I have seen a lot of dehydrators in the past few years.  Some of them have been homemade, and some have been purchased.  They all have the same goal: to dry the food quickly and without spoilage or cooking it.  Some work better than others, so let’s look at some general information on them and what to look for.

When I was a child, my family lived in El Paso, Texas.  It got so hot there that one day my younger sister literally tried to fry an egg on the cement!  During that time, my mother used the sun for dehydrating.  She would spread out the fruit and vegetables onto cookie sheets, cover them with netting to keep the bugs out, and lay them out on the picnic table.  It would take two full days to dry the batch, and she would bring them in during the night.  It worked, but it was somewhat labor intensive.  Furthermore, there is some risk of spoilage when drying is not continuing overnight.   However, energy costs were nonexistent.  This may not work in every climate, especially those that are cooler or more humid, but in El Paso, the conditions were ideal.

My first dehydrator was purchased when we were college students with an empty wallet.  It cost us $15.  It was a homemade affair, and quite simply made.  But it held a lot, and as long as I was careful, it worked.  It had about seven screens from windows, which slid in on wood rails.  In the back of the unit was a heating element with a fan behind that.  There was a plexiglass door on it that didn’t fit tightly, allowing for air movement.  My one gripe about it was that the heating element got too hot, so unless I turned the screens around every two hours or so, the food would cook and sometimes burn.  It was a pain, but the best we could do, and we dried a lot of food in it before it finally succumbed.  I can’t say that I was sad when it did, but it did serve us well.

Many people use the oven for drying.  It works, but may be more expensive in energy costs.  It is also hard to keep the temperature where it needs to be for optimum results.  Simply put the food on the trays and put in the oven, setting it to about 1450.  If it’s any higher than that, more vitamins will be lost.  The door needs to be left open a few inches so that moist air can escape.  If the door in closed, the food will not dry nearly as fast because once the air is saturated, drying ceases.  But it can work if you are willing to watch the temperature carefully.

After my homemade dehydrator bit the dust, I was able to purchase a new one which I have had ever since.  At the time it was hard to spend the money, but as I look back on it, it was a smart investment.  It has more than paid for itself in the cost of the food that I have been able to process for later use.  I can dry food when the weather is rainy, and also during the night.  I don’t have problems with burned pieces.  The temperature is controlled, and I don’t have to watch it nearly as carefully.  I have even acquired a second one recently, because when the produce is ready, it’s ready, and it doesn’t always wait for a convenient time or room in the dryer.

So here are some things to consider when looking for a dryer:

Number of trays - For my family, the more the better.  The rectangular ones hold a lot.  The round ones are smaller, but most are made so that more trays can be added if the need arises.  Some people only need a small dryer, so first think about what you will use, how much you need of each item, and plan accordingly.  Then think about purchasing one that is somewhat larger than you think you need, because once you get going, you may wish you had the room.  Or, alternatively, buy one that can expand.

Temperature control - I found out how critical this is.  The temperature should range from 950 F to 1550 F for various foods, which can include everything from herbs to fruits and vegetables and also jerky.  It should be easy to change, and consistent, without wide variations.

A timer is not really necessary, but I sure like it.  If I happen to walk away and forget that I put in a batch to dry the day before, it keeps it from running for three days until I remember.  Often I put the dryer on my front deck, which has a roof, so it doesn’t heat up the house.  It works wonderfully, but I seem to have a short memory, and sometimes have a hard time remembering until I realize that I still have three more gallons of chopped onions in the frig waiting their turn.

Air flow is a major factor in the drying process.  The faster the air moves, the faster the food dries.  I have seen some dryers that take an enormous amount of time to dry the food.  I have seen others that accomplish the same task in just a few hours.  Try talking to other people about their dryers and what they like or dislike about them.  Talk to salespeople and get their recommendations about what would be best for your situation.  The more information you have, the better your decision will be.  After all, you will likely have the unit for many years, and you will want one that will make you smile instead of grimace every time you use it.  Besides, if you like it, you are much more likely to use it at all!

One other item to consider is whether fruit leather will be dried in the machine.  Leather requires either teflon sheets or plastic sheets.  I have teflon sheets for my large dryer.  They are thin, and can be peeled off the leather easily.  Some round dryers have plastic sheets that fit right in the round trays.  These work well also.  I often use the teflon or plastic sheets for much of my drying.  It inhibits the air flow some, but the food doesn’t stick to them, so they are especially useful for some fruits, which tend to be somewhat sticky.  Get them if you can.  You may find that you use them more than you thought you would.

As you look for a dehydrator, remember that this isn’t the time to skimp.  Get what you need, and then some.  Get a good quality one.  Remember that you don’t want food to spoil simply because you can’t process it fast enough.  The more you are able to dry, the more money you are able to save.  The dryer will pay for itself soon enough, and your family will be eating the nutritious produce from your own garden and trees much longer.  That in itself makes the purchase worthwhile.