What Are Food Dehydrators and How Do They Preserve Your Food Naturally?

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Susan Gast | Author and blogger at Bored Boomers, Beesville Books, A New Sober You and Easy Food Dehydrating

Welcome to "What are food dehydrators?" Want to keep fruits, veggies, and even meats fresh for months—without freezing or canning? That’s where food dehydrators shine. Whether you're prepping for emergencies or simply saving money on groceries, these handy appliances make long-term food storage safe and simple.

Two of the best, most reliable dehydrator brands out there are Nesco and Excalibur.

"Food Dehydrating Made Easy" on Udemy - 3 hr course

What Exactly Is a Food Dehydrator?

A food dehydrator is an electric kitchen appliance that removes moisture from food using low, steady heat and continuous air circulation. By drying food completely, it helps prevent spoilage, mold, and bacteria—without using chemicals or refrigeration.

Think of it as a gentle, low-temperature oven with a built-in fan, designed to preserve food safely for the long haul.

How Does a Food Dehydrator Work?

Food dehydrators work by simply removing the moisture in foods with an air-circulating fan and a heating element.

They have temperature controls ranging from 90°F to 160°F so you can choose the appropriate setting. (Pick your fruit, veggie, or meat, or seafood for their individual settings via those links).

🔥 Heat Source

Gently warms the food to the appropriate temperature—usually between 95°F and 160°F, depending on what you're drying.

  • Lower temps (95°F–115°F): Great for herbs and delicate fruits.
  • Higher temps (135°F–160°F): Ideal for meats, dense veggies, and jerky.

💡 Tip: Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

Half of an empty white Nesco dehydrator tray

Dehydrators are not silent-running—but they do run in the background. In fact, they create a good white noise! Beats hearing the neighbor's barking dogs and street noise!

The dehydrators for home use are lightweight—so they're easily portable. The two dehydrators I own are made from plastic. One is black (Excalibur) with molded panels that resemble leather-hide and has a rear fan.

The other model (Nesco) is a speckled white/gray sturdy plastic and its fan is mounted at the top in the lid.

Both of my dehydrators are four-tray starter models. I chose the smaller starter units because there are only the two of us at home (hubby and I).

If you've got a larger family, consider getting a dehydrator with far more trays. See examples of the two top-selling brands of dehydrators that I personally own: Nesco and Excalibur further on.

I also have a post on the 5 best dehydrators for drying herbs you may find interesting.



Are Food Dehydrators a Fad?

Food Dehydrators have been around for a very long time so they're not a fad appliance.

When I first saw them back in 2010, I did think they were a fad, and who on earth would want one of those?  (Turns out, I did!)





What Kinds of Food Can You Dehydrate?

More than just banana chips—trust me!

✅ Fruits – Apples, bananas, pineapples, strawberries
✅ Vegetables – Tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes
✅ Meats – Beef jerky, turkey strips (fully cooked first)
✅ Herbs – Oregano, mint, basil, parsley
✅ Snacks – Fruit leather, veggie crisps, granola, flax crackers

Why Use a Food Dehydrator?

Foods can be preserved by canning, freeze-drying, smoking, or DEHYDRATING. See this page on 6 Different Ways to preserve food.

To me, the easiest method by far is dehydrating! The simplicity of it appealed to me more than anything.

  • No Preservatives or Additives Needed
  • Shrink Food Size for Easier Storage
  • Save Money on Groceries & Reduce Waste
  • Perfect for Emergency Prep & Camping
  • Preserve Garden Harvests or Bulk Buys

🛑 Stop throwing out spoiled produce. Start saving it the smart way!

There are two sections below,
covering the Excalibur and Nesco
dehydrators in more detail.
Click the big links to learn more
right here on this site
about the dehydrators we use:

There are two sections below, covering the Excalibur and Nesco dehydrators in more detail.

Click the big links to learn more right here on this site about the dehydrators we use:

For More Info. on the Excalibur
Dehydrator on Our Site, Click Here
...see you over there!

For More Info. on the
Excalibur Dehydrator
on Our Site, Click Here
...see you over there!

Excalibur DEHYDRATORS Available on Amazon

💡 Tip: Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

Excalibur 2400 4-tray Dehydrator
Excalibur 2400 4-tray Dehydrator

Excalibur 2400 Food Dehydrator, 4-Tray Starter

This is a square-shaped food dehydrator, that boasts 4 square feet of drying space. Black textured plastic body. Remove the front panel for access to its four trays.

  • 220 watts of drying power
  • 4 removable trays
  • 16.25 x 13 x 6.5 inches (LxWxH)
  • Temperature range: 95°F – 165°F
  • Comes with: 4 trays, a digital download guide to dehydration
Excalibur 2900EC Dehydrator
Excalibur 2900EC Dehydrator

Excalibur 2900ECB 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator

This is a square-shaped food dehydrator, that boasts 15 square feet of drying space. Black textured plastic body. Remove the front panel for access to its nine trays.

  • 400 watts of drying power
  • 9 removable trays
  • 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches (LxWxH)
  • Temperature range: 105°F – 165°F
  • Comes with: 9 trays, a digital download guide to dehydration
Excalibur 9-Tray Dehydrator
Excalibur 9-Tray Dehydrator

Excalibur 3900B 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator

This is a square-shaped food dehydrator, that boasts 15 square feet of drying space. Black textured plastic body. Remove the front panel for access to its 9 trays. Has a built-in on/off switch.

  • 600 watts of drying power
  • 9 removable trays
  • 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches (LxWxH)
  • Temperature range: 105°F – 165°F
  • Comes with: 9 trays, a digital download guide to dehydration

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.


For More Info. on the NESCO
Dehydrator on This Site, Click Here
...see you over there!

For More Info. on the
NESCO Dehydrator
on This Site, Click Here
...see you over there!

Nesco DEHYDRATORS Available on Amazon

💡 Tip: Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

Nesco FD-80A Food + Jerky Dehydrator
Nesco FD-80A Food + Jerky Dehydrator

Nesco FD-80A Food + Jerky Dehydrator

This is a square-shaped food dehydrator, perfect for snacks, fruit, and beef jerky. White with a top black tray edge, with a white lid.

  • 700 watts of drying power
  • Expandable to 8 trays
  • 15.25 x 10.25 x 15.63 inches (LxWxH)
  • Temperature range: 95°F – 160°F
  • Comes with: 1 Clean-A-Screen, 1 Recipe Instruction Book, 1 Jerky Seasoning & Cure Sample
Nesco FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore
Nesco FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore

Nesco FD-61WHC Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator

This round Nesco Snackmaster comes with a jerky gun kit and 5 trays. It has a very light grey body with a darker grey lid.

  • 500 watts of drying power
  • Expandable to 12 trays
  • 13.5 x 13.5 x 9.25 inches (LxWxH)
  • Temperature range: 95°F – 160°F
  • Comes with: 1 Jerky Gun with 3 tip attachments, 2 Fruit Roll Sheets, 2 Clean-A-Screens, 5 Jerky Seasoning & Cure Samples, Recipe & Instruction book
Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Express
Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Express

Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator

This is the new version of mine as it has an updated lid. It's a light grey body with a darker grey lid.

  • 500 watts of drying power
  • Expandable to 12 trays
  • 13.5 x 13.5 x 9.25 inches (LxWxH)
  • Temperature range: 95°F – 155°F
  • Comes with: 1 Fruit Roll Sheet, 2 Original-Flavor Jerky Spice & Cure Packets

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

Is a Food Dehydrator Worth It?

Absolutely—and not because I saw it on a kitchen gadget infomercial or some flashy online ad.

What really pushed me to get one was the very real possibility of a global food shortage within the next decade.

If you've read up on superpower China, you’ll know how much U.S. debt they own—and that China must maintain a double-digit growth rate to support a population four times larger than ours. The question is: how will the world produce enough food to feed China… and still feed the rest of us?

And just so you know—I wrote that long before COVID-19 disrupted the global food supply chain. Add in the war in Ukraine, one of the world’s major fertilizer exporters, and it’s clear we’ve entered a new era of instability.

But That’s Ten Years Away… Right?

Not necessarily. That’s why I’m preparing right now.

We’ve already seen:

  • Inflation (and possibly hyperinflation) driving food prices up
  • Home quarantines disrupting our daily lives
  • Empty grocery shelves becoming all too common

And don’t forget the possibility of a collapsing economy. Food security is no longer a fringe prepper idea—it’s a practical step anyone can take.

How Inflation Gets Out of Hand

Every time the government prints more money, it dilutes the value of the dollars already in circulation. That means:

  • Your dollars buy less food than they did 6 months ago
  • Prices creep up—or skyrocket—without warning
  • Stocking up now makes more sense than waiting until it’s unaffordable

It’s unsettling, yes—but if the warnings turn out to be true, I’ll be glad I took action early.

So when I see fresh food on sale, I grab it, dehydrate it, and store it for later.
No waste. No panic. No dependence.

Get Some Food PUT AWAY Today!

And hey—what if I’m wrong?

Then I’ll have a pantry full of shelf-stable fruits, veggies, and meats… and maybe I’ll look a little over-prepared. But I’d rather look a bit silly than be hungry or helpless later on.

We’ve already lived through one global crisis. Many thought food shortages couldn't happen in the U.S. But they did. COVID-19 caught everyone off guard.

Preparing now isn't panic—it’s peace of mind. And a food dehydrator is one of the easiest, most affordable tools you can use to get started.

Thanks for stopping by "What are food dehydrators." You learned "the why" behind my food dehydrator purchases; that was over a decade ago and we've come full circle.

Free Guide: Six Simple Steps for Dehydrating Food

Don't forget to grab your free Six Simple Steps eBook! It’s packed with tips for dehydrating everything from fruits and veggies to dog treats. Get it here.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does dehydrated food last?

When stored properly in airtight containers, dehydrated food can last months—or even years.

Food dehydrator recipes for beef jerky?

Check out this Spicy Beef Jerky recipe (and see all the jerky recipes on the recipe hub page).

Does a food dehydrator cook the food?

No. It dries food at low temperatures, keeping nutrients and enzymes mostly intact.

Is it cheaper than freezing or canning?

Absolutely! Dehydrators use less energy and don’t require jars, lids, or freezer space.

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