If you're scanning the market for the best food dehydrator, there are a few different brands to consider.
Today's Best Food Dehydrators
Depending on the food you plan to dehydrate, your kitchen setup, and your overall comfort level with the process, any one of the following products could be the perfect fit for you. Read on to learn about some of the top brands in food dehydrators available today and discover what they can do.
Nesco American Harvest Grandmaster
This food dehydrator is one of the most popular ones out there. Gardeners and vegetarians appreciate and view it as one of the dehydrators providing the most bang for your buck. It is a 30-tray professional model, which allows for a massive amount of food dehydration at once. Stacking up tall, but without taking up too much kitchen counter space, it affords optimum space conservation. Additionally, the amount of time it takes to dehydrate food is minimalized; fruits and vegetables transform into yummy leathers and treats within hours rather than days. One of the drawbacks to this device is the noise it produces. With a very powerful fan to promote faster drying and dehydration, the Nesco American Harvest Grandmaster makes sure you know it's working hard for you. However most consumers agree that, although it is somewhat loud, the noise is still tolerable and does not interfere with daily activities in the household. Because the fan is placed within the base of this unit, consumers who want optimal results should try to rotate the trays, as those lowest in the device are getting the most immediate drying qualities.
L'Equip 528 Food Dehydrator
Similar to the previous dehydrator, the L'Equip 528 has stackable trays. However, the trays are rectangular in shape (as opposed to Nesco's circular trays). The L'Equip also has fewer trays available for use, starting with six trays and the capacity to expand to a height of 20-stacks. A computer controlled dehydration sensor works in this unit to ensure an even drying process, so food oversight and management is a bit more relaxed with this device.
Excalibur 9-Tray Dehydrator ED 2900
The Excalibur functions differently from the two brands explained above. Rather than producing the heat and drying element at the base of the unit, Excalibur has its fan and drying features located on the backside, behind the shelves. Similar to the L'Equip, the Excalibur has a computer sensor to keep dehydration management easy. It also has additional accessories for drying various foods such as a fruit leather kit and jerky kit. However, the Excalibur, much like its name indicates, is a more massive space consuming device.
Other Considerations
While determining the best food dehydrator for your purposes, take into consideration the following:
- What model will accommodate your foods? What types of foods will you be dehydrating the most?
- How much space do you have to spare? Make sure your dehydrator doesn't become a huge kitchen road block!
- How much food do you need to dehydrate at one time?
- How much money are you planning to invest?
When you answer these questions for yourself, choosing the right food dehydrator is a piece of cake!
