As someone who tests kitchen appliances for a living, it takes a lot for any one gadget to impress me. I’ve cleaned, cracked open, and lived with everything from cocktail machines to multilevel air fryers and plenty of quirky tools and appliances in between. After all that testing, nothing has really changed my perspective on the way I cook or snack — until I tried a few of the best food dehydrators.
I’ll be honest, I scoffed at the idea of a food dehydrator before I tested one. Privileged with an endless array of apple chips in the CNN office, I couldn’t fathom someone wanting a clunky device when it seemed so much easier to buy chips, jerky or other already-dehydrated culinary wonders. When my lineup of dehydrators arrived, with their bulky builds and spaceship-esque designs, I was further convinced no one would have the real estate for one.
But after hours of experimenting and turning out tray after tray of delicious and nutritious dried fruits, it clicked. These machines are surprisingly practical. They can preserve a wide variety of foods and unlock a new level of creativity in the kitchen. Now, I can easily elevate a Negroni with a dried orange slice, dry flowers for a craft, top off a parfait with a colorful array of dried strawberries and even make seasonings with dried herbs.
