5 Of The Best Herb Dehydrators Of 2024 And How To Use Them

There are several kitchen appliances that are used to process or cook foods and the herb dehydrator is one of such. You might be thinking about what this means or what does it perform. Or is it actually necessary to have such a device at home? Herb dehydrators are essential for the preservation of herbs which can be used at a future date. You might not want to consume all the herbs at once, hence, the need for having a herb dehydrator at home can help you preserve them for later.

This article explains what a herb dehydrator is, why it is important to have a herb dehydrator, a complete buyer’s guide to choosing the best herb dehydrator, five (5) best herb dehydrators you should buy in 2024, their pros and cons and of course, how to use a herb dehydrator to dry your herbs effectively.

Best 5 Herb Dehydrators Of 2024

In a hurry? Let me just share with you the best 3 herb dehydrators of 2024 right away: (more details after the table)

What Are Herb Dehydrators?

Herb dehydrators are generally kitchen appliances used for drying herbs, leaves and foods as the case may be. They are built in such a way that they generate a very gentle and safe heat that dries herbs/leaves at a low and even rate. While drying the herbs or leaves, they preserve the original nutrients of the leaves and prevents the leaves or herbs from extreme hardening.

Why do we a need herb dehydrator?

There are a lot of benefits you can derive from buying and using a herb dehydrator. Gone are the days when herbs are dried using the manual method of sun-drying or using smoke. It is worthy of note that these two methods are not all that hygienic and not always recommended for the sake of your health.

There has been tremendous advancement in technology whereby human efforts are reduced by the introduction of machines. The herb dehydrator is one of such machines that has reduced the stress of drying herbs manually. The following are very good reasons why you should own a herb dehydrator:

1. You can put your herbs inside the dehydrator at your own convenience as it can be used as many times as possible.
2. The herb dehydrators give you an assurance of not worrying about how to preserve your herbs or leaves for a longer period of time.
3. We can dry our herbs or leaves to make spices for food and keep it for as long as possible.
4. Having a herb dehydrator at your disposal reduces the labour and time involved in drying your herbs manually.
5. You need a herb dehydrator if you are going for outdoor events such as camping or hiking. Herbs dried in dehydrator can be packaged in smaller food cans and they would still be good and edible when you need them.
6. And of course, a herb dehydrator can also serve to dry your fruits, foods, vegetables and beef jerky just as efficient.
7. Dried herbs can be refreshed if you still want them fresh when you intend to use them.

A Complete Buyers Guide To Choosing The Best Herb Dehydrator In 2024 (13 tips)

There are specific things to be considered when you want to buy a herb dehydrator. When you are guided, there is likely going to be little or no margin of error or regret when making a decision.

The following tips should serve as a guide you can adopt before you make a final decision when buying a herb dehydrator:

1. The features of the herb dehydrator:

Dehydrators come in different designs and having a clear understanding of their functions should guide your decision on what type to buy. When choosing the best herb dehydrator, you may want to consider temperature control, fan or no fan, timers, lighting, transparent doors, screen touch display, dishwasher trays etc. It is best to choose a herb dehydrator that has features that you can easily understand and that suits what you intend to do.

2. The originality of the product:

In as much as we are more conversant with original/genuine kitchen appliances, we should also be on the lookout for imitation/substandard ones. What you should always consider is the originality of the product. Is the product genuine? Does it have the original manufacturers seal on it? Buying original dehydrators would give you a guarantee and value for your money. Original herb dehydrators would serve you better and has the tendency to last longer when used properly according to the manufacturers manual.

3. Usability of the Herb Dehydrator:

One of the pertinent question to consider before buying a herb dehydrator should be is it user friendly? The functions should be what you should be able to understand and operate smoothly without seeking an expert for assistance. As long as its usability is easy, you can be sure to enjoy it as much as possible.

4. Consider Noise Pollution:

There are some herb dehydrators especially those built with fans that can be really loud when drying herbs. Do you live in a quiet environment or you do not want to disturb others? It is best to choose one that makes less noise.
Ensure to buy from a verified distributor or outlet: Buy a quality herb dehydrator sold in marketing outlets that are trusted. Places that would give you value for your money and assure a warranty on every product you purchase in case of returns or refunds.

5. Guaranteed durability:

You have to consider the strength and lifespan of the herb dehydrator. It is wise to buy products that are strong, durable and have a long life span to prevent you from buying new ones very often.

6. Consider the cleaning involved:

Herb dehydrators are manufactured with a different type of materials. Some are covered in stainless steel, some plastic and some glass. Choose a herb dehydrator that is made with materials that can be easily cleaned when it is stained. For instance, stainless steel brands can be easily cleaned and do not easily get rusty over a long period of time. Some are also dishwasher friendly and this is a good point to consider.

7. Consider the size and capacity:

One of the most important factor to consider before buying a dehydrator is its size or capacity. If you always have a large number of people around, then you have to consider buying one that has many trays and can contain a large number of herbs. But if it’s just you, a portable, mini dehydrator will serve you just fine. Also, consider if you have space in your kitchen to keep it.

8. Consider the availability of its spare parts:

Buying an amazing device is one thing and finding the spare parts to replace damaged parts is another thing. Machines would likely develop faults and there may be the need to replace burnt or damaged parts. Before choosing a dehydrator, consider the availability of its spare parts. Ensure the brand you intend to buy has spare parts which can be bought easily without much stress.

9. Maintenance cost has to be in your mind:

You have to consider the maintenance cost too before settling for a dehydrator. It is not advisable to purchase a dehydrator that would cost you a fortune to maintain when you can get something nice and not break the bank for it.

10. Additional functions or features:

There are some dehydrators that can dry herbs, foods, fruits etc, and can also perform more than just dehydrating functions. Some actually come with mini ovens and this can save you the money of buying an oven and a dehydrator separately. You can always consider the products that come with additional functions or features that would save you money.

11. Consider the weight of the Food/Herb Dehydrator:

You should consider the weight of the food dehydrator you intend to buy. If you would be taking it around often, you would not want to buy a food dehydrator that has much weight. So consider the mobility or the ease to move it before buying.

12. Consider the Language on the products manual:

Choose products that have manuals written in the language you will understand. Being able to read the manufacturers manual for the product is very important because the manual contains the products ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’.

13. Consider the Voltage/Wattage:

Herb dehydrators come in different voltages/watt. You may want to consider the amount of watt or voltage it would take to power the appliance. For instance, a dehydrator that consumes much voltage would cause you more electricity bills. If the wattage is high but works very fast, then it’s worth it.

The Best 5 Herb Dehydrators To Buy In 2024

Are you finding it difficult to see a good place to buy quality, affordable herb dehydrators? Well, worry no more. Let me share with you the best 5 herb dehydrators that would definitely meet your demands. They all tick the boxes for most of the points listed above and they are sure to deliver the best herb dehydrating experience for you.

1. JAYETEC Dehydrator (with 6 stainless steel trays, digital adjustable temperature and timer)

Description of this Item:

The JAYETEC Herb Dehydrator has superb features which would meet any demands. This product distributes airflow properly which enables food to dry evenly. With this dehydrator, your herbs can be dried efficiently and preserved for as long as possible.

Features of this Item:

The Jayetec herb Dehydrator has the following amazing features to meet your drying needs:

• This product has 6 BPA-free stainless steel removable trays with a size of 11″ x 15″. This gives you the opportunity to dry much food at once as it comes with six adjustable steel drying racks or trays
• It comes with an Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) body. The ABS body gives it high rigidity, good impact resistance even at low temperatures, good insulating properties, good weldability, high surface brightness as well as very good abrasion and stain resistance.
• The items weight is 15.87 pounds
• Products dimension are 8.99 x 18.90 x 12.99
• It is designed with a transparent glass front door. The transparent door makes the user see the herbs inside at any time.
• The trays are easily clean and dishwasher-safe so there is no need to panic when they are stained.
• It comes with a simple LED Control panel. The simple LED Control panel consists of adjustable thermostat and timer which has a reliable working temperature from 86of (30oC) to 158oF (70oC), 0-40H timer.
• The capacity of the dehydrator is 10 litres
• There is no need to worry about this appliance overheating because of its safely auto-off feature. The auto-off automatically shuts down the appliance when it starts to overheat.
• It is designed with a 630W rear-mounted drying fan and airflow circulation technology to enhance food drying evenly and discourage overheating
• There are four aluminium alloy pillars around the dehydrate and two aluminium alloy pillars on both sides of the door.

Head over to this link to find more about this particular herb dehydrator on Amazon and also see what others have to say about it before making your purchase.

2. Magic Mill Food Dehydrating Machine (with a digital adjustable timer, temperature control & keep warm function)

Description of this Item:

The Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine really possess amazing features that can meet your drying demands. It has a countdown timer that will enable the user to keep track of the time needed to dry the food. And it also comes with seven trays which enables you to dry as much food as possible at once.

Features of this Item:

The Magic Mill Dehydrator has the following amazing features to meet your cooking needs:

• It has a rear-mounted drying fan. The rear-mounted drying fan enables this machine to dry food evenly without the user rotating the trays. The drying fan enables airflow circulation which ensures heat is distributed evenly.
• The products dimension are 18 x 14 x 13 inches
• The items weight is 19.36 pounds
• It is designed with a glass door
• There are digital thermostat and timer. The digital thermostat and timer enable the user to have full control of the temperature needed to dry food properly.
• It comes with special adjustable stainless steel trays which do not rust and are easy to clean/wash after use.
• It is super easy to use as it has simple features anyone can work with.
• The wattage for this machine is 480 Watts and this won’t consume much power but will deliver fast heat.
• It features overheat protection. The overheating safety protection ensures the machine does not explode as a result of overheating.
• It is built with food-grade- BPA free material. The food-grade BPA material makes your herbs safe and healthy for consumption.

If this is your kind of herb dehydrator, click this link to be taken to the page on Amazon where you can find more valuable information about it and also place an order.

3. BioChef Arizona Sol Dehydrator (with 6 BPA-free stainless steel drying trays & digital timer)

Description of the Item:

The BioChef Arizona Sol Food Dehydrator is a machine that is built to dry your herbs or food in a seamless manner. It has cool features that would give you the best results when you need dried herbs.

Feature of this Item:

The BioChef herb dehydrator has the following amazing features to meet your cooking needs:

• The product dimensions are 17.72L x 13.58W x 12.4H inches
• The weight of the product is 11.46 pounds
• Its wattage is 420-500 Watts. With the low watt of this product, you do not bother much on the amount of electricity it consumes.
• It comes with stainless steel trays that have a size of 13 x 12.
• This product is built with stainless steel trays which are easy to clean and can fit into a dishwasher. You do not need to bother about scrubbing for hours to remove strong stains.
• It has an advanced digital display. The advanced digital display consists of 19.5-hour timer, superior horizontal airflow, a thermostat that is adjustable and temperature control of the range of 95oF to 158oF.
• With the digital timer, you do not need to worry by checking your food frequently when inside the dehydrator.
• The adjustable temperature gives you the user absolute control of the amount of heat you want to heat your food.
• It has a fine mesh sheet and one non-stick sheet
• It has one drip tray.
• The stainless trays contain no harsh chemicals or contaminants which makes your food fresher and healthier to consume.

Click this link to be taken to the product page on Amazon. There you can find more details about the product and make an order for one of yours.

4. GoWISE USA 17-Quart Air Fryer and Food Dehydrator (with 5 drying trays and 6 additional accessories)

Description of this Item:

The GoWISE USA 17-Quart Air Fryer and Dehydrator is a food/herb dehydrator that you need to have to create healthy foods and snacks for your family, friends and even pets.

Features of this Item:

The GoWISE Air-fryer and Dehydrator has the following amazing features to meet your cooking needs:

• It has a dimension of 14.5H x 12D x 13.5 W inches
• This product dehydrates and preserves food safely with adjustable settings you can enjoy.
• It is powered by 1800 Watt and 120 V AC
• The item weight is 6 pounds
• This item is much more than a dehydrator as it is designed with a functional air-fryer oven. With this feature, you can fry your foods using just little oil and also bake, roast, toast and even rotisserie a whole 6-pound chicken. All these features make this product even more amazing.
• It has an adjustable temperature range of 90oF to 400oF and the ability to set time for your meal between 1-24 hours. This means that you can dehydrate your food, herbs at the proper time and conducive temperature.
• It offers an adjustable time from 1-60 minutes
• This product is designed with a user-friendly, easy-to-use touchscreen display with 8 cooking presets and has a 17-quart interior which means that you can cook for a crowd.
• It offers an extra-large cooking capacity. It comes with 5 dehydrator racks, a shallow mesh basket, rotisserie rod and forks, rotisserie cage, rotisserie skewers, tongs and a drip pan.
• This item has five racks which have the capacity to carry enough herbs, fruits leather, kale chips, beef jerky or even pet treats.

By clicking this link, you would be taken to the page on Amazon where you can find all the information you need about the product, check users reviews and also make your purchase.

5. COSORI Premium Herb Dehydrator Machine (with 50 free recipes, 6 stainless steel trays, digital timer & temperature control)

Description of this Item:

The COSORI herb dehydrator is one kitchen appliance you would love to purchase. This product dries food by circulating hot air that moves evenly to dry your herbs efficiently.

Features of this Item:

The COSORI Premium food dehydrator Machine has the following amazing features:

• The item weight is 23.4 pounds
• It has an adjustable temperature range of 95oF 165oF
• This device also comes with an amazing auto-shutoff function which means that after the timer finishes, the dehydrator automatically shuts off safely without you necessarily turning it off.
• It has an overheating protection function
• It comes with 6 stainless steel trays and tray liners that are completely dishwasher safe
• This product dimension is 13.4 x 17.8 x 12.4 inches
• It comes with 50 dehydrator recipes for chef’s to try out.
• The COSORI brand comes with stainless steel trays that can be easily washed when stained.
• It has food-grade stainless steel
• The control panel has a timer with the range of 30 minutes to 48 hours which means that it takes care of whatsoever kind of food or herbs you intend to dry.
• It has 11.3 x 12.8 inches fruit roll sheet
• It comes with 10.7 x 11.8 inches mesh screen
• The touch screen control of this food dehydrator makes it seamless in drying your food or herbs.
• It has memory functions which means it stores information and you can easily continue from wherever you stop each time.
• The specialized fan is located at the back of the product and it facilitates to heating the food or herbs evenly; saving you the stress of constantly turning the food or herbs.
• It is built with the FDA complaint regulations, so you can rest assured that food dried in this device is perfectly safe and healthy for consumption.

This COSORI herb dehydrator can be all yours when you click this link to be taken to the product page on Amazon. You would find more about it and also reviews of previous users. Then you can decide to buy it right on the page.

Pros & Cons of each Herb dehydrator

1. JAYTEC Food Dehydrator

Pros:

• It is spacious
• Food or herbs are dried evenly
• Its ABS body gives it rigidity
• It is easy to clean after usage.

Cons:

• Its body can be scratched easily due to the ABS material
• The stainless steel trays can be very hot and one can get burnt if not careful.
• You cannot use it without electricity.
• The thermostats could increase the electricity bills

2. Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine

Pros:

• It can contain a large amount of food or herbs
• Food or herbs dried in it are safe and healthy for consumption because of BPA safety measures
• It is easy to clean when stained
• It works perfectly with less noise
• The user can easily carry it around as it is not heavy

Cons:

• You cannot use it without electricity
• The control buttons may take a little bit of time to understand.

3. BioChef Arizona Sol Food Dehydrator

Pros:

• It dries food and herbs evenly
• The body is thick and durable
• It can be easily cleaned after use

Cons:

• The user might find it a little bit difficult to operate when there is no manual
• You cannot use it without electricity.
• The temperature has been preset by the manufacturer which restricts the user to an extent.

4. GoWISE USA 17-Quart Air Fryer and Food Dehydrator

Pros:

• It can be used to either air-fry or dehydrate foods/herbs
• This dehydrator saves the user the cost of buying a fryer and dehydrator separately
• It is super easy to clean
• It is very spacious

Cons:

• The food items on the top racks get hotter quicker than the ones on the lower rack
• It could be more expensive because of its additional features
• Repairs or maintenance could cost a little more money
• You cannot use it without electricity.
• It could consume more electricity because of its watt volume.

5. COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine

Pros:

• It is user friendly
• It is easy to clean after used
• The dehydrator works with less noise
• It is quite affordable considering what it offers.
• It dries foods/herbs evenly
• This product has its own memory which makes it easier to store information for later

Cons:

• The stainless steel trays need extra care to handle when they are heated
• You cannot use it without electricity.

How To Use A Herb Dehydrator To Dry Your Herbs

Preserving herbs by drying them is one of the advantages of having a good herb dehydrator. The earth has different seasons and each season come with its own weather conditions which could either make plants bloom, reduce or kill its growth.

To own a herb dehydrator is one thing and to know how to use it is another thing entirely. The following steps below shows how you can use a herb dehydrator to dry herbs easily:

Step One:

Switch on your herb dehydrator and set the thermostat between 95 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Although, the range should be based on your location climate. For instance, if the climate temperature is high, it is advisable to reduce the range of the herb dehydrators thermostat.

Step Two:

Check for the dampness or moisture of the herbs. Peradventure the herbs are wet, pick up a dry towel and blot them dry.

Step Three:

After blotting the herbs with a dry towel, put the herbs in the dehydrator trays. Ensure they are placed properly, preferably in a single layer.

Step Four:

To ensure the herbs dry faster, ensure you remove larger leaves from the thick stems.

Step Five:

While the dehydrator is running and drying the leaves, you can be checking it from time to time.

Step Six:

Turn off the herb dehydrator when you are satisfied with the dryness of your food or herbs. If you buy one with a timer, then it would stop at the time you set it.

Step Seven:

When you are certain that it has dried to your satisfaction, bring them out and let them cool them down.

Step Eight:

Once they are cool enough, gather them and place them in a jar to store them till when you need them. You can label them for easy identification in the future.

Conclusion

A herb dehydrator is a kitchen appliance you ought to have, especially when you think of drying your food/herb for future use. It saves times, keeps your food or herbs fresh and retains the flavour.

Do you have the intention of buying a food/herb dehydrator any time soon? Do not hesitate to go through the amazing products reviewed in this article and make your choice. Or, let the buyer’s guide mentioned here lead you to the right choice.