A food dehydrator can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen, despite being uncommon in average Filipino homes. It will extend the shelf life of your pantry items, allowing you to store them without worrying that they'll quickly spoil. If you enjoy munching on snacks or having food on the go, why not try dehydrating food at home?
Consider all the stuff you might preserve without being concerned about losing its freshness, from vegetable chips and fruit leather to meat jerky. It's time we hype this underrated kitchen appliance, so we've prepared a buying guide fact-checked by Chef Terence Fereday Jr. and a top 10 list of food dehydrators available online. Keep reading for more info!
Quick List - Top Food Dehydrators
Baumann Living
Combines Modern Technology Like Automatic Shut-Off With a Retro Design
Chef Terrence has 30 years of experience working in the professional kitchen. He graduated from the Professional Culinary Institute in California, USA, and he was a former Culinary Instructor, Corporate Chef, and Executive Chef. He also won several awards in culinary competitions and is the founder and owner of Zilla Pizza.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
To know which food dehydrator is the best for you, first decide on what type you need. Perhaps you love the concept of a stackable dehydrator to conserve countertop space, or you favor one that can hold large volumes of food.
A stackable dehydrator is an excellent choice if you have limited countertop space and plan to dehydrate small amounts of food. It resembles a food steamer and is compact because you can detach the trays and lid from the base. This design allows for easy storage and retrieval of the food dehydrator when needed.
The heat source is either in the base or the lid of a stackable dehydrator. As a result, the temperature regulation is not as consistent because there is only a vertical airflow. To ensure that the food dries evenly, you must rotate the trays.
Still, a stackable dehydrator is user-friendly enough for beginners just getting used to dehydrating food. It is affordable and can accommodate most fruits and vegetables. However, it is not the best food dehydrator for fish, meat, or even bread-proofing due to the restricted space between trays and vertical airflow.
A stackable dehydrator is a good start-off point for beginners. It is less expensive than the industrial type but will do the job of basic dehydrating for fruits, vegetables, and even herbs.
If you want to dehydrate a lot of food at once, a horizontal airflow dehydrator is the one for you. Its appearance is similar to a conventional oven with several shelves. It is usually heavier and bulkier than a stackable dehydrator, so you need a designated countertop space for this type.
In a shelf-type dehydrator, the heat source is in the back part of the unit. With this design, the horizontal airflow dehydrates food considerably more efficiently and consistently. It is ideal for dehydrating meat and fish, so it is suitable for experienced users who can take advantage of complex recipes.
This would be the ideal upgrade from using a stackable design. It's more efficient and requires a bit more experience in dehydrating, but this is an excellent choice if you would like to go into making jerky and dried fish and meats. It carries a hefty price tag, though, so do that into account.
A food dehydrator's built-in fan is another crucial component for it to work, in addition to the heat source. Without actually cooking the food, the fan uses a flow of heated air to evaporate moisture from the food. Keep in mind that the placement of the fan significantly impacts the drying method.
Food dehydrators have models with fans mounted either on the lid or at the base of the unit. Because of this layout, the fan will circulate the air upwards and downwards, distributing the heated air among the trays.
The top and bottom trays will dry much faster because that is where the hot air closely circulates. It is perfect for drying small portions of food because you will eventually need to move the middle trays to the top or bottom to dehydrate the food uniformly throughout the procedure.
Rather than drying meat, this fan placement is better suitable for delicate things like herbs, fruits, and vegetables since it can preserve their structural integrity without over-drying them.
For this type of dehydrator, rotating the trays is key to getting an even result. This type is less expensive than the vertical type dehydrator, best for home use, and will do a good job on fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
Another model is when the fan is on the rear panel of the food dehydrator, much like an oven. This position ensures a more consistent result since air flows evenly and quickly through the shelves from back to front.
Due to the uniform heating, this fan placement is ideal for drying large quantities of food, like meat, fish, and chicken, which would otherwise require a lot of heat. You should consider this if you have a big family so you can make enough dried food for everyone.
A food dehydrator with a back-mounted fan generally has two fans or one fan with long blades for increased drying capacity. The fan design makes it bulkier—requiring you to have dedicated kitchen space for this appliance.
This type of dehydrator will do the job in half the time of your basic stackable design. The convection heat coming from the back of the device ensures a more even bulk drying of food items, including meats and seafood. The digital display is a key feature as well, with timer and temperature controls for easy access to the settings.
You will find it easier if your food dehydrator has adjustable temperature controls because foods dry at different rates. Herbs typically dehydrate quickly, while meats take the longest. With temperature controls, you can experiment with more recipes!
Some versions only have an on/off setting. While this isn't a deal breaker, temperature settings and a timer on your dehydrator are advantageous. These features lessen the chance of over- or under-drying your food. You may also leave your dehydrator unattended for periods without concern.
The moisture content and density of the food item determine the time and temperature needed to dehydrate. The programmable feature is a neat option to avoid overdrying your item, plus it will automatically shut off when the job is done—it's energy efficient as well!
Wattage represents the amount of electricity an appliance consumes. A food dehydrator's wattage may range from 300 to 1000 watts, depending on its size. Consider the cost of using the dehydrator in your kitchen aside from the purchase price.
Power consumption increases with a higher wattage to regulate a consistent temperature. A 1000-watt dehydrator heats up faster but also costs more to maintain when you factor in the cost of electricity. While a dehydrator with a lower wattage uses less power, the drying process takes longer to complete since it takes longer to achieve the required temperature.
A dehydrator with a wattage of 400 to 500 will do a decent job for home use. Make sure to cut the items you are drying evenly, so they finish at the same time for energy efficiency.
How many people will consume the dried foods and how often you will use the dehydrator will determine what size you need. A food dehydrator's capacity ranges from 8 to 160 liters or more, depending on the dimensions and quantity of trays.
Dehydrators come in both square and circular forms. Circular dehydrators are the stackable kind. As mentioned earlier, this kind is ideal for small quantities of food. It can easily fit your kitchen and is budget-friendly, but note its top or bottom-mounted fan.
Square dehydrators are commonly the shelf-type kind. These have fans installed at the back, resulting in a more constant temperature. Its oven-like form makes it simple to arrange your food, and can dry large quantities at once. It can be expensive, though, because it uses a lot of electricity.
Get a device that fits your needs. Start with a basic stackable, then upgrade to the oven-type ones if you plan to do bulk dehydration for small business purposes.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lecon Chef Food Dehydrator | ![]() | A Stainless Steel Dehydrator With Advanced Features for Efficient Drying | |
2 | Baumann Living Food Dehydrator|BM-TA2000ABCB | ![]() | Combines Modern Technology Like Automatic Shut-Off With a Retro Design | |
3 | Fotile Fruit Dryer | ![]() | Offers Various Layer Options Depending on Your Food Dehydrating Needs | |
4 | Biolomix Food Dryer | ![]() | Easy-to-Clean Stackable Trays and a Solid Base | |
5 | ZZUOM Household Fruit Dehydrator Machine | ![]() | Simple to Operate 5-Layer Circular Food Dehydrator | |
6 | Dehong Food Dehydrator|DH FD-990 | ![]() | Drying Function for Fruits, Vegetables, and Even to Make Yogurt | |
7 | Windpia Food Dehydrator | WD501 | ![]() | A 6-Tray Stackable Food Dehydrator With Handles | |
8 | Gorenje Food Dehydrator|FDK500GCW | ![]() | Stackable High-Power Dehydrator | |
9 | Binzap Food Dehydrator | ![]() | Heavy-Duty Food Dehydrator With UV Sterilization Function | |
10 | Severin 5-Layer Fruit Dryer and Food Dehydrator|OD 2940 | ![]() | Gentle Drying for Preserving Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs |
This sturdy food dehydrator from Lecon Chef is the ideal choice whether you're a newbie or a pro at drying foods. It blends functional simplicity with a large capacity. You can set the temperature and the timer on its convenient touch control panel. There's even a built-in warm light for a clear view of your food once it's inside the dehydrator.
Made of stainless steel, this model won't simply deform because the material can endure high temperatures. With its ten metal trays, you can try various recipes for food dehydrators. Reviewers find it simple to use and exactly as advertised. They also gush about the freebies like silicone mats, tongs, corer, and Mason jars.
Baumann's Living food dehydrator is suitable for those who just need to dry a small quantity of food. It is not only stylish and compact, but it also includes a rear-mounted heating element and fan that can dry food fast and evenly.
Bread crumbs, meat jerky, and preserved herbs or flowers are some recipes you can prepare with this dehydrator. You can even dry seasonal fruits and vegetables, then rehydrate them in a stew or soup! It is small but efficient, providing you with food dehydrator benefits like having ingredients that are just as nutritious and fresh as the day you bought them.
Whether you have to dry a little or a lot of food, Fotile has what you need. You can choose from 6, 12, 16, or 32-layer options. There are four different wattage levels: 400 W, 1000 W, 1500 W, and 3000 W corresponding to each layer choice.
You can set a timer for up to 24 hours and regulate the temperature between 30 and 90 degrees Celsius. This food dehydrator is also double-insulated to shield you from receiving an electric shock if you touch the unit while in use. Its sleek modern design and functions make it suitable for both a household and commercial kitchen.
With detachable trays and a lid, this Biolomix food dehydrator makes it simple to clean and store the various parts. Because they are made of BPA-free plastic, the five provided trays are safe to use. It also has a durable stainless steel base to give you the best of both worlds from the two materials.
Using its digital LED display screen, you can adjust the temperature between 35 and 75 degrees Celsius. You can also set the timer up to 24 hours. Enjoy preparing homemade snacks or pet treats with this food dehydrator's premium materials!
This ZZUOM model is the best dehydrator for beginners attempting food drying for the first time, as it is affordable and straightforward to use. It includes an on/off switch and a temperature control knob adjustable from 35 to 70 degrees Celsius.
Since the trays are circular, you can fit less food on them, resulting in minimal food waste if your first few attempts are unsatisfactory. There is also no built-in timer, so make sure that each layer dries more evenly by switching the positions of the upper and bottom trays every two hours. You should use this dehydrator if you're learning how to dry food since you'll need to keep a careful eye on it.
You can use a food dehydrator for more than just drying food. With Dehong's food dehydrator, you may also make yogurt! It has a temperature range of 35 to 68 Celsius. Keep the temperature at 45 degrees Celsius for yogurt-making.
Also, this model has an hourly digital timer that automatically shuts off the dehydrator at the predetermined hour. The base and five accompanying trays are made of ABS plastic, which is suitable for use with food. You can effortlessly dry fruits and veggies with its 245 W!
If you prefer a stackable type, this food dehydrator from Windpia is a smart choice. Each tray in this model has handles, which provide you with a more comfortable grip when you need to switch their positions. Plus, it is small and lightweight—perfect for people with limited countertop space.
Instead of letting food dry naturally in the sun, which takes days, you can place it inside this dehydrator for four to twelve hours. With great speed, you can prepare more homemade snacks like dried squid, shrimp, and tofu!
Gorenje's food dehydrator is the perfect option if you want the simple cleanup of a stackable dehydrator while also having high wattage for quick drying. The temperature and timer settings range from 35 to 70 degrees Celsius and 30 minutes to 19.5 hours, respectively.
This model will automatically shut down the device when the predetermined time has passed. No need to stress about overdried food anymore! Additionally, it is composed of BPA-free plastic and has five food-safe trays. Rubber feet on the base provide stability, making it ideal for placing down on your countertop.
If food safety is your top priority, Binzap's food dehydrator is the best pick. You can turn on its UV sterilization feature to sanitize the trays before placing your food on them. It will disinfect the surface by eliminating the germs, so you can begin the drying process without worrying about food contamination.
Applying UV sterilization directly to food is not recommended because it can alter the food's flavor and cause discoloration. Remember to use it only on the trays! Combined with its sanitation aspect, this model is also great for small food-related businesses because it has a power up to 500W for swift drying.
Without adding sugar or other preservatives, you can preserve your fruits, vegetables, and herbs with Severin's food dehydrator. It has a single, basic on/off switch with a pilot light. When turned on, the bottom layer's temperature is 85 degrees Celsius, while the upper layer's temperature is 70 degrees Celsius.
Their five plastic racks feature two height adjustments, allowing you to modify them based on the quantity and cut of the food you are drying. Make herb garnishes and fruit or veggie toppings for your meals!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by professional chef Terence Fereday.
Yes, they are. As long as you follow the safety features indicated in the manual.
Sliced fruits, vegetables, tender meats, seafood, and herbs are the usual items ideal for this process.
A food dehydrator mostly retains the nutritional value of the food it dries. Vitamins B and C, which are sensitive to heat, may be reduced. The key is to not overdry the food item. The dehydrator only removes the water content of the food, making it shrink in size. The food has a longer shelf life after being dried.
Making homemade food is an excellent way to ensure that it is nutritious, balanced, and suitable for your diet. Check out these other appliances so you can test more recipes and improve the functionality of your kitchen now that you know which is the best food dehydrator.
Author: Justine Cuizon
Re-Editor: Jonina Martin
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Lecon Chef|Food Dehydrator
No. 2: Baumann Living|Food Dehydrator|BM-TA2000ABCB
No. 3: Fotile|Fruit Dryer
No. 4: Biolomix|Food Dryer
No. 5: ZZUOM|Household Fruit Dehydrator Machine
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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