NutriChef PKFD52/54/58 Review

The name NutriChef has long been synonymous with quality cookware and kitchen appliances. The company also offers a series of affordable box-styled food dehydrators. Today, we’re going to review one of its model that’s an ideal entry-level food dehydrator for novices interested in processing a variety of foods. Priced under $100, the NutriChef PKFD52 is a horizontal flow dehydrator with box design functions similar to a typical electric oven that holds shelved trays at pre-determined levels.

The heating element and fan are situated in the rear of the dehydrator, ensuring that all trays receive an even amount of heat. The position of the heating element and fan also prevents either component from becoming exposed to foods or juices spilling through the trays, making clean-up that much easier. The well-insulated box styled dehydrators blow air to the front of each tray, which then circulates throughout. The design ensures that food on each level dries thoroughly and simultaneously without the need to rotate the trays or the food. As a result no food gets over or under dried despite its placement on the tray. But these are not the only benefits offered by the NutriChef PKFD52. Keep reading as we break down every aspect of this dehydrator to bring you its good and bad—helping you determine whether its the right match for your kitchen and dehydrating needs. That’s not all, we’re also reviewing the NutriChef PKFD54 and NutriChef PKFD58 to help you decide!

NutriChef PKFD52

The NutriChef PKFD52 model measures 14.6 inches wide x 13.8 inches long x 9.8 inches tall and weighs a little more than 18 pounds. So, the device fits neatly in the kitchen without taking up an excessive amount of space. The fact that its rectangular in shape instead of round further helps in storing this device in cabinets or even finding the right place for it on kitchen countertops. The front features a tightly-fit glass door which enables you to view the contents of the food inside during the dehydration process. That’s not all. The stain-resistant interior and trays make clean-up a breeze—a benefit you shouldn’t overlook in not just a dehydrator but any kitchen appliance.

The Trays

The square or rectangular design of box dehydrator trays make it easier to arrange food slices as they are void of the hole in the middle (which is commonly found in round dehydrators), and the PKFD52 is no exception. This dehydrator comes with 6 sturdy plastic trays that measure 14.3 inches x 11.6 inches x 0.4 inches. Altogether, the 6 trays provide nearly 7 square feet of space for dehydrating foods (we’d say that’s not too shabby). The trays can be easily cleaned with warm, soapy water, no fuss, no stress.

The fact that the trays are shelved and slide in and out also enables you to remove every other tray, if desired, to dry larger foods. However, unlike stackable units, the PKFD52 does not allow you to add additional trays simultaneously. Once you reach that level in your dehydration journey where you want to dry large batches or experiment more, you’ll need to buy an additional machine.

User-Friendly Operation

The PKFD52 provides a powerful 800 watts motor which is considerably more than comparably-sized models for the number of trays and overall size of the dehydrator. As a result, food preservation takes place more efficiently, saving you time and getting your food ready quicker.

The user-friendly controls consist of the on/off switch and the rotary temperature gauge which allows you to adjust the internal temperature from 84°-158° F. Here, we’d like to point out that the temperature range of this machine doesn’t meet the USDA temperature guidelines for drying jerky—the temperature of the machine should be 160°-165° F when drying meats to avoid growth of bacteria. If that’s your goal, we recommend looking at some other models by Nesco or Excalibur. The controls are located on the top and rear of the device. Some may find this inconvenient if planning on using the dehydrator on a countertop beneath cupboards, but for most people it’s not a deal breaker.

Dehydrating foods simply entails filling the trays, inserting the trays, turning the unit on, and setting the temperature. Unfortunately, the affordable unit does not have a timing mechanism, which necessitates the use of an independent timer. Once the food dries sufficiently, simply turn the dehydrator off.

NutriChef PKFD54

The NutriChef model PKFD54 is another model to consider. It’s slightly larger and offers more features. The box-styled food dehydrator measures 18.5 inches x 14.2 inches x 11.4 inches and weighs 15.5 pounds. Like the PKFD52 model, the upgraded version also has 6 sturdy plastic trays. It also emits 800 watts of power to sufficiently dry foods through the rear-mounted heating element and fan. The difference between the PKFD52 and the PKFD54 models lies in the control system.

Once again, the controls are located to the top and rear of the unit. The system features a power on/off button, a Celsius/Fahrenheit selection button, (+) and (–) buttons, and a timer button along with a digital readout display. The push button and digital display enable quick and easy setting of the temperature from 84°-158° F in 30-minute increments. The timer function enables you to program the device for up to 24 hours and boasts an automatic switch off when dehydration finishes.

NutriChef PKFD58

The PKFD58 is the largest of the 50 series NutriChef food dehydrators. The unit measures 18.6 inches x 14.3 inches x 16.1 inches and weighs 25.52 pounds. The device is ideal for anyone wanting more internal dehydrating space, as the PKFD58 comes with 10 trays measuring 14.6 inches x 11.6 inches x 0.4 inches each. In total, the trays provide nearly 12 square feet of dehydrating space. The trays in all three NutriChef models are the same size and constructed from the same sturdy plastic. In this way, they can be used interchangeably.The larger NutriChef also boasts the same digital push-button control system and functions using 800 watts of power.

Overall, all three of these NutriChef dehydrators make a good choice. You just have to take into consideration all your needs before making the purchase and you’ll be good. All of the NutriChef dehydrators come with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.