The Best Food Dehydrator in Australia for 2022

Common questions

What should I look for in a food dehydrator?

• Capacity: If you're only looking to dry apples or apricots for lunchbox snacks, you won't need a 10-shelf dehydrator. Folks with big gardens, or those who go on long camping trips, may need something on the larger side.
• Timer: Food dehydrators with a timer will alert you when your food's finished drying. 
• Price: A quality food dehydrator will set you back at least $200. If you're new to drying, it may be wise to opt for a budget model before committing.
• Thermostat: Most of the models we reviewed had thermostats between 30 and 70 degrees, although some had larger or smaller ranges. Different foods require different drying heats, so you'll get more value over the long-term from a machine with a wider temperature range.
• Storage: Food dehydrators can be bulky, which makes them hard to store. Vertical dehydrators are usually smaller than horizontal ones, and you can often add extra trays if you need to increase the capacity over time.
• Airflow: Not all food dehydrators move air around in the same way. Some, like the EziDri Ultra Digital, and Excalibur models, have special heating systems which alternate airflow or temperature for optimal drying. This may save you having to rotate the trays.

Should I get a dehydrator?

A food dehydrator might seem like a niche product, but you'll find they have plenty of uses if you're someone who loves their garden or the great outdoors. Dehydrating food is a great way to preserve fresh fruit and veg, so anyone who's ever had a late-summer tomato glut will see value in these machines.

If you're thrifty, you might also be able to use your dehydrator to buy produce in bulk. Drying food concentrates flavours, and is a healthy way to get more produce into your diet. You don't need to add anything to your produce before drying it out. This makes for healthy and delicious snacks with a long shelf life.

Speaking of shelf life, a dehydrator is also a good idea if you go camping or tramping often. Reviewers on ProductReview seem to have dehydrated anything and everything - from hummus to beef jerky. You can save money by dehydrating meals at home before your trip, which also makes your food lighter to carry on long walks.

What's the difference between vertical and horizontal dehydrators? 

Broadly speaking, there are two models available in Australia: vertical food dehydrators and horizontal food dehydrators. The main difference is that horizontal dehydrators blow warm air sideways across food, while vertical dehydrators blow warm air upwards.

Horizontal food dehydrators tend to be larger and pricier than their vertical cousins, but they often have longer warranties, and offer better heat distribution. These machines are more like mini-ovens which operate around 30 to 70 degrees celsius. Horizontal dehydrators usually come with sturdy trays, and many have clear windows so you can monitor your food drying. 

Vertical dehydrators have a base fan that blows warm air through a set of stacked trays. These dehydrators are easier on the wallet, and can be gentler on delicate foods like berries or herbs. At the same time, they're not as efficient as horizontal dehydrators, as the heat distribution is not as even. Many models require trays to be rotated, and they may also be unsuitable for drying meat or making jerky, as this requires more heat for food safety.

Can I put the dehydrator trays in the dishwasher?

No. Unless the instruction manual says otherwise, it's not a good idea to put food dehydrator trays in the dishwasher. The heating elements of dishwashers can go as high as a conventional oven. Most dehydrator trays are only designed to be heated at an upper limit of around 70 degrees celsius, so high heat may damage or warp your trays.

What food can you dehydrate in a dehydrator?

You can dehydrate almost any kind of food in your dehydrator. Some of the most common uses are making dried fruit or fruit roll-ups, including raisins, apple chips, or tomatoes. While these machines won't freeze-dry ingredients, you can dehydrate lemon or orange peel to grind for baking or seasoning. Crystallised ginger is another option, and some have even successfully dehydrated hummus to take camping.

Food dehydrators can also be used to dry meat, but food safety guidelines recommend that you cook your meat to at least 75 degrees celsius first. Reviewers on ProductReview.com.au have had success making beef jerky, dog treats, and salami. If you plan to dehydrate meat, a horizontal dehydrator may be a better choice, as the airflow is more even, and the thermostats tend to go higher.