The Best Food Dehydrators for Home: From Budget to Solar-Powered
Wired tested a range of food dehydrators, from compact models to solar-powered units, to help you choose the best way to preserve surplus food.
Food dehydrators are becoming increasingly popular for preserving seasonal produce, mushrooms, meat, and even fish without taking up much space. Wired's experts conducted extensive tests, drying apples, citrus fruits, herbs, beef, and sweet potatoes to find the best models for various needs.
The overall best pick is the Excalibur DH08SCSS13 Select Digital Food Dehydrator. It features eight stainless steel trays, a 700-watt motor, and a low noise level of 40 decibels. Drying time was nearly half that of cheaper models. The only downside is the one-year warranty.
For budget-conscious buyers, the Cosori Pioneer 5-Tray Food Dehydrator is the winner. It uses stackable plastic rings with a fan in the base and delivers consistent results. Tester Lisa Wood Shapiro praised its excellent recipe library but noted that the dishwasher-safe trays are hard to fit in the dishwasher.
Small kitchens will appreciate the Elite Gourmet EFD329WD Digital Food Dehydrator. Its collapsible trays reduce height to 6 inches when not in use. However, it lacks fruit-roll mats.
For emergencies or off-grid living, the Dehytray Solar Dehydrator runs entirely on solar power. Drying takes longer (about 8 hours for sweet potatoes), and there is a risk of insects accessing meat.
Wired experts also clarify that dehydrators differ from freeze dryers: they use warm air (95–165°F) rather than freezing and vacuum. Home-dried food properly stored lasts from four months to a year. For longer shelf life, vacuum sealing is recommended. Avoid dehydrating fatty foods, dairy, and very watery items like watermelon or cucumber—these are better freeze-dried.
