How to choose a dryer for vegetables and fruits
We independently test the products and technologies that we recommend.
1. Vertical dryer or dehydrator?
The first step when choosing a dryer for vegetables and fruits is to decide on the type of device. The main classification can be safely considered to be the division into vertical and horizontal models.
Vertical dryers are considered simpler and more affordable. They are well suited for economical and undemanding buyers, including tech who do not need to prepare a very large amount of drying for the winter. True, among vertical models there are quite spacious units.
In vertical dryers, food trays are placed in tiers on top of each other. Typically, there is a heating element and a fan at the bottom of the case. Thus, the hot air flow is directed to the upper trays, plus the laws of physics also work: warm air tends upward, since it is lighter than cold air. But it’s still not possible to achieve completely uniform drying in such models without user participation. You will still have to manually rearrange the trays: put the top ones lower, and the bottom ones - vice versa.
A rare subspecies of vertical models are devices with a top-mounted heater and fan. This design is aimed at increasing overall safety of use. So, moisture and juice from the products will definitely not get to the main working units. At the same time, the problem of uneven heating here only gets worse: after all, the highest temperature will be in the area of the upper trays, and heating of the lower ones will be clearly worse. It turns out that here, too, you can’t do without manual rearrangements. Although, through trial and error, these dryers can achieve greater automation when loading different products at the same time: for example, dry fruits at the top, and mushrooms or crackers at the bottom.
Pros of vertical dryers:
- affordable cost;
- most often more compact sizes;
- folding design: trays can be removed and can be stored separately from the base;
- in theory, you can use more sections than were originally included in the package.
Minuses:
- imperfect uniformity of heat distribution;
- high probability of mixing odors when drying different products;
- If the heater and fan are located at the bottom, drops of moisture may fall on these components, which can negatively affect the working resource.
Horizontal dryers, also known as dehydrators, are more advanced devices. Initially, these were professional drying devices, which became smaller and migrated to the consumer segment. Structurally, dehydrators resemble ovens: the heater and fan are located on the back wall of the working chamber, and the trays are placed in the same way as baking sheets. Accordingly, hot air blows horizontally onto the products, odors mix less, and high uniformity of drying is achieved regardless of the level of location.
The main disadvantage of such devices is their significantly higher cost. In addition, dehydrators are often quite capacious, and because of this they are also very bulky: not every kitchen has a suitable place for them.
Note that some dehydrators (primarily for commercial purposes or higher price category of household models, such as Concept SO-4000) may include infrared heating elements. It is believed that such dryers work faster and quieter, better preserve the beneficial properties and attractiveness of products, but at the same time they are less common and cost even more.
Pros of dehydrators:
- uniform drying (no need to manually move trays);
- Juice and moisture do not get on the heater or fan;
- Often there is more capacity, better quality materials and wider functionality.
Minuses:
- high price;
- larger dimensions.
For clarity, we have summarized the main differences between vertical dryers and dehydrators in a table:
| Comparison parameter | Vertical dryer | Dehydrator (horizontal) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | low or medium | high |
| Heater location | from below (occasionally from on top) | from the side |
| Heating uniformity | medium (and with the top heater - low) | high |
| Mixing smells | Maybe | unlikely |
| Workflow visibility | depends on the transparency of the sections | there is always a viewing window on the door |
| Number of trays | around 5 | usually 6 or more |
| Changing the number of sections | you can add or remove trays | you can only remove unnecessary trays |
| Tray material | almost always plastic | usually metal |
| Controls | more often mechanical | more often electronic |
| Dimensions and storage | more compact, easier to store due to collapsible design | larger and more difficult to store |
So, if the purchase budget is limited and large volumes of drying workpieces are not required, then it is reasonable to consider a relatively inexpensive and compact horizontal model. If you value convenience and automation of the drying process, and have free space in the kitchen, then a dehydrator looks preferable.
2. Capacity and number of trays
The number of sections and the total volume of the dryer should be selected taking into account individual needs, namely, how often and in what volume you will prepare drying. It would be good if capacity was tied to the mass of products in kg, but the problem is that manufacturers rarely provide such information. More often (but also not in all cases) they indicate the volume.
A capacity of 20 liters does not mean that you can dry almost 20 kg of fruits or vegetables at a time. Let's say 1 kg of strawberries in terms of volume will take about 1.7 liters, 1 kg of raspberries - even more. Plus, a lot depends on cutting and distribution on trays, because for high-quality drying and air movement, it is better to leave free space between the pieces.
What volume do you need exactly? Here are the main recommendations:
- models up to 10 liters are suitable if you do not need a lot of dried fruits and vegetables;
- dryers for 11 - 15 liters - allow you to prepare a little more drying, may be of interest, for example, to amateur mushroom pickers;
- 15 - 19 liters - a universal choice for a wide range of everyday tasks;
- from 20 liters - suitable dryers for users who are interested in a solid supply of dried food for the winter. At the same time, summer residents should most likely take a closer look at models with a capacity of 30–40 liters or more.
If the volume is not indicated by the manufacturer, then you need to rely on the number of trays. Here, the area or dimensions of the length and width of one section also play an important role, and they are directly tied to the dimensions of the dryer. But all other things being equal, you can focus on the following recommendations:
- up to 4 sections have the least capacious, but at the same time the most compact devices;
- 5 or 6 sections is an average figure that can satisfy the needs of a family of several people;
- 6 to 8 trays are a good choice for families with several children;
- over 8 sections - a suitable option for demanding buyers. These could be large families, owners of dachas and garden plots;
- from 20 sections provide commercial level dryers - a must have for catering establishments, industries, etc.
Note that capacity directly affects the dimensions. In cramped living conditions, it is quite reasonable to take a smaller dryer, which will simply require more work cycles for the required amount of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, herbs, etc. At the same time, the more often you have to use the device, the more inconvenience the manual “shuffling” of trays for uniform drying can cause. Therefore, if a compromise is needed between dimensions and capacity, a more advantageous choice would be a compact dehydrator, which minimizes user participation in the operation process.
3. Power
The drying speed and energy consumption indicators directly depend on the heater power. But we must strive not only for a balance between speed and efficiency. It is much more important to select the optimal power for a specific volume (number of working trays).
The worst option is a low-power heater in a large dryer - here the device will cope with its main task frankly poorly. But increased power in a compact device is also not very good, because in this case the risk of drying out and loss of beneficial properties of the products increases.
In general, in both dehydrators and vertical dryers, there is a direct relationship between power indicators and the number of trays. But for vertical models this is a more critical point, because uneven heat distribution can increase the discrepancy between power and volume. To prevent this from happening, we recommend adhering to the following basic rules:
- dryers up to 300 W - a normal choice if there are from 3 to 5 trays;
- from 300 to 500 W - suitable for models with 5 or 6 sections;
- from 500 to 700 W is the norm for dryers with 6 to 8 trays. But such power is also acceptable for models that have 5 sections, but they are large in dimensions and/or with a large amount of space in height between the tiers;
- from 700 W - the best option for devices with 8 trays or more.
Note that if you are interested not only in drying fruits and vegetables, but also in drying meat or fish, then you should consider models from 500 W. Also keep in mind that professional dehydrators are noticeably more powerful (as they are also more spacious) and can consume from 2000 to 6000 watts.
4. Design features and equipment
Before purchasing a dryer, we also recommend paying attention to the following seemingly small but significant points:
- Case material. Dryers made of plastic are more common - a balanced option in terms of price, quality and performance properties. Dryers with a metal body are more stylish and reliable, but also more expensive. Often these are made by dehydrators of the highest price category or professional level.
- Tray material. More often, pallets are made of plastic. They are durable and strong, affordable, and generally safe (as long as they do not contain bisphenol A (BPA)). A potential disadvantage is loss of presentation and staining from contact with food. Metal trays - usually made of stainless steel - are even stronger and more durable, and do not have the weaknesses of their plastic counterparts. But they are rarely found in vertical dryers. But they are often used in dehydrators, where they reinforce the status of the models.
- The height of the sides of the trays. Not the most obvious, but significant constructive point. It determines the distance between sections and determines the thickness of the fruit or vegetable pieces that fit on the tray. So, if the indicator is about 4 cm, then you can put whole strawberries, but, for example, cut bananas not so finely. And if thin slices are not necessary, then the labor intensity of the preparatory work before drying is noticeably lower. By the way, some models support height adjustment between trays, which increases versatility and ease of use: you can place not only thin pieces of vegetables and fruits.
- Visibility of the work process. Dehydrators always have a profile viewing window, but its dimensions and degree of transparency vary, so sometimes you need to open the door to better control drying. In the case of vertical dryers, everything depends on the walls of the sections. If they are made of plastic, they may be transparent, but often they are just white or gray, so to check for readiness you will have to open the lid and violate the temperature regime.
- Easy to care for. In modern dryers, automatic tray maintenance is increasingly acceptable. This option is really more convenient, because it allows you to place the trays in the dishwasher after use.
Dryers with an extended supply package are often found on sale. In addition to standard pallets, there may be trays for marshmallows and/or meshes for herbs and spices. The first ones have a solid bottom without holes, which is well suited for preparing a popular fruit dessert. But the meshes have tiny holes so that spices, herbs and other small ingredients (for example, berries) do not fall out through them.
5. Temperature conditions and controls
Modern fruit and vegetable dryers are usually equipped with a thermostat, which allows you to set the desired operating temperature. Only the simplest models do not have such a regulator - in fact, they support a single operating mode. Because of this, some products may end up with excess moisture, while others may be over-dried. And to prevent this from happening, you will need to “dance with a tambourine,” that is, frequently manually rearrange the trays.
The wider the temperature range that your dryer thermostat supports, the more versatile your appliance will be. Manufacturers often indicate the optimal value for certain products in the instructions or even on the body of the device itself (for convenience).
Recommended temperatures for drying typical ingredients are listed below:
- 35 °C - herbs, spices, seeds;
- 40 °C - yogurt, preparing crackers;
- from 50 to 55 °C - vegetables and mushrooms;
- from 55 to 60 °C - fruits;
- from 65 °C - drying meat and fish.
If you plan to dry a wide variety of products, then it is advisable to pay special attention to the type of controls.
The simplest and cheapest option is mechanical rotary switches. They are very informative, but often provide only approximate temperature adjustments with large errors, that is, delicate products, such as greens, may not be dried correctly.
Electronic controls allow you to more conveniently and accurately adjust temperature conditions. These could be buttons or sensors. The latter, for example, are favored by greater aesthetics and practicality - it is easier to clean them from dust and dirt.
The timer function can be implemented by both mechanical and electronic controls. But in the latter case, again, the accuracy of the settings is higher (it goes for minutes or seconds), plus there is often a display for visual control of the remaining time.
Among the basic options of modern dryers, it is worth highlighting protection against overheating - it eliminates critical temperatures, prevents equipment failure and the risk of fire in the room. Advanced functions, which often significantly increase the cost of the device, include heat maintenance, backlighting, various auto programs, etc.
6. Brands and prices
Among fruit and vegetable dryers there are many specialized brands that may be unknown to a wide range of buyers. Yes, there are also popular brands among kitchen appliances, including Gorenje, Sencor, Saturn, FIRST Austria or Zelmer, but they offer relatively budget solutions in the mid-price category (with the exception of Sencor and FIRST Austria, which also have advanced dehydrators).
Among the specialized manufacturers that deserve special attention, it is worth highlighting WetAir, Concept, ETA and Lund. Professional and semi-professional solutions include products from the brands Klarstein, Tekhniko, BioChef.
As for prices, in the budget segment we can primarily consider small-capacity vertical dryers. But the most affordable dehydrators today are available as vertical models of intermediate and advanced levels. For large families with children and busy people, it is advisable to consider horizontal dryers with a number of levels of 8 or even 10, but they are clearly more expensive. But summer residents and tech who choose a device with a small business in mind should focus on the highest price segment of dehydrators, where commercial and semi-professional solutions are presented.
In general, we recommend that you first decide on the type of device, then select a model based on volume and power, and then pay attention to the nuances - design features, controls, additional functions and delivery package. And only after that you should look at brands and make a final decision. You can also go the opposite way - set the basic parameters (number of trays, power, control method), and then, taking into account the budget, choose either a vertical dryer or a dehydrator.
Articles, reviews, useful tips
All materials
