How to choose a dryer for fruits and vegetables

The dryer is a universal tool that allows you to work not only with fruits, but also with vegetables, mushrooms, and herbs. The most advanced models allow you to dry meat and fish. An indispensable item for lovers of healthy dried fruits. The main advantage of electronic dryers is that there is no need to use sugar, flavorings and preservatives.

Criteria for choosing a dryer for fruits and vegetables

To choose the best dryer, you need to decide on the best criteria for a given device.

Volume

The most important criterion for selecting devices, which allows you to calculate the number of processed products. On average, drying takes from 3 to 10 hours. That is why, if you have to dry a lot of vegetables and fruits, the volume of the device should be large. Often the capacity is indicated on the device itself, but if this is not the case, you should look at the dimensions.

Important! Most foods retain their properties when dried fresh. Therefore, it is not recommended to perform the operation in parts.

The right product will make your food as healthy as possible. Therefore, when choosing a dryer, it is important to evaluate the volume, number of pallets, height and weight.

Material

There are plastic and metal dryers.The material of the product affects heat transfer and the ability to maintain temperature during operation. Metal devices do the job faster and better, and are correspondingly more expensive. Plastic devices are more compact and lightweight, which makes the transportation process easier.

Decorating the dryer with transparent plastic allows the owner to observe the drying process. Thanks to this, you don’t have to constantly remove the lid and take out the baking sheets.

Important! Regardless of the material of construction, the dryer should be thoroughly washed after each use. Cleaning is carried out without detergents, as their residues may remain inside.

Power

The minimum power of dryers is in the range of 150-250 W. They are designed for processing small portions. “Weak” designs are unsuitable for frequent use, so they are suitable for small families.

Optimal power for operation is 350-600 W.

Such devices are spacious, consume minimal energy, and the drying process is faster. Suitable for frequent and large work.
A heating element

The drying process takes place directly with the participation of the heating component. Heaters are located at the top or bottom of the device. The optimal choice is a device with a heater installed at the top of the structure. This structure avoids contact between the heater and the liquid.

Dryers are divided into two types based on the type of heating:

1. Working on heating elements. This mechanism dries food by convection. The devices are inexpensive, but the color of the product is lost.
2. With infrared heater. Often found in expensive and modern designs.Infrared heating preserves the beneficial properties of food and also saves energy consumption. Vegetables and fruits retain their fresh appearance during processing. The disadvantage of the mechanism is that there is no way to dry small pieces.

Important! When choosing a device, you should pay attention to the presence of a fan in the assembly.

Control

Management is divided into:

• electronic;
• mechanical.

The electronic mechanism is convenient for manual temperature adjustment. In the second case, the designs contain a mechanical relay, which does not allow the temperature to be selected within narrow limits.

Electronic control implies a wide range of functions and modes, so such devices will cost more.

An important criterion is the presence of a timer for preparing a particular product. In such devices, the housewife herself sets the required time, after which the dryer will turn off automatically.

Cheap models do not provide a timer, so the person must monitor the drying process themselves and turn off the device.

Important! To avoid breakdowns, you should purchase designs with an “overheating protection” function.

The best dryers for vegetables and fruits

There are many companies that produce dryers. Each model has its own distinctive features, as well as advantages and disadvantages.

Ezidri Snackmaker FD500

The case is made of plastic and has protection against overheating. The working process consists of air moving along the pallets, gradually moving from the central hole outward. Due to this, the products are dried evenly. The model holds up to 15 trays.

Advantages:

• quick drying;
• the number of pallets is regulated;
• easy care;
• capacity.

Flaws:

• short power cord;
• lack of a switch;
• there is noise during operation.

Alvin SU-1

Used for processing products of plant origin. The panel contains temperature and power control buttons. The power is within 800 W, due to this drying is carried out quickly.

Advantage:

• capacity;
• high build quality;
• simple controls.

Flaws:

• trays are attached inconveniently;
• makes noise during operation.

BelOMO 8360

The work is based on convection. The heating element is hidden under a cover, which protects the mechanism from moisture and food particles. Holds no more than 8 pallets. Heating elements maintain the same temperature at all levels, ensuring uniform drying.

Advantages:

• the body is made of high-quality plastic;
• small size;
• no noise;

Flaws:

• if there is a maximum number of pallets, drying is faster at the bottom;
• automatic does not turn off.

Zimber ZM-11025 / ZM-11026

The peculiarity of the model is that in addition to regular products, you can make yogurt. The main advantage of the model is that drying occurs as evenly as possible.

Advantages:

• easy care;
• no noise;
• wide range of modes.

Flaws:

• the process takes longer;
• The height of the pallets cannot be adjusted.

Polaris PFD 0605D

The kit includes transparent trays that allow you to monitor the drying process. Products do not darken during cooking. The device is equipped with an electronic display with three buttons. On the panel you can adjust the temperature, time and switch on of the device.

Advantages:

• stylish design;
• compactness;
• quiet operation;
• presence of a timer.

Flaws:

• power;
• the need to move pallets.

Which dryer to choose depends on the specific preferences of the buyer. Having a dryer allows you to always have healthy fruits at hand. Thus, you can wean your child off unhealthy sweets and enrich the body with useful microelements at any time of the year. Thanks to modern technologies, the process is not limited to just processing fruits, allowing you to enjoy marmalade, yogurt and marshmallows.