The Best Commercial Food Dehydrator Models for Shops in 2023
Dehydrators are the best option for drying your food at home and also essential for food business. And many of you may desire to get the Best Commercial Food Dehydrator for your shop. But buying a wrong dehydrator can be detrimental for your business. There are many types of dehydrators are available on the market, but it’s not easy to find the best one which will come with the best features and dimensions for everyone’s needs.
Dehydrators have long been used at home and business to preserve fruits and vegetables. They usually come with many trays that allow larger food capacity.
That’s why here we are going to talk about the them before you buy. Check them out!
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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BEST OVERALL | BEST OVERALL |
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BEST HIGH END | BEST HIGH END |
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BEST FOR JERKY | BEST FOR JERKY |
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BEST EXPANDABLE | BEST EXPANDABLE |
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BEST UNDER $50 | BEST UNDER $50 |
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Before you buy
Before purchasing a commercial food dehydrator, it is very important to check the product’s capacity, power, and how it will work in your environment. You also need to analyze the frequency of using this product and what kind of food you will need to dehydrate regularly.
The features of all food dehydrators are different, and they perform in different ways. For example, one appliance can complete its dehydration process in less time, while the other one completes the process in a much longer time. So, in this case, you have to evaluate which one will be suitable for you.
If you have a food shop then you should use a commercial food dehydrator. It will provide healthy, and dehydrated food to your customers for years to come.
Recommended reading: Our reviews of best dehydrators for jerky on the market today
Types of Food Dehydrators
Dehydrators come in two variants that determine how quickly it will help to dry your food and keep it healthy at the same time. So, it is very important to know the feature of the type that you’re buying.
Two types of Commercial Food Dehydrators:
1. Box & Shelf Food Dehydrators
Box & Shelf Food Dehydrators are sometimes known as Horizontal Flow food dehydrators which work like conventional handy ovens. It is stress-free to use. It is the best choice to dehydrate meat and make beef jerky.
One can comfortably use it for drying foods like meats and jerky. With the help of this type of dehydrator, you can also make various delicious recipes.
- Trays are placed in this dehydrator of the horizontal flow in a predetermined way. The fan at the back of the container helps to blow hot air over the food in each tray.
- According to many users, its insulation strength is better than stackable food dehydrators.
- In these dehydrators, air flows horizontally, bringing in the same amount of heat.
- The most important thing you should keep in mind is that these dehydrators are more expensive, they are a bit larger and they need more space to keep and store foods.
2. Stackable Food Dehydrators
These dehydrators are also known as Vertical Flow dehydrators whose trays are stacked (as the name says) vertically. They don’t spread the air as evenly as the shelf dehydrators.
This type of dehydrator performs well in foods such as vegetables and fruits. But you need to put a bit extra effort into dehydrating meat by rotating the trays during the process of dehydration.
- Its vertical flow models consist of a fan which is located at the bottom.
- It is electronically powerful that spreads the hot air on all the shelves where food is kept for dehydrating.
- Most stackable food dehydrators come with expandable options. You can buy extra trays to increase the drying capacity of the unit.
What to Look for When Buying a Commercial Food Dehydrator?
You will surely want to buy a commercial dehydrator for your shop that can save you both time and money. Many people don’t check all the features of the dehydrator they are buying and later regret their purchase because they’ve gotten an appliance that doesn’t fully fit their needs.
Here are some important things to consider when purchasing.
Capacity
The capacity should be one of your top concerns when deciding to purchase a food dehydrator machine. If the budget allows, with its capacity you can buy extra trays according to your needs.
You don’t want to buy a device that won’t have sufficient capacity for your daily activities.
Warranty
Dehydrators come in a variety of brands with the 1-10-years warranty period.
Although they are not very complex appliances it makes sense to choose a model that has sufficient warranty. If by any chance your appliance stops working or something else goes wrong with it, you can have it repaired free of charge or even replaced during the warranty period.
The Brand
The brand name plays an important role when you deciding to buy a dehydrator. You will always want a branded product which builds a good record over many years with its own merits and will suit your preferences.
Off brands can be cheaper but in a commercial use you shouldn’t take the chance. Invest in a good food dehydrator appliance that comes with good reviews and ratings. Those reviews can help you a lot and you shouldn’t ignore them when considering a purchase.
Read about more the notable brands.
Power
Another important thing you should consider before spending money on a dehydrator is the power of the device or its power consumption rate. A typical commercial food dehydrator should have the capacity to consume the power between 500-800W.
It is very important to check the estimated power consumption on dehydrating some selected foods.
Controls/Features
You can find different models of commercial food dehydrators in the market that have a certain temperature control feature. Always choose a model which allows you to change the temperature of the machine according to the food you are about to dry.
A dehydrator’s best features are its temperature controller and a timer that will help you to dry your foods with a little bit extra freedom because you can just “set it and forget it” until it’s done.
Tips for Buying and Using a Commercial Food Dehydrator
Using a commercial machine for dehydration process is important when you want to use it in a professional environment. Although many dehydrators made for home us can be sufficient, a commercial one will usually have larger capacity and better build quality.
The fan is the heart of a food dehydrator. So, you need to look out for the quality of the fan used in a particular model of a food dehydrator. To cover all the basics, you also need to look for a machine that has features such as shut-off timer, good heating element, adjustable thermostat.
These important elements must be flexible to set according to the food you are dehydrating.
To get the best results, it is good to know the essentials before start buying and using a food dehydrator.
- Before buying a dehydrator, make sure it has all the necessary features that you need (i.e. a timer).
- You need to make sure that the machine can be set to the right temperature and the foods should be 95% dehydrated after the process is over.
- Your machine must be turned on to start the food dehydration process as soon as it is loaded with foods. Expect the process to take an average of 8 to 12 hours.
Our Top Picks
In this section, we have explored some of the best commercial food dehydrators on the market. Led by a plethora of positive customer reviews, these dehydrators caught our attention.
SD-75A performs very well and it provides a great value overall.
Many consider this dehydrator to be the main “go-to” when buying a dehydrator for a first time. It can dry the vast majority of food type. This appliance has several trays and plenty of space for food. By buying extra trays, you can expand it with up to 12 trays.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 600
- Trays: 5
- Air Flow: Vertical
- Temp. Range (°F): 95 – 165
- Warranty: 1 year
The performance is excellent which will reduce the drying time of your fruits, vegetables or meat. It also circulates warm air around the foods during the drying process which makes the foods tastier. It comes with a modern design that will suit your interior. NESCO FD-75A comes with the offer of a one-year limited warranty.
PROS
- Relatively affordable
- Excellent performance
- Wide temperature range
- Easily expandable
- It comes with a 52 page recipe book
CONS
- No timer
- It does not have an on and off switch
For more info about this model, read our full Nesco FD-75A review!
This commercial food dehydrator is known for its high-end performance.
Excalibur 3926TB is an excellent electronic food dehydrator which comes with 9 trays and an automatic shut-off option. It has a 26-hour timer option to dry foods quickly and efficiently.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 600
- Trays: 9
- Air Flow: Horizontal
- Temp. Range (°F): 105 – 165
- Warranty: 10 years
This unit offers a massive 15 square feet of drying space that is guaranteed to satisfy even the most demanding users. Its timer will help you to focus on other things without worrying about turning it off.
One of the greatest benefits is that it offers a 10-years warranty which speaks about the quality of this product.
PROS
- Excellent heat distribution
- 9 trays, 15 sq-ft of space
- 26h timer
- 10 year warranty
- Easy to use & clean
CONS
- Can be noisy
- It’s a bit on the expensive side
And if you wish to learn more about Excalibur 3926TB you can find our full review here
Known as one of the Best Commercial Food Dehydrators for jerky on the market
This food dehydrator comes in a high-end segment of the market and it has a lot of positive reviews from its users. The frame and trays are made of stainless still, which leaves an impression of well built and quality product.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 400
- Trays: 5
- Air Flow: Horizontal
- Temp. Range (°F): 105 – 165
- Warranty: 10 years
It offers 5-trays of different sizes. Power consumption is at 440 watts which helps to dry food efficiently. It has an automatic turn-on/off feature, adjustable temperature settings and timer for up to 26 hours.
Excalibur 3526TB comes up with a 10-year guaranteed warranty which is worth of paying. It’s the best option for those who want to make snacks and jerky.
PROS
- 5 trays
- Reliable performance
- Exceptional heat & air distribution
- 26h timer
- 10 year warranty
CONS
- It gets hot very quickly so you need to keep your kids away from it
One of the top expandable dehydrators on the market.
As we all know Nesco is one of the more populat manufacturers that has developed home appliances over the years. The Fd-1040 is their higher-end food dehydrator.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 1000
- Trays: 4
- Air Flow: Converga-Flow
- Temp. Range (°F): 90 – 160
- Warranty: 1 year
This machine can dry and dehydrate a large number of fruits and vegetables at a time. According to its many users, this is one of the more reliable products.
This dehydrator includes a programmable digital timer that can automatically turn it off which gives you additional peace of mind. Also, it comes with a power of 1000 watts which quite impressive.
PROS
- Expandable
- Programmable digital timer
- Good airflow
- Great drying power
- Trays are dishwasher-safe
CONS
- It offers one-year warranty
- Only four trays
If you wish to learn more about this model, our Nesco FD-1040 full review is just a click away!
Best under $50. An amazing value for money.
This dehydrator is an exelent option for anyone on the budget. It offers all basic options while still being good quality.
Specifications:
- Wattage: 600
- Trays: 5
- Air Flow: Horizontal
- Temp. Range (°F): 80 – 180
- Warranty: 1 year
Its capacity is just at five trays and is not expandable. Like the Nesco units this one features vertical airflow design but unlike it, NutriChef PKFD06 is square shaped with see-trough trays.
PROS
- Easy-to-clean
- Portable
- Versatile
- Affordable
- Appealing design
CONS
- Noisy
- It takes longer to dehydrate food
- Not that powerful
Check our our complete review of NutriChef PKFD06 by clicking this link!
The Advantages of Owning a Commercial Food Dehydrator
Modern-day commercial food dehydrators are designed to dry a variety of fruits and vegetables by controlling temperature for the equal and continuous drying process. These convenient kitchen appliances have became the regular household items across the world because they make the process of drying food much easier and faster.
- Dehydrated food without much effort
- It prevents food wastage and creates healthy and natural snacks
- It has great performance for food preservation
- The risk of bacterial growth is almost negligible
FAQs About Your New Commercial Food Dehydrator
When getting a commercial food dehydrator, setting it up and using it for the first time can be challenging. We put together a list of most commonly asked questions when working with this type of appliances.
Why Should One Use a Commercial Food Dehydrators?
Because you can preserve the fruits, vegetables and other things by maintaining their nutritious value. It also makes the food free of bacteria.
What is the Best Wattage for a Commercial Food Dehydrator?
Going with something above 400-440 W should be good, depending on your planned usage.
Is it Worth Getting a Commercial Food Dehydrator?
Most of commercial food dehydrators are better build and last longer than their home counterparts. Therefore it makes sence to invest into something that you’ll use on the daily basis and that will serve you for years to come.
What can You Dehydrate in a Commercial Food Dehydrator?
You can dehydrate many types of food such as fruits, vegetables, herbs and meat. Always check the user manual before you start using your dehydrator.
How do I Know That the Food is Dry?
You can check the dehydrated food simply by testing it. You can also touch it and the existing moisture will help you to know if the food is completely dried or not.