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There is one common goal between food dehydrators, and that is to remove the water from your food in an efficient manner without inhibiting the nutritional content. In order to do this, the dehydrator must distribute an even airflow and maintain a constant temperature across all trays. These devices have the ability to dry out the food while retaining the nutritional content and the alkalinity of fresh produce, as well as inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microforms. There are many things to look for when purchasing a food dehydrator as well as health benefits you might not have known. Here is a list of some food dehydrator facts and what you should look for when purchasing your own.
Dehydrators ultimately dry out any foods placed inside of them while retaining all of the minerals and vitamins. Dried sprouts and vegetables are high in fiber and naturally low in high-cholesterol fats, which is primarily why dehydrating them is popular and nutritional. During dehydration, hardly any Vitamin C is lost, and all the Beta Carotene and Vitamin A is retained in plant foods. Other minerals, such as potassium, magnesium and selenium, are also preserved. Due to the rich concentration of enzymes and nutrition, many diet plans contain naturally dried fruits and vegetables.
Most fruits and vegetables do not have a long shelf life. In many cases, by the time a person is ready to eat the fruit, it has turned brown, molded or bruised. This drying device removes around 75 percent of the moisture from the produce, which can significantly increase the shelf life. The only threat of the produce going bad is the remaining 25 percent of moisture. This is why it is usually better to over-dry the product, rather than under-dry it, so you can better preserve it.
Once the moisture has been removed from the product, it should be packed inside a moisture-proof bag, jar or container. After it is sealed, it should be stored in a dark, cool space, such as a cupboard or pantry. This process can give dried fruits, pastas and vegetables a preserved life of roughly one year. This also goes for milk substitutes and powdered milks, as well as wheat, grains, corn and rice.
You may have noticed that dried fruits and vegetables can be costly at the store. One of the best food dehydrator facts is that for a fraction of the cost, you can preserve fresh foods in your home. Since the shelf life can be extended to around a year, you can save the fruits and vegetables by storing them properly in your pantry or cupboard for later use, and can dramatically decrease the amount you have to spend on these items in the grocery store. Some edible products you can create include:
There are two common types of dehydrators. The first is the stacking one, which contains trays that stack on top of each other, and includes a fan that is either mounted in a power unit or in the base. There is a core channel in between the trays for air to filter through. This also allows for the heated air to flow through the outside walls and across the tray so it can exit the machine through the channel. Because of this process, there is no need to rotate the trays. With the ability to stack or remove trays, the machine can accommodate large or small batches.
The second type is the shelf dehydrator. Rather than just trays, it has shelf-type trays that slide in and out. This creates a different system of airflow as the fan is mounted in the back of the unit, which blows the air from the back towards the front in a horizontal direction. This process can create a more even dry, so the trays should not need to be rotated. This is also ideal for when you need to slide out the trays to check the doneness of the produce.
However, one drawback is that the shelves limit the capacity of the model. Instead of having the ability to stack more or less trays on, you can only have a certain amount of trays in the shelves. On the plus side, since there is no channel in the middle of the tray, you can utilize more space without having to worry about stacking items around the hole in the middle.
The better devices often contain a heating element, even airflow across the trays and a fan. Depending on the model, the power of the heating and fan elements will vary. Generally, the device uses between 300 and 1,000 watts of power, and the fans are 4 to 7 inches in diameter. Some models even have dual fans. It is important to also note that these systems can be rather loud, and are comparable to a stove’s exhaust fan.
Adjustable thermostats are one of the most essential features to look for when purchasing a dehydrator. They can be used to maintain, set and change the temperature. Most thermostats have a range of 95 to 155 degrees F. Since the required temperature for each product can vary, it is important to have a thermostat that can accommodate these temperatures and that can be adjusted accordingly.
When searching for the perfect food dehydrator, it is ultimately important to seek a machine that will best fit your needs. Decide what types of produce or fruits you plan to dry and figure out how much. If you need to check the progress of your dried foods frequently, a shelving device is the best way to go. For great flexibility in capacity, the stacking trays are a great option. Use these food dehydrator facts as a guideline for choosing the best machine for your cooking and preserving needs.
Food dehydrators are a great addition to any kitchen. They allow you to enjoy fresh foods beyond their natural shelf life and still maintain the nutritious qualities found in fruits, vegetables, meats, and more.
With a new food dehydrator, you'll be able to make fruit leather snacks and dried fruit in bulk from your garden-fresh berries, peaches and apples, as well as keep your extra tomatoes, carrots and herbs good through the winter. You can also make savory jerky that is healthier than store-bought choices.
Dehydrating food is healthy for you and your family and it features many cost savings benefits over pre-dried grocery store options. But before you purchase a dehydrator, it’s important to know what’s on the market and which model will be best for you.
Below, we’ve provided a buying guide covering the most important things you need to know about investing in a food dehydrator. If you have any questions along the way (whether you’re still in the research stage or ready to add a model to your cart), please feel free to call us at the number above. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is here to help you!
A good place to start when selecting a food dehydrator is deciding whether you want vertical or horizontal airflow, so let's break down the benefits (and some limitations) of each type.
Vertical airflow dehydrators feature stackable trays with the heating component and fan at the bottom or in the top lid of the machine. Cheaply-made models of this type give uneven drying results because they’ll dry the trays closest to the heat and fan faster than trays that are farther away. This can require a lot of inconvenient tray rotation, and even then the results may not be good. High quality brands like L’Equip and Nesco/American Harvest actually use a “hybrid” design in which warm, fresh air is ducted separately to each tray. The airflow then turns sideways, exiting laterally across the tray in all directions. This also helps reduce the potential for flavor sharing if you dry mixed food types on different trays.
Many vertical-airflow models give you the versatility to add additional trays, beyond what come standard. Many of these stackable dehydrators come with four to ten trays, and add-on trays can multiply their capacity from two, all the way up to five times the original number! Some of our dehydrators actually increase their airflow automatically to accommodate the added trays. Our detailed model descriptions provide information on the many special features of each machine.
Horizontal airflow dehydrators have heating elements and fans in the back of the machine, with slide-in shelf trays that the food goes on. During the drying process, air is directed horizontally across each tray evenly. Because the shelves slide into a separate cabinet in this design, you can remove some (or even all) of the trays to create more vertical depth for drying taller items. Even wet mittens can be dried quickly and gently!
Access to your food during the dehydrating process is extremely easy with horizontal-flow machines, as each tray pulls out individually without having to lift off each tray above it as with vertical units. This helps if you're dehydrating a variety of foods which will be done at different times.
In addition to deciding between a stackable or sliding-shelf dehydrator, other factors and features to consider when buying a food dehydrator include:
Below, we’ve outlined features (and their benefits) found on many popular models.
Any good food dehydrator will have an adjustable thermostat. Being able to adjust temperature allows more control in the finished quality of your food and prevents needing to throw away your time, money, and food from a bad, over-dried batch.
Different foods need different temperatures to properly dehydrate while maintaining flavor and nutrients. These temperatures are general guidelines for drying a variety of food types:
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The drying temperature can be set at the higher end of these ranges at first for very wet foods then turned down later to finish, as evaporative cooling keeps the actual food temperature lower than the dehydrator's air temperature.
Another consideration for many users is the preservation of beneficial enzymes in fresh foods. Estimates vary, but there’s some consensus that these enzymes begin to degrade at about 104-106° F, and that they’re destroyed entirely at about 116-120° F.
Some users prefer digital thermostats for their precision, but a quality analog-type thermostat works well too, and a kitchen thermometer makes it easy to verify and make adjustments if desired.
Dehydrators with slide-in shelves have rectangular trays that can provide the greatest ease and efficiency for linear food items like long strips of jerky.
Stackable food dehydrators typically have round trays, though some are square, and they will usually feature a duct in the center of the tray for uniform airflow. These stackable trays let you choose how many to run at one time, and some makers provide trays of differing heights (such as some one inch and some an inch and a half deep) for a variety of foods, and bottomless spacer rings are made available by some manufacturers, either as a standard feature or as an option.
Most models are made from one or more type of plastic, and all high quality food dehydrators use FDA-approved materials. One popular structural material is polycarbonate, an exceptionally tough polymer used in products like football helmets and motorcycle fenders. Stainless steel is another popular choice for trays and cabinets.
In addition to the variety of materials used for trays, accessory mesh and nonstick sheets can be used on the trays, to suit a range of food types. Fruit leather trays are available for making delicious fruit roll-ups. And here's a fun tip: By using fruits of different colors, like apricot and blueberries, fruit leather can be decorated with names, faces, and all kinds of fun designs!
Food dehydrators have both a fan and a heating element, and total power usage ranges between about 300 and 1000 watts for most popular home-use dehydrators. The wattage used by the machine includes both the heating elements and the fan motors, and a good design allocates power between the two evenly for optimal performance and the best output. Fan size (and the number of fans) also varies between models.
A strong dehydrator will naturally make some noise, as it’s moving a lot of air. Generally speaking, the horizontal-flow designs tend to be a little louder, and you can expect one to sound about like your kitchen’s range exhaust on a medium-high setting.
In addition to the above standard features to consider, some models have special features that add to their value and versatility.
There are many different food dehydrators on the market. We recommend and cary only quality brands including Nesco/American Harvest, Excalibur, L’Equip, and Weston. You can learn more about each brand and their featured products below.
Whether you’re an avid gardener or hunter, Nesco/American Harvest offers a variety of dehydrators and accessories to fit your needs. Three of their most popular models, the FD-1010, the FD-1040, and the FD-75, have the ability to adjust temperature and vary the number of trays used (the FD-1040 can accommodate up to 20 trays!) These dehydrators automatically adjust their air flow to the number of trays in use, ensuring that your food dehydrates to perfection every time.
Excalibur dehydrators use a patented Parallexx airflow system to remove moisture from food, giving you outstanding results when preserving everything from strawberries and mangoes to potatoes and venison, beef or buffalo meat. The handsome appearance of Excalibur products makes them an attractive addition to any kitchen. All models are built in the USA and have exceptionally solid case and tray construction.
As mentioned above, the L’Equip Pro Filter Dehydrator is one of the best on the market for keeping airborne particles out of your food. The Filter Pro pulls all air through a high efficiency filter element in its base before warming and circulating it through every tray. The L’Equip dehydrator's computer control analyzes dehydrator's temperature constantly to ensure a stable food drying environment, and the temperature is adjustable between 95° and 156° F. The Filter Pro includes a 24 hour auto-shutoff timer.
Weston’s stainless steel food dehydrator features chrome plated steel racks, a large 1,000 watt heating element, strong 7-inch fan, and 10 hour timer. Running this machine is simple and cleaning up afterward is even easier. The P1000 food dehydrator features uniform food drying and little or no tray rotation, along with versatility in how many trays you use (from zero to ten). This model makes yogurt with its optional yogurt cups.
In addition to accessories for your food dehydrator, there are other items that can make the project even more efficient. When preparing your food for dehydration, we recommend a mandolin to slice your food thinly and uniformly. The thinner your food is cut, the faster and more efficiently it will dry. And cutting your food uniformly is a major key to having it all finish drying at the same time. Thinner-sliced food does take more tray space, but it’s well worth it, both in efficiency and quality of results. Using a quality slicer makes the process go quickly and easily.
The PL8 Professional Mandoline from Progressive is the first fully-contained, dishwasher safe mandoline with no unsafe or loose parts. It’s extremely safe and easy to use for prepping your fruit, vegetables, or even meat for the dehydrating process. Learn more or buy »
When the dehydrating process is done (and you’ve sampled a few of the new snacks or treats you just made), you’ll need some storage containers to keep your food tasty and nutritious. Browse our selection of food storage options to find the right fit for your use. »
Warranty length is an important factor to consider, as they can vary greatly. But what matters even more is the actual quality of the machine, and the two aren’t always as correlated as you might think. Some disreputable companies offer a long warranty, even lifetime, on very cheaply-made dehydrators, counting on many people to not bother making warranty claims when they fail—or they may not actually plan to stand behind the warranty when claims are made.
The best strategy is to buy from a reputable retailer. At Pleasant Hill Grain, we carry only quality food dehydrators from companies we know to stand behind their products.
Pleasant Hill Grain provides a superior online shopping experience for home and kitchen products, including our excellent selection of food dehydrators. We’re a factory authorized dealer for every dehydrator we offer, and we also carry a wide selection of accessories, appliances, and cook’s tools. Most items are stocked in our own facility for fast and reliable shipping to you.
Have questions? Please call us at the number below—we’d love to help you select the food dehydrator that’s perfect for your needs!
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