The dried fruits section of your local grocery store may have a lot of options, but eating the same flavors all the time can become boring. You may experience the same boredom with store-bought jerky products, as most come in very basic flavors to appeal to as many people as possible. With a countertop dehydrator, you can add your own seasonings, making fruits and jerky that have a higher appeal to you and your family. Check out this collection of our favorite models.
Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator
Expandable dehydrator with excellent airflow
Dry any type of food with temperatures from 95 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A patented airflow system forces heat across each of the trays instead of through them, which prevents flavor mixing. The opaque exterior of this model will also keep foods from losing nutritional value in certain types of light.
Presto Dehydro Food Dehydrator
Keep an eye on drying foods thanks to the top window
Spread food to dry across four interior trays. To keep an eye on progress, the top tray has a clear lid. Plugging in the unit starts the dehydration process, which operates at 165 degrees Fahrenheit only. Additional trays are available to expand the drying capacity.
Excalibur Electric Food Dehydrator
Removable, square trays are easy to line with foods for drying
Get the most from your dried foods by keeping the drying process tuned with low heat over a long period of time. This model can set a timer for up to 26 hours, and cooks between 105 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The nine trays slide in and out for easy setup and collection. You can also use this dehydrator to rest bread or yogurt.
Presto Dehydro Digital Food Dehydrator
A digital control panel offers temperature and time settings
An upgrade to their standard model, Presto offers the ability to precisely dehydrate meat and vegetables. Temperatures 90 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit are supported by the digital thermostat with a built-in timer. You can expand the unit to dry twelve trays at once, and two fruit roll sheets to make extra treats are also included.
Nesco Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator
Tools and spices for dehydrating are included
New to dehydrating foods? This model from Nesco offers a jerky gun, fruit roll sheets, screens, and even some seasoning packets to get you started. It comes with six drying trays, but you can expand to twelve. Operating with 500-watts of drying power, you can use temperatures from 95 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Homemade snacks
Hand-crafting your snacks gives you the ability to create perfect flavors you’ll love eating every time. We recommend the Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator because it’s versatile and can dehydrate anything. It’s a great option if you’re a beginner or pro, and the potential to expand up to twelve trays gives you room to grow. Nesco’s patented airflow system will also prevent your bananas from tasting like beef jerky.
For anyone who is just getting started with dehydrating, we recommend the Nesco Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator. The amount of included accessories saves you money on additional purchases. Plus, you’ll receive sample seasonings, so you won’t need any recipes to start.
