A food dehydrator is an equipment that serves to remove moisture from food to facilitate preservation. You can preserve vegetables, fruits, and animal products by drying them. Dehydrators vary in size, functionality, and price.
There are many models in the market to choose from and it can be a bit of a task deciding which one to buy. Here are 5 tips to guide you in buying the best food dehydrator:
- Consider The Ease Of Use
Food dehydrating is an easy process. However, there are some features in a food dehydrator that can make the dehydration process much easier for you.
A dehydrator that has the ability to evenly cook the food where you don’t have to switch the shelves around is a plus as it eliminates the need for you to keep on checking on the food as the dehydration process takes place. You can simply set everything and let it do the work for you without you being too much involved.
- Consider The Size And Capacity
Food dehydrators handle different food capacities based on their sizes. You will be placing this food dehydrator in your kitchen and so size will be a factor to consider bearing in mind how big or small your kitchen is. Smaller dehydrators, more so those with a vertical flow will take up less space but will also have a small food holding capacity.
If you have high quantities of food that you want to dehydrate, then a larger food dehydrator would be a good pick.
- Check On Airflow And Heat Distribution
Food dehydration is an easy process to do. You just have to heat the food at a temperature that’s high enough for a predefined time period to dry off some moisture. Some of the food will be further away from the heat source than others.
The biggest task you may have is that of making sure that heat is distributed evenly to all the food in the dehydrator. Before making a purchase, do some research. Find out whether the dehydrator is a vertical or horizontal flow model and whether the working system of the model dries out all the food evenly.
- Check On The Noise Level
Food dehydrators are fitted with a fan which makes them produce some noise while performing the dehydrating process. The decibel levels do vary in the different models available. It is of utmost importance that you get a dehydrator that is quiet, one that makes minimal noise.
- Consider The Price
Food dehydrators have different price ranges. For a lower price range, you can get a basic dehydrator that can do some basic drying but will have some limitations on the types of food you can dehydrate. They require a lot of maintenance and have a shorter lifespan.
For a higher price range, you can get a food dehydrator with a bigger capacity which allows you to dehydrate a lot of food in one go. They have great heat distribution features which facilitates even cooking of the food. They have timers and thermometers which facilitate ease of use. Go for a dehydrator with the features you need at a pocket-friendly price that you can afford.
Conclusion
Consumer reports are a good source of information regarding the different dehydrator models that you can buy. Here are some of the best food dehydrator consumer reports that you can get information from.