When looking for a dehydrator, it’s important to consider several factors, including cost and size. You also need to think about what kind of drying you will need. There are two main types of dehydrators: vertical and single-temperature. Vertical dehydrators dry out products faster than single-temperature units, but they are not as convenient visit this website dehydratorsamerica.com
Vertical air flow
When you purchase dehydration equipment, you should be aware of the two basic styles: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal air flow dehydrators are typically cabinet-shaped with a fan mounted on the back, which helps provide even heat throughout the entire unit. They can also dehydrate multiple food items at the same time. For optimal heat distribution, consider purchasing a bottom-fan version. This is a better choice for dehydrating more foods at once.
While both types of dehydrators dry food, their drying characteristics will vary. One vertical air flow dehydrator uses a fan to move the heated air upwards, while the other dries food horizontally. Nesco American Harvest, for example, claims that its horizontal air flow system forces heated air horizontally across the surface of the trays, while a horizontal-flow dehydrator forces heated air into a hollow central column.
A dehydrator with vertical air flow has an enclosed thermostat that maintains the temperature of the product. Horizontal air flow dehydrators are cabinet-shaped and usually come with removable shelves. Vertical air flow dehydrators can be found in many types of dehydrators. For more control over temperatures, consider the Excalibur range. These dehydrators can handle any variety of foods, from berries to ham, and they can be found in different sizes and prices.
Single temperature
There are two main types of single-temperature dehydration equipment available on the market. These are the Excalibur 9-tray machine and the Cosori Premium Stainless Steel Dehydrator. These machines use different amounts of electricity. An Excalibur machine uses 600 watts. To determine how much power your dehydrator will use, multiply the watts by the cost of electricity per kWh. You can check this information on your bill or at your provider’s website. If possible, schedule the machine to run during the cheapest times of day thetechboy.
Both types of single temperature dehydration equipment have several advantages and disadvantages. Single temperature dehydration machines are the simplest to use and tend to have one fixed temperature. However, these machines may not be suitable for all types of jerky production. To find out the proper temperature, you can run a test on each machine. Some machines come with manuals and others have multiple buttons. Those with instructions will be able to determine whether the machine is safe for jerky production.
A dehydrator with a small capacity can be effective for small batches. However, larger units will take up more space. They are useful if you’re working with a small kitchen or dehydrating small batches of food. Single temperature dehydrators will save you time, but will require more electricity in the beginning. Besides, you’ll need to space your food properly and rotate it frequently during the drying process.
Stacking design
Stacking design in dehydration equipment has two major advantages. Stackable dehydrators are more compact and require less counter space, while horizontal-flow dehydrators can take up a lot of room on your countertop. In addition, stacking dehydrators always have a vent hole in the middle of their trays. Some types of dehydrated foods, such as crackers, require creative thinking to dry properly. Fruit leather and sheets of cracker, for example, will require a circle cut out in the middle of the stack.
Stacking designs in dehydration equipment can also increase capacity. If your dehydrator needs more space, you can purchase an additional unit. Unlike vertical models, these models can be customized to meet your needs. You can make them taller or shorter by adding or removing trays. However, it’s best to avoid the vertical models, which are not as convenient. They can be fancier, as they usually feature sliding shelves. The advantage of horizontal models is that they can accommodate additional trays if you want to increase capacity.
Stackable food dehydrators have the advantage of allowing you to add more trays, but they are less efficient than solid-box models. Stackable dehydrators usually contain four to six trays, but you can add more if you need more. These models are less efficient than solid-box dehydrators, which have elements mounted on the back wall. Stackable models tend to dry foods faster, but they’re a good choice for herbs and fruits. You can also make fruit leather and jerky with this equipment.