The 8 Best Food Dehydrators of 2020

Best Overall: Nesco Gardenmaster Food Dehydrator

Very Good

Buy on Wayfair Buy on Ace Hardware Buy on Kohls.com

This dehydrator comes with only four trays, but you can buy extra trays and use up to 20 at a time giving you plenty of drying space. The drying pressure adjusts for the number of trays being used, for more even drying no matter how much food you have. The temperature control is digital and adjusts from 90 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

This unit has a top-mounted fan, and the timer can be set for up to 48 hours of drying time. Our tester didn't need nearly this much dehydrating time, however, thanks to the model's 1000 watts of power: "just six to 10 hours for fruit and 10 hours for jerky," she says.

This model has a white exterior, and it comes with one screen and one fruit roll sheet. If you want to start with more drying space, this model is also available at a higher price with six trays instead of four, as well as three fruit roll sheets, three screens, six packets of jerky spice, and a jerky gun.

Best High-End: Tribest Sedona Express Digital Food Dehydrator

Buy on Amazon Buy on Bed Bath & Beyond Buy on Home Depot

If you have a large garden and want to take your food dehydrating to a professional level, this machine is the one you need. The temperature is adjustable from 77 to 167 degrees Fahrenheit, and that high temperature means you can cook jerky from start-to-finish in this machine without needing to pre-cook it for safety. Plus, it can automatically switch from an initial high temperature to a lower one for quicker drying without overcooking.

This unit has 11 stainless steel trays, a glass door, and an interior LED light so it’s easier to check the drying process. There are several cooking modes (fast, raw, combination, and continuous) and the timer can be set for up to 99 hours per mode or up to 120 hours total—more than you’ll ever need. The exterior is black and the fan is at the back of the unit, with a filter to keep out dust. The unit is not expandable.

This top-of-the-line dehydrator can do it all, and its price tag shows it. If you want to save a bit of money, you can opt for plastic trays instead of stainless steel, but the stainless steel ones will last longer. You’ll need to dry a lot of kale chips to recoup the cost, but since it comes with a 10-year warranty, chances are that you’ll get a lot of use out of it.

Best Versatility: Excalibur Food Dehydrator

Buy on Excaliburdehydrator.com

This dehydrator provides a lot of drying space—with nine trays totaling 15 square feet to be exact. It's so spacious, in fact, that one reviewer was able to make 7 pounds of jerky (before dehydration) with room to spare. Each tray is fitted with a nonstick screen, which is suitable for most drying. But there are also several types of dehydrator sheets available for the trays, which are ideal for making fruit leather or drying other thick liquids like sauces.

The thermostat is adjustable from 105 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit and it has a 26-hour timer so you can leave food drying while you work or sleep. A fan at the back of the unit circulates air evenly throughout.

If you have taller foods, like celery, you want to dry, you can remove some of the trays to make more room. This unit can also be used to proof dough when baking or to warm rolls or bread before serving. With almost all the trays removed, you can even use this model to cultivate homemade yogurt. If color matters, it’s available in either black or white. The drawback with this model is that it’s quite large, and takes a lot of space to store.

Best Classic: Nesco Professional 600W 5-Tray Food Dehydrator

Buy on Amazon

This model is perfect for average-sized batches of dried foods. It comes with five trays, but can handle up to 12 if you want to work in larger batches. The thermostat on this dehydrator is adjustable from 95 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has a top-mounted fan that’s designed to send the air downward and then horizontally across the food trays for more even drying.

Along with the dehydrator, it also includes two solid liner sheets for making fruit rollups or drying sauces or other liquid-like substances, two mesh sheets for other foods, and three packages of jerky spice to get you started making your own jerky. The exterior is speckled gray. Both the dried fruit and the beef jerky our tester made turned out as flavorful as she hoped.

The only drawback is that this dehydrator doesn’t have a timer, so you’ll have to be nearby to turn it off when the food is ready.

Best Budget: Presto Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator

Very Good

Buy on Amazon Buy on Home Depot Buy on Walmart

The perfect starter unit and ideal for small batches, this dehydrator comes with four trays but you can add an additional four trays to double your drying space. The fan is at the bottom of the unit which means it’s possible for food juices to drip down onto it. So keep that in mind when you’re dehydrating fresh produce.

The temperature isn’t adjustable; it operates consistently at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The bright side to this for our tester is that the dehydrator couldn't be easier to use, as there was no way for her to set it to the wrong temperature.

The trays nest for more compact storage and the cord stores out of the way in the base. Fruit roll sheets and mesh sheets are available to fit this dehydrator. The dehydrator has a white exterior with a clear top cover so you can watch the drying process. Sadly, there is no timer, so you’ll have to be nearby to turn it off when the food is done.

Runner Up, Best Budget: NutriChef Food Dehydrator Machine with 5 Stackable Trays

Excellent

Buy on Amazon

If food dehydrating is something you’ll do occasionally, rather than the way you’ll feed yourself over a long, harsh, winter, you’re probably looking for a budget-friendly dryer like this one. It does what you need, but without breaking the bank with extra features.

This operates with just one button that turns it on to start the dehydrating process. The temperature is adjustable up to 180 degrees, so you can dry a variety of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. It includes five removable and stackable trays that are easy to clean. Our tester appreciated the simple, plug-and-play style of the machine, which she believes will make it a great option for anyone new to dehydrating. However, features that could have been included, she notes, are a timer and automatic shut-off.

The manufacturer states that this can be used to make jerky, but food safety sites have warnings about using simple dehydrators for meats, so read the information carefully before proceeding.

Best Mid-Range: COSORI Premium Stainless Steel Food Dehydrator CP267-FD

Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Target

One of the sleekest dehydrators you'll find, this model is black and stainless steel with a glass door that lets you keep an eye on the drying process. It's got a digital control panel that is simple and intuitive to use. Simply set time and temperature– you can control the temperature between 95 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the timer can be set to operate up to 48 hours–and you're ready to make loads of dried herbs, fruit leather, or jerky.

You'll receive six stainless steel drying trays, along with one mesh screen that can be used to dehydrate small fruit, like blueberries, and one fruit roll sheet. Cleanup is easy since all the food trays are dishwasher safe. Reviewers love how quiet it is, which is important since dehydrators tend to run for hours at a time and you don't want to be stuck listening to a noisy fan while you wait for your snacks to dry!