Food dehydration is one of stress-free, finest, and oldest ways of foods preservation unquestionably. There are lots of methods for dehydrating and preserving foods for examples traditional way like sun drying and modern technology like food dehydrators.
Even though the conventional techniques do have numerous advantages, but it’s just not possible to dry out foods outside in your lawn if you are living in a small area.
Comparison Chart of Best Food Dehydrators Under $200
Note: Prices are considered at the time of writing. There could be slightly price difference be there when you are checking these products.
| Serial No | Product Image | Product Name | Temp Range | Wattage | Number of trays | Maximum number of trays | Timer | Adjustable Thermostat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |   | COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine | 95ºF to 165ºF | 600 | 6 | NA | Yes | NA |
| 2 |   | Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine | 95ºF to 165ºF | 480 | 7 | NA | Yes | Yes |
| 3 |  | Cabela's 12-Tray Pro Series Dehydrator | 80ºF to 160ºF | 1100 | 12 | NA | NA | Yes |
| 4 |   | Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine | 95ºF to 158ºF | 480 | 6 | NA | Yes | Yes |
| 5 |   | Excalibur 2400 Electric Food Dehydrator | 95ºF to 165ºF | 220 | 9 | NA | Yes | Yes |
| 6 |   | LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator (10-Tray) | 95ºF to 155ºF | 800 | 10 | NA | Yes | Yes |
| 7 |   | Excalibur 3500B 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator | 105ºF to 165ºF | 440 | 5 | NA | No | Yes |
In the long run for a maximum number of people, the best choice for drying food is the food dehydrator. You can buy these machines online shopping websites quickly depending on your budget.
Now, you must be thinking that how will you choose the food dehydrator if you have a budget below $200.
Don’t worry, in the below article will provide you the list of top best Food Dehydrators under $200 that are easily available in the market. We have selected and reviewed these appliances after deep study and research so that you can get a good list of products to choose.
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Reviews of Best Food Dehydrators Under $200
The following are the best food dehydrators under $200 which we have selected after complete review and study:
1. COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine
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It is a stainless steel food dehydrator that comes under the price range of $200. The product comes with 6 stainless steel shelves, 1 fruit roll sheet, 1 mesh screen, I recipe book, and 1 manual book. The front door of the unit is made from glass material so that you can easily see the drying status of your food.
There are so many different recipes that you can dehydrate in this dehydrator, like fruit leathers, beef jerkies, snacks, dog treats, dried herbs, bread-crumbs, etc.
A digital control panel also provided for setting the 48 hours timer with an increment of 30 minutes. You can easily set the temperature of the machine within the temperature range of 95 degrees F to 165 degrees F as per your need.
Pros
The following are the pros of COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine:
- It runs noiselessly during the operating time
- The tray liners of the unit are 100% BPA free and safe to use
- The unit protected from the overheating problems
- You can easily wash the trays in the dishwasher
- All the controls of the machine operated digitally which are easy to use too
- You can monitor the food drying through the glass door
- It can accommodate a large amount of food while drying at one time
- It is a portable and lightweight food dehydrator
- It made from high-quality stainless steel material
Cons
The following are the cons of COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator Machine:
- The food on the upper shelves does not dry evenly
- There are very less fruit trays that come with the unit
- It is a too big machine for a small size kitchen
Bottom line
Cosori premium food dehydrator machines help in easy and fast food drying with the help of its temperature settings and digital timer. You can dehydrate a large amount of food on its six trays. Moreover, the unit’s glass door also accommodates in checking the drying status of food anytime in between the process.
The best part is that you can clean the maximum parts of the unit easily. People who are looking for an elegant looking modern food dehydrator machine under $200 then, you should surely consider this product once.
2. Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine
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Magic Mill food dehydrator machine comprises of the rear-mounted fan so that the entire food on all the trays dehydrates evenly. There is no need to rotate the trays in this unit. Moreover, the whole food drying process can easily monitored through the glass door.
This BPA free machine comes with hi-tech features like timer and a digital thermostat that helps you in setting the time and temperature of the food for the perfect drying results. The machine shut down automatically as soon as the timer gets off and you may press the “keep warm” button for keeping your food warm till 24 hours. You get 7 dishwasher safe trays with the unit for drying an ample amount of food along with the fruit leather trays and the mesh trays.
Pros
The following are the pros of the Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine:
- It is a lightweight and portable food dehydrator machine
- It offers you a large drying capacity of 15 square feet
- The transparent door of the unit allows you to see the food drying process
- The fan located at the backside avoids the issue of food dripping
- It comprises of innovative 2 step temperature control and digital time
- You can easily view and access the elevated control panel
- The machine shuts down automatically for the safety purpose
- You can remove the trays for accommodating big size foods
- Shelves and door can removed for the more stress-free cleaning of the unit
Cons
The following are the cons of the Magic Mill Food Dehydrator Machine:
- You might feel a strong smell of plastic during the drying process
- The fan creates lots of noise while operating the unit
- It consumes lots of power for running
- You cannot expand it by adding more trays
Bottom line
Overall, it is an excellent food dehydrator machine under $200 price bracket. The main highlights of the product are stainless steel trays, digital timer, adjustable thermostat, simple controls, and many more. You can conveniently place it in your cabinet’s front side.
Moreover, you can leave the unit alone after doing the required settings as it shut down automatically as soon as the drying process completes. The availability of the drip tray and the placement of heater and fan makes the machine easy to clean. Moreover, you do not have to worry about the overheating problem as it gives protection against the issue.
3. Cabela’s 12-Tray Pro Series Dehydrator
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It is a 12 tray food dehydrator from Cabela’s in which you can prepare lots of dehydrated foods like dried veggies, dried fruits, fruit roll-ups, and many more things. A LED display also provided in the unit that displays temperature and the time settings.
Moreover, you can adjust the temperature of the unit between 80 degrees F to 160 degrees F for the precise drying of the food. An 1100 watt heater is also present in the unit for drying the hard foods like jerky or meat. There is a 6.5 inches paddle fan that benefits in the even flow of the air on all the trays. Its front door can also be fold for the assurance of the steady internal temperature. There are air slots on the sides that reduce the requirement of rotating the trays.
Pros
The following are the pros of Cabela’s 12-Tray Pro Series Dehydrator:
- It can easily accommodate big size food items for drying
- You can prepare big batches of food for large size families
- The digital display and control panel helps in effective food drying
- The front door can fold up for maintaining a steady internal heat flow
- It comes with high wattage power for dehydrating hard food items like jerky or meat
- Its trays made from heavy-duty BPA polypropylene free material that does not break easily
- You get a removable drip tray that benefits in the easy cleaning of the unit
- A manual guide assists you in drying a variety of foods
- You can carry it easily with the help of inbuilt handles
- The LED display panel allows you to set the time, temperature and internal temperature
- Its 6.5 inches fan helps inconsistent and even drying of the food on all trays
Cons
The following are the cons of Cabela’s 12-Tray Pro Series Dehydrator:
- You cannot expand the size of the dehydrator with the addition of more trays
- You get very less warranty period offer along with this food dehydrator
- It is not so much famous brand in comparison to other popular brands
- It is a big size machine which needs lots of space in the kitchen
Bottom line
Cabela’s 12-Tray Pro Series Dehydrator is gaining lots of popularity nowadays due to its robust manufacturing and maple space. You can use it for commercial purposes as well as for home use. It can serve lots of people at one time.
There are a variety of foods that you can dehydrate in the unit. Moreover, there is no need for rotating trays as entire food on all the trays gets dried evenly from all sides due to the sideway’s open-air slots. Additionally, its trays made from heavy-duty BPA polypropylene free material that does not get break easily.
4. Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine
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This food dehydrator comes with 6 big size spacious trays. The trays are BPA free and adjustable too so that you can prepare different sizes of foods at one time like crackers, jerky, veggies, fruit leathers, dried soup, cookies, or pasta. The unit also has pre-set settings of the temperatures that range between 95 degrees F to 158 degrees F. You can also set the timer of the machine up to 19.5 hours for the correct drying times.
The inbuilt hi-tech design of the machine helps in maximizing the flow of air for uniform drying of the food without the issue of overheating. You can also see the entire drying process through the clear door. The manufacturing company also offers 1 year warranty period to the buyers.
Pros
The following are the pros of the Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine:
- It is a simple food dehydrator to use that is perfect for the beginners
- You can quickly check the food drying status through the clear door
- It is easy to store this lightweight food dehydrator
- The machine can run with the help of user-friendly digital controls
- It gets shut down automatically as soon as the timer gets off
- The trays are dishwasher safe
- You get free access to the Chefman club for the video tutorials and recipes
Cons
The following are the cons of Chefman Food Dehydrator Machine:
- The motor of the machine is not so powerful
- You will not get additional accessories like fruit leather sheets, etc
- The instructions in the manual book are not easy to understand
- The strong plastic smell from the trays can felt during the food drying
Bottom Line
It is a powerful food dehydrator machine in the market under $200 price range. Chefman food dehydrator comes at economical prices with six trays, impressive performance, and innovative design.
The inbuilt hi-tech design benefits in increasing the airflow for uniform food dehydration without any overheating problems. It is a noiseless unit that does not create a burden on your pocket for paying bills. Moreover, it is a compact size food dehydrator for all those people who are looking for a food dehydrator for their small size kitchen.
5. Excalibur 2400 Electric Food Dehydrator
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Excalibur food dehydrator comes with the 4 inches fan that benefits in the horizontal flow of air for the uniform drying of the food. The manufacturing company offers long 10 years warranty period to the buyers for the assurance of their purchase. You get big size 9 poly-screen trays with this product that provides ample space for drying food.
The innovative and patented technology of hyper wave and horizontal parallax eradicates the water from all food items by a continuous flow of thermostatically controlled hot air. The temperature of the unit can adjust between 105 degrees F to 165 degrees F. The machine can be shot on or off through the inbuilt switch. Moreover, the food does not get a stick on the poly-screen trays
Pros
The following are the pros of Excalibur 2400 Electric Food Dehydrator:
- It is an ideal food dehydrator for the beginners
- You get ample space for drying food on the nine trays of the unit
- The temperature of the machine can adjust between 105 degrees F to 165 degrees F
- The flexible poly-screen trays do not let the food stick on the surface
- The technology of Hyperwave fluctuation helps in the uniform drying of the food
- It creates very less noise during food drying
- An inbuilt on or off switch given for more user convenience
Cons
The following are the cons of Excalibur 2400 Electric Food Dehydrator:
- You will not get any drip tray which makes the cleaning of the unit difficult
- The timer not provided for setting the accurate drying times
Bottom line
The Excalibur 2400 food dehydrator is one of the incredible products in the market that can be used by professionals as well as beginners too. It offers you ample space for drying a variety of foods at one time. The best part is that the innovative and patented technology of hyper wave and horizontal parallax eradicates the water from all food items by the continuous flow of thermostatically controlled hot air.
Moreover, the food does not get stick to the poly-screen trays during the food drying, which makes the cleaning process easier. People who love to have noiseless products should consider this food dehydrator under $2000 price range.
6. LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator (10-Tray)
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The seventh name on our list is of LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator (10-Tray) which is one of the large food dehydrators which comes with a digital timer in conjunction with the power capacity of strong 800 watts. It performs the food drying quite faster.
Along with the drying space of 15 square feet in addition to the capacity of 10 trays, it is one of the large size food dehydrator that you can find in the market. It is very simple and speedy to dry large amounts of food in this machine for a get-together or a huge party at your home. With the existence of digital timer and the adjustable thermostat feature, this appliance is turning out to be quite famous these days.
Pros
The following are the pros of the LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator (10-Tray):
- There is lot of space in between the shelves of the appliance so that you can place a big size food item in it very easily.
- LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator is very easy and simple to use machine.
- It is obtainable at the reasonable cost as compare to the other expensive food dehydrators of the Excalibur Company.
- The size of the machine is quite big for drying large quantities of food for big gatherings.
- The square trays of the machine can be rotated at 90 degrees.
- The manufacturers have also given a digital timer in the appliance for extra help to the user.
- The powerful fan of the appliance which is located at the back side dispenses the air uniformly over the whole trays of the machine.
- The machine can be easily clean with a wet cloth and soap.
Cons
The following are the cons of the LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator (10-Tray):
- LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator is a big size appliance which cannot be well fit in the small kitchen countertop.
- The heat in the appliance is not well distributed either horizontally or vertically.
- During the course of dehydration, it also makes some noise.
- The timer of the machine generates lots of noise by beeping 59 times before getting off.
- You will not get any tray screens along with the machine.
- There is very less data obtainable in the instruction guidebook.
Bottom Line
The main benefit of buying the LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator (10-Tray) is its digital timer that offers you an accurate temperature as well as consistent heating. In fact, you can also regulate the thermostats in accordance with your necessities.
Besides all this, you get a sufficient drying space of 15 x 15 inches over all the square trays. As the fan is located at the backs side of the unit, there are no chances of food dripping at all. Thus, it will not be beneficial to miss buying such amazing appliance at so much reasonable cost.
The MAGIC MILL PRO MFD-6100 Food Dehydrator is an amazing appliance that comes at such a reasonable price at most of the online shopping websites. It consists of advanced temperature as well as timing features which you do always found in the costly machines.
In consort with a pioneering horizontal heating procedure, it is one of the most innovative food dehydrators that are obtainable on the market. If you do not mind paying extra for the food dehydrator, then this machine will be a good option to buy. As a supplementary convenience, lots of features are given in the machine which not only saves your precious time but also make the entire dehydration process stress-free.
7. Excalibur 3500B 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator
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Excalibur 3500B food dehydrator comes with the adjustable thermostat feature ranges between 105 degrees F to 165 degrees F. You can adjust the temperature as per the food you want to dehydrate like jerky, breads, soups, etc.
The other innovative features of the machine are heating element and 5-inch fan that is located on the backside of the unit so that the hot air distributes all trays uniformly. The patented technology of Excalibur i.e., Horizontal Parallexx Airflow and Hyperwave Technology, benefits in the faster drying of the food without rotating the trays. You get 5 ploy-screen trays with this unit that offers 8 square feet of dehydrating space.
Pros
The following are the pros of Excalibur 3500B 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator:
- It is an excellent food dehydrator for beginners, sportsmen, and gardeners
- You can adjust the temperature of the unit between 105 degrees F to 165 degrees F
- There is no need for tray rotation owing to the patented technologies of Excalibur
- You get ample drying space on the 5 poly-screen trays
- The machine runs noiselessly during the operation
- The trays are dishwasher safe, and you can remove, clean and place them inside easily
- You get a recipe book along with the unit for cooking delicious recipes
- The manufacturing campiness offers you long 10 years warranty period
Cons
The following are the cons of Excalibur 3500B 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator:
- The front door is opaque which does not let you see the internal drying process
- It needs lots of space for storage
- There is no option given for setting the time
Bottom Line
Excalibur 3500B food dehydrator is an ideal machine for small size families. Moreover, it is stress-free to wash the trays of the unit in the dishwasher. It comes from the well-renowned and famous brand “Excalibur” and what else you could wish for more now. You also get a recipe book along with the machine that assists you in cooking delicious and mouth-watering recipes.
It is very easy to use this machine through inbuilt on/off switch and the adjustable thermostat feature. The best part about this food dehydrator is that it is a lightweight unit that you can move quickly from one place to another. You will find it very easy to store it in your kitchen cabinet.
Tips for Using a Food Dehydrator
There are few vital tips which you should follow while using a food dehydrator conveniently:
- You should make sure that there is proper ventilation in the food dehydrator so that the air can circulate appropriately on all the trays.
- There should not be any overlapping of food on the dehydrator’s shelves.
- The food dried in the dehydrator must not be fried as it can evade the nutritive content of the food item.
- If there is any visible mold on the, fruit or vegetable then you should not dry it.
- In order to improve the drying process, you can rotate the tarys in between the progression.
Conclusion
All the products in the above stated article are best in their category. You cannot say that which will be the best suitable food dehydrators under $200 as it varies according to your need and budget.
All the food dehydrators are different from each other in some way, for example, certain food dehydrators can dry average, amounts of food and they can be moved easily from one place to another, whereas others can handle bigger quantities but are hard to store and transport. The product’s heating consistency, user-friendliness, and modifiability can decide that whether a particular appliance is perfect for you or not.
We are sure that our list of best food dehydrator under $200 will benefit you in making a perilous decision in the end.
If you have any query or doubt in your mid, you are free to ask us in the comment box below. Even if you have any suggestion for our article, we are obliged to welcome your views.