The 4 Best Food Dehydrators of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Our top pick is the Magic Mill Food Dehydrator
Stocking your pantry with non-perishable snacks like apple chips, fruit leather, and beef jerky is not a frugal task. Neither is filling your spice rack with all the dried herbs you might need to flavor your dishes. Turns out, there's a kitchen gadget that can make all of those things and more.
Food dehydrators are growing in popularity — and for good reason. The appliance removes the moisture from foods in order to preserve them for up to five years. While there is, of course, financial investment to be made upfront, many food dehydrators will save you money if you plan to use them regularly rather than buying packaged dried snacks. Bonus: Dehydrating foods also concentrate and intensify their flavors. Sounds like our air fryers are about to get some company on the countertop. We tested 23 of the best food dehydrators to find the best in class. We evaluated each model for ease of use, temperature range, consistency, noise level, and more.
Here are the best food dehydrators PEOPLE Tested.
Best Overall: Magic Mill MFD-7100 Food Dehydrator Machine
Pros
The most user-friendly of all the dehydrators we tested, the Magic Mill easily and evenly dried the food we tested.
The door is clear so you can see the dehydration progress.
It has digital time and temperature controls that are easy to use.
Cons
This model must run empty for 30 minutes before first use, and it was slow to dry herbs.
Ease-of-use is the name of the game with food dehydrators. What should be a fun way to make homemade snacks just turns into a bummer if you've got a complicated set-up or loads of hand-washing to do afterward.
The machine must run empty for 30 minutes before the first use, but once it's ready, everything about the Magic Mill is easy. The machine dried evenly on every rack, and the food peeled off easily after dehydration. Once the desired temperature was reached, it stayed there for nearly the entire dehydrating process. A medium-sized, medium-capacity appliance, the Magic Mill takes up a moderate amount of counter space. Curious cooks can watch the dehydration progress through the clear door, which stays open when you need to access the contents on the trays. We also liked the digital time and temperature controls and found them easy to use.
We dehydrated thyme and fruit (to make a "fruit leather") in testing each of the 23 models. Like most that we tested, the Magic Mill was slow to dry the thyme sprigs. But with the addition of a special fruit leather tray, the process of converting fruit puree to a chewy leather took just over four hours. The fruit dehydrated evenly with a quality end result.
The Magic Mill holds 10 dishwasher-safe trays that easily slide in and out like oven trays, and the machine is quiet while in use. It also features a timer (from 30 minutes up to 24 hours), a keep-warm feature, and an automatic shut-off. Between its price point and performance, we found the Magic Mill to be an ideal option for many buyers.
Price at time of publish: $199.99 (orig. $249.99)
Dimensions: 18 x 14 x 17 inches | Weight: 21.4 pounds | Temperature Range: 95 to 165 F | Wattage: 600 | Dishwasher-Safe Trays: Yes
Best Budget: Elite Gourmet EFD319 Food Dehydrator
Pros
This is a solid, easy-to-use starter model if you're new to food dehydrating.
It has a small footprint.
Cons
It's very basic and a bit noisier than other models.
The Elite Gourmet Food Dehydrator is a small but mighty entry-level option among food dehydrators. It's a very basic model, with five round BPA-free plastic drawers, and lacks the bells and whistles of some of the other models we tested. But with a low list price, it delivers everything you need to try out food dehydration.
During testing, we noted that food dried more quickly on the bottom than on the top and middle levels, and the dehydrator never reached the desired set temperature. That said, it did dehydrate fairly evenly, making it one of the best of the compact models we tested.
A small machine with a small footprint, the Elite Gourmet's capacity still felt larger than the other compact models. The controls are very basic, as there is just one temperature knob that is not highly adjustable if you're looking for specific temperatures. While in use, the noise level with this model was medium to low.
If you're new to food dehydrating or need a small and economical model, the Elite Gourmet is a solid bet.
Price at time of publish: $39.98
Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 9 inches | Weight: 4.25 pounds | Temperature Range: 95 to 158 F | Wattage: 350 | Dishwasher-Safe Trays: Yes
Best Splurge: Tribest Sedona Express Digital Food Dehydrator
Pros
The digital display and sleek look make this efficient appliance a visually appealing addition to your kitchen.
It has a large capacity.
It dried fruit evenly from top to bottom.
Cons
It's tall, so it may not fit under all cabinets.
If you're going to go all-out on a food dehydrator, the Tribest Sedona Express might be the one for you. With 11 trays that slide in and out of the machine, you've got plenty of room to work with, and the appearance is modern and sleek with its digital controls. Of all the machines we tried, this one is the most aesthetically pleasing, with a clean and simple design. It's an appliance that you wouldn't mind leaving out on the counter.
In addition to winning the aesthetic contest, this dehydrator also won the least disruptive award — minimal noise from this quiet workhorse simply faded into the background. In testing, we found that it evenly dried from top to bottom — and quickly, to boot. Fruit leather came off the trays easily, in one piece, and in less than four hours. It's got a large capacity without being too bulky. Since this model is taller rather than wider, however, it may not fit underneath all kitchen cabinets.
Price at time of publish: $470.99 (orig. $529)
Dimensions: 17.5 x 12 x 14 inches | Weight: 20.4 pounds | Temperature Range: 77 to 167 F | Wattage: 470 | Dishwasher-Safe Trays: Yes
Best for Small Spaces: Brod & Taylor Sahara Folding Food Dehydrator
Pros
This is the only dehydrator we tested that fully collapses into a compact carrying case for storage.
It's durable and has an auto shut-off feature.
Cons
This model takes a bit of time to set up.
It dried fruit unevenly in our tests.
While the Sahara Folding Food Dehydrator is designed to be stored away with minimal bulk thanks to its collapsable construction, when it's in use, it takes up considerable space on your countertop. Many of the machines we tested occupy more vertical space, but this one is rather wide. But although it has a large capacity, it's got a simple utilitarian look to it. We found that it feels durable, too, and it's got an auto shut-off feature.
In our fruit leather test, the drying proved to be uneven. While the bottom and middle layers dried well, the top was only about 80 percent dried. The right side also appeared to dry more slowly than the left on every level. While the results weren't perfect, given the easy storage aspect, we'd recommend this model if your priority is a good quality machine that can be stored out of sight while not in use. Keep in mind that it takes a bit of time to set this unit up if it has been collapsed for storage.
Price at time of publish: $395
Dimensions: 22 x 12.25 x 3.75 inches | Weight: 23 pounds | Temperature Range: 86 to 165 F | Wattage: 750 | Dishwasher-Safe Trays: Yes
Related: We Tested the Best Camping Coffee Makers for Your Next Outdoor Adventure
Things to Consider Before Buying a Food Dehydrator
Price
Food dehydrators come in a wide range of price points, from around $50 all the way up to $550. Simple models with fewer options tend toward the lower end of the price range, while larger food dehydrators with extra features cost more. Consider how frequently you expect to use the food dehydrator to calculate the cost-per-use when making your final purchase.
Size
Do you have room on your countertop for a tall/wide machine? Or do your current appliances take up the bulk of your counters? Before purchasing a food dehydrator, consider the available space on your countertop or in your cabinets. Be sure to note the dimensions of each unit, including the height (or consider a collapsible model like the Sahara Folding Food Dehydrator if you have more storage space than counter space).
Temperature Range
Most food dehydrators have a temperature range between 80 and 160 degrees. If you plan to dehydrate a variety of meats, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, choose a food dehydrator with a wide temperature range, like our best splurge pick, the Tribest Sedona Express, which has a temperature range of 77 to 167 degrees Fahrenheit.
Performance
If you're new to dehydrating food, perhaps you don't need the bells and whistles or the best, fastest drying time. For a simple but effective food dehydrator at an entry-level price, we recommend the Elite Gourmet. But if you like to make beef jerky in bulk or you're looking to cut down on store-bought fruit snacks, a higher-performing model, like our best overall, the Magic Mill Food Dehydrator, may be right for you.
How We Tested
Setup: Our testers tried out a total of 23 food dehydrators. We evaluated the ease of setup and cleaning for each model as well as the aesthetics, size, and specialty features.
Evaluation Process: Dehydration tests were performed, noting the time and temperature consistency with each model, as well as the noise level of the machine while in use. Ease of use was prioritized within the scoring system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What foods work well in a food dehydrator?
Fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and herbs are all great candidates for dehydration. You can also dehydrate things like milk (to turn it into a powder), bread (for breadcrumbs), and cooked pasta (to increase its shelf life).
Do food dehydrators use a lot of electricity?
No, because they dry food at a low temperature, food dehydrators use less electricity and are more energy-efficient for drying food than a standard oven.
How long is dehydrated food good for?
According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, dried foods stored in a proper container and kept in a cool, dry, and dark area, are good for between four months and one year.
How long does it take to dehydrate food in a food dehydrator?
The time to dehydrate varies by type of food, moisture level, and thickness. Most fruits and vegetables take from six to 16 hours, meats from six to 12 hours, and herbs from two to four hours. Check the instructions for your particular food dehydrator for specific guidance.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Rennie Dyball is an award-winning author who began her career at PEOPLE in 2002 as a reporter and remained on staff until 2017; she now regularly freelances for the brand. She covers a wide range of topics from beauty to pets to housewares. For this story, Rennie researched the best food dehydrators and reviewed testing insights gathered from the PEOPLE Tested lab.
What Is People Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
Up Next: The 4 Best Ice Makers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
