Top 5 Food Dehydrators for Beginners
If you’re looking at a dehydrator, you probably already know the many benefits this appliance can bring you. It is a sure-shot way to make your diet healthier, reduce your consumption of preservatives-filled snacks (when you’ve got home-dried kale chips, why buy from the store), preserve food that would otherwise be binned, and save money, all at the same time. But when you are just starting to dehydrate your own food, you want a food dehydrator that’s simple to use, easy to clean, and performs reliably. After all, you don’t want it to end up in the Bermuda Triangle of your kitchen where appliances enter but never make it out to be used. Although, the majority of dehydrators on the market are pretty straightforward to use, these 5 food dehydrators for beginners are perfectly optimized to ensure you can get the best results with minimal hassle or complications.
If you are new to the world of dehydrating food, these 5 food dehydrators for beginners are the best choice for you! Go ahead, read on.
Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster
The digitally controlled Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster is ideal if you’re just starting out. Equipped with an adjustable thermostat that goes from 90°-160° F and a well-detailed, 52-recipe instruction manual (that you absolutely wouldn’t want to stop reading mid-way), it won’t leave you wondering for how long you need to dry your food.
It comes with 4 BPA-free trays that are more than enough for beginners. However, if at some later date you do feel the need for more capacity, you can expand them by adding up to 20 trays. The dehydrator includes a tray for making fruit leather, a tray for drying herbs, a clean-a-screen, and a pack of spices for curing jerky. Perfect for a feast, isn’t it?
Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator
When it comes to ease of use, this is one of the most popular food dehydrators for beginners. In addition to its digital thermostat that can be adjusted with a few clicks, the Hamilton Beach 32100A food dehydrator features a 48-hour timer with auto shut-off that will prevent any mishaps with overheating. The transparent lid will allow you to monitor your food’s progress in the top tray without having to open or shut it off, coming in handy for people who are still unsure about the ideal dehydrating time. Its 5 stackable trays, 1 fine mesh, and 1 solid tray ensure that you can dry a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices—impressing your family and saving you money in the coming grocery runs. After all, you don’t need to get that box of organic rosemary from Whole Foods if you have some preserved at home.
Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro
The top mounted fan, patented Converga-Flow drying system, and 600 watts of power in the Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro make dehydrating food a foolproof process. Equipped with 5 trays (that can be expanded to 12 if needed) and useful accessories, including 2 fruit roll sheets, 2 clean-a-screen flexible screens with fine mesh ideal for drying herbs, and 3 original jerky spice packets, its got everything you could need to start your own dehydrating journey. The adjustable temperature control that ranges from 95°-160° F further makes drying different foods a simple and easy process. But that’s not all. This dehydrator also comes with an opaque vita-save that blocks light, preserving the nutritional value of your food. Yes, we meant it when we said that the dehydrator is a sure-shot way to include healthy meals and snacks in your diet.
Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital
The basic Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital comes with 6 trays that can be upgraded to double that number if you happen to need more as you get acquainted with your new food dehydrator. The bottom mounted fan will spread hot air evenly throughout the trays, so you won’t have to rotate trays to make sure all of your food is being dried at the same pace. Of course, the digital thermostat also aids significantly in helping you achieve consistent drying. If even that isn’t enough, the clear top will enable you to monitor the process without opening the unit or shutting it off. This is also one of the food dehydrators for beginners that comes with fruit leather and fine mesh trays, so you can create your favourite snacks without hassle. Its also ideal for making jerky with meat, poultry, and seafood, and comes with jerky spice and cure samples. If that’s still not enough to convince you and you’re concerned about cleaning, the fact that the trays are dishwasher safe surely has to tip the scales.
Aicok Electric Food Dehydrator
The Aicok Electric Food Dehydrator comes with 5 stackable trays are entirely transparent from all sides, allowing you to keep track of the drying process without having to open or turn off the unit. If you’re an anxious personality who often stares inside the oven while the cookies bake, you’ll find this feature to be particularly alluring. Trust us, we know, we’ve been there too. It also features an adjustable thermostat and a powerful top-mounted fan that disperses hot air evenly throughout the rectangular trays for consistent drying and mouthwatering end results. For such an affordable appliance, it’s capacity is sure to impress too! But not to worry, the price doesn’t compromise quality. The trays are BPA-free, ETL and FDA certified, and dishwasher-safe.
The dehydrator comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 2-year warranty, features that are sure to make you feel more confident in your purchase as a first time buyer.