Top 10 Best Dehydrators in 2024
A lot of people enjoy dehydrated fruits and vegetables and even more would love to make them in the comfort of their own home. Fortunately consumer-grade food dehydrators have been available for quite some time and they work quite well. They are an excellent means of getting fresh produce and turn it into dehydrated food which is known to preserve most of its vitamins and nutrients. Out of all the models available 10 managed to stand out. Here are the top 10 best dehydrators in 2024.
Best Dehydrators in 2024
Table of Contents
10. Nesco Gardenmaster 075 Food Dehydrator
Nesco Gardenmaster 075 is a great choice for the ones that are just getting into dehydrated foods. It is a simple dehydrator, that is reasonably priced for the capacity it offers. The model has 8 dishwasher trays but if needed, more can be added, up to a maximum of 30. Regardless of how many trays are added, the heat is evenly distributed vertically and across the entire surface of each tray. The dehydrator features an adjustable thermostat that can range from 95 to 160 degrees and includes a recipe book.
Features:
- 1000 watts peak power
- Adjustable thermostat (95°F – 160°F)
- Even distribution of heat
- Can be extended to max 30 trays
Reasons to buy:
- If the 8 included trays may not be enough, more can be added. They can be purchased separately and can be stacked securely by just putting them one on top of the other.
- The dehydrator is very basic in terms of functionality which makes it very easy to use. All it takes is to adjust the temperature and then let the dehydrator do its job.
- There are plenty of foods that can be prepared with the dehydrator. Some you might not even think about. For this reason, the included recipe book will prove to be extremely useful.
9. NutriChef Electric Countertop Food Dehydrator Machine
NutriChef Electric countertop food dehydrator machine offers great value for money. It is not that expensive and has a decent capacity. The dehydrator has an adjustable temperature that can reach 180° F and stacking removable trays. Additional trays can be added on top of the 5 already included but they need to be purchased separately. The temperature is adjusted automatically and the only thing that needs to be done is to turn it on. It can be used for fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish.
Features:
- Includes 5 stacking trays
- Automatically controlled temperature
- Can support additional trays
- Does not alter food nutritional values
Reasons to buy:
- The food dehydrator is dead easy to use. It only has one button and that is used to turn it on. It will automatically control the temperature regardless of what type of food is being prepared.
- Just the 5 included trays should be sufficient for most families. If more would be needed, they can be purchased separately for not a lot of money.
- The dehydrator can safely remove moisture from various types of foods without compromising their nutritional values as long as the dehydration process is not messed with.
8. COSORI Stainless Steel Premium Food Dehydrator Machine
COSORI food dehydrator was made to offer a bit more reliability in the sense that it is a premium product with superior build quality. The dehydrator is shaped like a tall countertop oven with multiple removable trays inside. It has a large door with a see-through window a digital timer and temperature adjustment buttons. The machine can maintain a constant temperature between 95°F and 165°F and it is very silent despite having an internal fan to evenly distribute the heat. The entire housing and trays are made from stainless steel.
Features:
- Stainless steel construction
- Adjustable temperature
- Built-in timer
- Dishwasher safe trays
Reasons to buy:
- Even if the number of trays cannot be expanded, the 6 trays it comes with are quite large and should be enough even for a bigger family.
- The built-in timer and adjustable temperature allow for full control over how different types of food can be dehydrated. It allows for various recipes to be prepared perfectly without any compromises.
- The built quality of the dehydrator is anything but disappointing. With the stainless steel enclosure and steel mesh trays, it feels premium but it is also considerably more expensive.
7. Nesco Food & Jerky dehydrator
Nesco dehydrator is a great pick for the ones that are just getting into making their jerky at home. It is inexpensive and quite practical. The model has just an on/off button and a large fan that distributes the heat across the entire surface of the trays. Despite being inexpensive it has a decent capacity. The model comes with 7 large trays that are dishwasher safe and a top lid. Except for the top lid that has the on/off button and power cable, all components are dishwasher safe. Additionally, it can be expanded to a maximum of 7 trays.
Features:
- Includes 4 dishwasher safe trays
- Simple operation with just an on/off switch
- Can be expanded to 7 trays
- Silent fan for even heat distribution
Reasons to buy:
- The low price tag makes it a very appealing purchase. It can be a great choice for the ones that are conservative about their money and do not want to spend a lot.
- 4 trays may not sound like much but they are quite large. If they are not enough, 3 more trays can be added but they need to be purchased separately. Fortunately, they are not that expensive.
- The dehydrator is quite basic, making it very convenient at least in terms of how it needs to be used. All it takes is to place the food on the tray and switch it on. The recipe book and instruction manual will help in deciding how the food needs to be arranged on the trays.
6. Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator
Hamilton Beach food dehydrator is a bit more practical than other models mainly due to its shape. Instead of having round trays, they are rectangular, making it easier to find a place for the dehydrator. The dehydrator uses a small bottom-mounted fan that circulates the warm air continuously. It also has a fine mesh sheet for small foods. The dehydrator features a 48-hour timer and a digital thermostat that can be used to adjust the temperature from 100 to 160° F. Once the timer reaches 48 hours, it will turn off automatically.
Features:
- 48-hour automatic shut off timer
- Digital thermostat for temperature adjustment
- 5 stackable, machine-wash safe trays
- Fine mesh sheet for small foods
Reasons to buy:
- The food dehydrator from Hamilton Beach offers great value for money. It is inexpensive, practical, and easy to use. Due to its shape, it takes less countertop space compared to most other models.
- Having a digital thermostat that can be used to control the temperature makes it much easier to prepare different types of foods and get it right every single time.
- The 5 stackable trays are more than enough to prepare a lot of food at once. If not all of them are needed, fewer can be used and provide the same results. Additional trays can be purchased separately.
5. Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
Presto 06301 Dehydro digital electric food dehydrator makes it extremely easy to prepare jerky and dried foods at home without destroying their nutritional value. The model comes with 6 large trays and can be expanded to 12. It has two fruit roll sheets and two nonstick mesh sheets and except for the bottom element, everything is machine-wash safe. Despite being inexpensive, the model has a few useful features such as adjustable temperature and a digital display.
Features:
- Digital display for temperature and timer
- Adjustable temperature
- Can be expanded up to 12 trays
- Silent bottom-mounted fan
Reasons to buy:
- The bottom-mounted fan manages to push the hot air from the heating element at the bottom to the top trays. This ensures an even dehydration process regardless of the temperature.
- Having 6 included trays is more than enough as they are quite large. More trays can be added up to a maximum of 12 trays but it will require a higher temperature setting to handle the increased food volume.
- For the price, the Presto food dehydrator offers great value for money. It is inexpensive and functional. Despite being made mostly with plastic parts, it is a reliable product.
4. Excalibur 3926TB 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
Excalibur 3926TB is a commercial-grade food dehydrator. It is considerably more expensive than regular dehydrators but it compensates for the higher price tag with premium construction and a 10-year limited warranty. The dehydrator is made entirely out of steel with a matte black coating. It comes with 9 mesh trays that can be used for small vegetables, greens, meat, fish or it can even be used to raise bread. Additionally, the dehydrator includes nonstick inserts. The temperature can be adjusted and can go as high as 160° F.
Features:
- Premium steel construction
- Adjustable temperature
- Built-in adjustable timer
- Metal mesh trays and nonstick sheets included
Reasons to buy:
- The build quality of the Excalibur dehydrator puts most other similar products to shame. It is mainly designed for commercial use but it can serve well even for personal use.
- Having an adjustable timer, a thermostat and a large fan to distribute the heat make it possible to gain full control over how different foods are dehydrated without messing up their nutritional values.
- The dehydrator comes with a 10-year limited warranty offered by the manufacturers. This is a true statement of how much they believe in their product and how reliable the dehydrator is.
3. Nesco/American Harvest FD-80 Square-Shaped Dehydrator
Nesco FD-80 food dehydrator is a great pick for a small family. It is not as large as other dehydrators but it is just as practical. The model has an adjustable thermostat and very simple guidelines to prepare any type of dehydrated foods. At the top of the dehydrator, a fan has been mounted beneath the heating element to help distribute the heat across all trays. It comes with 4 square-shaped trays but 4 more can be added. Except for the top lid that has the heating element, all parts are dishwasher safe.
Features:
- Practical and compact form factor
- Adjustable thermostat
- Dishwasher safe parts
- Expandable up to 8 trays
Reasons to buy:
- Most other dehydrators are round-shaped, making it a bit inconvenient to find a spot for it without wasting space. Being square-shaped, the Nesto dehydrator is much more practical as it saves countertop space.
- Even if the dehydrator does not come with nonstick mats, all the trays are dishwasher safe. It should be easy to clean with minimal effort.
- The dehydrator is quite compact and comes with just 4 trays which might prove to be insufficient for a large family. Additional trays can be purchased and stacked on top of each other but no more than 8.
2. Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator
Presto 06300 food dehydrator is one of the more inexpensive models with a very basic design. It does not have any complicated features. All it takes is to turn it on and let it do its job. The model has just 4 trays and a bottom-mounted fan. It can operate at a temperature of approximately 165°F and does not have a thermostat. Lastly, the trays are very easy to clean and can be expanded to 8 trays that need to be purchased separately.
Features:
- Easy to clean
- Automated temperature control
- Can be expanded to 8 maximum trays
- Silent bottom-mounted fan
Reasons to buy:
- The Presto Dehydro makes it very easy to make dehydrated vegetables, fruits, and meat. All it takes is to plug it. It does not even have an on/off button as it starts automatically.
- Besides the 4 included trays, the dehydrator can be expanded. Four more trays can be added. They can be stacked on top of each other and all of them are very easy to clean.
- The low price tag makes it a very attractive purchase. It is an excellent option for the ones that want to prepare their dehydrated food at home without spending too much money.
1. NESCO FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
NESCO FD-75A offers great value for money. It is a reasonably priced dehydrator with simple features that add convenience. The unit has a top-mounted fan to distribute the heat and a thermostat that can be used to adjust the temperature between 95 and 160° F. For this particular model, 5 trays are included but 7 more can be added if needed. The trays are dishwasher safe and are BPA free. As a bonus, the manufacturers included a small recipe booklet.
Features:
- 5 included trays, expandable to 12
- Adjustable thermostat
- BPA-free trays
- Silent top mounted fan
Reasons to buy:
- Being inexpensive makes it a great option for the ones that are never made dehydrated foods are home. It has a decent capacity and it is very easy to use.
- Safety is important which is why the trays are made from a BPA-free plastic material. They are also easy to clean and do not slip when mounted on top of each other.
- The adjustable thermostat offers better control over how each type of food is dehydrated. The recipe booklet will help get fruits, meats, and vegetables properly cooked and safe to eat.
Buying tips:
Temperature control. Temperature control becomes important only when dehydrating meat. Not all models have an adjustable thermostat but also, not everyone needs one. It is a nice feature to have and something worth considering when comparing different models.
Capacity. In most cases, the number of trays of a dehydrator can be expanded. Professional-grade ones cannot have additional trays added. If you do not want to prepare a lot of dehydrated foods, this should not be much of a concern.
Maintenance and cleaning. All good dehydrators have removable trays. This does not mean that all of them are dishwasher safe. Manufacturers need to state clearly if some trays are dishwasher safe as depending on the material they are made from.
Conclusion
Food dehydrators vary in price mostly due to their capacity. Smaller capacity models tend to be more affordable but on the other hand small to medium families to not need large models. Also, the build quality tends to vary a lot but the results tend to be the same. In the end, the biggest factor is the budget available and our top 10 includes food dehydrators from all price ranges.
