Compare Food Dehydrators Side by Side

Picking a food dehydrator comes down to a handful of numbers that most product pages bury in fine print. This tool pulls those numbers out of the manufacturer specs and lines them up in one table so you can compare models directly without bouncing between tabs.

The columns that matter most are tray count, wattage, and maximum temperature. More trays mean larger batch capacity, but a low-wattage unit will take longer to dry thick cuts of meat or dense vegetables even with a full rack. Max temperature tells you whether a machine can reach the 160 F range the USDA recommends for safely drying beef jerky.

Material and control type round out the picture. Polycarbonate trays are lighter and easier to find as replacement parts; stainless steel trays hold up better to repeated high-heat cycles. Digital controls let you set precise temperatures and run timers; dial controls are simpler but less exact. Use the table to filter down to the specs that fit your batch size, food type, and budget, then follow the link to the full review for context on real-world noise, cleanup, and airflow.

Comparison table

Click a column header to sort.

Cosori CP267-FD Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $139.96
Magic Mill MFD-7700 Food Dehydrator 7 - - Stainless Steel - Stainless Steel $127.17
Psiidan FD-1033 Food Dehydrator 8 650 W 167°F - - Gray + Silver $99.98
Nesco FD-75A Food Dehydrator 4 600 W 160°F Plastic - Gray $89.99
Magic Mill 9 Trays SS 2 Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $199.99
Nesco FD-28JX Food Dehydrator 4 350 W 160°F Plastic - White $59.99
Cercker ST-04 Food Dehydrator 8 500 W 190°F Stainless Steel - Silver $125.99
Cosori P501 Food Dehydrator 5 480 W 176°F Stainless Steel - Bright-Silver $99.99
Nesco FD-37 Food Dehydrator 4 400 W - Plastic - White/Clear $41.99
Hamilton Beach 32100A Food Dehydrator 5 500 W 160°F Plastic - Gray $44.99
Excalibur 3926TB/4926TB Food Dehydrator 9 440 W 165°F Plastic - Black $288.35
Presto 06301 Food Dehydrator 6 750 W 165°F Plastic - White $109.99
Tribest SDE-S6780-B Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $549.95
Magic Mill MFD-1010 Food Dehydrator 11 1000 W 167°F Plastic, Stainless Steel - Stainless Steel $339.99
Nesco FD-1018P Food Dehydrator 30 1000 W - Plastic - White $221.50
Rosewill RHFD-24001 Food Dehydrator 5 400 W 195°F Alloy Steel - Black $39.99
Psiidan FD-1033 Food Dehydrator 8 650 W - Stainless Steel - Light Gray + Iron Black $129.97
Elite Gourmet EFD319 Food Dehydrator 5 350 W 158°F Aluminum - Black $39.99
Magic Mill MFD-5000 Food Dehydrator 5 240 W 158°F Stainless Steel - Silver $59.99
NutriChef PKFD12 Food Dehydrator 5 600 W 180°F Stainless Steel - Milky $65.99
Nesco FD-1018A Food Dehydrator 8 - 160°F Plastic - White $176.99
Elite Gourmet EFD3321 Food Dehydrator 5 240 W - Stainless Steel - Stainless Steel $53.39
Nesco FD-1040 Food Dehydrator 4 1000 W 160°F Plastic - White $120.99
Rosewill RHFD-15001 Food Dehydrator 5 350 W 158°F Clear And White - White $34.99
Nesco FD-61WHCK Food Dehydrator 6 500 W 160°F Plastic - White $98.99
Psiidan FD-1008A Food Dehydrator 12 850 W 167°F Stainless Steel - Grey + Green $579.99
Excalibur Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $239.99
Commercial CHEF CCD100W6 Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $35.99
MasterChef MTF-DHY-795 Food Dehydrator 5 600 W - Stainless Steel - White $69.89
Excalibur 3548CDB Food Dehydrator 5 110 W 165°F Plastic - Black $189.99
Excalibur DH08SCSS13 Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $178.31
Ovente DF215GY Food Dehydrator 5 240 W - Plastic - Grey $35.99
Dumos AH-GGJ8C24-BK-HV Food Dehydrator 8 500 W - Stainless Steel - Black $89.91
NutriChef NCFD10S Food Dehydrator 10 900 W 170°F Stainless Steel - Silver $176.53
NutriChef NCFD20S Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $649.99
Tribest SD-S9000-B Food Dehydrator 9 1000 W - Alloy Steel - Black $499.95
Brentwood FD1026BK Food Dehydrator - - - - - - $44.35
Excalibur RES10 Food Dehydrator 10 550 W 165°F Plastic - Black $370.54

Frequently asked questions

How many trays do I need for making jerky at home?

A 5-tray unit works for most home cooks doing occasional batches of 1 to 2 pounds of raw meat. If you regularly process a full deer or large cuts, a 10-tray or expandable model saves you from running multiple cycles. Keep in mind that packing trays too tightly slows drying regardless of tray count, so realistic usable capacity is usually about 70 percent of the listed number.

Does wattage affect drying speed?

Yes, directly. A 600-watt dehydrator moves more heat and air than a 300-watt unit, which shortens drying times for thick or moist foods like bananas, apples, and meat. For thin herbs or fruit leather, the difference is less noticeable. If you plan to run the machine overnight on dense items, a higher-wattage model reduces the risk of under-dried food sitting in the warm zone too long.

What maximum temperature do I need for safe jerky?

The USDA recommends reaching an internal meat temperature of 160 F during the drying process. To hit that safely, the dehydrator itself should max out at 165 F or higher. Some budget units top out at 155 F, which means you would need to finish jerky in a 275 F oven for 10 minutes after dehydrating to meet food-safety guidelines. Check the max temp column in the table before buying if jerky is your primary use.

Are stainless steel trays worth the extra cost?

For occasional fruit and vegetable drying, polycarbonate trays are fine and cost less to replace. Stainless steel trays are worth considering if you plan to use the machine frequently at high temperatures or want to dry acidic foods like citrus repeatedly, since plastic can absorb odors over time. Stainless units are also easier to scrub clean without worrying about warping.

Can I compare units with different tray sizes using this tool?

The table shows tray count and total wattage as listed by each manufacturer, but individual tray dimensions vary by brand. A 5-tray machine with 15-inch round trays holds more food than a 5-tray machine with 11-inch square trays. When batch capacity is your deciding factor, check the full product review for tray dimensions, since manufacturers do not always list that figure consistently in their main spec sheets.