A popular choice in the world of dehydrators is the Waring Pro Dehydrator. This is a dehydrator which is a bit on the cheaper side, and is a starting point for many people who want to get into dehydrating food. But can it keep up with some of the other competing dehydrators? Be sure to read on to find out.
Product Features:
Waring has existed as a company for over 75 years now, and they have a long and reliable history when it comes to kitchen appliances. A few years ago they began to make food dehydrators, and the Waring Pro DHR30 is one of the more popular models they currently offer. This particular dehydrator is a stack-able model giving you the ability to stack up to 9 trays altogether, and additional trays will set you back around $15 a tray if you want more than the five included. This gives you enough drying space to do around 3lbs of jerky or fruit which is a fair amount. The size of the model is around average for this kind of dehydrator, and it is roughly 13″ W x 10″ H. The heating fan is located at the bottom, which were are somewhat skeptical of based on previous poor experiences with these kinds of designs. Unlike most dehydrators who have a temperature dial, this one comes with four presets to choose from. According to the manual the Low temperature setting is roughly 110F, Medium is about 140F and High is around 175F. We would prefer to have a temperature dial to be honest, as this would give a more exact method of controlling the heat. An interesting addition is the ability to only use the fan without the heating element. This is quite handy if you have any kind of item that doesn’t need any heat to dry out.
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- Prepare food to be dehydrated as instructed, depend-ing on the type of food; never overlap food or overload trays. Arrange food on trays, stack up the trays, and set them aside. Trays can accommodate a variety of food sizes with small adjustments. Plug unit into electrical wall outlet. Set control knob to desired setting.
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We also offer food dehydrator accessories that help to prevent messes with each use. For more food preparation equipment, check out our bag sealers, hamburger presses, and food mills. Also make sure to check out other great items from Avantco Equipment, Backyard Pro Butcher Series, Weston and Waring.
Only one fruit roll sheet is included unfortunately, meaning you will need to buy some more if you have plans to make a decent quantity of fruit rolls or fruit leather. The gaps on the trays are quite thin, therefore drying smaller items such as herbs will not be an issue, and there is no need for any clean-a-screen trays with this model. The trays and the lid are see though, allowing you to keep an eye on the drying process all the way through. The unit is powered by a competent 620W unit, which should give enough power to dehydrate anything you throw at it. We aren’t 100% what the recommended retail price is, but it seems to be listed at most shops for under $80. This is around average for an entry level dehydrator, so we will have to see how it competes against the other cheaper models. It also comes with a very reasonable 5 year limited warranty on the motor, which is quite generous for a budget model. Now lets have a look at home it actually performs.
Beef jerky is always a firm favorite to try out first, so we got 3lbs and stuff the dehydrator full to see how it would cope. 3 hours in things were looking ok, and we suspected the jerky would take around 7 or 8 hours to dry on the high setting. After around 5 hours we compared the jerky on the top tray with the jerky on the bottom and we could straight away see that the top tray was softer than the bottom one. This is a common issue with the stack-able models, and we suspected that this would happen. After a quick shuffle of the trays, we left the unit for another 2 hours to see if rotating the trays would fix the issue. Sure enough 2 hours later, the difference between the top and bottom trays was much less noticeable, so it seems this model does indeed suffer from the same inherent design flaws of stack-able models. After 8:30 hours in total the jerky was all done, and evenly dried throughout all the trays. This is a reasonable drying time, and the jerky certainly tasted great.
Next we moved onto some fruit, and we chopped up a few apples to see how long it would take to dry them out fully. We used the Medium setting, and 3 hours in it was looking like around 6 hours in total would be a reasonable estimate. However the same issue cropped up again, where the apple slices on the bottom tray were drying out faster than the top ones. So again we rotated the trays, placing the bottom ones on the top and vice versa. 3 hours later we came to check the results and the apple was all fully dehydrated. The Waring pro dehydrator had done a nice job, and a drying time of 6 hours is not too unreasonable.
After this we decided to try something a little messier – some tomatoes. After slicing them up, we filled up 3 trays and left the machine to work it’s magic. We used the medium setting again, and after a few hours we rotated the trays to make sure everything was evenly drying. With only three trays in use, the difference in drying temperature between the top and the bottom trays becomes less apparent. We imagine with all 9 trays in course, you will have your hands full juggling all the trays in an attempt to make sure all the food is dehydrated at the same time. After 5:30 in total our tomatoes were all done, but they had left a bit of a mess in the machine. With a bottom mounted fan, this means cleanup is a bit troublesome, and we did have to use a bit of elbow grease trying to get all the bits of the tomato that had fallen to the bottom. A small portion had gotten into the fan area, and again this is a simple design flaw with these types of models. The fan itself isn’t too noisy when the unit is operational, but we do have to wonder how long it will last when there is debris falling down the trays into the motor area.
So those were a few of the basic tests we performed. The drying times seem around normal for a dehydrator of this kind, and it more or less performed as expected. Being a bottom mounted fan kind, it will of course suffer from the design flaws of these kinds of dehydrators. If you want to avoid this then you will have to look at doubling your budget and look at getting a model with a horizontally mounted fan like the Excalibur Dehydrator or perhaps a superior stack-able model such as the Nesco American Harvest Dehydrator if you are on a tight budget. It isn’t necessarily a bad dehydrator, but you can get something better for a similar price.
Pros:
- Good price
- See through trays and lid
- Power 620W motor
- 5 Year limited warranty on motor
Cons:
- Bottom mounted fan
- Uneven drying
- Tricky to clean
Summary:
Overall this is a fairly standard dehydrator. The drying times are acceptable, and the price is quite affordable. But you can get better stack-able models for around the same price, so if you are on a tight budget we would recommend you look for stack-able model with a top mounted fan instead for better results and easier cleaning. At the time of writing this unit was on sale on Amazon, and you can go here> to check if it is still on sale.
| Our Rating: |
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| 3 |
Waring Food Dehydrator Df415 80
With all the veganism and juice cleanses lifestyle gaining more followers, a raw food diet is quickly becoming a norm. Raw food diet is a healthier option compared to cooked food. The raw food diet is a clean, simple diet that minimizes toxins from all processed food and improves your well-being, loses weight, and feel better in general.
This is where the dehydrators come in. Unlike most cooking appliances, the dehydrators don’t cook the food; they use minimum temperatures and a fan to dry out the food. Dehydrating food retains most of the nutrients in your food while twisting it in texture and flavors.
In case you’re wondering about the dehydrators, this guide will teach you about them and give you pointers to help you choose the best dehydrators for raw food.
The 10 Best dehydrators for raw foods and vegetables (Vegans) 2021:
1. Excalibur 3900B 9 Tray Deluxe Dehydrator
The all-new Excalibur 3900B is perfect for large families. This creative device can dehydrate large quantities of food evenly and in a short time, allowing everyone to enjoy their meal.
It has an efficient horizontal airflow system, 9 polycarbonate tray layers, and has a power of 600 W.
Furthermore, its temperature control system ranges between 105 degrees Fahrenheit to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can adjust it to your liking.
It comes with a user-friendly control panel that includes a built-in on/off switch, adjustable thermostat, and a deluxe non-heavy duty timer.
Features
- The Excalibur dehydrator is cheaper than other brands. You can easily order one on Amazon at discounted prices and free shipping.
- You can save more on power, time, and effort.
- It preserves food effectively since it distributes air evenly.
- Easy preparation. All you need to dehydrate food is clean thoroughly, slice as desired, and arrange them well on the trays.
- Cleaning the appliance is simplified to only removing the used trays, washing with no need to scrub, and placing them back gently.
- You can easily adjust the thermostat as desired, depending on the nature of the food.
- Trays are layered individually to create more space. They are also removable, convenient for when you need to dry bulky products.
Waring Food Dehydrator Df415 84
2. STX INTERNATIONAL Dehydra Commercial Food Dehydrator
This powerful dehydrator is packed with 1200 watts of power, much higher than most market brands. It also has a larger crying space with tough components and 10 stainless steel trays that can easily access and clean. So far, it has good reviews and seems to be dominating the industry.
Features
- Ten Extra large 100% stainless steel drying trays that measure 16 inches wide x 14.5 inches deep.
- Features 1200 watts of dehydrating power with adjustable thermostat ranging from 36C to 74C
- Horizontal airflow food dehydrators that are powered by an electric motor mounted at the back.
- A digital control panel with up to 15 hours shut off timer. The timer has an LCD screen with a 5-minute interval, adjustable by up and down buttons that automatically stops when the timer hits zero.
- The dehydrator comes with an easy to use cookbook loaded with 126 pages of over 270 tantalizing dehydrating recipes. This Cookbook also Includes General Drying Temperatures, Shelf Life Comparisons, Fruit Drying Guide, Vegetable Drying Guide, List of What is In Season during the Year.
- Easy to use, clean and maintain in a normal kitchen setting
- It comes with a 1-year fix warranty
- It’s good value for money
3. Tribest Sedona SD-P9000 Food Dehydrator
Tribest Sedona is a perfect dehydrator for raw foods and was created with health enthusiasts in mind. It’s super stylish with enough room for all your products.
Features
- The dehydrator has nine 100% BPA-free trays or stainless steel trays. That means you have nothing to worry about since no harmful toxins are released during the drying process.
- The device is super silent when dehydrating.
- It is equipped with a user-friendly 2 stage digital timer, mesh windows, dual fan, and temperature control program.
- It comes with pre-installed overheat protection to prevent your products from being overheated.
- It has plenty of room for all of your dehydration needs.
- It has a 5-year warranty.
4. L’Equip filter pro food dehydrators
L’Equip filter pro dehydrators deliver great competitive features and programmable possibilities. It’s a cool product with plenty of space and tools to prepare delicious healthy foods and snacks. The dehydrator is user-friendly with simplified control panels.
Features
- The L’Equip dehydrator comes in a shiny silver color that blends beautifully with your up-to-date appliances.
- It’s lightweight, durable, and can fit comfortably in the cupboards when not in use.
- It has 24 feet of drying space, allowing you to dry your food comfortably.
- Spacious 6 stackable trays with patent-pending air filtration system create clean, filtered air.
- Includes 2 fruit leather trays, 6 mesh screens, and a 4-yogurt compartment.
- 24-hour digital LED timer and temperature display control (95-156 degrees).
- Uses 535 watts of power.
- Microprocessor controlled heat sensor for stable drying environment.
- A 10-year warranty is guaranteed.
- It comes with a healthy recipe booklet and user guides to get you started as soon as you would like.
5. Nesco American Harvest FD-1018P food dehydrator
Nesco dehydrator is a unique appliance that makes drying food a breeze providing you with healthy treats that you can enjoy with your loved ones.
The process is made simpler for everyday use. It comes with an impressive 1000 watt of dehydrating power and an adjustable thermostat to help reduce the food’s moisture but retain the nutrients.
During the drying process, the air flows evenly while carrying away the excessive air in the device. Thanks to the temperature control panel, you can easily regulate any wastage as you dehydrate your treats.
If you dry well, the results of your food should be a masterpiece.
Features
- Has 1,000 watts of drying power
- The food dehydrator works at the optimum speed to dehydrate veggies and fruits, beef jerky, and even herbs and flowers.
- Comes with an adjustable thermostat that allows you to dry foods of all kinds
- Patented Converge-Flow system that controls the airflow within the working space
- It dries food uniformly without the need to rotate trays.
- Foods dry quickly due to the fan that operates at 2,400 RPM.
- Food is preserved and nutrients retained.
- Expandable Sizeable 30 trays with clean screens and fruit roll sheets
6. TSM 100% stainless steel dehydrator
While its general appearance is not the most stylish or doesn’t stand out from other dehydrators, but its efficiency should get your attention.
As a raw vegan enthusiast, this 100% steel machine should serve you well. It is large enough to prepare food for a large family.
The 10 trays are spaced well enough to allow the horizontal airflow to pass easily to get a uniform result. It is excellent for preparing to make natural healthy treats such as jerky fruit leathers, pear chips, any raw food recipes, and other dried fruits or vegetables.
Features
- It’s stacked with 10 stainless steel shelves 22ga-304 standard grade
- Adjustable thermostat
- Removable back panel for easy routine maintenance, and cleaning
- A super quiet fan, with a horizontal airflow for even dehydration
- 800 watt of drying power
- Adjustable thermostat with temperature variations ranges from 90º – 165ºF
- Outside dimensions: 17 x 19 x 16.25 inch
- Has a 1-year warranty
7. Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
Presto Dehydro is a sleek all-white model with opaque trays, sitting on each other beautifully. It is a small dehydrator fit for someone looking for a smaller version of the appliances.
The model blends well in your kitchen, and you can put it away in a cupboard when not in it. That’s convenient for someone with minimum counter space.
Features
- It has a maximum of 750W of power that helps reduce the drying time considerably.
- Six trays (can expand up to 12 trays) ideal for drying foods, fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish.
- 2 fruit roll sheets, 2 nonstick mesh screen trays, and a safety cover that can be cleaned in a dishwasher
- A digital timer that ranges between 30 minutes up to 48 hours of the nonstop drying process
- The temperature can be regulated and varies between 90 and 165 degrees.
- It has an LCD screen with a digital panel that controls both the timer and thermostat
8. The Hamilton Beach food dehydrator
This stylish model shares basic functions with the rest of the appliances listed here but serves meat and other bulky food best.
Features
- Five stackable trays with one fine-mesh sheet for drying sensitive foods like herbs and flowers; one solid sheet for making fruit rolls and vegetable chips.
- Has a digital thermostat regulator (temperature ranges 100-160° F)
- Integrated airflow distribution airflow with a 500W of drying power
- 48-hour timer with an automatic stop and a clear lid so you can monitor the food drying
9. COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine
This model has a nice ring to its name and outstanding performance to make it stand out. It’s designed in California to cater to your needs and is great value for money.
Features
- 6 stainless steel trays, a mesh screen, and a fruit roll sheet
- User-friendly digital control panel
- Adjustable timer for up to 48 hours in 30-minute increments then auto shut off kicks in right when the timer ends
- It’s durable, safe, and quiet
- Completely BPA-free trays and are approved for dishwasher
- 1 Manual and a cookbook with over 50 recipes
- Made with food-grade stainless steel and glass front door
- Overheat protection will activate if the dehydrator overheats.
10. The Waring DHR60 Professional Food Dehydrator
The Dehydrator is a medium-sized dehydrator that gives you plenty of space to make your desired dried food in the comfort of your home.
It comes with multiple temperature control options, including low, medium, high, and strong fans to dry your food evenly.
Features
- A powerful 620W motorized fan, with a top vent for a fast and quiet system
- 9 stacks of trays that can be adjusted
- Adjustable temperature control with low, medium, and high options
- Preserves the food natural nutrients with no preservatives or additives
What should you look for in a dehydrator for preparing raw food?
Before you start shopping and investing your money into a random dehydrator for raw food, it’s important to learn about what makes a top-notch raw food diet dehydrator machine. There are many things to look for in a dehydrator before buying it.
Size
Size is an important factor; the bigger the dehydrator, is better for your food. You need to fit as much food into the appliance and save you time, money, and effort to keep changing every few minutes. The preferred dehydrators have nine or trays.
However, available counter space and your budget should also influence your choice; if you have minimal counter space, it’s best to buy a smaller model with four or five trays. It might not be the most efficient but will fit better in your working space. Also, confirm that your trays are made of stainless steel and BPA- free to avoid harmful toxins contaminating your food as the drying process continues.
Timer
Opting for a built-in automatic digital timer can save a lot of effort. The timers should have up to one hundred hours to help the dehydrator keep track of the dehydration process without needing your intervention. So it’s safe to set the timer and continue with other activities.
Temperature control & fan
An efficient dehydrator needs an adjustable thermostat. Most of the appliances have high, medium, or light temperature control and a fan option. The fan distributes heat evenly through the tray levels and prevents overheating your raw food. So your dehydrator needs to have one.
Use lighter settings when dealing with sensitive foods like organic produce and fruits. Temperatures should range between 40C as the low temp to 45C range as high temperature. Anything above that will destroy the food’s natural nutrients, and the whole useful drying process will be useless.
Motor/ Power
The power of the motor determines the best dehydrator. Note that the dehydrator can be powered by electricity or solar.
Although most electric models are popular among buyers due to their efficiency and temperature control, generally, if the device has a motor with an average of 500 watts, it requires less energy to dry out food, especially if you’re planning to leave it running for a long time. That way you can save on your electricity bill.
If you plan to dry thick food, stuff like meat, in a short time, it’s best to use higher wattage for better results.
Noise
Different models are made differently, and some have a louder motor or fan than others. If you prefer having a noise-free kitchen environment, you should consider that when testing the devices. Generally, expensive or advanced dryers are silent.
Shape
Dehydrators come in various shapes and sizes. The most common ones are rectangular with a horizontal airflow, while others are round with vertical airflow.
In rectangular ones, both the motor and the fan are located at the back of the device—that way, and the airflow is evenly distributed to all trays.
Horizontal dehydrators are at an advantage since the air circulates easily and minimizes the risk of forming mold. Also, you do not have to rearrange the pallets when you need to remove them.
Since there’s enough space, you have room to adjust the drying space, remove excess pallets, add larger containers, and dry bulk foodstuff. Besides, the rectangular dehydrator is so much easier to clean.