When it comes to kitchen appliances, you want to find one that can do two different roles simultaneously. This is even better because it prevents your house from being cluttered.
Luckily, some appliances can work as both air fryers and dehydrators. All you need is the right temperature settings for the job.
Best Air Fryer Dehydrators
In this product buying guide, we are going to compare the five best air fryer dehydrators. They have the best features and have been optimized to do both functions seamlessly, serving you correctly.
1. Chefman 6.3 Quart Digital Air Fryer + Rotisserie, Dehydrator, Convection Oven
This is a great versatile tool that your household will love. It is not only a dehydrator but also serves as an air fryer and a rotisserie. So, you know it can serve you well.
It is easy to operate, and it features eight touch screen presets that can help you get precise settings for cooking. The interior has good lighting, giving you the option of watching your food as it cooks.
It comes with many accessories such as two air flow racks, rotisserie spit and forks, a rotating basket/retrieval tool, and a drip tray. The parts are dishwasher safe making cleaning them a breeze.
The dehydrator has been made with safe BPA-free material, so you can be confident you are not taking in harmful chemicals.
The size is perfect for families, as it has a six-liter capacity. You can easily make enough food for the whole family.
Pros
Cons
With this, you can make more than one food at a time. It has a size of 20 quarts with three levels of airflow racks.
It is multi-functional as it comes with 10 preset functions. You have the option to dehydrate, grill, roast, rotisserie, and make all kinds of food.
The interior of the appliance is made of stainless steel to make the temperature uniform.
The door is transparent and detachable to open the door when you need a clean up quickly.
When you open the door, it automatically pauses. Plus, when you close, it resumes from where you stopped. You can also turn on the light to watch your meals cook.
The dehydrator comes with ten accessories for more convenience. It is easy to wash, and all it needs is a non-abrasive soap and a non-metallic sponge.
Pros
Cons
This is a 17-quart air fryer and food dehydrator with five drying trays and six extra accessories. With the five drawing trays, you can dehydrate more food at the same time.
The dehydrator gives you the option of a wide temperature range of 95 to 170 Fahrenheit. This is for up to 24 hours, giving you a precise temperature for grade rating.
It is easy to use and has a touch screen, and comes with eight presets.
The dehydrator comes with 11 extra accessories and two recipe books. It is an excellent option for beginners as it comes with a dehydrating guide.
Pros
Cons
This is a six-in-one appliance that will serve you well in your household. With it, you can air fry dehydrate, roast, grill, bake, and rotisserie.
It has a large size of 14 quarts, making it suitable for the whole family.
The appliance features two stainless steel racks. It is easy to use as it comes with 100 pre-programmed presets.
Even though it has a maximum power of 1,800 watts, it gives you the power to control the wattage you want. The chambers have been designed to ensure even heat distribution.
Pros
Cons
This is a 12.7-quart electric air fryer and dehydrator. It is not only big, but it is also compact to fit your countertop well. The appliance has three levels to prepare your food comfortably.
It is easy to use as it comes with eleven presets that you can conveniently set, plus it comes with eleven accessories for maximum cooking potential.
When you buy the appliance, you get 50 recipes that can get you started cooking. With GoWise, you're assured of a one-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
Buyer's Guide
If you are still finding it hard to choose one appliance, then this section is for you. We focus on the specific details to make your decision making easy.
Here's a quick glimpse of what we have:
Best Unit for the Price:
If you're looking for something as budget-friendly as possible, you should go with the Chefman air fryer dehydrator. It is the cheapest comparatively as it retails at $144. Being affordable does not mean it's inferior. It does its function very well and will serve you perfectly.
The Biggest Appliance:
If you have a big household and you are looking for a bigger appliance, then the GoWISE USA 17-Quart Air Fryer & Food Dehydrator is the one for you. It has a capacity of 17 quarts. This is the right size if you have a big family.
The Most Convenient Unit:
We all know the importance of convenience. This is why you should go for the NUWAVE BRIO 14-Quart Large Capacity Air Fryer and dehydrator. It has been specially made for convenience. It has a large capacity and has 100 programmed presets to give you the option to set the exact wattage you want.
Overall Recommendation:
Our best judgment is the NUWAVE BRIO 14-Quart Large Capacity Air Fryer and Dehydrator. It has a decent capacity and also has 100 pre-programmed presets. It gives you a high optimization option so you can customize the wattage you want.
How to Choose the Best Unit
To end up with the best appliance, you have to know what to look at. Some of the factors to consider when you're looking for the best appliance includes the following.
Size of the Unit:
The best size depends on your needs and the size of your household. It also depends on your kitchen counter size. You would not want a unit that is too big for your space. Luckily, many appliances are meant to be compact.
When shopping for one, you'll notice the size is measured in quarts. The bigger the quarts, the bigger the size.
Ease of Use:
When it's easy to use, it will be convenient for you. Some will come pre-programmed to make it easy for you. The buttons should also be easy to reach and use.
The Material Used:
Some materials are better than others like BPA-free and dishwasher-friendly options.
Mode of Operation:
Some units can do different functions at the same time, while some do one at a time. Make sure you find that out before making your purchase.
The Compartments:
The more compartments inside, the more convenient it is for you. Look for an option with many compartments.
Budget:
The cost will depend on many factors that influence the price, such as the features and size. As much as finding out the cost is essential, you should not skip out on the appliance's features and size.
Air Fryer Vs. Dehydrator
Air fryers and dehydrators are similar in that they both circulate air to ensure even heat distribution. The thin line between the two appliances is that an air fryer mostly operates at a high temperature to allow the food to get brown and crispy in a short time.
On the other hand, a dehydrator works at a lower temperature and ensures that the food gets dry without getting cooked or having a color change.
Air fryer and dehydrators operate at different times. An air fryer can take just a few minutes, while a dehydrator can take a few hours or even days.
Air Fryer Dehydrator Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Air Fryer Act As a Dehydrator?
An air fryer can work as a dehydrator as they operate in somewhat a similar way. It just depends on the heat setting. As mentioned, dehydrators operate with mild temperatures. So, to use an air fryer as a dehydrator you will need a low-temperature setting. If it does not have a low temperature, it will cook the food instead.
The air fryer also needs a sound air venting system so that moisture is not trapped. Otherwise, condensation will occur, making the food reabsorb the moisture.
Can a Dehydrator Work as an Air Fryer?
Unfortunately, in most cases, you cannot use a dehydrator as an air fryer. Most dehydrators do not have a high-temperature setting that will help the food to be cooked. If you can get a dehydrator with a high-temperature setting, then you are good to go but you will need to make provision for oil and grease drips that could cause a mess inside your dehydrator.
What Can You Cook in a Dehydrator?
Dehydrators are mostly used for making dried fruits but you can also use this device for other delicious treats like beef jerky, dried bread, dried crackers, granola bars, pizza crust, chips, dried vegetables, dried fish, dried nuts and seeds, sprouted grains, dried herbs, and much more.
What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is designed to fry just about any food item you would normally deep fry as well as various other foods. You can make a huge variety of foods in your air fryer without using any oil.
The device is handy for making quick foods like fries, potato wedges, chicken wings, chicken bits, fish sticks, fish cakes, onion rings, vegetables, meats, baked foods like cake or cupcakes, and many other healthy snacks that you might bake in the oven.
Does Turning Up the Temperature Dehydrate Foods Quicker?
No, increasing the temperature of your air fryer or dehydrating won't cause the food to dehydrate quicker. Instead, this might cook the food instead of dehydrating these items. To effectively dehydrate food, moisture needs to be extracted slowly at a low temperature of about 120 to 160 degrees F. As soon as the temperature of the air fryer is set too high, the food will start to cook and its chemical structure will be altered.
Are Dehydrated Foods Healthier?
Yes, dehydrated foods are much healthier snack items compared to alternative snacks like carbonated drinks, candy, cake, chocolate, or cookies. The reason dehydrated foods are healthier is that you are consuming natural produce without consuming additional fat, grease, or sugar that can affect your weight. Dehydrated foods can also act as a meal replacer because these foods are packed with lots of healthy nutrients.
When you are using dehydrated foods as a snack or meal replacer, you should however keep in mind that the volume of these foods drastically decreases when water is extracted but the nutrients in these foods remain the same. Jerky, for example, with lots of fat can be just as unhealthy as a piece of steak with lots of fat.
Consuming too many dehydrated foods can cause weight gain because the volume of these foods is reduced which means you can consume much more without feeling full or satisfied. Dried foods are also incredibly tasty which increases the temptation to consume too much of these natural products.
How Long Can Dehydrated Foods Last Before Spoiling?
Dehydrated foods have a much longer shelf life compared to fresh food. As a rule of thumb, dehydrated foods typically last 6 - 12 months before they will start to spoil. This is an incredible shelf life expectancy since you don't have to add any preservatives to make these foods last this long.
Dehydrated foods can be stored for much longer than 12 months. If you want to keep your dehydrated foods safely stored for up to 4 years then you should put these foods in an air-tight container and keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat.
Conclusion
Once you know what to look for, you can make your decision with confidence and get the best air fryer dehydrator for you. You should ensure that you maintain whichever option you choose so that you can get maximum value from them for a long time.
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