Choosing a dehydrator (dryer for vegetables and fruits).

The general trend toward a healthy lifestyle, the emergence of diverse approaches to nutrition (such as raw foodism), and a deep interest in the properties of foods and methods of processing and storing them are leading to the emergence of new "helpers" in both home and professional kitchens. These devices simplify many food processing processes, effectively preserving the nutrients in foods thanks to modern developments and technologies.
This article will discuss a device that increases the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, and even meat and fish without losing any beneficial organic substances – a dehydrator .

A dehydrator , as the name suggests, performs the process of dehydration or dehydration. The main cause of food spoilage is the action of enzymes and microorganisms. By removing water from foods, the concentration of viable microorganisms can be reduced. At the same time, enzymes become inactive in the absence of water. Therefore, by carefully removing water from foods using a dehydrator, you can prevent spoilage and extend their shelf life.
It is important to understand that during the dehydration process, irreversible changes occur in the structure of the product, its taste and aroma change, and its weight decreases.
At the same time, the organoleptic properties of the product change, the concentration of aromatic substances contained in the product increases and less of them will be needed during cooking compared to the original product.
The nutritional value of many foods that have undergone dehydration is significantly increased.
The most common foods for dehydration are vegetables, fruits, berries, mushrooms, and herbs, but they can also include meat or fish, nuts and seeds, and even sourdough, yogurt, fermented baked milk, bread, etc.


So how do you choose the best dehydrator so that it lasts a long time and the drying process takes minimal effort and time?

Let's start by taking a look at the design of a dehydrator and examine in more detail the parameters that are important for making the right choice:

• blowing type
• materials used
• usable area
• timer presence, control and settings
• additional accessories.

A dehydrator consists of a housing containing a heating element, a fan, and a temperature controller. The device's primary function is to circulate heated air to the desired temperature within the chamber to remove moisture from the pre-prepared product placed on trays.

► Blowing type

According to the type of blowing, dehydrators are divided into vertical and horizontal .
In vertical dehydrators, the fan and heating element are located at the base of the dehydrator. A stream of warm air is directed from the bottom through all the tiers to the top, and the lower tiers dry faster than the upper tiers. Obviously, with this dehydrator design, it's difficult to control the temperature of the circulating air on the different trays, so it's necessary to constantly rotate their placement to ensure a more uniform drying process. Most vertical dehydrators have round trays, which are integral to the design, as these dehydrators may not have an outer casing.
For occasional use—for example, drying a small amount of seasonal fruits and vegetables—a household dehydrator/dryer is suitable. Household dehydrators for drying small quantities of seasonal fruits and vegetables typically have this design, with round trays and vertical airflow. Although these dehydrators have more levels, their capacity is typically lower than horizontal dehydrators. Thus, increasing the dehydrator's capacity with additional trays doesn't guarantee high-quality drying results on all levels, especially for foods with a high fat or liquid content (such as meat). Monitoring the condition of the food during the drying process is difficult in these types of dehydrators, as the upper trays must be removed to access the lower ones. Another disadvantage of vertical airflow dehydrators is the risk of moisture from the food on the lower tier being drawn into the base and into the motor, which can cause damage.

Horizontal dehydrators eliminate the problem of temperature fluctuations. A fan mounted on the rear wall of the appliance distributes air evenly across all levels. You can check the drying process in this design by simply pulling out the tray or rack, or monitor the progress through the transparent door (shutter).
Since the motor is mounted vertically, there's no risk of moisture from the food getting on it. Many models also feature a special tray to collect any liquid drips or crumbs from the food at the bottom.
Natural fruit pastilles can be made using special sheets placed on shelves.
By installing only the required number of trays and removing unnecessary ones, thereby freeing up more vertical space, you can place products in jars and prepare yogurt, homemade cheese, or proof dough.
In convection vertical or horizontal dryers for vegetables and fruits, the air is heated using a spiral.
There are also dehydrators with infrared heating . These units are equipped with an additional infrared emitter that gently and efficiently dehydrates food, simulating the effect of sun drying. Infrared heating is more energy-efficient because it is directed directly at the food and does not heat the surrounding air. Professional infrared dehydrators are more expensive and are not as widely available on the market as convection dehydrators.

► Materials used

Budget dehydrators are made of plastic, while higher-quality dehydrators can be made of both plastic and stainless steel parts.
Dehydrator trays can be made of plastic trays, pull-out trays, or stainless steel grates.

For example, the GoodFood WS10 PRO dehydrator features a stainless steel body, 10 stainless steel grids, a mechanical temperature controller, a timer for up to 15 hours, and powerful 1000W heaters. A drawback of this model is its solid door, which prevents visual monitoring of the drying process.
For comparison, the professional stainless steel model Hendi 229026, which is similar in power and capacity, costs twice as much, but is equipped with a digital control panel, a timer for up to 24 hours, and a convenient transparent door.
The stainless steel frame is more durable, but is heavier and can become very hot during operation.
When purchasing a device with a plastic case, ensure the quality of the materials. Plastics containing bisphenol A (BPA) release dangerous toxins when heated, which can leach into food.
The Saro VEGGYDRY dehydrator is housed in a plastic body with stainless steel grates, and is additionally equipped with BPA-free polystyrene sheets and BPA-free plastic mesh.
The American brand Excalibur dehydrators are made of a very durable and environmentally friendly BPA-free plastic body, door, and trays.

► Usable area

When choosing a fruit and vegetable dehydrator, another important criterion is its usable space , specifically the shape, size, and quantity of the trays. This determines how much food you can fit into the dehydrator at one time.
For example, household dehydrators can be compact, allowing you to dry about five apples at a time. Excalibur , a brand specializing in high-quality dehydrators, offers models with 4-5 trays (for small-capacity use) and commercial-grade models with 9-10 trays.

► Timer, control and settings

The temperature used depends on the type of food you need to dry. Models with flexible temperature control make it easy to set the desired temperature. For example, herbs are recommended to be dried at low temperatures, fruits and vegetables require higher temperatures, and fish and meat require a temperature of around 70°C (see recommendations in the table below).
Most often, the temperature is set in 5 degree increments; in more advanced models, the accuracy is up to 1 degree.

Comfortable operation of the device implies the ability to customize and automate the drying process.
There are models with mechanical control, while more expensive ones are equipped with electronic control with adjustment and programming of various modes.

So, the basic model Excalibur 4400 with 4 trays has a mechanical temperature controller with a range from 35 to 74C, with a 220W motor.
Having a timer is an important option; the dehydrator, operating at the required temperature, will complete the process once the timer expires.

The Excalibur 4548CDFB model with 5 trays is already equipped with a timer from 1 to 48 hours, a digital controller, and a more powerful 440W motor. The digital controller allows you to set the temperature in two stages. This feature is extremely convenient – you save time by, for example, setting a higher drying temperature for 2 hours and then drying at a lower temperature for the next 8 hours.
This feature allows you to significantly reduce the amount of time spent drying food while preserving all of its beneficial properties.
For advanced users, there are models with programmable options and multiple drying modes.

The Sedona Express SDE-S6780 professional 11-level dehydrator features a timer of up to 99 hours. South Korean manufacturer Tribest ensures comfortable operation even with heavy loads and even the most delicate foods. This dehydrator features a patented two-stage TST (Two-Stage Sequential Temperature Timer), allowing for easy adjustment of the Combo mode: the drying process begins at a high temperature, then automatically switches to a lower temperature, continuing operation without raising the food temperature above the desired level. The Sedona Express SDE-S6780 also features a "FAST" mode, which processes food at maximum temperatures (ideal for meat), and a "RAW" mode, a gentle, low-temperature drying mode preferred by raw foodists.

► Additional accessories

You can expand your dehydrator's functionality with additional accessories. These typically include special plastic mesh for drying small items, and silicone sheets (mats) for making marshmallows or processing liquid and semi-liquid foods.
Pay attention to the basic package of the device, as well as the range of accessories that can be purchased separately.

Below are recommended temperature settings for drying the most common foods (source - excaliburdehydrator.com):

So, when choosing a dehydrator , decide on the tasks you set for the equipment:

• Think about how often and what products you want to work with;
• When choosing a budget option with vertical airflow, be prepared for the hassle of rearranging the trays for uniform heating;
• Pay attention to the safety of the materials used in the production of the dehydrator;
• Explore the technical capabilities of the device: temperature control, timer, transparent door, backlight - these features are worth the higher price;
• If you are already an advanced user, inquire about new products to purchase a model with the most modern technologies;
• Expand your equipment's capabilities by ordering additional useful accessories for comfortable work and the best results.