Best Dehydrator for Jerky | High-End vs. Budget Machines. 2022 Buyer’s Guide

What is the best dehydrator for jerky? The main differentiating feature is the type of airflow system. Horizontal airflow dehydrators like the COSORI offer uniform air distribution and are more efficient than vertical airflow options. The latter ones have the advantage of being more affordable and space-saving.

Some products with a vertical airflow system, such as NESCO FD-75A are made with advanced technology allowing the machine to distribute the hot air more evenly. Another factor to consider is capacity or how many food items you can dry at a time.

There are commercial high-capacity dehydrators like the Magic Mill that comes with 11 trays, each 15*15 inches in size. Such models are typically packed with features and include various useful accessories.

Thirdly, consider the noise level. And it is a fan — one of the main components of any dehydrator — that produces noise. Since drying is a pretty lengthy process, you may want to have a machine that will not disturb you while operating. One of the best options is the Magic Mill, which is quieter than a high-end coffee machine. And finally, we recommend products with extra features, because they make the whole process more convenient and faster. This includes an adjustable thermostat, a timer, an automatic shut-off function, and more. Note that even budget-oriented dehydrators can have such features. For example, the Hamilton Beach 32100A for $60 has a 48-hour timer and a digital thermostat allowing for adjusting drying temperature from 100°F-160°F.

Dehydrators for Jerky Compared

What Factors Affect the Price of a Jerky Dehydrator?

You may be wondering what is the difference between a low-cost and expensive dehydrator. Yes, high-end models use stainless steel trays, are more powerful, and can make more jerky faster. Plastic trays tend to break and are not reliable. But what if you do not need so much jerky?

In terms of useful features, budget-oriented models from well-established brands do not fall far short of pricier dehydrators. For example, the Hamilton Beach 32100A has a timer, an auto shut-off feature, and a thermostat that can be adjusted from 100°F to 160°F. So why buy a more expensive jerky dehydrator?

The main factor that influences the price of a dehydrator is the type of its airflow system. Models like the Hamilton Beach 32100A that use a vertical airflow system are more affordable, whereas dehydrators made with a horizontal airflow system are pricier. Why?

The thing is that such machines distribute the heat evenly across every tray, which allows it to easily dry any meat and fruit, even the toughest ones. There is no need to rotate the trays, something that adds a lot to convenience. This advantage is due to the heating element and fan mounted in the rear of the dehydrator. An illustrative example of a vertical airflow dehydrator is the COSORI Premium, which is made with a stainless steel housing and a rear-mounted fan for even heat distribution.

These models typically have a rectangular or square shape and are perfect for drying large quantities of food. They boast high performance and are a common choice of professionals and large families. Apart from the higher price, dehydrators with horizontal airflow have the disadvantage of being bulky. If you are looking for a space-saving solution and do not need to dehydrate a lot of jerky at a time, budget models with vertical airflow may be your option.

With a fan mounted at the top or at the bottom of the device, vertical airflow dehydrators are more compact and portable. However, they distribute the air unevenly because the fan pushes it through the trays vertically. As a result, some items dehydrate more than others. More importantly, such a machine won't cope with any type of meat. For instance, chicken, jerky, and some fruits like bananas are likely not to be dry enough. Additionally, vertical airflow dehydrators are inferior to horizontal ones in terms of capacity. While there are expendable models, they still do not compare with even a basic horizontal airflow model.

That said, some manufacturers have managed to mitigate the shortcomings of a vertical airflow system. A good example is the NESCO FD-75A Dehydrator that comes with a fan mounted on the top and the patented Converga-Flow system. The trick is that the device forces the air not through the trays but through the exterior pressurized chamber. The hot air then moves horizontally across each tray, providing uniform heat distribution. With 5 trays included, the NESCO FD-75A can be expanded up to 12 trays.

Best-Selling Dehydrators for Jerky | Comparison Table