What is Food Dehydrator
A food dehydrator is a kitchen appliance designed to remove moisture from various foods, effectively preserving them and preventing the growth of bacteria and mold. It works by using a heating element and a fan to circulate warm air through the unit. This process dries the food by evaporating its water content. Food dehydrators come in different types and capacities to suit various needs.
Types of Food Dehydrators
There are two types of food dehydrators
- Stackable dehydrator
- Vertical or Box type dehydrator
Stackable Dehydrators
This kind of dehydrator features several trays that are arranged in a stack, with the heating element and fan positioned either at the bottom or the top. Stackable dehydrators tend to be more budget-friendly. They are suitable for small kitchens or occasional use.
This dehydrator may require continuous rotating during the drying process to ensure even drying.
Vertical or Box Type Dehydrator
This type of dehydrator is also known as box or shelf dehydrator. This dehydrator model features a vertical heating element and the fans are generally located at the back of the unit. This design ensures more even drying around all the trays with any need to rotate the tray continuously.
Vertical dehydrators can dehydrate large amounts of food items faster as compared to stackable dehydrators. Hence these types of dehydrators are ideal for frequent use and large batches of dehydration.
Features to Consider While Buying a Dehydrator
Food Dehydrators come with a variety of features. Here are several important features to keep in mind when purchasing a dehydrator.
- Flexible Temperature Control
This is an important feature in the dehydrator if you are going to dehydrate different types of food, as various food items require different drying temperatures.
- Timer
The dehydration process consumes a lot of time and sometimes you tend to forget about it. Make sure you buy a dehydrator that comes with a timer. This model of dehydrator offers the convenience of setting them and carrying on with your day. They guarantee that your food will not become over-dried if you're away from home (or asleep) by the time it's done, as the machine will turn off automatically.
- Capacity
Consider the number of trays or shelves and space needed for the food while dehydrating. Depending on how much you dehydrate depends on the size you’ll buy.
- Noise Level
Take into consideration how much noise a dehydrator makes during the process. Some dehydrators can be loud. If noise is an issue, look for dehydrators that operate quietly.
- Tray shape and material
Plastic trays are considered to be lightweight while stainless steel trays are more durable. Dehydrators with rectangular trays can provide great comfort and efficiency for linear food items like long strips of jerky. Most of the food dehydrators generally have round trays and some are square, they usually feature a duct in the center of the tray for uniform airflow.
Benefits of a Food Dehydrator
- Keeps the food fresh longer
Dehydration removes the water moisture from the food, which allows it to get bad faster. With the help of dehydrators, it is easy to store fruits, vegetables and meat which can last longer.
- Reduced Food Waste and Extends Shelf Life
With the help of food dehydrators there are no chances of wasting food. You can use the leftover vegetables and fruits in a dehydrator and it will extend their shelf life up to 2 years.
- Maintains Storage Space
When the food is dehydrated, it shrinks and occupies less than one-sixth of its original space. This is also suitable for campers and hikers because this reduction in food size makes packing far more convenient for them while traveling.
Types of Food That Can Be Dehydrated
A dehydrator device can dehydrate a wide range of food items. We can dehydrate fruits like apples, bananas, and cherries, vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and onions and skinny meats like beef and chicken, along with fish and jerky.
You could also dehydrate sauces and syrups like jam, pizza sauce and maple syrup. Various herbs, such as basil and rosemary, can be effectively dehydrated.
Food items with high fats and oil cannot dehydrate well and are not recommended in this process.