Relaxing in front of a TV, traveling, hiking, or fishing-there is never a wrong time to enjoy a tasty meat jerky slice. This snack is also quite healthy and popular, as it contains a large amount of protein. Nonetheless, the wisest option isn’t always store-bought jerky – you ‘re better off drying it at home.
We have agreed to take a closer look at the best Dehydrator for Jerky on the market, for that matter. Such devices are becoming increasingly popular with lots of different brands and models making their way to the consumers. If you’re a complete beginner in the subject, keep reading – we’ll help you find the right model for your needs.
Why is Dehydrator a good Choice for Making Homemade Jerky
As we have said, it’s not the way to rely on store-bought jerky. You still ask yourself “why”? Well, most supermarket labels contain scandalous quantities of saturated fat, sodium, and preservatives that can be very detrimental to one’s safety. Furthermore, the figures show that certain outbreaks of Salmonella were linked to shop-bought jerky. In reality, it is pretty easy.
Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you need to give up on your favorite snack. For dry jerky at home, a decent dehydrate is all you need – and there are plenty of those on the market today. These innovative machines allow users to monitor the entire dehydrating process. They also prevent dangerous additives from getting inside the jerky and are extremely easy to operate.
It can be difficult to choose the right to dehydrate for your needs, however. Although some people work on a budget, others want to make regular use of the biggest and best unit. Luckily, the market offers something for everyone – no matter what features you ‘re looking for, there’s bound to be a model that suits your needs and budget.
Excalibur 3926TB 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
Excalibur’s 3926 TB model is undoubtedly among the most popular on the market when it comes to advanced food dehydrators. Offering some exceptional features, this is a quality product and an investment you will not fail to make.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 600
- Trays: 9
- Air Flow: Horizontal
- Temp. Range (°F): 105 – 165
- Warranty: 10 years
Key Features:
- Capacity
- Temperature Control
- Ease of Cleaning
NESCO FD-75A
Next up is Nesco FD-75A, coming from a company in the kitchen appliances which is a well-known household name. The business has a relatively long history of making robust and reliable goods. Let’s check if their newest dehydrate provides a good value for the price, for that matter.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 600
- Trays: 5
- Air Flow: Vertical
- Temp. Range (°F): 95 – 165
- Warranty: 1 year
Key Features:
- Capacity
- Temperature Control
- Vita-save Outer Body
Presto 06301 Dehydro Digital Electric Food Dehydrator
Presto, a leading kitchen appliance manufacturer recently launched its 06301 (“Dehydro”) model. Available with a vertical flow heat delivery system, dishwasher-safe shelves, and an accurate digital thermostat, this dehydrator appears to be a worthwhile investment.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 750
- Trays: 6
- Air Flow: Vertical
- Temp. Range (°F): 90 – 165
- Warranty: 1 year
Key Features:
- Capacity
- Temperature Control
- Transparent Cover
- Includes six drying trays
Nesco Gardenmaster Food dehydrator
Started in Baltimore, Maryland almost 90 years ago, Nesco is now one of the leading producers of portable kitchen gadgets. Their jerky dehydrators are highly regarded – these devices are well-designed, simple to operate, and offer outstanding performance. For their new model-Nesco, FD-1040 can the same be said?
Specifications:
- Wattage: 1000
- Trays: 4
- Air Flow: Converge-Flow
- Temp. Range (°F): 90 – 160
- Warranty: 1 year
Key Features:
- Capacity
- Temperature Control
- Digital Programmable Timer
Excalibur 3526TB 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
Excalibur dehydrated dryers are something special. Such machines sport a sleek look, standard features, and can be used by even the biggest amateurs of food-drying. We’ll take a look at the model 3526 TB, one of the best-selling tools of this kind in Excalibur.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 400
- Trays: 5
- Air Flow: Horizontal
- Temp. Range (°F): 105 – 165
- Warranty: 10 years
Key Features:
- Capacity
- Temperature Control
- Attractive Appearance
Aroma Housewares Professional 6 Tray Food Dehydrator
The last jerky dehydrator we ‘re going to look at is Aroma Professional AFD-815B. Manufactured and sold by Aroma Housewares, it’s a compact and powerful model with a quiet fan unit, see-through screen, height-adjustable shelves, and a drip tray. Let’s find out for the money its worth.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 300
- Trays: 6
- Air Flow: Horizontal
- Temp. Range (°F): 95 – 155
- Warranty: 5 years
Key Features:
- Capacity
- Temperature Control
- Quiet Operation
Things to Consider when choosing a Dehydrator
When it comes to buying a new dehydrator, the choice should depend mostly on your specific needs. One thing that can significantly help you make the right decision, though, is to get a good idea of what options you have. If you are looking for a new jerky dehydrator, let’s take a look at stuff you need to remember:
1. Size & Capacity
Like most similar kitchen appliances, the amount of food he would like to cook in one batch needs to be weighed. It’s also important to remember how much room is available in your kitchen.
Smaller dehydrators (especially those with a vertical airflow system) take up less room, but they have lower power, too. If you normally dehydrate a lot of food at once you may want to consider buying a bigger model. In a short span of time, these devices can dry many different kinds of foods.
2. Quality & Safety
Most jerky dehydrators come with a plastic or metal structure, no matter what the features. If the model you ‘d like to buy has plastic construction, make sure it’s FDA-certified and there are no BPAs in it. This may substantially reduce your jerky ‘s flavor, and may even pose a health hazard.
3. Air Flow & Heat Distribution
Believe it or not, dehydration of food is in fact quite a simple process. The food has to be kept at a high and steady temperature, so the humidity goes away easily. In fact, having the heat spread evenly is the biggest challenge. It is precisely this reason why adequate airflow is so necessary. Within your model certain food products are expected to be placed farther from the heat source than the others.
When making the final decision, make sure that you study what a specific company has to say about their product’s airflow and heat distribution. Horizontal airflow dehydrators are typically the strongest but that’s not always the case.
4. Noise
Since most models come with a fan, it’s unavoidable the noise comes along. The quantity of noise produced varies from one model to another, however. If you just want a dehydrate that is as quiet as possible, look for a model with the lowest rating of the decibels. Because this is not a widely listed standard, you will have to dig through user feedback a little bit.
5. Ease Of Cleaning
Pick a jerky dehydrator whose trays can be put in the dishwasher. It makes the cleaning job easier, and much less messy.
6. Handy Features
When it comes to ease of use, certain extra features will make all the difference. For example, the auto-shutdown function lets one use the machine at night. In comparison, the timer warns the user when the food is ready. Another advantage is a see-through screen because it helps you to easily track the dehydration process.
We always advise you to get a model with an adjustable thermostat-with any form of food you will still be able to get the best results.
Conclusion
Jerky is one of the savoriest and healthiest snacks out there, no doubt. It is full of essential food ingredients and the preparation is extremely simple. It is especially valid if you own a dehydrogenation. In comparison to ready-made products which are also high in sodium, dried jerky and home-made fruit is much healthier.
So if you don’t own a dehydrator, you ‘re among the best moves you can make to get one. Luckily, today’s market has a lot of different brands and styles so there’s something for anyone’s budget. Most of these devices are BPA-free, easy to operate, and in a matter of hours, they can dry any form of food.
To help you pick the right dehydrator for your needs, we have rounded up some of the best-selling models on the market and looked at their features more closely. We have gone through each unit ‘s advantages and weaknesses, with the ultimate aim of helping you pick the one that will serve you for years to come.
Also, See Top 6 Best Food Dehydrators for Beginners in 2020