The easiest and quickest method of dehydrating food is to use a dehydrator. This is what I recommend and always do personally.
The most energy efficient way is to sun or air dry. Air or sun drying works best if you live in a dry climate with lots of hot days. However, it would only be for fruit, sun drying vegetables and meats is not recommended. Please don’t attempt drying meat with the sun ever. This would be high-risk. I’d recommend keeping to drying vegetables and meats in a dehydrator or the oven.
I don’t have any experience drying items in the oven. It seems to me that it would be very inefficient. If that is all you have and you are just dehydrating in small amounts, it does work.
Good Kitchen Tools Make All The Difference When Dehydrating Food!
The more evenly you can make your slices of food, the more evenly the food will dehydrate. These are my favorite tools to use.
A mandolin slicer, an egg slicer, and a gadget I picked up somewhere and don’t even know what it is called that I’ve dubbed my “tomato slicer” because that is what it works best for. The egg slicer works for soft items like strawberries, but not too much else, as the wires will bend if your food is too strong. The mandolin is best for firmer items like zucchini or sweet potatoes.
And finally, always have a good sharp knife. I forgot to get that in the picture but…surely you know what a knife is, right? Having it sharp is essential as it is actually less likely you will cut yourself with the knife nice and sharp. In addition, a sharp knife will be more efficient for cutting nice thin, even slices.
My absolute favorite finds as far as kitchen tools for dehydrating goes is this little pot.
The 4th Burner Pot has turned into a handy tool that I use to slice up my fruit and drop it into lemon juice before laying out on trays.
Food Dehydrators
Other popular dehydrators…is yours listed here? Tell us what you think. Help others know what to get or…NOT get.
Food Dehydrator Review
Food Dehydrator Review Page: What is the best model, brand, and type? Click here and see what others think.
Excalibur Dehydrator
The most recommended dehydrator on the market is the Excalibur.
Cabela’s Commercial Food Dehydrator
I personally have a commercial dehydrator from Cabela’s.
Click here to learn more about Cabela’s Commercial Dehydrator.
Nesco Food Dehydrator
Nesco Food Dehydrator is one of the leading names in food dehydration and has been for more than 30 years.
Ronco Food Dehydrator
Ronco food dehydrator is advertised as a good ‘starter’ unit, but is it really that good?
Magic Chef Food Dehydrator
Magic Chef Food Dehydrator: Learn all about it at SimplyCanning.com
Click here to learn more about the Magic Chef Food Dehydrator.
Other Dehydrating Articles
Dehydrating Vegetables
Learn how to dry vegetables, including peppers, green beans, zucchini, and corn!
Dehydrating Fruit
I’m a long-time canner but, dehydrating fruit does have some advantages. Drying gives you healthy, easy-to-store snacks. Peaches and pears are the best!
Dehydrating Tomatoes in a Food Dehydrator
Dehydrating tomatoes: How to dry tomatoes in a food dehydrator.
Learn How to Dry Herbs
Learning how to dry herbs is fun, easy, and economical. Do you grow and cook with your own fresh kitchen herbs?
Dehydrating Corn
Dehydrating corn: Step-by-step directions to create your own dried sweet corn.
Fruit Leather Recipe
This fruit leather recipe isn’t hard to make, but it’s delicious and allows you to avoid excess sugars and dyes from store-bought fruit rollups! Learn more at SimplyCanning.com
Dehydrating Green Beans
Dehydrating green beans: Learn how to dry green beans, including step-by-step directions from picking and blanching to storage.
How to Dehydrate Carrots
Learn how to dehydrate carrots! Step-by-step directions for dehydrating carrots and other vegetables
Dehydrating Zucchini Chips & Dices
Another step in dehydrating foods: How to dry zucchini, both chips and diced!
Page last updated: 11/12/2021