Curb your store-bought habit with these food dehydrators that create all the delicious dried fruits, vegetables, and jerky at home! Usually, you come across dehydrators that are expensive, bulky, and space-hogs. However, today we bring you the best food dehydrators under $100 that are not only affordable, but work efficiently without taking all the space in your kitchen.
The Best Food Dehydrator Under $100
In the next few sections, we’ll be reviewing the top 5 food dehydrators under $100 and weighing their pros and cons!
The Elechomes 6-Tray Food Dehydrator prepares for you some mouthwatering delicacies that are a treat for all. You can store beef, fruits, vegetables, fruit rolls, and even dog food for your pooch. The machine is exceptionally simple to use and comes with a manual that guides beginners.
Enjoy nutrient-rich food with the 6 stackable BPA-free trays. Each of the trays comes with 2 adjustable heights that allows you to place in a variety of food at once. The transparent trays help you in monitoring the progress of the food so that you don’t have to remove the cover to check every time.
The digital control panel of the dehydrator allows you to adjust the temperature between 95-degree F to 158 degrees F. You can adjust the time from 30 minutes to 72 hours using the timer that will give you the best drying results and that is useful for handling different types of food.
Cleaning out the dehydrator is as easy as drying the food in the dehydrator. You can use a sponge or a damp cloth to wipe the base of the machine. The 6 trays are removable and can be washed in the dishwasher for an easy clean.
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The affordable Hamilton 32100A dehydrator offers you plenty of space for drying food and a lot of conveniences. The rectangular shape of the dehydrator makes more room for food compared to the round machines that you come across in the market.
The Hamilton dehydrator's compact size makes it easy for the appliance to fit on shelves without taking up too much space. The 5 stackable trays are shaped out of BPA-free plastics that can be used for any food, whether dry or sticky. To add further convenience, you will find a solid sheet and a fine sheet in the machine that prevent smaller food items from falling on to the base through the holes of the tray.
It has a digital timer that you can set for hours between 1 to 48, depending on the food item. Boosting the efficiency of the digital timer is the auto-shutoff mechanism. The auto-shutoff means you don’t have to stand over the machine all the time to shut it off and continue with your daily chores as the food dries in the dehydrator.
Along with the heating element is the fan that makes sure heat is evenly distributed continuously. The opaque walls of the dehydrator stop light from passing through and destroying the light-sensitive nutrients. However, you won’t have to open the lid for rotation.
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The DHR-20 food dehydrator is a versatile machine that prepares for you delicious fruits, vegetables, doggie treats, herbs, and jerky. It suits both your pocket and your health! If you are into pottery, the appliance can be used to help you in drying pottery, as well.
It has five interlocking trays that are expendable and can be stacked over one another. The powerful battery enables the dehydrator to function optimally. The powerful 620-watt motorized fan and vent system ensure adequate drying.
The compact design of the dehydrator is space-efficient. The round shape of the appliance helps in storing it in any place. It even has round trays that are appropriate for even drying of the food items. You can place different food items on the trays, and they will all be ready to devour in one go.
The use of BPA-Free material ensures your health along with delicious food. The plastic does not release harmful components that might cause you to fall ill. The adjustable temperature range handles all kinds of food, all the while preserving the taste and nutrients.
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The COSORI dehydrator is capable of rolling out 50 delicious recipes that are safe, healthy, and every bit tasty! It has a cylindrical shape that helps in equal and effective drying of food placed on all the trays so that you don’t have to remove the lid for rotation.
The energy-efficient dehydrator has an automatic shut off feature that shuts the machine down as soon as the drying process is complete. It thus helps in saving energy, reducing electricity bills, and retaining the texture and flavors of the food.
The BPA-free plastic used in the making of trays makes it safe to use. There won’t be any harmful effects of drying food in the dehydrator as no intoxicant is released. Despite the five trays stacked inside, the machine looks all sleek and stylish.
It operates noiselessly so that you don’t have to deal with a list of complaints by neighbors or house members. Cleaning the machine is easy. You can use a sponge to wipe off the base of the machine, and the trays are dishwasher safe. You will be saved a lot of time and effort.
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The OSTBA dehydrator functions at a stable power of 240 W that helps in flavorful cooking. It has adjustable temperatures that range from 35- 70ᵒC that maintain the taste of the food placed inside with the right temperature setting.
It is an energy and cost-efficient appliance that automatically shuts off once the food is prepared. You won’t have to stand over the machine constantly to check when to switch off the machine as it shuts off on its own.
You can cook a range of recipes in the dehydrator for your family and even prepare inexpensive dog treats. The recipe book inside will guide you in trying out various other dishes so that you can make more wonderful snacks for family and friends.
The dehydrator is very simple and easy to use and has simple settings that are easy to navigate. You can set your desired temperature and working time. The LED display shows both the temperature and time so you know of the remaining time.
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Best Food Dehydrator Under $100 Buying Guide
Buying a food dehydrator is an important investment as you have to look after your expenses and budget and buy an appliance that does not harm your health. Therefore, to purchase a food dehydrator for under $100, you will have to make sure of the following determinants.
Material
Ensuring the use of high-quality material for the manufacture of any product is a prerequisite for almost any of your purchases. Similarly, you have to make sure that the dehydrator is made of high-end materials for two reasons.
First, it is the quality of a material that determines how long the dehydrator will last. Secondly, the quality of the material makes sure you are not subjected to any harmful materials that can risk your health and life.
Design
Considering the design of the dehydrator is another imperative factor. You must choose a dehydrator that does not take much of the shelf space and suits your kitchen. Any dehydrator that offers simple and easy storage in your kitchen is a suitable pick for your kitchen so that it does not hinder your movement while you are cooking meals that don’t require your dehydrator.
Easy Cleaning
Clean up should be just as easy as the dehydrating process. Choose a dehydrator that is easy to clean so that you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing the surface of the appliance not to attract bacteria and germs.
Make sure the surface is easy to clean using a sponge or a wipe, and the trays are dishwasher safe. It is important that you check the means of cleaning so that you do not damage the machine while cleaning.
Adjustable Temperature
If you are buying a dehydrator that can handle various food items such as meat or herbs and spices, you have to buy one that has an adjustable temperature range. An adjustable temperature enables you to prepare a variety of recipes in the dehydrator without worrying that it will lose their taste or texture. Also, the temperature is important if you want to steer clear of food poisoning.
Noiseless Operation
Another important factor is the noiseless operation of the appliance. It is essential to buy a dehydrator that produces less noise as you wouldn’t want to suffer from a headache or disturb others while the machine dries the food inside. A noisy dehydrator also gives an impression of a poor performing machine that might break at any instance.
Benefits of Food Dehydrators
A food dehydrator is a valuable addition to your kitchen. It will help you get rid of your store-bought habit and actually offer you healthier food options that do not contain any additives.
Here is how a food dehydrator helps you:
High on Nutrition
Food dried and prepared in a dehydrator holds more nutritional value compared to canned and frozen food. The dehydrator protects the light and heat-sensitive nutrients that are otherwise lost in the market bought food that contains a lot of food preservatives and chemical traces.
The sprouts or vegetables do not lose their vitamin C or vitamin A content either during or after the dehydration process. It, in fact, increases the concentration of certain essential enzymes and nutrients so that your desire for delicious food does not cost you your health.
Effortless Cooking
The process of dehydration is an easy one that does not require any hard work on your part.
The timers and auto-shutoff mechanisms in the device further make things easy for you. All you have to do is just place the food inside and adjust the timer, and once it is prepared, the machine shuts off on its own so that even if you have forgotten about the food, it won't burn or lose its taste.
Space-Efficient
The food dried in the dehydrator does not take much of the storing space. The food is already dried, so you can put them in a jar and leave it on the countertop, or you can place them inside airtight boxes and keep them in the fridge.
No Leftovers
With a dehydrator in your home, there won’t be any leftovers or food that lands in the dustbin. You can preserve the food items so that they do not become stale, and you can enjoy it for longer than the undried food. It, therefore, helps in reducing food waste that is the most prized feature of the dehydrators.
Conclusion
Buying a costly or inexpensive dehydrator is not what matters. What matters is your requirement and the quality of the dehydrator. Above were some of the best dehydrators under $100 in the market that, despite their affordability, are high on performance.
In case you feel these do not sit well with your requirements, use the buying guide to buy yourself a suitable food dehydrator for under $100. There are ample options that you can explore to buy in value for your money!
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