Top 10 Best Dehydrators

Best Dehydrator Buying Guide

When it comes to devices that are worth their investment in the long run, a food dehydrator is certainly among that company. It's great for anyone, from those who do their own hunting or are concerned about food waste. Food waste is especially important to keep in mind when the world produces around $1 trillion in food that never gets eaten! A dehydrator is one of the best ways to keep your food around long enough to enjoy it.

 

To help you find the best appliance for your needs, we're breaking these machines down, from how the technology works to their benefits to suggestions for using one.

What Does a Food Dehydrator Do?

 

Most foods contain a relatively high amount of water. Many high-water-content fruits or vegetables can be anywhere from roughly 75 to 95 percent water. Common uncooked meats can range anywhere from roughly 55 to 70 percent water. Dangerous bacteria need a liquid state to develop, and the extraction of liquid inhibits bacterial growth in the food. This can help keep food safer to eat for longer periods of time.

 

There's no one set time frame for how fast this whole process will take. It all depends on what you're making and what ingredients you use. The goal is to greatly reduce the level of moisture within the food.

 

 

 

How Does a Food Dehydrator Work?

 

While it is easy to just say that a food dehydrator dries out food, that is hardly a satisfying answer for most. What matters is how a dehydrator does its job of drying out foods to preserve them for chow time at a later date. While dehydrating food has been an ages-old technique to preserve foods, modern machinery makes the process much simpler. However, both the modern and ancient method require two classical elements: a heat source and air.

 

Let's break it down.

 

A dehydrator will rely on heat energy to heat up the food until such time that it "sweats" out moisture. The standard temperature for dehydration is 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius). Anyone making beef jerky or some other meat-based snack, however, is advised to raise the heat level to 155 degrees Fahrenheit (68 degrees Celsius) as a safeguard against potential contaminants deep within the meat. After all, it's no secret that undercooked meat can result in food illness. This is because lots of bacteria found in meat can generally survive in temperatures of up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Raising it higher increases the chances that these tough little bacteria get wiped out, making food safer to enjoy.

 

Dehydrators make use of fans and vents to suck out the moisture the food releases during the heating process.

 

Can You Overcook with a Dehydrator?

 

Yes. At first, it may sound like all a person needs to do is blast the heat. But operating the device at too high of a heat level carries the potential for hardening the food's exterior while also leaving its interior at risk from spoiling. Sure, you may have made some fruit leather, but the core of that treat may still harbor something that could make you ill. If this happens, whatever is trapped inside can fester in while in storage.

 

What are the Benefits of a Food Dehydrator?

 

There are plenty of benefits to one of these appliances, and some are more obvious than others:

 

You can preserve food.

 

This is an obvious benefit. From people looking to save some leftovers to those prepping for doomsday scenarios, a dehydrator can aid in short-term food storage. Take for example, the event of a natural disaster. With enough warning, someone can salvage more food that might otherwise perish if left in a refrigerator/freezer unit without access to electricity.

 

You can save money on your food budget.

 

As previously mentioned, a lot of money is wasted on food that never gets eaten. This often happens because the food expires before someone consumes it. By preserving food with a dehydrator, you ensure that none of the perishable food you buy will go to waste. One of these devices means every money spent on potential perishables will be money that is actually put toward keeping people fed. This is much better than throwing everything into the garbage disposal or trash can.

 

You can save space.

 

Food can take up a lot of space due to clunky packaging. This makes organizing everything much harder, especially if you kitchen and cabinet space is compact. Dehydrated food takes up far less space. After all, it doesn't require clunky packaging and the gross reduction of liquid content means that the food is physically smaller than before. Depending on the nature of your particular grocery list, you could double or even triple your fridge and your pantry space by filling them with dehydrated items.

 

You do not sacrifice nutrition.

 

All of these wonderful benefits must mean that the end result has no nutritional value, right? Wrong! Since a dehydrator just dries stuff out, all of the nutritional offerings, such as vitamins and minerals, are maintained.

 

 

What Can I Use a Dehydrator For?

 

It's easy to say that all a dehydrator is good for is drying food. However, that just limits the possibilities! Check out some great treats you can make with one of these appliances:

 

Jerky

 

Making jerky is a cinch with this device. The user simply adds whatever spices and seasonings he desires to his meat of choice. They then places his meat onto a tray in the food dehydrator and sets the temperature and timer. Eventually, there will be a batch of delicious chewy treats that make the perfect snack for any meat-lover.

 

Fruit Leather

 

Fruit leather or fruit roll sheets are certainly something that enterprising owners of food dehydrators can produce. What exactly is fruit leather? Think fruit roll-ups from your childhood lunchbox, but made with actual fruit.

 

When made with a dehydrator, the end product is similar to jerky. No seasoning is necessary, although a bit of mint or cinnamon can really liven up the flavor. Apples, strawberries, and apricots are especially good choices for making fruit leather.

 

Shelf-stable Cheese

 

Cheese is exceptionally prone to swift spoiling. A dehydrator gives you the means of changing this situation. With one of these units, you can alter cheese so that it becomes stable enough to last for awhile. Just know that dehydrated cheese takes on different properties than the normal version, so a little experimentation may be called for.

 

Breadcrumbs and Croutons

 

By putting bread into a food dehydrator, you can create your own breadcrumbs. Alternately, you can add seasonings to the bread beforehand. Then, go to town by making your own custom-sized croutons for salads and the like.

 

Crackers

 

Yes, you can make crackers with these machines. The best part? The process is simpler than you would think. One need only a few ingredients, like mix ground-up flax, oregano, sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts, and a handful of spices. Throw them into a food processor. Then, thin the mixture out and allow it to dry in the unit. Break out a pizza cutter or other straight edge and carve up some delicious crunchy treats.

 

Chips

 

We are not just talking about potato chips here. Any sort of meat, vegetable, or fruit can likely be turned into a dried snack with one of these devices. The only limits in making dehydrated chips are your own creativity and whether or not you want to add any seasonings or spices.

 

Cereal-style Marshmallows

 

Getting nostalgic for the sort of marshmallows you remember as a child? Or do you want to make some for your own kids? Either way, a dehydrator is the perfect tool for taking a normal small-size marshmallow and rendering it down to the same starchy consistency as the marshmallows commonly used in children's breakfast cereals.

 

What are Some Common Features and Accessories for a Food Dehydrator?

 

When looking to buy a dehydrator, it is important to know what sort of features you may need to look out for.

 

Adjustable Thermostat

 

As previously mentioned, not all foods require the same temperature to safely dehydrate. It's easy to grow bored of having the same meal on a regular basis. Having a dehydrator with adjustable heat settings ensures that you can dehydrate anything you may want to try.

 

Stacking Trays

 

Some models use a stacking feature that allows you to dehydrate multiple trays of food at the same time. One of the main benefits of this design? It is great for areas with limited space; the chief dimension of concern is height, rather than width or depth. Some devices let you vertically stack multiple trays, so you can get several square feet of drying space in one compact unit.

 

Drying Shelves

 

The other major type of dehydrator uses a shelf configuration. This setup changes the way air flows over the food. Unlike a tray-based dehydrator, a shelf dehydrator sends air to evenly dry out the food, sparing users the hassle of having to manually adjust the trays over time.

 

Even Airflow Systems

 

High-quality models feature a heating element and a fan while providing even airflow across its storage trays. These machines require between 300 to 1,000 watts to run and the fans range from 4 to 7 inches in diameter; some even feature a dual-fan configuration. Even airflow means you don't need to rotate trays much, if at all. The one drawback to these devices is that they are quite loud. The noise is comparable to the exhaust fan of a stove.

 

Drying Space

 

Again, not all dehydrators are made alike. When looking to buy a dehydrator, consider the pre-dehydrated size of the foods you plan on using it with. Then, make sure that your chosen device can adequately and reliably manage those sizes.

 

 

Is a Food Dehydrator Right for Me?

 

A food dehydrator can be a true boon to almost anyone for a variety of reasons.

1. You can save money by preserving food, preventing it from being unnecessarily thrown away.
2. You can get fancy and make your own custom treats and snacks, carrying the potential to turn a profit with a side business.
3. You can ensure that you will have food that is safe to eat during and after a disaster.
4. You can keep far more food in your pantry than would normally be possible.

 

With all benefits and sheer number of culinary options available, acquiring a food dehydrator is a sensible, if not downright thrifty, addition to any household. The wide variety of models on the market ensures that there is a dehydrator for any size living space and need.

 

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