You do not necessarily need to buy dry herbs from the store -- you can grow and dry them yourself if you have a dehydrator. With a dehydrator, you can dry herbs and meat, fruits, mushrooms, and much more.
It is not considered an essential appliance, yet it is very important as it offers so much convenience.
Best Dehydrator for Herbs
In this product review, we compare the five best dehydrators for herbs. They will do a good job of drying your herbs while preserving the flavor.
Here is what we have:
1. Elite Gourmet Food Dehydrator
The Elite Gourmet food dehydrator is a great choice for your herbs, fruit, vegetables, and snacks. It works with an adjustable temperature of 95 Fahrenheit to 158 Fahrenheit. It is designed to ensure even flow distribution.
The fan is located on the base to ensure even drying and proper air circulation. The unit has five trays that you can use to dehydrate your food.
The dehydrator features a large viewing window to help you watch the drying process.
It is great not only for food but also for flowers and Potpourri. The appliance has been tested for safety and is perfect for home use. Plus, it is easy to wash, and the parts are dishwasher safe. The parts are BPA-free making them safe to use.
When you buy this product, you get a one-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
This is a six-tray dehydrator that is a perfect companion for your home. It can be used to dehydrate different kinds of foods such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc.
The six stackable trays are all made of BPA-free material. Each layer has two adjustable heights so that you can dehydrate different foods at the same time.
The viewing window is transparent to help you keep track of the drying process.
The unit features a digital thermostat and timer to give a precise temperature. You can get a temperature between 95°Fahrenheit to 158° Fahrenheit. You can also adjust the timer from 30 minutes to 72 hours for accurate drying results.
It is easy to clean as the base can be wiped clean with a damp cloth and the trays are removable and dishwasher safe.
It comes with an 18-month warranty.
Pros
Cons
This is a compact electric food dehydrator machine with five trays. Unlike other dehydrators, this particular one gives you the option to collapse the trays if you're not using them. This saves 40% more space.
The trays used the BPA-free, ensuring your safety. You can also achieve accurate temperature control as it gives you a wide temperature option for different foods. Plus, it comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.
Pros
Cons
This is a premium food dehydrator that is equipped with six stainless steel trays.
It is suitable for drying different foods, including beef, fruit, herbs, etc.
Even though it has a stainless-steel body, it has a glass door so that you can watch the food you're drying.
It is simple to use as it has a digital control panel with a timer that you can precisely set. It gives you an option of accurate temperature control between 95º Fahrenheit and 65º Fahrenheit.
When the timer stops, the dehydrator automatically shuts off. It also features overheat-protection to protect the dehydrator from overheating. It is great for users who do not like noise as it is pretty quiet.
The tray liners are made with 100% BPA-free material. Plus, the unit is easy to store and clean. The trays are also dishwasher safe.
Pros
Cons
This is an eight-layer dehydrator made of stainless steel. Unlike many, it has 360-degree hot air circulation to ensure every tray is heated evenly.
It is spacious so that it can dehydrate more food.
It is also equipped with accurate timer and temperature settings to ensure you get a precise temperature. It automatically shuts down when the set time is over.
The appliance is made of food-grade stainless steel material with a glass front door. The door is transparent to help you watch your food as it dries.
The dehydrator features a clip that prevents you from touching overheated food.
The unit has overheating-protection such that when the temperature is too high or too low, the machine stops working. It is also easy to clean, and all the removable parts are dishwasher friendly.
Pros
Cons
Buyer’s Guide
Any of the five dehydrators can work well with herbs. If you need to choose one and can’t decide, then this section is for you. In this part of the guide, we compare the specifics of the five dehydrators.
The Biggest Dehydrator: The VVinRC Store 8 Layers Food Dehydrator is the biggest. With eight layers of trays, it can fit a big amount of food.
The Most Compact Dehydrator: If you are conscious about space and need something compact, then the DASH DEHY100GY SmartStore Compact Electric Food Dehydrator Machine is the best choice for you. It has trays that can collapse, making it compact to fit any space.
Dehydrator with 360-Degree Air Circulation: 360-degree hot air circulation ensures even heat distribution so that there is even dehydration in the unit. We recommend the VVinRC Store 8 Layers Food Dehydrator for this.
The Most Affordable Dehydrator: When it comes to the price, the least expensive dehydrator is the DASH DEHY100GY SmartStore Compact Electric Food Dehydrator Machine. It retails at only $39.99.
Our Recommendation: Even though you will be okay with any of the five, our recommendation is the DASH DEHY100GY SmartStore Compact Electric Food Dehydrator Machine. It is cheaper, compact, and well designed to give you the best experience.
Choosing the Best Dehydrator for Herbs
Even though you probably already know the best dehydrator to choose for you by now, you still need to know how to choose one. Some of the factors to consider include:
Size of the Dehydrator
The right size depends on individual needs. If you're planning to dry many herbs at the same time, then you need a big dehydrator. Your kitchen counter space is also a factor to consider as you don't want something too big for your space.
Mode of Drying
Some dehydrators have fans on the rear and fans on the base. Others use conventional drying. All the drying methods work well depending on your needs. It is vital to remember that convectional drying takes a long time.
Features of the Dehydrator
The more features on the dehydrator make it convenient to use. When looking at the features, choose features that make it convenient for you, such as digital controls. Digital controls are not only convenient but also help you to achieve precise temperature.
The Material Used
Whether it's plastic or stainless steel, you need to aim for BPA-free material. The material used should also be easy to clean.
Cost of the Dehydrator
Your budget determines what kind of dehydrator you get. A high-quality dehydrator with more features will be more expensive.
Reviews of the Dehydrator
When you look at the customer reviews, you will know what to expect from the products. That will save you from making mistakes and help you to choose the best product.
Warranty
Even though it's expected with most appliances, it's not always obvious. It will help if you go for a product with a warranty period of at least one year.
Types of Dehydrators
Dehydrators can be categorized into two main types depending on how they're made. There are those with stackable trays and those with a rigid box with removable shelves.
Stackable Dehydrators
Since they are stackable, they tend to be compact as they can stack up as high as possible. They also tend to be cheaper comparatively. The only problem with stackable dehydrators is that they do not have an even heat distribution. So, dehydration will not be even. The trays near the heating element will dry faster than those that are far away.
Stackable units with a rotating tray tend to be better as they can distribute heat more evenly.
Box and Shelf Dehydrators
Most box and shelf dehydrators have a heat source at the back and do not need to rotate to distribute heat. We also have a big portion of the box and shelf design that use convection drying.
With convection drying, the heat source is at the base and passes up to the top through convection. Even though convection drying is slower, it is great at preventing contamination of foods. Convection drying is also quiet and uses less power.
Tips for Drying your Herbs Well
- You should prepare the herbs well. This means that you remove all the dry and bruised leaves and stems before you dry them.
- Put a single layer of herbs on the dehydrator tray.
- Use fewer trays to ensure good airflow.
- Choose the lowest power setting possible to preserve the flavor.
- Store your herbs well after.
Conclusion
Even with the best dehydrator, you need the patience to get the best results. Normally convectional drying is the best, even though it takes a longer time.
Good luck, and happy dehydrator shopping!
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