Imagine biting into a perfectly chewy fruit leather or a crispy kale chip, all made right in your kitchen. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? But when it comes to achieving that perfect dehydrated texture, choosing the right appliance can feel like a puzzle.
Many people think air fryers are only for crispy fried foods. But did you know many of them can also be your secret weapon for dehydrating? It’s true! However, figuring out which air fryer actually does a good job at this can be tricky. Some get too hot, others don’t have the right settings, and you might end up with something burnt instead of dried.
This post is here to help you navigate the world of air fryers and dehydration. We’ll break down what to look for, share tips for success, and even highlight some models that are great for making your own dried snacks. Get ready to unlock a whole new way to use your air fryer!
Our Top 5 Air Fryer For Dehydrating Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Air Fryer For Dehydrating Detailed Reviews
1. CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ Rotisserie
Rating: 8.6/10
Meet the CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ Rotisserie, Dehydrator, Convection Oven – your new kitchen best friend! This black, XL 10L powerhouse is designed to make cooking easier and healthier. It’s packed with 17 touch screen presets and can fry, roast, dehydrate, and bake your favorite foods to crispy perfection. Plus, it uses 98% less oil, making your meals healthier. With a large, easy-view window, you can watch your food cook without opening the oven. It’s perfect for families and meal prepping.
What We Like:
- It’s super versatile! You can air fry, bake, dehydrate, rotisserie, and roast all in one appliance.
- Cooking is fast because it doesn’t need preheating. Rapid air heating cooks food quickly and evenly.
- It makes healthy eating simple, using way less oil than regular fryers.
- Anyone can use it easily with 17 preset options and a simple touch screen.
- It comes with everything you need: three racks, a rotisserie spit, and a drip tray.
- The 10-liter size is great for cooking meals for the whole family or prepping food for the week.
- You can easily see your food cooking through the large window and interior light.
- Clean-up is a breeze with a removable drip tray and dishwasher-safe parts.
What Could Be Improved:
- The wattage (1700 Watts) might be a bit high for some older electrical circuits.
- While it has many functions, mastering all 17 presets might take a little practice for some users.
This Chefman air fryer is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, offering convenience and healthy cooking options.
2. Air Fryer Oven Large 20 QT
Rating: 9.1/10
Tired of a cluttered kitchen counter? Meet the Gluck Air Fryer Oven, a 20-quart powerhouse that does it all! This 10-in-1 wonder isn’t just an air fryer; it’s a toaster oven, a dehydrator, and so much more, all rolled into one sleek appliance. With its large capacity, it’s perfect for feeding your whole family or impressing guests at your next party.
What We Like:
- It’s a 10-in-1 kitchen helper! You can fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, and toast. It even comes with a rotisserie for crispy chickens.
- It cooks food evenly and makes it super crispy outside and juicy inside thanks to its 1800 watts and 360° hot air.
- The accessories are safe to use and clean. They are free from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, Teflon, and BPA. Plus, they are dishwasher safe!
- It’s big enough for a family. You can cook a whole chicken or make all sorts of food shapes easily.
- It’s easy for anyone to use! The digital touch screen makes cooking simple with just one touch.
- It comes with a 1-year warranty for peace of mind.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it’s large, the exact dimensions (W14.6″xD13.4″xH15.4″) might still be a consideration for smaller kitchens.
- The description doesn’t mention specific cooking times or temperature ranges for each of the 10 functions, which could be helpful for beginners.
This Gluck Air Fryer Oven is a fantastic all-around appliance that simplifies cooking for families and busy individuals. Its versatility and ease of use make it a welcome addition to any kitchen.
3. COSORI Air Fryer 9-in-1
Rating: 8.7/10
Get ready for a kitchen upgrade with the COSORI Air Fryer 9-in-1. This compact yet spacious 6-quart air fryer is designed to make your cooking easier and tastier. It uses innovative TurboBlaze Technology to cook food quickly and evenly, giving you that perfect crispy texture with up to 95% less oil. Whether you’re roasting, baking, or even drying food, this air fryer handles it all with precise temperature control and multiple fan speeds.
What We Like:
- Taste Upgrade: TurboBlaze Technology with high fan speed and 450℉ heat creates super crispy and juicy food.
- Texture Upgrade: Advanced airflow and exact temperature control ensure side dishes are cooked perfectly.
- Pro Upgrade: Five fan speeds and precise temperature control from 90°–450°F offer professional cooking versatility.
- Time Upgrade: Cooks food faster, saving you time on busy weeknights.
- Capacity Upgrade: The 6-quart square basket is roomy enough for family meals but still saves space on your counter.
- Experience Upgrade: It’s quiet, operating at less than 53 dB, so your kitchen stays peaceful.
- 95% Less Oil: Enjoy your favorite fried foods with much less oil for healthier eating.
- Dishwasher-Safe: The nonstick basket and parts are easy to clean in the dishwasher.
- Customizable Preheat: You can choose to preheat or skip it for a simpler cooking process.
- Helpful Extras: Comes with a user manual, a 30-recipe cookbook, and cooking charts.
What Could Be Improved:
- The “TurboBlaze Technology” might sound a bit intimidating to some beginners.
- While quiet, some users might still prefer an even quieter appliance.
This COSORI air fryer is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, offering convenience, health benefits, and delicious results. It’s a smart choice for anyone looking to simplify their cooking routine.
4. Instant Pot 10QT Air Fryer
Rating: 8.9/10
Meet the Instant Pot 10QT Air Fryer, a kitchen superhero that can do it all! This amazing appliance is a 7-in-1 wonder, meaning it can air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and even rotisserie your favorite foods. Thanks to its EvenCrisp Technology, you get perfectly crispy results with 95% less oil than regular frying, making your meals healthier. Plus, with a large 10-quart capacity, it’s ideal for feeding your whole family or prepping meals for the week. The handy “Sneak a Peak” window lets you watch your food cook without losing heat, and over 100 in-app recipes give you endless cooking inspiration.
What We Like:
- Versatile 7-in-1 cooking functions save counter space.
- EvenCrisp Technology delivers a satisfying crunch with less oil.
- The “Sneak a Peak” window makes monitoring food easy.
- Family-sized 10-quart capacity is great for groups.
- Comes with a good selection of accessories like trays and rotisserie tools.
- Over 100 in-app recipes provide plenty of meal ideas.
- ETL Certified with safety features offers peace of mind.
What Could Be Improved:
- The unit is quite large and might take up significant counter space for some kitchens.
- Some users might find the many functions a bit overwhelming at first.
This Instant Pot air fryer is a fantastic addition to any kitchen, offering convenience and healthy cooking options. It truly makes cooking easier and more enjoyable.
5. SICHEER Dehydrator Rack Stainless Steel Stand Accessories Compatible with Instant Vortex Plus 6 quart Air Fryer
Rating: 8.8/10
Want to make your air fryer do even more? The SICHEER Dehydrator Rack is a fantastic addition! This 4-layer stainless steel stand is made to perfectly fit your Instant Vortex Plus 6-quart Air Fryer, but it also works with Ninja Foodie Grills and Chefman 8-quart Air Fryers. It lets you dehydrate lots of food at once, keeping all the good stuff like vitamins. You can even make healthy pet treats with it!
What We Like:
- It fits your air fryer perfectly.
- You can dehydrate four layers of food at once, saving you time.
- The stainless steel is food-grade, so it’s safe for everyone, including your pets.
- The stackable design saves space on your counter.
- Cleaning is super easy because it’s dishwasher safe.
- The edges are smooth and safe to handle.
- The strong mesh design prevents dents.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it fits specific models, it might not be compatible with all air fryers.
- Some users might wish for even more layers for larger batches.
This SICHEER Dehydrator Rack is a smart way to expand your cooking options. It makes healthy snacking and meal prep simple and efficient.
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Air Fryer for Dehydrating
Thinking about buying an air fryer that can also dehydrate food? That’s a smart move! These handy appliances let you make crispy fries and also dry out fruits, jerky, and more. It’s like getting two kitchen gadgets in one. Let’s find out what to look for.
Key Features to Look For
When you’re shopping, keep these important features in mind.
Temperature Control
- Precise Settings: You need to be able to set the exact temperature. Dehydrating needs low, steady heat. Look for models that let you pick exact degrees, not just high, medium, or low.
- Wide Range: A good dehydrating air fryer will have a wide temperature range. This lets you go from crisping fries at a higher temp to gently drying herbs at a much lower temp.
Dehydrating Capacity
- Tray Size and Number: How much food do you want to dry at once? Check how many trays the air fryer comes with and how big they are. More trays and bigger trays mean you can dehydrate more food at the same time.
- Even Drying: Some air fryers have special fans or airflow designs to make sure food dries evenly on all trays. This is a big plus.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
- Simple Controls: You want controls that are easy to understand and use. A clear display helps a lot.
- Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Trays, racks, and the basket that are safe for the dishwasher make cleanup a breeze.
Additional Features
- Timer: A timer is essential for dehydrating. It helps you know when your food is ready.
- Pre-set Programs: Some air fryers have special settings for dehydrating, which can make things even simpler.
Important Materials
The materials used in an air fryer can affect how well it works and how long it lasts.
- Stainless Steel: This is a great material for the inside of the air fryer. It’s durable, easy to clean, and doesn’t rust.
- BPA-Free Plastics: For parts that touch your food, like trays or baskets, make sure they are made from BPA-free plastic. This means they are safe for food.
- Non-stick Coatings: A good non-stick coating on the basket and trays makes it easier to get your food out and speeds up cleaning.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
A few things can make your air fryer better or worse for dehydrating.
- Airflow System: A strong, well-designed fan and airflow system are key. This helps move hot air around the food evenly, drying it out properly. Poor airflow means some parts of your food might dry out while others stay moist.
- Wattage: Higher wattage usually means the air fryer heats up faster and can maintain higher temperatures. This is good for general air frying, but for dehydrating, consistent lower temperatures are more important.
- Build Quality: A sturdy build with good seals around the door or lid helps keep the heat inside. This makes the dehydrating process more efficient. Cheaply made air fryers might not hold heat well, leading to longer drying times.
User Experience and Use Cases
Using an air fryer for dehydrating is pretty straightforward.
- Making Fruit Leather: Slice fruit thinly, arrange it on the dehydrating trays, and set your air fryer to a low temperature. You’ll end up with delicious, healthy fruit snacks.
- Drying Herbs: Fresh herbs can be dried perfectly in an air fryer. This is much faster than air drying them in your kitchen.
- Beef or Turkey Jerky: Cut your meat thinly, marinate it, and then dehydrate it. You can make your own healthy jerky without all the added sugar and salt found in store-bought versions.
- Crispy Veggies: Beyond just drying, you can also make crispy vegetable chips, like kale or sweet potato chips.
An air fryer with a dehydrating function is a versatile addition to your kitchen. It opens up a world of healthy snacking and food preservation possibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can all air fryers dehydrate food?
A1: No, not all air fryers have a dehydrating function. You need to look for models that specifically state they can dehydrate.
Q2: What temperature should I use to dehydrate in an air fryer?
A2: The temperature for dehydrating usually ranges from 130°F to 160°F (54°C to 71°C), depending on the food.
Q3: How long does it take to dehydrate food in an air fryer?
A3: Drying times vary greatly depending on the food, thickness, and humidity. It can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours or more.
Q4: Can I use parchment paper in my air fryer when dehydrating?
A4: Yes, you can use parchment paper, but make sure it doesn’t block the airflow. Cut holes in it if needed.
Q5: Will the dehydrating function make my air fryer smell?
A5: If you clean your air fryer well after each use, especially the trays and basket, you shouldn’t have strong smells. Some foods, like jerky, can produce a stronger scent.
Q6: Is it better to buy a separate dehydrator or an air fryer with a dehydrator function?
A6: If you plan to dehydrate large amounts of food regularly, a separate dehydrator might be better. For occasional use and smaller batches, an air fryer with a dehydrating feature is a great space-saver.
Q7: Do I need special trays for dehydrating in an air fryer?
A7: Many air fryers that dehydrate come with specific dehydrating trays or racks. If yours doesn’t, check if you can buy compatible ones.
Q8: Can I dehydrate meat in an air fryer?
A8: Yes, you can dehydrate meat to make jerky. It’s important to use lean cuts and ensure the meat reaches a safe internal temperature during the drying process.
Q9: How do I know when my food is fully dehydrated?
A9: Dehydrated food should feel leathery or brittle, depending on what you’re drying. It should not feel moist or sticky.
Q10: Are air fryers energy-efficient for dehydrating?
A10: Air fryers are generally more energy-efficient than conventional ovens because they are smaller and heat up faster. However, dehydrating takes a long time, so it will still use a fair amount of electricity.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.
Hi, I’m Scott Fischer, the voice behind SliceItRight. My passion for food started in my grandmother’s kitchen, where I learned the art of slicing, dicing, and creating delicious meals. Over the years, I’ve explored everything from the perfect kitchen gadgets to mastering culinary techniques, and I’m here to share all of it with you. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced home chef, my goal is to make cooking easier, more enjoyable, and a lot more fun. So, let’s slice it right and cook up something amazing together!