Best Food Dehydrator: What Features to Consider

With so many food dehydrators out in the market, it can be really overwhelming to pick just one especially for first timers. For me, the best way to choose the right device or machine would be its features and functionality.

Available Space:

First feature that I would consider would be the total drying area or how much space does the food dehydrator have to dry food. For me, a good food dehydrator should have an adequate space that would allow foods to be dried even in large amounts during a 24 hour time period. A good rule of thumb to follow would be approximately one pound of food that can be dried per square foot of drying area. Of course, the amount would vary since it would depend on several factors like the type of food being dried, the thickness of the food slices and the food’s water content.

Air Flow:

Another food dehydrator feature that I would also consider would be the air flow or how moisture from food is removed via heat. There are actually two designs for this feature: horizontal and vertical. One good way to determine if the food dehydrator has horizontal air flow would be when the heating elements and fan are located on one side of the dehydrator. I would also check if the drying trays that have the food are arranged like drawers inside the food dehydrator. The advantage of using a horizontal air flow food dehydrator is that it can dehydrate different types of food and even stops food juices from dripping down onto the heating element which actually makes cleaning much easier. A vertical air flow food dehydrators, on the other hand, have its heating elements and fan found at the base of the dehydrator. The drying trays are stacked on top of the base which is why the temperatures can vary between the top and bottom food trays.

Temperature Control:

I also would like to make sure that the thermostat on the food dehydrator I would use allows me to regulate the temperature of a heating or cooling system in order for the system’s temperature to maintain its desired, chosen amount. A good thermostat for me should have an adjustable feature that has a good range of drying temperatures and to handle different types and amounts of food. The food would dehydrate at a constant, unchanging heat when a dehydrator does not have a thermostat.

Pricing:

The last concern would be the watts and the amount needed to purchase it. For the watts, I like to use food dehydrators that consume less energy but should not hamper any other features of the machine. I always consider a good food dehydrator that consumes very little electricity and at the same time gives adequate dehydration to the food. For the price, getting a cheap rate often does not give the best or expected results. So what I would suggest is to get food dehydrators that are a little bit expensive but at least would give you high quality results. If you are not quite sure which food dehydrator you should buy then here is a food dehydrator buying guide for you.