Top 15 Best Food Dehydrators for Jerky
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Are you looking for the best food dehydrator for jerky that can eliminate the water or moisture from the meat and preserve it for a longer period? If so, you have landed in the right place.
A food dehydrator is a unit that helps in eliminating moisture from the meat, as well as preserving it. With the help of the food dehydrator, meat jerky can be stored for a longer period after removing the moisture.
The equipment comes with a heating system, as well as an airflow system, which helps in preparing the delicious meat strips. The uniform circulation of hot air helps in uniform drying of the meat pieces.
Types of Jerky Dehydrator
There are two kinds of jerky dehydrators. They are known as stacking dehydrators and jerky dehydrators. Before you start reading this review guide, take a look at the difference between the two jerky dehydrators.
Stacking Dehydrator
This is a kind of food dehydrator that comes with a lot of trays or racks and is kept one above another which allows you to cook multiple meat strips in one go. It comes with a core channel and a fan that is mounted either at the back of the unit or at the base.
The core channel is used to distribute the hot air evenly across the dehydrator so that cooking in the chamber can take place effectively. The equipment is best suited for people who have quite less space in the kitchen.
Jerky Dehydrator
A jerky dehydrator is commonly known as shelf dehydrator. It is square and comes with trays that are in the form of shelves that can be slide in and out. It also has a fan that is present at the back of the dehydrator and blows the air in the horizontal direction.
With this jerky dehydrator, eliminating moisture from the meat strips can be done easily. But the size of the equipment is big and also consumes more space for storing.
Do You Need a Dehydrator to Make Jerky?
Well, the important thing is whether you need a food dehydrator or not? You can make jerky strips in the smoker or an over also but if you opt for a food dehydrator, the process becomes a lot easier. Let’s take a note on the difference between the process of preparing jerky in an oven, smoker, as well as a food dehydrator.
Preparing Jerky in an Oven
You can also prepare jerky in the oven but there are a few disadvantages that you may need to face while doing that. The disadvantages of creating jerky in the oven are listed below.
1. The oven can eliminate important nutrients or vitamins that are essential for your body while preparing jerky.
2. Ineffective drying of meat strips in the oven as the air fans cannot distribute the sir uniformly.
3. The oven does not come with racks where small slices of meat strips can be prepared.
4. There is no possibility of preparing a large quantity of jerky meat in the oven.
5. At times, the oven might not come with temperature settings that are lower than 160°F.
6. The oven also needs to be properly checked to ensure that the meat strips are not burned.
Preparing Food in the Smoker
Many of them also make meat jerky in the smoker. Here, the meat is first sliced into thin pieces and after that, it is hanged inside the smoker so that drying can take place. With the help of the smoke, the excess moisture that is present in the meat strips is eliminated. But there are a few disadvantages that you need to know before you start making jerky food in smoker.
1. The meat strips get burnt easily when you prepare them in the smoker.
2. A smoker that uses charcoal also requires much effort to cook jerky food. It means you need to maintain the temperature correctly so that effective drying can take place.
Preparing Jerky in a Food Dehydrator
Using a food dehydrator means that the distribution of the airflow would be uniform. The temperature and uniform air-flow make the meat strip safe to eat after eliminating the moisture from it. Come; let’s take a look at the benefits of purchasing the best food dehydrator for jerky.
1. The food dehydrator can be stored when you are not using it.
2. The temperature control system is quite easy to operate in a food dehydrator and also comes with a temperature of 160°F which is not possible while using a smoker.
3. They also come with shelves that allow in preparing a lot of jerky strips in one go. In that way, you can prepare the food and store it for days.
4. There is no loss of any nutrients or vitamins from the meat when you are dehydrating it in the food dehydrator.
5. The food dehydrator can also be used for eliminating moisture from various food apart from jerky.
Food Dehydrator for Jerky Comparison Table
Before jumping into a decision, take a look at the comparison table that gives an idea about the best food dehydrator that is available in the market.
List of Recommended Food Dehydrator for Jerky
Purchasing the best food dehydrator for jerky helps in keeping the meat dry and preserves it for a longer period. Before purchasing it, take a look at the products that are discussed below.
- Best for Dehydrating of Deer Meat – Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator
“Easy to use, parallax horizontal airflow, Hyper-wave fluctuation technology.” - Best for Dehydration of Beef Jerky – Gourmia GFD1650 Food Dehydrator
“LCD panel, control center countdown, 360-degree airflow.” - Best for Dehydrating of Trimmed Meat – Magic Mill Food Dehydrator
“Digital thermostat, automatic shutoff button, stainless steel trays.” - Best for Dehydrating Meat for Jerky – Excalibur 2900ECB Food Dehydrator
“Adjustable thermostat, patented technology, easy to use.” - Best for Dehydration of Buffalo Meat – HomdoxFood Dehydrator
“Adjustable height, easy to clean, one operational button.” - Best for Dehydration of Duck Jerky – Gourmia GFD1680 Food Dehydrator
“Circu-Smart 360-degree air floor, transparent door, adjustable temperature and timer.” - Best for Dehydration of Elk Jerky – COSORI Food Dehydrator
“Effective circulation of air, easy preservation.” - Best for Dehydration of Turkey Jerky – NESCO FD-75A Food Dehydrator
“Thermostat, drying jerky, patented converga-flow drying system.” - Best for Drying Ostrich Jerky – Presto 06300 Food Dehydrator
“Expandable fourtrays, bottom-mounted fan, the power light.” - Best for Drying of Kangaroo Jerky – Nesco FD-80A Food Dehydrator
“BPA free drying trays, expandable upto 8 drying trays.” - Best for High-Quality Jerky Dehydration – Excalibur 3900B Food Dehydrator
“Preservative-free, better drying capacity, dial-in temperature control.” - Best for Dehydration of Trout Jerky – Nesco FD-37A Food Dehydrator
“BPA free drying trays, fixed temperature, on/off switch button.” - Best for Drying of Tuna Jerky – Tribest Sedona SDE-S6780-B Food Dehydrator
“Kitchen friendly design, the all-digital display control.” - Best for Dehydrating Venison Jerky – Hamilton Beach 32100A Food Dehydrator
“Drying garden herbs; make fruit rolls at home.” - Best for Drying Boar Jerky – Excalibur 3948CDB Food Dehydrator
“LCD panel, Circus-mart 360 degree airflow.”
Top 15 Best Food Dehydration for Jerky Reviews
The best food dehydrator for jerky mentioned below contains all the information that a buyer must know before purchasing one of them. Go through the information to know more about it.
1. Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydrating of Deer Meat)
Excalibur is one of the best food dehydrators that allow you to dehydrate various kinds of meat. The unit comes with 9 trays and each of them is 15 square feet.
The unit is best for large family members, and sportsmen, and gardeners. It can get easily fit in your kitchen, under the table, on a porch, or garage. It is known to be quite safe and can be used for preserving deer meat jerky along with other meat.
Product Features
- Parallex horizontal airflow,
- Hyper-wave fluctuation technology
- Faster airflow
- Adjustable time and temperature
Product Specifications
Dimension | 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches |
Weight | 22 pounds |
Warranty Period | 9 years |
Timer | 26 hours |
Voltage | 110 – 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
Fans | 7 inches |
No. of trays | 9 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 105°F to 165°F |
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Preserves the natural taste of meat
- Flexible poly screen tray
- No tray rotation
- Faster meat dehydration
Cons
- Expensive
- Creates noise
Are you interested in the dehydrator? If yes, watch on the video:
2. Gourmia GFD1650 Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydration of Beef Jerky)
Are you thinking to have hygienic, as well as home dehydrated meat jerky?Opt for Gourmia GFD1650? You just need to cut the meat into pieces and put them in the food dehydrator. With the help of the meat, preparing a lot of meat dishes whenever you wish to would be easier.
There is no need to add any preservatives and the unit helps in saving a lot of your money and time. It also has digital time along with a temperature controller. The food dehydrator also comes with a recipe book that is free of cost.
Product Features
- 9 digital trays
- Circu-smart 360˚ airflow facility
- LCD panel
- Control center countdown
Product Specifications
Dimension | 17.8 x 13.5 x 16 inches |
Weight | 13.94 pounds |
Timer | 26 hours |
Voltage | 110 – 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
No. of trays | 9 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 95°F to 158°F |
Pros
- Automatic circulator fan
- 8 temperature settings
- 6 adjustable shelves
- Simplified process
- Auto-dehydration
Cons
- Expensive
- Operation difficult
If you wish to purchase the product, watch on this video:
3. Magic Mill Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydration of Trimmed Meat)
The food dehydrator comes with the easy setup process and easier cleaning operation along with a safety operator system. It also has a super mount fan that helps in dehydrating quite quickly.
There is no need for more voltage and by purchasing this dehydrator; you can save a lot of your money and time. The tray can be removed and washed and the material is stainless steel that makes it quite durable.
The hanging rack permits to make jerky buffalo meat and simply washing it with a dishwasher would be sufficient.
Product Features
- 2 fine mash sheets
- Silent airflow
- Automatic shutoff system
- 2 meat leather
Product Specifications
Dimension | 18 x 14 x 17 inches |
Weight | 19.13 pounds |
Drying Time | 30 minutes to 24 hours |
Voltage | 110 – 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
Keep Warm Function | Present |
No. of trays | 10 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 95°F to 165°F |
Pros
- Super rear mount fan
- Digital thermostat
- Countdown timer
- Safety protection
- Unique heat distribution
Cons
- No temperature control system
- Expensive product
If you want to purchase the dehydrator, take a look at the video before purchasing:
4. Excalibur 2900ECB Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydrating Meat for Jerky)
It is one of the most amazing meat dehydrators that one can keep in the kitchen. The dehydrator is quite safe for usage and allows you to prepare jerky as well as enjoy various meat items without losing the nutrients.
The unit is best for people who are looking for a food dehydrator to preserve the meat items.You can also remove the trays if you think that the dehydration is completed after the process gets over.
Product Features
- Prepares delicious snacks
- Adjustable thermostat
- Easy to operate
- User-friendly
Product Specifications
Dimension | 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches |
Weight | 22 pounds |
Warranty Period | 9 years |
Voltage | 110 – 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
Fans | 7 inches |
No. of trays | 9 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 105°F to 165°F |
Pros
- Saves a lot of time
- No tray rotation required
- Patent technology
- Enough drying space
- Easy removable of trays
Cons
- Creates noise
- Burning of the heating coil
To know more about the product, click here
5. HomdoxFood Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydration of Buffalo Meat)
If you are looking for an electric buffalo jerky dehydrator, this is the best one to opt for. The unit is a high-quality and wonderful electric dehydrator. It comes with 8 trays and the height between these trays can be adjusted as per your choice.
The dehydrator looks quite attractive and it increases the beauty of your kitchen. It can dehydrate a lot of buffalo meat in one go. The unit is also best for the drying of pet meats.
Product Features
- Bottom mounted fan
- Steady airflow
- Better drying possibility
- Adjustable height
Product Specifications
Dimension | 14.2 x 10.2 x 12 inches |
Weight | 7.45 pounds |
Adjustable Timer | 72 Hours |
Voltage | 110 Volts |
Power | 400 watts |
Tray Height | 1.7 cm and 3 cm |
No. of trays | 8 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 95°F to 165°F |
Pros
- Makes delicious meat
- Extracts moisture
- Easy cleaning
- Consumes less space for storage
- Makes trail mix
Cons
- No doors
- Ineffective dehydration
To look at the product, watch on the video below:
6. Gourmia GFD1680 Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydration of Duck Jerky)
The unit comes with 6 trays and helps in the effective drying of meats. With this dehydrator, you can have healthy and fresh meat. You will forget purchasing unhealthy meats from the market. Preparing the meat is quite easy and along with the unit, you also get a manual instruction booklet.
Product Features
- Adjustable temperature and time
- ETL certified
- Transparent door
- BPA free
Product Specifications
Dimension | 19.2 x 15.2 x 14.1 inches |
Weight | 17.25 pounds |
Circulation | 360 degree |
No. of trays | 6 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 95°F to 158°F |
Pros
- No sticking of meat
- Meat leather sheet available
- LED lights
- The countertop meat dehydrator
- Circulation of 360-degree airflow
Cons
- Consumes time for dehydration
- Expensive
Select the link to check out a video of the product:
7. COSORI Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydration of Elk Jerky)
It is made up of food-grade stainless steel and also comes with a glass door. The structure of the unit is quite attractive and is quite simple for usage.
Product Features
- Customizable timer
- Auto shutoff
- Easy to clean
- Unbeatable taste
Product Specifications
Dimension | 13.4 x 17.8 x 12.4 inches |
Weight | 23.4 pounds |
Adjustable Timer | 30 minutes to 48 Hours |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
Tray Height | 1.7 cm and 3 cm |
No. of trays | 6 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 95°F to 165°F |
Pros
- Diet-friendly
- Stainless steel trays
- Glass front door
- 100% BPA free
- Storage is easy
Cons
- Quite small
- Not effective dehydration
If you are interested to look at the product, watch this video:
8. NESCO FD-75A Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydration of Turkey Jerky)
The fashionable food dehydrator comes with a strong motor and can be used for drying various kinds of meat. It works best with beef, turkey, and fish jerky. It also comes with high drying strength and effectively the power is distributed for maximum dehydration. It allows the air to move down quickly and the thermostat is used to control the dehydration rate.
Product Features
- Additional trays can be installed
- Easy maintenance
- Air-dry option
- Easy to clean
Product Specifications
Dimension | 13.4 x 17.8 x 12.4 inches |
Weight | 23.4 pounds |
Double Wall Converga-Flow | Present |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
Patented converga-flow drying system | Present |
No. of trays | 5 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 95°F to 160°F |
Expandable Trays | 12 |
No. of Fruit Roll Up Sheet | 2 |
No. of Clean-A-Screen | 2 |
Pros
- Free recipe book
- Excellent dehydration system
- Adjustable thermostat
- High-quality impervious body
- Sufficient drying area
Cons
- No timer
- Ineffective with low power
Are you interested in the product, choose this video here:
9. Presto 06300 Food Dehydrator
(Best for Drying Ostrich Jerky)
The food dehydrator is designed in such a way that it comes with 4 expandable trays that are used in the effective drying of ostrich jerky. It is a lightweight unit, which allows easy carrying from one place to another.
The trays can be stacked one above the other and also comes with a strong polycarbonate cover. You can easily check how the process of dehydration is going on and how much more time will be required.
Product Features
- See-through cover
- Presence of power light
- Easy cleaning with dishwasher
- Preserves meat nutrients
Product Specifications
Dimension | 14.5 x 15 x 6.2 inches |
Weight | 7.5 pounds |
Frequency | 60 Hz |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
No. of trays | 4 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 95°F to 160°F |
Expandable Trays | 8 |
Pros
- Bottom mounted fan
- Easy storage
- 4 drying trays
- Expand to 8 drying trays
- Compact storage
Cons
- Temperature is not flexible
- No timer
Take a look this video to know more about the product:
10. Nesco FD-80A Food Dehydrator
(Best for Drying of Kangaroo Jerky)
The food dehydrator is quite popular because of its affordability, user-friendly mechanisms, as well as reliability. The unit uses a horizontal airflow system that allows the air to spread evenly in the dehydrator.
Product Features
- Expandable capacity
- Uniform distribution of heat
- Adjustable thermostat
- Square design
Product Specifications
Dimension | 15.2 x 10.2 x 15.6 inches |
Weight | 9.9 pounds |
Frequency | 60 Hz |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power | 400 watts |
No. of trays | 4 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 90°F to 160°F |
Expandable Trays | 8 |
Pros
- Strong power-head
- Adjustable thermostat
- Converga-Flow System
- Protective exterior
- Easy cleaning, as well as maintenance
Cons
- Not recommended for thicker size meat
- No fruit roll
What this video to know more about the food dehydrator:
11. Excalibur 3900BFood Dehydrator
(Best for High-Quality Jerky Dehydration)
The food dehydrator is one of the most reliable food dehydrators and is quite affordable. It also comes with an expanded heating element, an upgraded motor, a large fan, and a thermostat.
The food dehydrator is quite large and uses a horizontal airflow system. It also helps in drying larger meat pieces.
Product Features
- Square-shaped trays
- Quite economical
- Opaque door
- Solid door
Product Specifications
Dimension | 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches |
Weight | 22 pounds |
Fan size | 7” |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power | 600 watts |
No. of trays | 9 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 105°F to 165°F |
Warranty Period | 10 |
Pros
- Even distribution of heat
- Energy saver
- Hyper-wave fluctuation technology
- Reliable unit
- Dehydrate large meat materials
Cons
- No power button
- Creates noise
If you want to know more about the dehydrator, watch this video:
12. Nesco FD-37A Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydration of Trout Jerky)
The food dehydrator is a low-budget dehydrator and is recommended for dehydration of trout jerky. It works on a horizontal heat distribution system and a radial airflow technique.
Product Features
- Uniform heat distribution
- Preset temperature button
- Lightweight unit
- No rotation of trays
Product Specifications
Dimension | 14.1 x 9.2 x 14.2 inches |
Weight | 4.7 pounds |
Voltage | 120 Volts |
Power | 400 watts |
No. of trays | 4 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 105°F to 165°F |
Expandable to trays | 7 |
Pros
- No mixing of flavors
- Easy storage
- Transparent top
- Easy cleaning
- On and off switch button
Cons
- No thermostat
- Produces noise
Watch this video to collect more details about the product:
13. Tribest Sedona SDE-S6780-B Food Dehydrator
(Best for Drying of Tuna Jerky)
The food dehydrator is compact and can fit anywhere in the kitchen. It comes with a temperature and timer display and is quite easy to use.
Product Features
- Overheat protection
- All digital control
- Compact design
- Easy to operate
Product Specifications
Dimension | 17.5 x 12 x 14 inches |
Weight | 20.4 pounds |
No. of trays | 11 |
Adjustable Thermostat | 105°F to 167°F |
Warranty Period | 10 years |
Pros
- 2 stage temp-timer
- All-digital display
- Kitchen friendly design
- LED lights
- Glass hinged door
Cons
- Display only in hours
- Improper instruction manual
To know about the unit, watch this video:
14. Hamilton Beach 32100A Food Dehydrator
(Best for Dehydrating Venison Jerky)
The dehydrator is best for dehydrating venison jerky and can also capture the vibrant flavor of the meat and the design of the unit is quite simple.
Product Features
- Easy viewing
- Sensational snacks
- 48 hours timer
- 5 stacks drying
Product Specifications
Dimension | 10.5 x 13 x 11 inches |
Weight | 8 pounds |
No. of trays | 11 |
Pros
- Continuous airflow
- Adjustable digital thermostat
- No rotation of trays
- Even drying
- Powerful motor
Cons
- Difficult plugging and unplugging
- Setup is difficult
To collect more details about the product, watch this video:
15. Excalibur 3948CDB Food Dehydrator
(Best for Drying Boar Jerky)
The food dehydrator is best for preparing various kinds of dehydrated meat in one go itself. It also comes with digital temperature control.
Product Features
- Transparent door
- Power consumption
- Efficient drying
- Digital temperature control
Product Specifications
Dimension | 19 x 17 x 14 inches |
Weight | 17 pounds |
Pros
- High wattage
- Adjustable shelves
- Fast dehydration of meat products
- ETL certified
- Less noisy
Cons
- Heavyweight equipment
- Short power cord
Press on the video to view the product:
How to Use a Food Dehydrator for Jerky?
Dehydrators are small appliances that are perfect for eliminating moisture from meat strips. If you are someone who loves to eat non-vegetarian foods especially meat, you would probably look for the best food dehydrator for jerky that is available in Amazon. Let’s take a look at the process to know how the food dehydrator works.
1. The food dehydrator comes in various sizes and also has different sizes of the shelves where drying takes place is also different.
2. You need to place the met strips evenly on the food trays in such a way that hot air is distributed evenly all around.
3. The equipment will generate the hot air that is circulated throughout the system, which helps in even drying of the meat strips. The drying takes place slowly to eliminate case hardening.
4. Case hardening is a condition where the meat is heated at a higher temperature and because of that, the strips become hard.
5. The working process of every dehydrator might not be the same and along with that, the rate at which drying of the food is done also varies.
6. The drying time is also dependent upon the thickness of the meat strips. lA thin slice will take much lesser time whereas a thick strip will need a longer time.
7. When you start working with the dehydrator, you will understand which size of meat will help in the effective drying in the particular dehydrator.
Tips to Consider
When it comes to looking for the best food dehydrator for jerky, a few factors are there that you must consider. It depends on how you plan to use it and what are options or brands available in the market. Some of the few factors that help in determining how to purchase a food dehydrator are communicated below.
Airflow and Heat Distribution
Jerky dehydration is a simple process but takes a lot of time. Here, you need to keep the meat on the dehydrator, increase the temperature for enough time so that drying can take place. While doing this, it is important to ensure that the heat is evenly spread for all the meat stuff.
As some of the meat will be far away from the dehydrator, so make sure that the product also must have enough airflow. Before purchasing a dehydrator, you must also check what the manufacturer say about the airflow and heat distribution.
What Is the Price of the Food Dehydrator?
The price of the dehydrator depends on the brand you are purchasing along with its features. Along with that, the price is also dependent on the size of the dehydrator. Most of them purchase a dehydrator that is bigger to dehydrate more amount of meat. In that case, the price of the product increases.
While purchasing, ensure that it has sufficient heat distribution and airflow. On the other hand, some other factors like the type of meat that you can dehydrate, maintenance expenses are some of the things on which the price will depend.
Ease to Use
Most of the food dehydratorsfor jerky are quite easy to use. But there are a few dehydrators whose functioning is quite hard. It is always recommended to purchase the one which gets automatically switched off after the process has been completed. It is convenient to purchase a food dehydrator that gets automatically switched off after the dehydration process is over.
Checking the Noise Parameter
Every food dehydrator for jerky comes with a fan. So, you can expect that it can produce noise. However, the decibel level of the food dehydrator will vary. It is better to opt for the dehydrator that does not make much sound. In that way, you can use the dehydrator at any time you wish to.
Capacity and the Size of the Unit
How much amount of meat you are going to dehydrate in one goes is the first question you should consider while purchasing the unit? The next important question of how much space is available in your kitchen to keep the dehydrator. However, the smaller ones consume less space and also are of small capacity. On the other hand, if you wish to dehydrate a lot of meat, that you must go for the bigger one.
Convenient Features
Some of the convenient features that you must consider while purchasing the food dehydrator are a timer, thermostat, auto shutoff, and many more things. Purchasing the product that comes with these features will make the work easier for you.
How to Use the Food Dehydrator?
The work of a food dehydrator for jerky meat is just like a microwave or an oven. There is no special process that you need to follow while operating the food dehydrator. But it is recommended to go through the manual that you receive while purchasing a dehydrator.
FAQs
A reader might come across a few questions after going through the review guide. Keeping this fact in mind, I have framed some questions and answers so that it becomes useful for you to decide which brand you should opt for while purchasing the best food dehydrator for jerky.
My Top Pick
Gourmia GFD1650 Food Dehydrator for Jerky is the food dehydrator that I recommend. It comes with a LCD panel, control center countdown, and 360-degree airflow.
The food dehydrators for jerky help you prepare various meat jerky that you can have any time at home. But before that, you need to purchase the best dehydrator. By reading the review guide, you can now determine which food dehydrator would be the best one for you.
Food dehydrators are quite simple and easy-to-use. It is the best way through which the diet-conscious individuals can have meat strips without breaking their diet. A food dehydrator that is easy to operate and also has a glass door is the best one to opt for.