
Pros
- High capacity fan (7-inches)
- High capacity design (nine trays)
- Non-stick poly-screen trays
- On-board timer (26 hours)
- Adjustable thermostat
- Dries not types of food (600 watts)
Cons
- Frustrating return policy
5. NESCO FD-61WHC Express Food Dehydrator
With the NESCO FD-61WHC dehydrator, you get everything needed to prepare delicious jerky, dried herbs, and dried fruits at home. It’s all-in-one 500-watt design has a sizeable top-mounted fan that circulates air evenly over food. This shortens the dehydration process. Its five-tray design fits most fruits and herbs, while the jerky gun on offer is easy to use. All you have to do is stuff it with strips of meat and connect it to the dehydrator to work. Because NESCO FD-61WHC comes with a non-stick fruit roll sheet, cleaning it after use is easy.
Pros
- ProsPowerful 500-watt system
- Efficient top mounted fan
- Free jerky gun and five trays
- Dependable USA-made product
- Dishwasher-safe parts (minus powerhead)
Cons
- Lacks timer and shutoff feature
6. Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Food Dehydrator
Presto 06301 Dehydro is a six-tray digitized food dehydrator, which can make jerky from poultry, meat, and seafood. By adjusting its digital thermostat (90-165 F), you can use it to dehydrate fruits for storage without using preservatives or additives. If you enjoy dehydrated food and are conscious of your health, thus, this is the product to use. The high-capacity fan on its base spreads hot air evenly over its six expandable trays (up to 12). Its 750-watts electric element is efficient, while the non-stick mesh screens it comes with are dishwasher-safe.
Pros
- Makes jerky from poultry and meats
- Powerful electric element (750 watts)
- Non-stick mesh trays (dishwasher-safe)
- Consistent bottom-mounted fan
- Adjustable thermostat (90-165 F)
Cons
- The fan has a loud buzz
7. NESCO FD-60 Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator
Fitted with a 500-watt element, NESCO FD-60 is a powerful dehydrator for foods that works surprisingly well. Even though smaller (4-trays) than some products that we have reviewed, its Converge-Flow drying technology delivers. By channeling hot air horizontally over its trays, it dehydrates spices, fruits, and vegetables without mixing flavors. Its vita-save exterior (opaque) keeps light out to retain nutrients in food, while its adjustable thermostat is novel. Using a graduated knob, you can set its internal temperature high or low (95-155F) depending on the food being dehydrated. NESCO FD-60 is a durable product. For safety, it has a thermal fuse that cuts power whenever its system overheats.
Pros
- Adjustable thermostat (95-155F)
- Efficient top-mounted fan
- Converge-Flow drying system
- Thermal cutout fuse for safety
- Opaque vita-save exterior
Cons
- Somewhat slow system
8. NESCO FD-37A Food Dehydrator
The white marble and speckled appearance of this NESCO FD-37A food dehydrator are appealing to most homeowners. It is not only stain proof but also blends well with most kitchens, which makes it a great centerpiece. Looks aside, the superior performance of NESCO FD-37A has won the hearts of many food lovers. Even though low-powered (400 watts), the fan-forced radial airflow in its chamber hastens the drying process. It also has a BPA free interior with expandable food trays for dehydrating up to seven different fruits and meats.
Pros
- Expandable trays (seven)
- Admirable drying power (400w)
- Efficient radial airflow (fan-forced)
- Dishwasher safe components
- Removable powerhead
Cons
- Annoyingly loud system
9. Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator
The benefits of purchasing high-quality digital dehydrator such as Hamilton Beach 32100A are diverse. Whether you are looking for an easy-to-use food dehydrator or a multifunctional one for day-to-day use, it delivers for two reasons. First, you can easily adjust the temperature of this dehydrator (100-160F) to optimize performance. While dehydrating vegetables or other delicate foods, you can set it low to prevent them from burning. Second, this dehydrator has an auto shutoff feature for safety, a timer (48 hours), and a fan. The fan generates a continuous airflow over its stackable trays, which hastens to dry.
Pros
- Auto shutoff technology
- Programmable timer (48 hours)
- Adjustable thermostat (100-160F)
- Efficient digitized system
- Stackable food trays
Cons
- Corners have a poor airflow
10. MAGIC MILL Professional Food Dehydrator
MAGIC MILL Professional has helped thousands of people to prepare delicious dried fruits and meats without breaking the bank. If you are planning to buy one, here are a few reasons why this is an excellent product. The in-built timer that it comes with is programmable for up to 19.5 hours. Whenever this time elapses, its system shuts off automatically to prevent your food from burning or its system overheating. It also has an adjustable temperature 95-158F and spacious (13×12 inches) stainless steel racks (9), which do not rust over time. MAGIC MILL is a BPA-free product with a fan that disperses hot air evenly.
Pros
- Stainless steel racks (9)
- Programmable timer (16.6 hours)
- Adjustable thermostat (95-158F)
- Free silicone oven mitts (two)
- BPA-free components
- Easy to use digital controls
Cons
- Poor customer service
Buying Guide for Dehydration Machines for Food
Dehydration is an age-old technique for preserving food without compromising flavors or their nutritional value. However, dependable dehydrators with top-notch parts offer the best results. Follow this guide to find the best brand today.
Materials
Before spending money on a dehydrator, always check the materials used to make it. Is it a durable product? Cheap brands made from a low-grade material will disappoint you over time. Your model should have a heavy-duty shell made from plastic or steel. Parts such as trays should be durable and free of contaminants such as phthalates and BPA. These are harmful to humans.
Capacity
Look for a high capacity food dehydrator that will satisfy your needs. Spacious models with around 4-7 expandable trays often serve people the best.
System
Does your machine of choice have an adjustable thermostat and timer? Does it have a fan and an Eco-friendly heating element? Buy a device with these features. They are suitable for dehydrating most types of food.
Safety
When choosing a food dehydrator, always pay attention to safety. While in use for long, dehydrators with auto-shutoff systems do not overheat quickly.
Conclusion
Sun-drying and smoking are proper natural techniques for dehydrating and preserving foods. However, to lock in flavors and nutrients as well, the ten food dehydrators we have reviewed offer the best results. They are easy to operate. They also have multi-functional designs, which can dehydrate large batches of food at the same time. These products come in handy in homes and restaurants.
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