The 4 Greatest Meals Dehydrators of 2025, Examined & Reviewed

Meals dehydrating is among the most underrated preserving strategies a house prepare dinner can use. Not solely do correctly dehydrated meals final about so long as their canned or pickled counterparts, however additionally they take up much less area. And dehydrating is a value efficient technique to make shelf-stable snack meals.

Virtually 20 years in the past, I used to be employed onto the Meals Community present Good Eats. As an intern, I had the tedious job of filling and constructing dozens of beef jerky drying rigs out of field followers, air filters, and bungee cords for a phase on the present. Whereas the jerky was really scrumptious, it has taken me about this lengthy to recover from that DIY contraption and truly begin purchasing for a house dehydrator. With a aim to discover a dehydrator that I might use to protect seasonal meals bounties and assist me fulfill the snack needs of my two children, I got down to discover one of the best dehydrator for many residence cooks. Listed here are the 4 that I beloved most after testing them to make apple chips, kale chips, and beef jerky, after which deep-cleaning the machines.

The Winners, at a Look 

With precision temperature management in addition to Hold Heat and Quick/Uncooked options, the Magic Mill 7 Tray Meals Dehydrator is straightforward sufficient for newcomers, with sufficient bells and whistles to fulfill fans. This meals dehydrator was one of many quieter fashions I examined, and the stainless-steel trays have been simple to wash. It readily suits the area constraints of standard residence kitchens and could be moved round because of its facet handles.

Although it contains one much less tray than my favourite dehydrator, this premium choice from Cosori has about 16 inches extra cubic space for meals whereas nonetheless becoming on my counter. The digital time and temperature controls have been exact and straightforward to learn, however there are fewer presets than some machines I examined. 

If it is advisable dehydrate meals in close to silence, that is the machine for you! You’ll have fewer temperature alternatives (this machine strikes up and down in five- and six-degree increments), however the highly effective fan does an incredible job of sustaining these temperatures whereas working practically noiselessly. 

Whereas I wasn’t fairly positive concerning the plastic tray and upward-flowing fan of this mannequin, it held its personal towards costlier and better-equipped meals dehydrators. This Nesco Dehydrator was easy to make use of, has loads of temperature choices, and contains dishwasher-safe plastic trays. 

The Exams

• Apple Chip Take a look at: After thinly slicing apples on a mandoline, I ran every dehydrator on the producer’s advisable temperature for apple chips and famous the time it took every to dry the moist, juicy slices absolutely. 
• Kale Chip Take a look at:  For this check, I reduce kale leaves into bite-sized items and massaged them with olive oil and salt. I began every machine at 145˚F for one hour. Then I decreased the temperature to 115˚F for an extra one to 2 hours. This check helped me decide how the dehydrators dealt with temperature adjustments and delicate, lower-temperature drying. 
• Beef Jerky Take a look at: Virtually each mannequin advisable drying jerky between 158˚ and 165˚F, so I thinly sliced flank steak, seasoned it with soy sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder, and loaded up every machine to run for 4 to 6 hours. 
• Cleanup Take a look at: Following the producer’s directions, I cooled and cleaned every machine after use. I washed the racks between exams by hand or within the dishwasher, if relevant. 

What We Realized

Fan Location is Extra Vital Than Wattage 

Since meals dehydrators use a mix of low warmth and a fan to attract moisture out of meals, you would possibly assume {that a} highly effective dehydrator would wish extra wattage to dry successfully. With one exception, a lot of the dehydrators I examined had a wattage between 400 and 600; the Excalibur 9-Tray Electrical Meals Dehydrator is the one mannequin with 1000 watts. Increased-wattage dehydrators didn’t dry extra successfully; fan placement was a extra important issue. Fashions with the fan positioned on the again of the machine, perpendicular to the trays, just like the Cosori Premium Stainless Metal Dehydrator and Magic Mill 7 Tray Meals Dehydrator Machine, dried meals extra evenly than fashions with followers on the prime or backside, like Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Meals Dehydrator (prime fan) and the Nesco Digital 5 Rectangular Digital Clear Tray Dehydrator (backside fan).

Digital Temperature Controls Are Vital for Peace of Thoughts 

As with different strategies of meals preservation, dehydrating is most secure when utilizing examined recipes. Exact temperature will produce dehydrated meals that’s free from spoilage. The Excalibur 9-Tray Electrical Meals Dehydrator had an old-school dial-style temperature knob that didn’t give me confidence that delicate meals, like kale chips, have been really getting dried at 115˚F. A temperature verify with a digital thermometer decided it was usually operating about 10˚F decrease than the knob recommended, including to general dry time. Three of my prime picks have digital temperature controls that may be modified by the diploma, whereas the Samson Silent 6-Tray Meals Dehydrator has a digital management that may be modified by five-and six-degree intervals.  

A Compact, Straightforward-to-Transfer Dehydrator Will Get Extra Use  

So as to get all of those meals dehydrators examined in a well timed method, I had them staggered round my home on totally different shops. The bigger machines—Excalibur, Samson Silent,  Cosori Premium—have been tougher to put and transfer round. The Excalibur didn’t match on my standard-depth counters and needed to be perched at an angle on our 36-inch-deep bar to permit sufficient air movement. Different fashions, together with the Cosori Premium, Magic Mill, and smaller Cosori Mini Meals Dehydrator, have facet handles that make them simpler to choose up and place on the counter. Whenever you’re contemplating any equipment that can want storage and an environment friendly place to run, search for a mannequin that’s compact sufficient to retailer, raise, and maneuver however nonetheless holds an honest quantity of meals.

Talking of quantity: After operating seven dehydrators in my home over the course of a number of weeks, I do assume that the sound a dehydrator places out issues. Though the Samson Silent wasn’t fully with out some noise, it was vastly quieter than the Excalibur. All 4 of the successful meals dehydrators will probably be as simple in your ears as attainable, given their fan varieties.

The Standards: What to Search for in a Meals Dehydrator

Select a meals dehydrator that’s lower than 20 inches deep and has a fan at the back of the machine that strikes warmth throughout the meals horizontally. Digital temperature and time controls will make utilizing them simpler, and your recipes extra prone to end up effectively. Quieter machines are preferrred, particularly in the event you plan to protect moist meals like backyard peppers that may take days to dry fully. Stainless-steel racks are sturdier than plastic and could be simpler to switch since they arrive in common sizes. 

Our Favourite Meals Dehydrators

What we favored: With a reputation like Magic Mill, you may’t go improper, am I proper? Jokes apart, this meals dehydrator was probably the most intuitive to make use of of the machines I examined. The seven stainless trays didn’t bend in any respect as I moved them out and in of the machine and washed them. I appreciated the Hold Heat perform in case I need to set a timed cycle however wasn’t capable of verify meals straight away. And the facet handles made me assured transferring this round my kitchen.

What we didn’t like: The Magic Mill 7 Tray Meals Dehydrator Machine was one of many smaller dehydrators I examined, however the compact inside appeared to assist it in drying juicer meals like apples and flank steak. Plus, the smaller footprint will match extra readily in a typical kitchen cupboard or pantry. 

Key Specs

• Variety of trays included: 7 stainless-steel trays 
• Temperature vary: 95° to 176°F
• Dimensions: 15.5 x 11.3 x 10.8 inches
• Weight: 16 kilos
• Watts: 600 watts 

What we favored: This machine may be named one of the best dehydrator: It went minute to minute with the Magic Mill on drying time and likewise has quite a lot of the identical successful options in a larger-capacity machine, like a again fan placement, stainless-steel trays, and digital time and temperature controls. It was equally simple to maneuver round and retailer with facet physique handles.

What we didn’t like: This Corosi machine would not have any presets just like the Magic Mill or its diminutive buddy, the Cosori Mini Meals Dehydrator.

Key Specs

• Variety of trays included: 6 stainless-steel trays 
• Temperature vary: 95° to 165°F
• Dimensions: 17.9 x 13.5 x 12.2 inches
• Weight: 18.1 kilos 
• Watts: 600 watts

What we favored: Whereas not fairly silent, the Samson machine was the quietest of all of the machines we examined. It’s about as giant because the Cosori Premium with stainless-steel trays that have been simple to wash. Just like the Cosori, it holds extra meals than the Magic Mill, nevertheless it has a light-weight plastic physique that makes it simple to maneuver round. The digital show is straightforward to regulate and I might learn it clearly, even from throughout the kitchen.  

What we didn’t like: Though it boasted a digital temperature show, the temperatures diversified by five- or six-degree intervals. The door design felt low cost because it was a single plastic piece that was held in with grooves on both facet of the opening; In the meantime, the tray-holding cleats contained in the machine have been overdesigned with a smaller cleat inside each that makes it annoying to load and unload. 

Key Specs

• Variety of trays included: 6 stainless-steel trays
• Temperature vary: 95 ˚F to 158 ˚F
• Dimensions: 13.5 x 18 x 12.5 inches
• Weight: 13 kilos 
• Watts: 400

What we favored: I did not count on to love this little machine as a lot as I did! Whereas unboxing it, I nervous the machine wouldn’t be environment friendly and that the trays wouldn’t be sturdy. The clear plastic trays are light-weight and stacked effectively, and allowed me to watch meals inside with ease. The design of the fan (beneath the trays) appeared to do a greater job at evenly distributing air than top-placement followers, though not in addition to followers on the again of a machine. The machine prices lower than $70, so it’s a winner for each finances consumers and people with small areas. 

What we didn’t like: The plastic trays are top-rack dishwasher-safe, which implies you may solely wash two at a time, otherwise you’ll must hand-wash them. Whereas Nesco makes substitute trays for its different fashions, and the opposite three winners have commonplace stainless-steel trays which might be simple to switch, Nesco doesn’t appear to make substitute trays for this machine. If the plastic trays break or warp, I’m unsure it could be attainable so as to add or substitute trays sooner or later. 

Key Specs

• Variety of trays included: 5 clear plastic trays
• Temperature vary: 95° to 158°F
• Dimensions: 12.6 x 10.71 x 9.65 inches
• Weight: 5 kilos
• Watts: 420 watts

The Competitors

• Cosori Mini Meals Dehydrator: Cosori appears to supply well-made and environment friendly meals dehydrators. This one nearly made the winners’ checklist for its easy-to-use presets and compact dimension. Nonetheless, the Magic Mill provides you an identical good controls and a bigger capability for just some {dollars} extra. Plus, its stainless-steel trays warped barely within the dishwasher.
• Excalibur 9-Tray Electrical Meals Dehydrator: It is a actually well-loved dehydrator model, and I anticipated to be impressed. As an alternative, this machine feels dated (for instance, it doesn’t have a digital management panel) and is big, heavy, loud, and annoying to wash. It does an excellent job drying meals, although, and is the popular mannequin of senior editor Grace Kelly, who used it when she was a prep prepare dinner and now owns one.
• Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster Meals Dehydrator: Contemplating how impressed I used to be with the Nesco Digital, I assumed this traditional design would win massive. However for this worth, you should buy a mannequin that’s simpler to retailer and clear, and doesn’t lose effectivity as you add trays.

FAQs

How do you retailer dehydrated meals?

Dehydrated meals are finest saved in clear, hermetic containers. Keep away from tightly packing dehydrated meals into the containers, so spoilage is straightforward to identify. Like different kinds of preserved meals, retailer dehydrated meals in a cool, darkish place for long-term storage.

Is dehydrated meat fit for human consumption?

Sure, dried and dehydrated meat is among the oldest types of meals preservation. You’ll want to begin any meat dehydrating initiatives with the freshest meat attainable. Heating the meat to at the very least 160°F whereas dehydrating ensures that dangerous micro organism are destroyed.

What meals can and may’t you dehydrate?

Numerous meals could be dehydrated together with: 

• Fruit: Similar to apples, pears, bananas, berries, and even melons. Fruit will also be puréed and dehydrated into fruit leather-based. 
• Greens and herbs: Similar to carrots, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and leafy greens like kale and spinach. Peppers and herbs will also be dehydrated and floor to make use of in cooking. 
• Proteins: Suppose lean cuts of beef like flank steak and venison. Even fish like salmon could be dehydrated and changed into jerky. Hen and turkey could be dehydrated, although they’re extra usually included in ready meals (like tenting stews) than dehydrated as jerky. 

Meals preservation specialists, together with the Nationwide Middle for Meals Preservation at College of Georgia, advocate towards drying the next at residence: 

• Excessive-fat meals: Together with nuts, dairy, and meats with a better fats proportion. 
• Uncooked eggs: Eggs can carry a excessive danger of dangerous micro organism.

Why We’re the Consultants

• Meghan Splawn is a meals author and recipe developer who has labored in meals media since 2006. 
• She labored for 10 years within the check kitchen with Alton Brown, the place she repeatedly had the duty of testing tools and constructing DIY alternate options. 
• For this story, Meghan dehydrated seven kilos of apples, seven bunches of kale, and 5 kilos of flank steak, and he or she will probably be forcing her children to snack on them for the subsequent two months (at the very least).