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A dehydrator is a household appliance that allows you to dry food by evaporating moisture with heated, constantly circulating air. So, the shelf life of vegetables increases while maintaining the nutrients in them due to the gradual evaporation of the liquid. Temperature and time are important factors, since the future quality of the processed products depends on them.
There are several stages in the development of dehydration devices. The first stage is the appearance of a simple drying cabinet. The principle of operation is very simple: the heating ten created a high temperature at which the food was dried. In fact, it can be called an oven. The second stage was the conventional devices. The design of these models is more perfect – in addition to the heating element, a fan was added, which made it possible to make the heating of the chamber more uniform. Blowing can be carried out vertically or horizontally. These are quite popular models, they are not very large in size and easy to manage. The most advanced version of the dehydrator are infrared dryers. The process of removing moisture from products is carried out evenly, thanks to the moderate action of infrared radiation, and retains more useful substances. There are also models with built-in programs that are able to independently decide on the method of dehydration of the product. They are equipped with a built-in hygrometer that measures the moisture level in vegetables.
Here are the top 10 best vegetable dehydrators for 2022, and here are some tips from Mai Kaybayeva, consultant of the household appliances store.
Top 10 rating according to KP
Editor’s Choice
1. Oberhof fruit dryer A-15
The Oberhof Fruchttrockner A-15 vegetable dryer is a modern dehydrator that evenly dries fruits, vegetables, herbs, herbs for later storage, and is also used to make bread and yogurt. The universal device is equipped with 5 food-grade plastic trays that can be used on both sides. At one time, 2-3 kg of food can be dried in the dryer. There is a temperature adjustment within 35-70 degrees, a timer for 24 hours. The power of the device is 500 W; for safety reasons, the model is equipped with overheating protection. The touch panel provides convenience of operation. The operating parameters of the dehydrator are shown on the display. This is a practical and functional dryer, which is ideal for home use.
Advantages and disadvantages
2. VolTera 500 Comfort
VolTera 500 Comfort is a household dehydrator of domestic production. This is a convection type dryer with a thermostat for cooking vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, fish, meat and herbs. It is possible to create a pastille. Temperature is regulated within 33-63 °C. Air circulation is carried out from the edge to the center of the chamber. There is a timer for greater user convenience. The set includes five pallets made of opaque plastic. The power of the device is 500 watts. As a result, we have a stylish dehydrator with a rounded shape, which is suitable for preparing a wide range of products.
Advantages and disadvantages
3. Vasilisa SO3-520
Vasilisa CO3-520 is a budget dehydrator for vegetables, fruits, berries and muesli. The household appliance belongs to the type of convective dryers. It has a nice design and a comfortable rounded shape. It is possible to adjust the drying temperature in the range of 35-70 °C. Plastic served as a material for creating pallets and basic elements. The set includes five pallets, 50 mm high. The power required to operate the device is 520 watts. A small minus is not the highest rate of dehydration of products. Otherwise, for a small price – a good device.
Advantages and disadvantages
What other vegetable dehydrators are worth paying attention to
4. RAWMID Modern RMD-07
RAWMID Modern RMD-07 is a richly equipped dehydrator: seven steel trays, six pallets, six nets for small vegetables. And the device itself has a stylish and practical design. The model has two modes of dehydration. A powerful fan installed in the rear panel allows for uniform drying of all products. The blower type is horizontal, so smells from different trays do not mix. Removable trays allow you to customize the space between them with the greatest benefit for dehydrating products. Possibility of regulation of temperature ranging from 35-70 °C. The body is made of plastic, the pallets are made of metal. Built-in overheating protection and timer.
Advantages and disadvantages
5. Rotor СШ-002
Rotor СШ-002 is a budgetary, but reliable version of a dehydrator for the home. A great solution if you are harvesting vegetables and fruits, especially from your summer cottage. The volume of the drying chamber is up to 20 liters, depending on the adjustment of the trays. Temperature – within 30-70 ° C. Refers to the type of convective dehydrators. The material for the creation of the device was heat-resistant plastic. The dehydrator is easy to operate. On the top cover there is a memo with a recommendation on the temperature regimes for different products.
Advantages and disadvantages
6. BelOMO 8360
BelOMO 8360 is a convective dehydrator with five trays for drying vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, herbs and marshmallows. The material for the manufacture of the device was plastic resistant to high temperatures. One pallet is capable of holding up to one kilogram of products. The manufacturer notes that this model has a special blowing system that provides a high degree of uniformity. Plus are also convenient dimensions and protection against overheating.
Advantages and disadvantages
7. Garlyn D-08
Garlyn D-08 is a convection type dehydrator for general use. It is suitable for drying vegetables, fruits, fish and meat, herbs, berries. Useful volume is 32 liters. You can adjust the temperature within the range of 35-70 °C. With this household appliance, you can make marshmallows and even yogurt. The dehydrator is easy to operate and functional: there is a tray height adjustment, overheating protection, and an on indicator. Three collapsible levels give the chance of big opportunities for drying of products. You can safely leave it overnight, as it does not make much noise during operation.
Advantages and disadvantages
8. MARTA MT-1947
MARTA MT-1947 is a pleasant design household dehydrator for drying vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, herbs. Belongs to the convective type. Five trays with excellent capacity, they can be adjusted in height for greater convenience in preparing food. The comfort of managing the dehydrator is achieved through an LED display, a timer up to 72 hours and a light indicator. The volume of the dryer is seven liters. Temperature control in the range of 35-70 °C. The device is made of plastic. It is possible to make yoghurt.
Advantages and disadvantages
9. REDMOND RFD-0157/0158
REDMOND RFD-0157/0158 is an electronically controlled convective dehydrator for drying vegetables, fruits and herbs. Equipped with five product trays that can be disassembled for height adjustment. The removable baskets are dishwasher safe. The device is made of transparent plastic, that is, you can visually control the degree of readiness of products. Comfortable operation thanks to display, timer and power indicators. Temperature adjustment is allowed within 35-70 °C. The timer can be set from 1 to 72 hours. Summing up, we have an inexpensive, convenient device, but a rather long drying process.
Advantages and disadvantages
10. LUMME LU-1853
LUMME LU-1853 is a mechanically controlled convection type dehydrator. The set includes five plastic trays. You can dry vegetables, fruits, mushrooms. The temperature is adjustable from 40 to 75 °C. There is a power indicator that will signal the end of work. Management is simple, but very reliable. Nice looking and neat design. But, unfortunately, the dehydration process takes a long time.
Advantages and disadvantages
How to choose a dehydrator for vegetables
Dehydrator device
Home dehydrators are very similar to each other, because they work on the same principle: heat the air in the chamber and use circulation to achieve a uniform removal of liquid from vegetables. The design is as follows: a case with variations in shape, a heating element, a fan, a temperature sensor. Adjustment of degree of heating of air is carried out by means of the control panel. For vegetables that are prepared for dehydration, there are special trays in the form of a grid or a grid. This is necessary so as not to interfere with air circulation. More expensive models are equipped with additional features and programs.
Material of manufacture
Usually budget options are made of plastic, it weighs little and is easy to maintain, but it is short-lived and can dry out as a result of prolonged use. More expensive models are made of metal or a combined version with plastic. The metal is convenient in the drying process due to good heat transfer. The best alloy is stainless steel. It is resistant to wear and unpretentious.
Blowing position
Dehydrators are divided into two types: with vertical and horizontal blowing. When vertical, the fan and heating element are located at the bottom. With horizontal trays with chopped pieces of vegetables, they are blown from the side, while the fan is located perpendicular to the trays. If we compare these two methods with each other, then the horizontal one has a number of advantages over the vertical one. With no, there are no problems with the temperature difference and the distribution of hot air occurs more evenly.
Temperature control
This is a very important factor. Different foods require different temperatures for them to dehydrate properly, otherwise it can lead to dryness in the long run. If the dehydrator is needed only for harvesting dried fruits, then strictly considering the temperature is not so important, but the more different dishes you cook, the more control you may need. The usual temperature range for dehydrators is 35-70 degrees.
A heating element
As a rule, the heating element in the device is installed alone, not far from the fan. But there are more interesting models with an additional heating element and even a red light lamp that generates infrared radiation. Such radiation is safe for humans and food, and the lamp allows you to simulate the effect of drying in the sun. Area The useful area is a significant indicator in the efficiency of the dehydrator; capacity largely depends on it. Advanced models usually have about 10 trays with an area of 400x300mm. The lower priced options are more compact in size.
Volume
Dehydrators are usually quite quiet in operation. The main sources of noise in them are the fan and air movement. In some inexpensive machines, there may be a slight vibration during the work process. But this is a fairly rare occurrence, so you should not worry about it too much.
Bonus Accessories
Top models in the delivery set have additional accessories that expand the capabilities of the device and simplify the process of dehydration. These can be plastic nets for very small pieces, silicone or Teflon mats for making marshmallows, special inserts for large products, yogurt containers, silicone pot holders, brushes, etc. Results Important factors to pay attention to:
- Frequency of use of the device. If you need a dehydrator for harvesting dried fruits several times a year, then simpler models will do. For frequent and complex dehydration, it is worth taking a closer look at the advanced ones.
- Temperature control. The more accurate it is, the more likely it is to prepare complex dishes, such as marshmallows or yogurt. It also depends on how much useful substances in vegetables remain.
- Are there any accessories. They expand the functionality of the device.
- The presence of a timer and built-in programs. This will allow you to spend less attention to control the device.