A food dehydrator mainly designed for drying the foods so that you can preserve them for the longer period. Most of you know that the food dehydrators do come with a fan but do you know that there are three different locations of the fan in the food dryer?
Well! You hear it right! There are three areas of the fan in the food dehydrator, i.e., top, bottom, and rear. All the three locations have their benefits and drawbacks. But the role of the fan in any form is to dehydrate the foods and disperse the heat evenly on all the trays of the dehydrator.
In the below article, we will discuss the difference between the three locations of the fan and also differentiate them. We hope at the end of the article; you will get the answer to your question, i.e., which is the best location of the fan in the food dehydrator.
Different Location of Food Dehydrator Fan
There are three different places of the fan inside the food dryer. Let’s have a look!
The location of the fan along with the heating element affects the uniform drying of the food to a great extent. In fact, how fast your food will get dry also depends on the location of the fan in the appliance.
Now, we will discuss one by one about all the three places and also tell you about their pros and cons.
Bottom Mounted Dehydrator Fan
When the fan of the food dehydrator located at the bottom section then, such appliances are known as bottom mounted fans. There are few pros and cons which associated with such category of fans.
Pros
- It benefits in the quick drying of the food.
- These type of fans cones in the affordably priced food dehydrators.
- It dries the food much efficiently than the top mounted fans.
- The food dehydrators with the bottom mounted fan are suitable for the people who have small requirement of the dried food.
- They come in the stackable form of food dehydrators which needs very less space on your kitchen countertop.
- It can get expanded to increase the drying space.
- These are suitable for drying delicate food items like herbs and spices.
- The machines with the bottom mounted fans comes with the on and off switches in the unit.
- Such units are easy to use and operate.
Cons
- The food on the bottom trays dried much faster than the food on the upper trays.
- There is need of tray rotation sometimes during the drying process.
- There are chances of mixing of the flavors of the food.
- There are high chances that liquid food can drop on the bottom heating element and the fan of the unit which ultimately blocks them.
- Most of the food dehydrators with the bottom mounted fan comes in the plastic material.
- These are difficult to clean and maintain.
- Most of the units with the bottom mounted fan do not come with the adjustable temperature control feature.
- It is not suitable for drying hard foods like meat or jerky.
- The air is pushed to spread on all the trays which sometimes make few foods less-dried.
Top Mounted Dehydrator Fan
The next category of the fans is the top mounted fans in which the fan and the heating element located in the top section of the food dehydrators.
Now, let’s read the pros and cons associated with this category:
Pros
- There are no chances of the food spilling on the fan or the heating element of the unit as the fan I mounted on the top section.
- It is quite easy to clean and maintain such type of fan.
- The unit with the top mounted fan does come with the feature of the adjustable thermostat.
- It is less costly than the rear mounted fans units.
- The food on the top section dries more quickly and evenly than the food on the lower trays.
- It results in the even drying of the food.
- Such units are easy to use and operate.
Cons
- There is the need for rotating the trays.
- It is costly priced than the bottom mounted fan units.
- The air is pushed to spread on all the trays which sometimes make few foods less-dried.
Rear Mounted Dehydrator Fan
When the fan and the heating element located in the back section of the food dehydrator then, such fans are known as rear-mounted fans. These fans dry more quickly, evenly and efficiently than the top or bottom mounted fans.
The following are the advantages and disadvantages of the rear mounted fans which will make your clear about this category:
Pros
- The rear-mounted fans usually found in the box type food dehydrators.
- It is safe from the food dripping issues on the fan or the heating element.
- It comes in the unit which provides large size drying space for dehydrating food in bulk.
- It is effortless to load and unload food in the food dryer with the rear mounted fans.
- You can quickly remove the trays in such units without any problem.
- There is no need of swapping of trays in the unit as the food dried evenly on all the shelves.
- There are no chances of the flavor mixing in such units.
- You can dry multiple varieties of foods in the appliance with the rear mounted fan like meat, jerky, fruits, herbs, etc.
- The food on the trays dries evenly.
- Most of the units with the rear fan have a timer which you can set and leave the unit for drying.
- There is no need of trays rotation during the drying process.
- The rear-mounted fans help in the quick and efficient drying of the food in comparison to the other types of fans.
- It is quite easy to clean and maintain the units with the back fans.
- The air moves and disperses automatically on all the trays without any pushing.
Cons
- The rear-mounted fans come in the units which are larger and needs more countertop space in your kitchen.
- You cannot expand them for drying more food.
- The food dehydrators with the rear-mounted fans are costly to buy.
- Such units are difficult to use and operate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: I have a food dehydrator which has a fan mounted on the bottom section of the unit. Can you please tell me that how can I maintain and take care of the fan?
It is quite difficult to clean the fan which mounted at the bottom section of the food dryer. However, you can wipe it off with the wet cloth for cleaning. One more tip is to use the dehydrator sheets on the trays that will stop the food from dripping over the fan and the heating element.
Q: Hello, I am looking to a food dehydrator for myself. Which location of the fan is suitable for me if I want fast and bulk food drying?
Well! If you want quick food drying and also in large quantities then, the food dehydrator with the rear mounted fan is suitable for you. Hope you do not have any budget constraint.
Q: Which is the best location for the fan: top or bottom for drying?
Both locations of the fans result in the vertical flow of drying. The only difference between the two is that in the bottom mounted fans units, there are high chances that your food gets spill over, but in the top mounted fans, there is no such issue.
Q: How the air flows in the rear mounted fans and top or bottom mounted food dehydrators?
The air flows horizontally in the rear mounted fans dehydrators whereas in the top mounted and the bottom mounted fan units, the air flows horizontally.
Q: I have a small family and less-budget to buy the food dehydrator. Which fan location will you suggest me to buy?
If you have a budget constraint then, you must purchase a food dryer with the top or bottom mounted fan. Such units are also suitable for the people who have small families.
Q: Is there any need of tray rotation in the rear-mounted fan units?
No, it is not necessary of rotating the trays in the rear mounted fan food dehydrators.
Q: In which type of food dehydrator the food dried more evenly and correctly?
There are high chances of uniform drying of the food in the rear mounted fan food dehydrators in comparison to the top or bottom mounted fan units.
Q: I have a top mounted fan food dehydrator at my home. The main problem is that the food on the lower trays does not dry much. Please guide me what I should do?
Well! In the top mounted fan of the food dehydrator, the food which is far from the fan and the heating unit takes more time for drying in comparison to the food near to the fan. The Same problem is with the bottom mounted fan units also. You can do one thing that you may switch the trays after few hours for the efficient drying of the food of all trays.
Q: How many types of locations of the fan found in the food dehydrator?
Well! You hear it right! There are three locations of the fan in the food dehydrator, i.e., top, bottom, and rear.
Q: How the location of the fan affects the process of food drying in the dehydrator?
The location of the fan along with the heating element affects the uniform drying of the food to a great extent. In fact, how fast your food will get dry also depends on the location of the fan in the appliance.
Q: In which type of food dehydrator, do we find the bottom mounted fan?
In the stackable food dehydrators, you can get the bottom-mounted fan, and such units can also get expanded when needed.
Q: Which type of units is easy to use – bottom mounted fan units, top mounted fan units or rear mounted fan units?
Well! If you compare all the three categories then, the unit with the top or bottom mounted fan units are easy to use and operate.
Q: In which type of food dryers there are fewer chances of flavor mixing?
The food dryer with the rear mounted fan has fewer chances of flavor mixing.
Q: I want to buy food dehydrator for drying foods like herbs and spices. Please suggest?
The food dehydrator with the fan located at the bottom or the top is perfect for drying delicate food items like herbs and spices.
Q: I need to dry out some hard food items like meat and jerky in my food dehydrator. Which fan location in the unit you will suggest?
The food dehydrator with the fan at the back is most appropriate for drying hard foods like jerky, meat, chicken, etc.
Q: Will I get the adjustable thermostat feature in my rear mounted machine?
Yes, most of the rear mounted units come with the adjustable thermostat feature and the timer. Thus, if you have a busy or hectic schedule then, such units are suitable for you perfectly.
Q: I want to dry multiple varieties of food in my food dehydrator. Please tell me which fan location must present in my food dehydrators and why?
If you want to dry out multiple different varieties of food in your food dehydrator then, the unit with the rear mounted fan is suitable for you. In such units, the air moves and disperses automatically on all the trays without any pushing. In fact, you can do bulk drying in such machines for your party or get-together.
Q: Does the food also drip on the rear mounted fans?
No, the food does not drip on the rear-mounted fan units at all. The problem of food dripping only exists in the units with the bottom mounted fan units.
Conclusion
Now after reading the above article, you know that which is the best category of the fan in the food dehydrators, i.e., top, bottom rear? All the three types have their advantages and disadvantages.
The need and the budget of every person vary from each other so you have to see now which is your requirement and how much money you can spend on buying a food dehydrator. If you want an efficient and hi-tech food dehydrator in which there is no need of trays rotation then, rear-mounted fan units recommended. However, if you have a small budget and still want to enjoy the benefits of drying then, top-mounted or bottom-mounted fan units is perfect. Thus, now you have to decide which type of fan you want in your appliance. If you have any query regarding the above article then, simply write to us. We will surely reply back to you quickly. However, if you want to share your some good thoughts with us then, also you are most welcome. We will feel quite happy hearing from you.