Having a food dehydrator at home is amazing — you get to make your own delicious snacks (hello, dried apricots) and save a bunch of money while you're at it. The best food dehydrators will be durable, spacious and easy to use.
When you're assessing the different options out there, first think about what types of foods you plan to dehydrate, so you know what temperature range you'll need. Fruits like apples and bananas only need about 130 to 140 degrees of heat, while beef and poultry need to first be heated to 160 and 165 degrees respectively in order to kill off bacteria before you begin the dehydration process (though you can do that step in an oven if your dehydrator doesn't go high enough).
After that, think about the size and capacity. How much counter space do you have? And how much food do you want to dry at one time? The answers to these questions will help determine how big of a dehydrator you want and how much drying space it should have. For reference, a smaller dehydrator will have around six trays for drying, while a larger one may have as many as 11.
In addition to these factors, you may want to look for extra features like timers and automatic shutoff for extra convenience. To help you make a decision, I've researched the best food dehydrators out there and compiled them below. Take a look to find the one that best fits your needs.