Review: Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator

In case you’re on the lookout for a small, simple, and cheap food dehydrator, then Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator is the best choice for you. This compact yet surprisingly powerful unit works based on a one-touch operation system. And we mean that quite literally. All it will take for this food dehydrator to get to work is for you to press one button. Voila! No fuss, no complicated controls, or paying extra for bells and whistles. For undemanding, small-scale users, this simplified and downsized food dehydrator will be a match made in heaven.

While this unit might not boast some of the more advanced features that expensive food dehydrators do, you can’t say that the Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator is not up to the task. Whether you want a home dehydrator for drying your own herbs, to make healthy snacks, or anything else in between, this food dehydrator can tackle it all.

Of course, that’s not to say that the Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator doesn’t have its faults. Read our honest review of this budget-friendly food dehydrator to see if it offers good value for the money, making it a right match for you, or do its limited features pose an issue for your needs.

Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator Key Features

• 280 watts motor
• One-touch operation
• Dishwasher safe trays
• 5 clear BPA-free trays
• Adjustable shelf height

The Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator is meant to be as simple as it can get, but still offer good performance to the user. This food dehydrator certainly fulfills that promise! At an incredibly low price, this unit won’t offer any of the more advanced features and options pricier models do, but it will surprise you with its drying power. The motor that runs this small unit is silent, energy-efficient, and not too powerful, but in relation to the size of this machine, 280 watts of power is just enough. The hot air is circulated from bottom to the top, dispersing evenly through the trays for an even, consistent drying process.

The trays are fully transparent, making it easy to monitor the foods as they dehydrate. Another important thing to note is that the trays are made from BPA-free plastic, so you won’t have to worry about chemicals leeching into your food as it dries. The diameter of the trays is 9.5 inches, giving you roughly 3 square feet of drying space with all 5 trays. What’s even more alluring about these trays, however, is the height adjustability. To accommodate the different heights of different foods, this dehydrator gives you the option to increase or decrease shelf height as a way to ensure that thick orange slices are dried with the same perfection as petite strawberry ones.

This cheap, simple food dehydrator is ideal for beginners. Simple to use, it only has one button—no other controls or settings are needed. The trays are also dishwasher safe, so you can count on this Chefman dehydrator to be easy to clean. Further, the compact size of this unit ensures that it’s easily stored when not in use, whether away in a cupboard or on the countertop.

Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator Pros

• Easy to use
• Clear trays make it easy to monitor the process
• Easy to clean
• Adjustable height of the trays
• Compact
• Cheap
• Free access to Club Chefman

In case the fact that this food dehydrator has only one button didn’t give it away, Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator is a simple unit with no fancy perks or options. While some might find this a downside, most users welcome a simplified approach. The ease of use is further ensured with all-clear trays, as you can monitor the process without having to take them out mid-drying. Simply take a peek while this dehydrator is doing its thing and you’ll see if it’s time for you to take your snacks out.

Another great thing about the 5 transparent trays that are included with the unit is that you can adjust the height of the drying space. Take out some of them if you want to dehydrate chunkier, thicker items that can’t be sliced to fit between standard trays. This is also great if you want to use a food dehydrator for crafts like paper mache.

As is the case with all Chefman products, you’ll also get free access to their special website full of great recipes and useful video tutorials for food dehydration.

Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator Cons

• Not suitable for heavy-duty use
• The capacity could be too small for your needs
• No timer or adjustable thermostat

For most people who bought the Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator, its simplicity and straightforwardness are what they like about it. However, for some, the modest capabilities of this affordable food dehydrator simply don’t cut it. Unless you’re OK with having a food dehydrator with only the basic functions and small capacity, this particular model won’t be a good fit. For instance, if you have a big family, low patience for doing multiple batches of dehydrating, or want to use the food dehydrator frequently, some of the more sturdier and bigger units could be a better match. Check out the NESCO FD-1018A Gardenmaster Dehydrator or the Excalibur 3948CDB—two of the top models in the food dehydrating world.

Additionally, as there is no built-in thermostat, it’s easy to burn your food or even cause a fire if you forget about turning it off on time. 

The Verdict

Keeping in mind the extremely affordable price of the Chefman 5 Tray Round Food Dehydrator, it will definitely offer good value for the money. It does its job surprisingly well, even without a built-in timer and adjustable thermostat. Ideal for beginners or singles, this compact food dehydrator won’t take up too much space in your kitchen, but it can be adjusted to accommodate items of various sizes. On the other hand, the limited functions and capacity of this budget-friendly unit might not be the best match if you want a dehydrator for heavy-duty use.

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