Having a food dehydrator on hand is incredibly useful for those who enjoy creating batches of apple and kale chips, beef jerky, or dried citrus rounds for cocktail garnishes. If you are starting out, a mandoline slicer is an essential companion for your prep work. Experts often use these machines to dehydrate sweet potatoes to create natural, organic dog treats. After spending time drying, crisping, and jerking through various produce and meats, we have compiled a list of the best food dehydrators available to suit every space and budget. For further self-sufficiency, consider checking out our head-to-head comparison of gravity-fed water filtration systems or our guides to the best indoor gardening systems and portable power stations.
Excalibur 8-Tray Dehydrator
Excalibur is a legendary name in the food dehydrator market, widely recognized for its commercial and professional units. However, the company also offers a series of consumer-grade dehydrators that provide large tray capacities at a very accessible price point. This 8-tray, 7.2-cubic-foot model comes equipped with all the modern features one would expect. It features stainless steel trays, though it is important to note they are not dishwasher-safe. The unit includes an interior light for monitoring, mesh and solid fruit-roll sheets, French doors, and a digital timer. You can pause the operation to add extra minutes if needed, and there is a free digital recipe book titled “Preserve It Naturally” accessible via a QR code on the side of the unit. During testing with fruits, tomatoes, beef, and marinated salmon, this machine completed the task in nearly half the time compared to an older, bargain-basement Nesco Snackmaster. The 700-watt motor is robust yet remarkably quiet; in an open-concept kitchen and living room setting, it clocked in at 40 decibels, allowing it to run without needing to turn up the volume on the television. While the one-year warranty could be longer, it remains an extremely user-friendly device that will satisfy most casual users.
Cosori Dehydrator
This old-school style Cosori dehydrator utilizes stackable plastic rings and a base-mounted fan. It is favored for delivering consistent results at a competitive price. Cosori maintains a massive library of dehydrated food recipes, which ranks among the best available. The recipes are so compelling that you will certainly consider dehydrating entire batches of chili. The primary drawbacks involve its construction, which is mostly plastic—albeit BPA-free—and the fact that the dishwasher-safe trays do not fit easily into most standard dishwashers. The cylindrical shape can be awkward to place on a crowded countertop, but since it is not the most visually appealing model, it is likely best stored in a garage or basement.
Compact and Solar Options
The cylindrical model features a base fan and stackable trays that nest into each other, allowing the unit to compress down to 6 inches or expand to 10.4 inches, depending on your batch size. It measures 12.6 inches in diameter, roughly the size of a vinyl record, and the trays are dishwasher-safe. Unlike some models, it does not include fruit-roll mats. During testing, it managed to dry thin slices of sweet potato at 131 degrees Fahrenheit in about six hours, which is quite impressive for its size. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is a lightweight solar-powered dehydrator measuring 33 inches long and 16 inches wide. It is excellent for off-grid living, homesteading, or emergencies during power outages. While it dries sweet potatoes in about eight hours, users should be aware that the risk of insects and vermin increases significantly if you are using it to dry meat.
Other Tested Models
The Magic Mill Pro Food Dehydrator Machine, priced at 140 dollars, features seven trays and a fast-acting double-time mode, though it consumes significant counter space relative to its capacity. The Nesco FD-41GB Snackmaster Jr. for 79 dollars is a compact cube-shaped dehydrator with easy-to-use dials, but its capacity is under 4 square feet, which makes the prep work of slicing and marinating feel like too much of a chore. The Nesco FD-7SSD Digital Food Dehydrator at 186 dollars is a solid choice with seven trays and programmable settings, but it is smaller and more expensive than our top pick, the Excalibur. The Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro for 80 dollars is a utilitarian, stacked-ring model that is extremely reliable, though the screens may eventually crack. Finally, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro at 320 dollars acts as a multitasker; however, its four-tray capacity for dehydrating is limited, and at this price point, it is outclassed by other dedicated air fryers.
