What do you look for when purchasing a food dehydrator?

Answer 1

If price isn't concern, you should get the largest one. That would likely be an Excalibur 9-tray, either the 2900 or 3900 (3926t for the one with a timer). These do NOT expand however, but with 9 trays, they should have the capacity for your biggest job. The size of dehydrators is measured in square feet of drying space. You can compare different dehydrators by looking at the cost per square foot of drying space.

After size, you'll look at the shape, either square or rectangular or circular. The round ones are usually expandable, though additional trays are sold separately.

The dehydrator shape often determines other things, such as the location of the heating element and fans. Vertical air flow dehydrators have their fan and heater at the top or bottom of the dehydrator. The round dehydrators usually have both at the bottom, meaning the lower trays get more heat, so tray rotation is sometimes needed. It also makes flavor mixing more likely, since the warm air travels though the trays. The horizontal air flow or square dehydrators have their fan and heater in the rear, so drying is even throughout the trays and there's no flavor mixing. Also, the round ones have a hole in the middle, making the usable drying area smaller than the box style dehydrators.

Other things to look for are a timer (because sometimes drying is an overnight activity, and you'd like to have the machine shut off automatically), noise (some fans are noisy), and an adjustable thermostat (recipes vary on the temperature needed).

Answer 2

Find manufacturer's identity plate on the dehydrator, then search for website then follow links for online manual. If no online manual exists, then e-mail 'contact' and ask for an ecopy of the manual.

Using a food dehydrator is fairly straightforward. Most dehydrators have an adjustable thermostat that controls the unit's temperature. Typical dehydrator temperature ranges are between 85 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Most units do not have a timer or on/off switch so dehydrators are largely plug and play electrical units.

To succesfully dehydrate food four basic steps are required:

1. Slice the food to 1/4 inch thick pieces. This will maximize the surface area of the food exposed to the dehydrator's heat and air flow.

2. Set the dehydrator to the proper temperature for the food. 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit is a typical range for most foods.

3. Make sure the dehydrator has sufficient air flow to remove moisture from the food.

4. Let time pass. The number of hours to dry various food will depend on the food's thickness, the type of food and the dehydrator itself.

Answer 3

Simple food dehydrators can start around $40 for a basic model, while professional one can cost hundreds of dollars.