Vegetables and fruits provide our body with a huge amount of vitamins. Therefore, they need to be included in the diet daily, throughout the year. But if finding fresh vegetables and fruits in the summer is not a problem, then in winter you will not find them during the day with fire. That is why stocks of dried apples, pears, bananas and so on are made. To make drying easier and faster, many housewives purchase special dehydrator dryers. So that choosing this miracle unit does not cause you any problems, we decided to rank the best models.
Dehydrator vs dryer. What is the difference?
Although the operating principle of these two devices is the same (drying occurs due to a directed air flow at a certain temperature), the output products are very different.
Design conventional dryers extremely simple: fruits and vegetables are placed on mesh trays and stacked in layers. A fan located below or above blows hot air, thereby drying the products located on the pallets. The disadvantages of this design are the uneven distribution of air flows (to get to the upper tier, the air flow makes its way through the lower ones, thereby losing temperature) and the absence of a basic thermostat.
Dehydrators in turn, they are equipped with a thermostat that allows you to set the temperature to 38 degrees Celsius (the optimal temperature for preserving all useful vitamins). And to evenly distribute the air flow, the design includes special air channels that allow you to dry fruits and vegetables at the same temperature (while preserving enzymes).
If you want to prepare foods while maintaining maximum benefits, we recommend using the following table:
How to choose a dryer for vegetables and fruits?
The variety of dehydrators is now quite large. Choosing a good option on your own is not so easy, so we decided to make a short instruction for buyers. What should you pay attention to when choosing a dryer (dehydrator)?
Infrared or convection?
Convection type heating foods is more common. The principle of operation of such drying is based on the circulation of warm air inside the case due to fans. The disadvantage of this type is the high noise level.
Infrared(IR) imitate the effect of sunlight on products, plus they save a significant portion of electricity (infrared emitters heat the products, not the air in the device) and additionally perform bactericidal treatment. A significant disadvantage is the high price.
It is impossible to unequivocally answer which type is better, since everyone prefers one or another option depending on their preferences.
Tray location
There are 2 main types of tray arrangement: horizontal and vertical.
Benefits vertical Compact size and relatively low price can be considered. At the same time, there will be several more disadvantages: to check readiness, you need to disassemble the structure, the smells of different products can mix, pieces of fruits and vegetables can get on the fan (if it is located at the bottom).
Horizontal, as a rule, they dry more evenly, it is much easier to check readiness, and odors do not mix due to the absence of holes. However, there are also disadvantages: they are quite expensive, and you cannot add additional trays (you should take care of this at the time of purchase).
Power
If you don’t want to later faint because of electricity bills, then you should pay attention to this parameter. Typically, standard electric dryers consume around 250-1000 watts. Since they work without a break for almost 20 hours, it makes sense to calculate monthly costs.
Adjustable thermostat
Necessary for adjusting the temperature inside the device. If you do not want to destroy all useful microelements, then we recommend setting the temperature below 40°C. See the table above for more details.
Rating of the best dryers for vegetables and fruits - TOP 10
In this list we have included the best dehydrator dryers, which we selected from popular models based on the following parameters: build quality, price, customer reviews, equipment and much more.
Ezidri Snackmaker FD500 - best price/quality ratio
Snackmaker FD500 is a device from the famous New Zealand company Hydraflow, which always shows a high quality indicator for its products. This became possible thanks to the constant modernization of equipment, improving the quality of materials and constant quality control.
What features does the FD500 boast? Firstly, the complete set, which includes 5 pallets, is ideal for a regular family of 3-4 people. But if this is not enough for you, you can always add pallets (up to 15 pieces). Secondly, 3 temperature settings for drying a wide range of products (greens, vegetables, fruits, meat, berries and much more). Thirdly, the dehydrator is made of food-grade ABS plastic and polycarbonate, and double thermal insulation perfectly retains heat.
What is included in the Ezidri Snackmaker FD500 basic kit:
- Base with a heater on which touch temperature control is located (35°C, 50°C, 60°C);
- 5 trays, 1 mesh, 1 pallet (can be increased to 15 pallets);
- Instructions and recipes.
For everyday home use, this is probably the best option currently available on the market. A well-thought-out air circulation system will not only preserve 85% of the beneficial properties of products, but also give them a richer taste and aroma.
Zimber ZM-11025 / ZM-11026 - electric dryer with yogurt maker
We gave second place to a Chinese brand with a German history - Zimber. With the ZM-11025 / ZM-11026 dryer, not only greens, fruits and vegetables will be available for cooking, but also the preparation of yogurt. For this purpose, the kit includes 6 yogurt makers.
Convective type provides for uniform distribution of air flow inside the device. To achieve this, a metal pipe with holes through which air passes is located in the middle, thereby ensuring equal heat distribution at all levels. You won't need to swap trays for proper drying. The transparent walls of the case will allow you to observe everything that is happening, you will be sure that you have not overdried your products.
Equipment for the dehydrator-yogurt maker Zimber ZM-11025 / ZM-11026:
- Plastic base with mechanical control;
- 5 transparent trays (distance between sections 3 cm) and 6 yogurt jars;
- Instructions.
With Zimber ZM-11025 / ZM-11026 you can cook almost anything. Temperature conditions from 35°C to 70°C allow you to prepare dried fruits for the winter with maximum benefit.
BelOMO 8360 - made of environmentally friendly plastic
Domestic-made dryers also constantly delight us with their quality and efficiency. That is why we put BelOMO 8360 of Belarusian production in third place.
In BelOMO 8360, using a mechanical switch, you can adjust the heating temperature (from 35°C to 75°C). To save energy, the device turns off when the set temperature is reached, then turns on again when it decreases. In addition, the dehydrator is equipped with overheating protection, smooth temperature control and a tray for preparing marshmallows. 5 drying sections are enough for a small family, and thanks to its compact size, the device can be conveniently placed in the kitchen.
Device contents:
- Plastic base with mechanical control.
- 5 sections with a diameter of 32 cm for drying fruits and vegetables and a lid.
- Instructions.
The BelOMO 8360 electric dryer operates according to the convective type. The warm air flow created by the fan evenly enters the pallet wall and absorbs all excess moisture. This method of drying food is very effective because it preserves the maximum amount of useful elements. All elements are made of heat-resistant environmentally friendly plastic, so dried fruits do not react with it.
Polaris PFD 0605D - very compact model
The Polaris PFD 0605D dehydrator dryer is great for household use; it copes well with small volumes of fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs and mushrooms. A convenient temperature control system and timer allow you to set the required mode as accurately as possible, depending on the number of loaded products and the degree of drying.
Particular convenience when using the dryer is achieved due to plastic transparent trays, which provide good visibility, do not heat up, and are easy to install at your workplace. The lattice base of the trays perfectly allows warm air to pass through, but also perfectly holds even small berries and crushed fruits.
Device contents:
- Plastic base size 255x35.
- 5 sections for drying vegetables, fruits, herbs and mushrooms.
- Instructions.
VolTera 1000 Lux - high power and good price
A powerful and efficient dehydrator dryer is perfect for drying a wide variety of products, from fruits and mushrooms to fish or meat. A special air flow distribution system allows you to simultaneously dry all these products without mixing odors. High-quality food-grade plastic is completely safe, has no foreign odors and does not emit harmful substances, including when heated. The dryer provides the ability to make marshmallows, for which special trays are used that do not allow the liquid mass to pass through.
The device is equipped with a 48-hour timer, in 1-hour increments, and a temperature controller, in 1-degree increments. This allows you to set the required operating mode individually for each product, from the minimum for drying herbs, berries, crushed fruits to the most comfortable 70°C for meat or fish.
Rotor SSH-002 - the best inexpensive dryer
Convection dryer with mechanical control Rotor SSH-002 copes with almost any product, from apples and herbs to melons, tomatoes and plums. Drying meat and fish is allowed; a special tray is used for preparing marshmallows.
The device has simple controls - just select the required temperature, depending on the product used, and plug the device into the outlet. The high power of the device ensures high-quality and uniform heating of the air and its proper circulation; there is no need to rearrange trays or mix products inside the dryer.
Device contents:
- Construction made of heat-resistant plastic.
- 5 trays and a grid with instructions for use.
SSh-002 is made of high-quality components; the body is made of durable plastic that is resistant to heat and mechanical stress. The dryer is highly reliable and durable.
RAWMID Dream Vitamin DDV-07 - model with built-in timer
The stylish, beautiful and convenient dryer-dehydrator RAWMID Dream Vitamin DDV-07 will become a reliable assistant during the harvest season. With its help, you can dry almost any vegetables and fruits, providing an excellent supply of vitamins for the whole winter.
The device is presented in an original design - it is a black cube with pull-out shelves and a flap lid located on the front panel. Through such a transparent flap it is convenient to observe the drying process. There is a fan inside the drying chamber, which distributes hot air evenly throughout the space. Fruits, berries and mushrooms are laid out on special metal grids that easily slide on runners inside the dryer. Additional equipment includes nets for herbs and plastic trays for marshmallows.
Device contents:
- The housing is made of environmentally friendly plastic, with a fan installed at the base.
- 7 sections for vegetables and fruits, 6 sections for preparing marshmallows, 6 meshes for herbs.
- Instructions.
The dryer is equipped with an electronic control system on which you can select the operating time and temperature. The timer will ensure that the device turns off automatically when the mode ends.
SUPRA DFS-523 - high quality at a low price
The compact and inexpensive dryer SUPRA DFS-523 is easy to use and quite effective. Despite its small dimensions, it has sufficient power for drying vegetables and fruits with a high water content. The trays have different heights, making it convenient to simultaneously dry large vegetables, small berries, chopped fruits, and herbs.
The dryer comes in an interesting design; it will look attractive in any kitchen. The presence of a timer and temperature control ensures independent operation of the device and automatic shutdown when the desired result is achieved. Thanks to the small size of the containers, drying occurs very quickly and efficiently, hot air is evenly distributed throughout the entire space of the dryer.
Katrina Samobranka 50*75- the best electric dryer without a fan
A simple, convenient and effective electric dryer Katrina Samobranka 50*75 will help you easily dry vegetables and fruits, prepare bread crumbs, fish chips, marshmallows, and make vitamin preparations for the winter from berries, nuts, herbs.
This unit is highly reliable and durable. The design of such a dryer is extremely simple - it is a special plastic mat with a metal wire inside, which ensures heating. The tablecloth is completely safe and very comfortable. During the heating process, the wire evenly distributes heat over the entire surface, drying the food with the same intensity.
The electric dryer is easy to use; just lay it out on a flat surface and connect it to the power supply. After use, simply wipe the tablecloth with a damp sponge. It can be stored rolled up or unfolded.
Ezidri Ultra FD 1000 - updated model in a plastic case
Ezidri Ultra FD 1000 is one of the most convenient and productive devices for drying fish, vegetables, mushrooms and other products. It has high power, which allows you to create uniform heating of 30 trays with a diameter of 39 cm. High-quality air circulation at all levels ensures excellent results in removing moisture, regardless of the products used.
It's no secret that I make almost all my preparations in a Vigor electric dryer.
It is equipped with a heating element, fan and rheostat. When the rheostat operates at the set temperature, the heater and fan turn off.
In the case of the minimum set temperature values, switching on occurs too rarely, while many types of recipes should be dried at room temperature.
It just takes too long to dry in the breeze, so I decided to assemble my own dryer using improvised means.
The main elements of the future dryer were: a plastic container and a fan lying around in the garage.
A hole is cut in the edge of the container to the size of the fan.
The fan is mounted using friction. Additional reinforcement made of silver tape.
Holes are cut under the lid of the container into which I inserted pieces of round glazing bead - these are the crossbars to which the meat will then be hung.
The future basturma is suspended on ropes opposite the fan. The top is then covered with a lid. I covered it loosely with foil, leaving a hole for air to escape.
As a result, we get a closed volume with constantly circulating air. At the same time, such a fan operates very quietly and can be run around the clock. The drying time of basturma is significantly reduced, and various insects and animals will not get to the meat.
There is no heating, and therefore the meat does not dry out. This is especially true for sausages from which fat is rendered when heated.
In principle, if you want to dry something with simultaneous heating, the dryer can be supplemented with a 50-watt incandescent lamp.
This is the kind of dryer I came up with that is quite easy to make.
In the following articles there will be recipes for beef basturma and dry-cured sausage dried in this dryer.
I finally assembled a chamber for curing/drying delicious meat and sausage products. A kind of result of love between a hedgehog and a grass snake.
The task was to strictly maintain the temperature and humidity in the chamber where sausages and other balyks are dried/cured for a long time. Although meat in our Geyrops is a thousand times safer and more tested, botulism and other mold do not sleep and are trying to sneak in on Aeroflot flights.
He was taken:
Outdated refrigerator
Temperature control device STC 1000 (Amazon 20 euros)
Humidity control device DHC 100+ (Amazon 50 euros)
Humidifier Orbegozo – Ultrasonico (Amazon 40 euros)
Exhaust fan for toilet (Amazon 20 euros)
A couple of boxes for wiring and sockets for a couple of euros in a construction store
And everything seems to be
The temperature device is adjusted to the desired temperature range in any increment (for example: from 12 to 18C) and will keep it in the chamber. If it falls less than necessary, it will turn on the heating element (mat, lamp for reptiles, etc.) In my case, it is not necessary, in the harshest winter the garage never drops below +10C.
If the temperature rises, the refrigerator will turn on.
The humidity control device works on the same principle: it turns the humidifier on and off, i.e. it keeps the desired humidity level in the chamber.
The devices are the size of a pack of cigarettes. I cut them into the electrical boxes, screwed the sockets into the back, everything about everything - an hour of work.
I tested it for 4 weeks on sausage drying, installing the chamber with several third-party temperature/humidity meters, everything worked like their native Chinese - for days, without noise and dust.
The sausages dangling in the photo lost 45% of their weight in 19 days and were destroyed orally. Everyone is alive, and even slightly well-fed.
Well, my hands were itching to break something... I cut two 10 cm holes from the walls of the refrigerator. He inserted an exhaust fan into one, and put a beautiful fly net into the other.
In the absence of a product for complex drying, the chamber can be used as a dryer. (aesthetically - dehydration).
An air flow of 97 liters per minute dried 6 chickens after wet salting for smoking in 45 minutes. dried a piece of beef tenderloin (sunjuk) in 2 days.
Alexey Mitrokhin
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Drying and drying are ancient methods of preparing meat. Today, a lightweight nutritious product plays the same role for fishermen, hunters, and tourists. The dried delicacy is popular as a snack for beer and holiday tables. Cooking cold-dried meat at home does not require special skills or technical equipment.
Recipes for preparing dried product involve the use of an oven or electric dryer. Traditional cold drying is designed for the complete absence of equipment. The main thing is a cool, well-ventilated room where there are no small pests.
Beef suitable for cooking. Fresh pulp is selected; inclusions of fat are acceptable. Bones, cartilage, tendons, films are excluded.
This is enough for classic cold drying, although salt and spices are sometimes added for taste. To prepare dried meat, spices and brine are a must. They work to improve taste and as preservatives.
Methods for drying meat at home
Numerous nationalities, calling dried and dried meat differently, used similar cooking techniques.
Drying meat in a country style
The rustic way of drying meat at home can rightfully be considered the simplest:
- or lamb is cut across the grain. For snacks, the pieces are made small. Larger for storing and later adding to dishes.
- The layers are kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours in brine (a recipe for any marinade for smoking will do).
- For drying, the meat is hung in a cold room with good circulation, protected from the sun and insects. If there is a chance that flies will get to them, wrap each piece in a double layer of gauze or other natural fabric.
Complete drying will require at least 1 month.
The finished dried meat can be wrapped in parchment and stored in a dark, dry, cool place for as long as desired.
Cold drying of jerky on video:
Biltong
This delicious dried meat recipe comes from South Africa. The hot, dry air naturally cooked the dried delicacy.
For 1 kg of pulp, prepare a mixture of:
- salt – 2 tbsp;
- ground coriander – 1 tbsp;
- ground black pepper – 1 tsp;
- granulated sugar – 1 tsp.
You will also need 6% vinegar and water.
Cut the pulp into thin (no more than 1 cm) strips across the grain. Tap a little with a wooden hammer, sprinkle with vinegar, roll in a mixture of spices, place under pressure and leave in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
Mix 6 parts water and 1 part vinegar, place the salted layers into this solution for 5 minutes. After thoroughly soaking them in the cold marinade, hang them to dry in a well-ventilated, dry, shaded area.
In about a day, the dried biltong will be ready. Cooking time depends on air humidity. Store biltong in a tightly closed glass container.
You can really bring this Turkish jerky recipe to life at home in the kitchen. You will need:
- beef tenderloin – 1 kg;
- fenugreek seeds (chaman) – 0.6 kg;
- salt;
- garlic – 300 g;
- ground chili, paprika – 150 g.
Coat the washed and dried beef with salt on all sides and refrigerate for a week. Turn over every day and lubricate the spilled areas. The salted pulp will be hard and dry to the touch.
Take out the piece, rinse it, leave it to soak in cold water for 6-8 hours, then put it under pressure for a day.
Prepare chaman paste by mixing the seeds with water to the consistency of thick sour cream. After standing for 8-10 hours, add crushed garlic and ground pepper.
Spread the spice paste onto the pressed piece. The layer must be at least 5 mm.
The hot method speeds up the process somewhat - keep the basturma in until the paste dries. The cold method involves immediately hanging the piece to dry. At first, the paste flows and drips. The layer must be restored until completely dry.
Cold drying takes from 2 weeks to 1 month. The finished dried basturma is dark in color and the spice paste hardens. You can store the delicacy by wrapping it in parchment.
How many of you love dried meat? You've probably encountered the problem of how to make it at home in an apartment. Today we will solve your problem and tell you how to assemble a dryer for meat and food products with your own hands. In it you can dry fish, fruits, mushrooms, socks, and various other useful items.
To begin with, we will purchase a box with a lid, an M8 threaded rod, an exhaust grille, nuts, washers and a fan.
We glue tape along the top of our box and make markings for the holes.
We drill holes with a diameter of 9mm.
We cut the rod into 5 parts and install it in the holes. We fasten with nuts and washers.
We try on the grille for the hood in the far corner of the lid.
And we hit her.
But we replace the fan from the old computer with a fan for forced exhaust. It was possible from a computer, but the power is too low and I don’t really want to mess with the power supply.
Cut a hole for the fan and drill holes for the fasteners.
We attach the fan.
And at the end we get this design.
You can dry whatever you want in it. Need heating? Add a reptile warming mat to the design. You feel hot? Freeze water in plastic bottles, stuff the drawer with them, and you'll have air conditioning for the night. Dry mushrooms - replace the rods with removable racks.
It turned out to be a very useful pot. In terms of time, assembly took a couple of hours. In terms of money it came out to 1300 rubles, but it could be cheaper.