Learn how to choose a dehydrator and get the best dehydrator for your goals and budget. Dehydrators help you preserve your seasonal abundance for winter, create your own camping, hiking, and survival foods, and create healthy lower-sugar snacks for your family.
Which dehydrator should I get?
Lots of folks ask me which dehydrator I would recommend if I had to choose a dehydrator today. I have a 30+ year old, 10 tray, Berron Dehydrator, made in BC, Canada by an older gentleman back in the 1980s. Mr. Joybilee has repaired it 3 times with minor repairs, over the years. It’s a workhorse that dries 20 lbs of fruits or vegetables at a time. It is no longer being made. Mr. Berron was past retirement when we met him in the ‘90s. If you ever find one of these at a garage sale – snap it up. I bought mine new at a health food store for $200 – that’s less than $10 per year of use. It was worth every penny! Even today, it is still going strong.
The Rolls Royce of Dehydrators
Today, I’d buy an Excalibur 10 tray model. Ok, that one was the Rolls Royce of Dehydrators. I’d actually probably settle for a different one if I had to choose a dehydrator today. My girlfriend let me give hers a trial run, for two weeks, while we were waiting for a new thermostat for my Berron. I loved it. I was secretly hoping that my Berron was beyond repair. (Don’t tell.) It is quieter than my Berron. It is a tiny bit more efficient. It uses less electricity. It has a smaller foot print. And it is lighter weight. The trays are a little smaller on the Excalibur, but you probably wouldn’t notice the difference. My Berron is so heavy – that it has its own designated cabinet, where it lives, plugged in, year round, even when it’s not in use. The Excalibur is light enough that you can put it away when not in use, and easily bring it out during harvest season.
When do you need a dehydrator?
Save your pennies and get a dehydrator if you have a garden or you have access to fruit by the box, or you have fruit trees or berry bushes in your neighborhood. Both fruits and vegetables can be dehydrated. However, you want a fairly reasonably priced source for your fruits and veggies for dehydration. You can also use your dehydrator to make fruit leather, jerky, and dried herbs. It’s a very versatile piece of kitchen equipment, which will serve you for decades. If you were to choose a dehydrator today, take into account the additional pieces, like fruit leather trays, that may not be necessary. A basic model, without a lot of additional frills is great to start and the frills can be added on in future years.
You will want to choose a dehydrator with temperature controls, if you will be drying more than just fruits and vegetables. Jerky requires a higher temperature to safely dehydrate. You may also want to choose a dehydrator with a back fan, rather than a top or bottom fan, as the air distribution is more even and you’ll save time with having to rotate trays less.
Some tips to keep in mind when using your dehydrator
- Always dry food until it is no longer cool to the touch
- Inadequately dried food can make you sick. Fruit that is inadequately dried will mold. Throw it out if you notice any signs of spoilage – mold, off smell, slime in the jars, etc. When drying vegetables, meat, and herbs the food should be hard and brittle. You shouldn’t able to bend it. It should shatter on impact. If not, dry a bit longer.
- Fruit should be completely dry to the touch. When you pinch it between thumb and fore finger, there should be no give in the fruit, and no juicy center. At room temperature the fruit will be uniform with no cooler areas. Coolness is a sign that there is still moisture in the fruit or vegetable. Fruit may remain somewhat pliable but will be completely dry.
- Smaller slices of fruit or vegetables dry faster than larger slices.
- Food that is being dehydrated should be placed on a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Turn food over halfway through the drying time. I like to rotate the dryer trays by placing the upper trays on the bottom and the bottom trays on the top, and turning the front of the trays to the back of the dehydrator for more even drying of the food. After 12 to 24 hours, when most of the food is dried, I consolidate the food onto 2 or 3 trays and place them at the bottom of the dehydrator, in order to allow them to complete their drying process. Then I refill the now empty trays with fresh fruits or veggies, to start a new batch.
- Don’t dry strong smelling foods like bananas, garlic, or onions with mild tasting food as the dehydrator will transfer flavors between foods. Same with highly spicy foods, like hot peppers, they will make milder foods on lower trays spicy. If you choose a dehydrator with solid style trays, for fruit leather, you can leave an empty tray between types of foods to prevent drip and some flavor transfer.
- When storing dried food place stronger smelling foods like garlic, bananas, or peppers in glass jars with tight fitting lids to keep flavours from transferring between foods.
- Store dried food in a glass jars in a cool, dry place. Protect from rodents and insects. If you choose instead to package in plastic Ziploc bags, place the bags inside a metal can or a plastic bin with a tight fitting lid. Don’t package strong smelling dried food in plastic as the strong smells will permeate the bags.
Drying fruit
To prepare fruit for drying, simple remove the pit or core and cut into thin slices. Small fruit like cherries or apricots can be cut in half. Light coloured fruit that tends to oxidize easily, like bananas or pears can be dipped in lemon juice before drying, to preserve their lighter colour. I find that the heat from the dehydrator seals the surface of the fruit well, so no pre-treatment is necessary for most fruits. Commercial fruit is fumigated with sulfur compounds during the drying process. Home dryers can omit this potentially toxic treatment with good conscience.
Dehydrating vegetables
Most vegetables should be blanched in steam or boiling before drying to stifle the ripening enzymes in the food.
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Drying herbs and spices
Herbs should be dried on the lowest heat setting to preserve the volatile oils in the herbs.
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Making jerky at home
Homemade jerky is amazing. Marinate tougher cuts of meat in over-proofed, vinegary tasting kombucha, add herbs and garlic to the marinade. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, soaking up the juice. This tenderizes your meat and removes any excess blood from the muscle. Drain it and dehydrate until brittle. Sensational and healthier than store bought jerky, especially if you are raising your own grass fed meat.
Other things you can use your dehydrator for
You can also use your dehydrator to proof bread dough, or to incubate yoghurt or cheese. Remove the trays and use the low heat setting.
What do you use your dehydrator for?
Leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you.
Ann says
I have. Berron dehydrator (5tray) for almost 30 years and its been wonderful, buti now need a new thermostat and no one in my small town (interior BCJ knows where to get one. Anyone know a supplier to order from? Thanks.
Joybilee Farm says
We got ours from the electrical supply store in Castlegar. They mail ordered it to us. But we ordered over the phone. Try your electrical supply store.
Melissa says
I have the option of buying a used Berron for $80 Canadian. Should I snap it up or put my money towards an Excalibur? Any thoughts would be very helpful! Thanks!!
Joybilee Farm says
Good question. The Berron can be fixed by a handy person as there are no electronic parts. I would probably get the Berron. BUT if you want to make Jerky, it doesn’t go up to 165F. My Berron only goes up to 145F on high. I wouldn’t part with it. I have two other dehydrators that can reach 165F for safely doing raw jerky. Cooked meat can be dried at 145F safely.
Cec Adams says
We have a 10 tray Berron it works very well still ,metal with wood grain look. we use parchment paper on the trays and nothing sticks and dehydrates very well. we are always looking for more of these dehydrators if anyone wants to sell one?
Mike says
Hello can anyone help me? I just picked up a Berron dehydrator model 100, for free!!!!!the lady said it’s been in storage and hasn’t been used in years. I’m wondering if anyone has a manual or knows how to get access to one? thank you
GINA STEWART says
HELP HELP PLEASE… JUST LOADED MY 10 TRAY WITH MUSHROOMS WILD ONES. IT STARTED UP JUST FINE. WENT TO BED….. NOT WORKING NOW!! I LIVE REMOTELY AND AM REALLY STUCK… HOPEFULLY SOMEONE CAN HELP!! catspjs@bluebell.ca Gina Stewart THANK YOU!!
Joybilee Farm says
You can use your oven as a dehydrator. Set it for the lowest temperature possible. Leave the light bulb on and the oven door ajar to allow excess heat to escape. As for the dehydrator, check the fuse first. It might have blown a fuse. Then check that it is still plugged in. Turn it off and on. If that doesn’t reset it and get it going again you may need to find someone who does electrical repairs to have a look at it.
Jocelyne Sewell says
I have a Berron that I purchases in the late 80’s. I need a new thermostat as it works only on low heat good for herbs. I live in Vernon and nobody around can help me. Who should I contact.
Thank you
Inna says
Thanks for all the great how to information. You have given me new ideas on foods to dehydrate. I love the Excalibur dehydrator as well!
shirley says
Thanks so much for the information..I am one that will be saving my pennies..I really would love one! 🙂
Bernice Neff says
Hello all you Berron Fans. I am the Ber of the Berron. The dehydrators were made in the 80″s and my husband then was Ron Neff and I am Bernice Neff and together we produced three sizes of dehydrators amongst other Back to Basics do it yourself items. I myself looking for a good food dehydrator the is CSA Approved. If any of you have any tips please let me know.
Bernice.glenwood@shawbiz.ca
Joybilee Farm says
Hi, Bernice, thanks for your comment. I’m still using my Berron regularly. We’ve had only one repair in 30 years. When I replace it I’ll be going with an Excalibur.
Christy says
I bought a used Berron last summer, and I’m wondering if you have any tips to prevent fruit from sticking to the trays. Maybe I’m slicing too thin, but I’ve had some pieces stick to the point that they couldn’t be salvaged.
I started using thin flexible cooking sheets so it’s easier to peel off, but it seems to drastically increase the drying time. I’d appreciate any tips from your experience with this brand!
Joybilee Farm says
Yes, I also have some trouble with very juicy fruit sticking to the dryer trays. Try oiling the sheets with a thin coating of butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray (I don’t use this). Generally if you can peel off the fruit and turn it over part way through the drying time, it won’t stick, when its finished.
Lucky you to find a used Berron. The very best thing about them is they are simple enough to repair at home since they have no computerized parts.
Chris East says
Not sure if you’ve found a solution, but if not…I uses flexible mesh BBQ grill mats, Frogmats is one brand, but less costly ones are available on Amazon, or local stores.
QR Taylor says
Thank you for your informative article! I have a Berron dehydrator that also needs a repair. What kind of place would I be able to bring it for service? Do you know where I would be able to order a replacement thermostat? Thank you for your help.
Joybilee Farm says
Check with your local electrical service place. Ours put us in touch with a parts supplier and we were able to have the part we needed shipped to us.
Sheane Meikle says
Can you still find trays to fit the Berrons? Mine got warped when the got to close to a fire.
Joybilee Farm says
I don’t think so. The Berrons haven’t been made for 20 to 25 years. I met the man who made them in the 90s in Langley, BC, and he was ancient then. But the trays are about 13 x 18 (approx.). Maybe this stainless steel cooling rack would work for you — http://amzn.to/24748wq
Catherine says
I’d love to have another Excaliber! I had the biggest one they made 31 years ago, and it died after 22 years. It got a LOT of use!
Joybilee Farm says
That’s a great track record. I’m glad to hear of your experience, Catherine.