Are you considering purchasing a food dehydrator? If so, consider asking yourself these questions when considering and comparing different food dehydrators and deciding which dehydrator is best for you.

• Doe the dehydrator have a fan? The two basic components of food dehydration are heat and air flow. A typical food dehydrator contains an electric component for heat and a fan and air vents for circulation. A food dehydrator’s heating element and fan work together to remove moisture from food. However, many entry level dehydrators do not have a fan, thus eliminating one critical component for dehydration.
• Where is the fan mounted? Is the dehydrator a horizontal air flow dehydrator or a vertical air flow dehydrator? A food dehydrator’s fan is either mounted on the bottom, top or rear of the drying unit. Many people prefer a rear mounted fan as they believe it more evenly blows the warm air over the food trays. Also, many people do not like bottom mounted fans and heating elements as juices can drip down onto it.
• Does the dehydrator have an adjustable thermostat? Many entry level dehydrators do not have adjustable thermostats and thus do not allow you to control the temperature that you are drying different foods at.
• Does the dehydrator have an on/off switch? Many dehydrators do not have a switch and are only turned on and off by unplugging the unit.
• Does the dehydrator have a timer? Most dehydrators do not, although many people improvise by adding a timer via an extra electrical plug.
• Does the dehydrator allow for tray expansion? If desired, can you expand the drying area’s square footage?
• How many watts does the food dehydrator have? If you are planning to add extra trays to the dehydrator, then you will want more watts and thus more drying power.
• What is the total drying area in square feet? What is the cost per square foot between different models? The square footage of a food dehydrator can be calculated as shown in this Food-Dehydrator.com article.
• What kind of warranty does the dehydrator have?

Consider these questions before buying a dehydrator and you will find the best dehydrator for you and your drying needs.

Published 12/23/2009 12:00:00 AM

Tags: Horizontal Air Flow Food Dehydrators, Vertical Air Flow Food Dehydrators, Watts, Thermostat, Food Dehydrator Features