OUR RATING
TEMP. RANGE (°F)
95 – 158
WATTAGE
480
TRAYS
6
TIMER
Yes
PROS
– Reasonable price
– Excellent performance – great for meat and veggies
– Adjustable thermostat with 8 temperature levels
– Six sizeable & adjustable solid plastic trays
– Compact size – fits on any countertop
– Transparent front door for easy monitoring
– Constructed from BPA-free materials
– Easy to operate controls
– No noise – quiet operation
– Housing stays cool during operation
CONS
– Trays not dishwasher-safe
– Plastic construction – no stainless steel
Fortunately for those with a tight budget, there are a lot of well-constructed but reasonably-priced dehydrators on the market. Although inexpensive, these machines still feature most of the functions found on their pricier counterparts.
Chefman Food Dehydrator is one of such units. With six spacious trays, an integrated countdown timer, digital thermostat, and a clear-view window, it’s one of the best budget digital dehydrators out there. In case you’re looking for an affordable but reliable dehydrator, keep reading – this might be the model for you.
Specifications
POWER: 480W
WEIGHT: 14.1lbs
TEMPERATURE RANGE: 95 – 158°F
THERMOSTAT: Adjustable
NUMBER OF TRAYS: 6
BPA-FREE: Yes
WARRANTY: 1 year
TIMER: Yes
Features
Design
The design of this model is very similar to that of the other dehydrators in the same price category. It’s a square-shaped unit with a design that’s easy on the eyes – there are no sharp edges or any visually striking elements. The model is available in only one color – black.
When it comes to the size, this appliance weighs 15.3 pounds and has the dimensions of 13.6″ x 17.5″ x 12.4″. Just like other square-shaped 6-tray dehydrators, Chefman is lightweight and very easy to move around. As the unit doesn’t take too much space, it’s an ideal choice for people with smaller kitchens.
Another important thing about this model’s design is that it comes with a clear front door. This transparency allows one to monitor the progress of the drying process at all times. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that Chefman lacks a timer.
Another essential point is the fact that all parts that come into contact with food are BPA-free. This means that they contain no bisphenol A – plastic poisoning by harmful chemicals is not something to worry about here. Moreover, the model is C-ETL approved, which means that it meets most of U.S. and Canada safety regulations.
Performance
Using this machine to dehydrate foods will cost you a lot less than purchasing your favorite dried snacks at stores. Using the Chefman will provide you with food that’s healthier and which contains no preservatives or any other chemicals that come with supermarket-bought dried meals.
Fortunately, doing this is quite quick and easy – the model provides a steady, dependable performance. This is enabled by the presence of an adjustable digital thermostat, which allows the user to choose between eight temperature presets. These range between 95 and 158 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s easy to dry anything from beef jerky to herbs. The model’s innovative design maximizes airflow which causes no overheating but leads to even drying of all of your food items.
A great thing about Chefman’s performance is that there’s no excessive noise. The unit is relatively quiet in operation, allowing one to leave it drying over the night safely. Moreover, its housing doesn’t heat up when it’s operating, so you can comfortably use it on your countertop.
Capacity
When it comes to capacity, this model comes with six plastic (BPA-free) food-drying shelves. Each of these measures 13″ x 12″ in size and can be easily adjusted inside the dehydrator. They offer quite a bit of space, so it’s easy to dry a large amount of food in a single go.
As we said, these trays don’t need to be rotated during the drying process thanks to the unit’s optimal flow of the heat. There’s enough space between the racks to fit larger items, which can come in very handy for some types of food. Moreover, the trays are removable, allowing one to combine smaller and larger foods to his pleasing. The package also includes an insert mat, whose job is to prevent smaller items (nuts, berries, etc.) from falling through the holes.
Chefman Food Dehydrator
Controls
The Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine is operated via the simple control center. It is located on top of the unit and consists of five simple buttons – on/off, up, down, timer, and temperature. Above these is a small but easy to read digital screen.
These controls are exceptionally easy to use, even if you’re someone who never owned a dehydrator before. The timer feature is especially useful, letting the user adjust or preset the time up to 19.5 hours. Once the machine reaches the desired time, it will automatically stop the drying process (“Auto Shut-Off” feature). This means that you can safely go to sleep while the unit is drying your favorite snacks during the night.
Downsides
The most significant disadvantage of Chefman Food Dehydrator is the fact that its trays are not dishwasher-safe. This means that you’ll have to wash each of the shelves by hands. Those who already owned dehydrators with dishwasher-safe trays will probably find this very disappointing.
To some potential buyers, the overall construction of this model could look cheap. There are no stainless steel parts or any advanced features. However, expecting something like that from a sub-$100 model would be highly unrealistic.
Conclusion
For the price it comes at, Chefman Food Dehydrator provides a pretty good value for the money. Although a bit more challenging to clean and sporting a cheaper construction, the model successfully makes up for these disadvantages with a couple of remarkable features.
These include spacious food trays, an integrated countdown timer, thorough and even drying, as well as the overall ease of use. Everything works just as advertised – you just put your favorite fresh food inside the machine and have it naturally preserved by a quick, even, and efficient drying process. And with the thermostat’s temperature range of 95ºF – 158ºF, you’ll be able to dry meat, fruit, veggies, herbs, and many other types of food.
