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You may be at crossroads determining which food dehydrator to purchase. Times are tough economically, and if money is not an issue, time may not be on your side. Whatever your situation, we are here to provide some guide as to which dehydrator will best serve your needs.

If you are purchasing a food dehydrator for the first time, you may find it difficult to select one that will best serve your needs. And if you are a veteran user, the number of choices out there may be overwhelming.

That said, factors like space limitations and budget are two of the most important things you should worry about no matter where you stand.

More than just drying out fruits, meats or vegetables, food dehydrators preserve foods without additives or preservatives. Dehydration preserves nutrients and vitamins and dehydrated foods could last up to three months without spoiling, although the duration depends on the ingredients.

Benefits of Food Dehydrators

Food dehydrators are not exactly a mainstream kitchen appliance, so a lot of people tend to not know about these great machines. Using dehydrators to preserve foods by drying rather than other methods of preservation like canning, refrigerating, or freezing has several benefits, which include:

Efficiency

Storing dehydrated food is efficient, as food preserved this way tends to consume less storage space. It doesn’t require refrigerators or freezers, which is especially useful in a large family setting. Dehydrating makes it easy to go about other important things at home.

Dehydrated foods taste great. Removing water from foods delightfully concentrates their taste. Dehydrated foods tend to taste even better than the original.

Absence of preservatives or additives. Dehydration does not require any additives or preservatives. As some food additives and preservatives have known health risks, you won’t face any of them if your food is dehydrated, because there is nothing added but the original food. At least you won’t have to worry about getting cancer or developing bowel symptoms. There you go!

Quality Control

Since you are creating your own food, you can choose which and how much of the foods to dry. This way, you won’t be wasteful.

Dried foods are portable. Dehydrated foods can be easily carried about as they are lightweight and can fit into small containers comfortably. This is especially convenient for people on the run.

Dehydrated foods are safe for those on raw food diet. People who are on raw food diet can safely consume raw foods because a dehydrator offers a way of preparing food at 115 degrees below zero, the threshold temperature where enzymes and nutrients are maintained.

Reduction Of Waste

A dehydrator helps one preserve food, which would have otherwise been wasted. Local and seasonal food can be stored for later use.

Dehydrated food keeps 100% of it’s nutritional content, including all of it’s Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and mineral content. Dehydrating retains the alkalinity of fresh produce ​and inhibits bacteria growth.

Stackable Dehydrator

Shelf Dehydrator

It’s worth mentioning you will come across two types of dehydrators. The first is the stackable tray dehydrator and the second one is shelf tray dehydrator. There are many choices to consider between both types, but some have performed much better than others. The Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator in particular comes to mind as a high performing, top-rated shelf dehydrator.

What to Look For When Choosing a Dehydrator

Heat and flow of air

When you are buying a dehydrator for the first time, you need to consider how heat and air is distributed. You want to look at the dehydrator that has even distribution of heat and that the airflow is even as well. The reason for this is simple. Even distribution of air and heat in the dehydrator equates to evenly distributed dried food.

Shelf tray dehydrators are considered more suitable in this case because this kind of dehydrator generally comes with a heating element on the back. Moreover, the fan is situated at the rear of the unit so that the air and heat are flowing horizontally through the food. This allows for more even drying.

Stackable tray dehydrators on the other hand have a problem with uneven heat and flow of air. Thus, if you are going to buy a stackable tray dehydrator, be sure to buy higher quality models. They usually have more even air and heat than low-end models. The heat and air flow of stackable models is in an upward or downward motion.

A temperature control switch is an important feature. Some foods such as herbs require a lower temperature than foods such as fruit or meat. The lower end food dehydrator models have a single temperature setting which does not allow for adjustment.

Size and space

Another factor worth considering is your countertop. Stackable dehydrators fit best onto small countertops with limited space due in part to their minimal footprint. On the other hand, if you happen to have enough space, it’s worth considering a shelf tray dehydrator. While stackable models are reducible, the same cannot be said for shelf tray models.

Stackable models can be made bigger or smaller, depending on how much food you are wanting to dry. The problem with stacking more layers is that less heat makes it over all of the food. ​

If you have limited kitchen counter space, a shelf tray model can easily be put somewhere​ other than your kitchen. I have seen people keep their dehydrators in the garage, a spare bedroom, or a covered deck.

Portability

If you are always on the go and wish to carry your dehydrator along, whether in a car or train, consider purchasing a stackable model, as they are lighter and more compact. On the contrary, metal shelf tray dehydrators are heavier and take up a lot more space, so they are not exactly your travel companions.

Price

As with every transaction, this is one factor worth considering. Stacked food dehydrator models are generally less expensive as they cost between $75 and $100, while shelf tray models cost between $200 and $350.

Material Quality

Generally, food dehydrators are made from either metal or plastic materials. Should you settle for a plastic variant, it is advisable to have it tested to ensure that no plastic fumes come forth from it at high temperatures. In case you intend running your dehydrator for long periods of time, then it’s worth considering a metal variant, as the plastic variant tends to debase in such circumstances. The plastic-model dehydrators require FDA certified food grade plastic with no BFA, while the metal-model ones are part of the list of acceptable food grade materials accepted by the FDA.

Conclusion

The difference is clear between the two types of dehydrators. But in the end, it boils down to individual preferences. Some might have money to purchase the more expensive shelf tray dehydrator, while others might prefer the lighter, stackable models, as they can serve as a good companion during any journey.

All things considered, the Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator best captures the benefits one could hope to get from a dehydrator.  It is the one I personally have.  It offers exceptional performance and comes with a 5 year warranty. You will not be disappointed with this dehydrator, unlike the stackable ones, which I find to be a pain to use. Food does not dry evenly, so you are always having to move trays around. This is not necessary with the Excalibur. Food is dehydrated evenly, with no need for turning.

Read Our Excalibur Review And See How It Compares to A Nesco Stackable Model

The Excalibur Dehydrators are the kings of food dehydrators. The have excellent customer satisfaction and they can be used for other purposes such as making yogurt and rising bread.

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