Article By: Suraiya Fardous
- April 18, 2023 , Last updated on : November 25, 2023
Dehydrators not only make your food last longer, but they also let you make meals with different textures and tastes. If you like growing your own vegetables and fruits, a food dryer machine is a must-have kitchen appliance. Lastly, you can get a few of the best food dehydrators under $100 on the market if you are under a budget.
Buying guide for the best food dehydrators under $100
The requirements for buying a cheap food dehydrator will not be the same as the requirements for buying a different type of dehydrator. For example, if you want a beef jerky dehydrator, you will need to check for other features like maximum temperature range rather than the price tag. Here is how you can select the best food dehydrator under $100 when you are under a budget.
Adjustable Temperature Range
First and foremost, the adjustable temperature range of the food dehydrator will determine the type of foods you can dehydrate in the device. For example, if you want to dehydrate beef to create jerky, get one with a maximum temperature of at least 165°F.
Functionality
Besides the temperature range, you also want to ensure that the dehydrator is able to spread the heat evenly. Otherwise, you will be left with inconsistently dehydrated fruits or meat, which will not be pleasant when you make a meal.
Capacity
Last but not least, the capacity of the dehydrator will depend on personal preference. Since we are looking for the best cheap dehydrator, we can consider compact food dehydrators, which are much more affordable and still perform well.
Best food dehydrators under $100 | Top 10 Picks
There are many options for budget food dehydrator machines on the market, making it tricky to select the best one for yourself. As a result, we have selected the best food dehydrators under $100 and ranked them based on personal experience and user reviews.
List of the best food dehydrators under $100
Nesco FD-75A
Presto 06300
COSORI CFD-N051-W
Hamilton Beach 32100A
Elite Gourmet EFD319
OSTBA GGJ-261B
Commercial Chef CCD100W6
Elite Gourmet EFD308
Magic Mill MFD-5000
GDOR Food Dehydrator
Nesco FD-75A
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 95°F -160°F
The Nesco FD-75A is the overall best dehydrator that you can get under $100 because of its outstanding features. Other food dehydrator reviews also agree that this takes the top spot among the affordable options because of its excellent price-feature ratio. We understand that the five trays capacity can seem underwhelming, but you can expand it to hold up to twelve trays.
Besides its expandable capacity, the Nesco FD-75A also provides even heat distribution among all the trays to ensure that you get a consistent result every time. Additionally, it has a wide controllable temperature range so that you can dehydrate various types of food in it. Lastly, they provide some exciting accessories with the machine, like jerky seasoning and fruit roll sheets.
Pros:
Can be expanded to hold up to 12 trays
Even heat distribution
Wide temperature range
Comes with various accessories
Cons:
Hard to stack trays evenly
The only issue we have with the Nesco FD-75A is that the trays can be hard to stack evenly, especially when you expand the dehydrator to hold twelve trays. Other than that, its even heat distribution, combined with its wide controllable temperature range, makes it the best food dehydrator under $100.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 10/10
Versatility: 10/10
Design: 10/10
Durability: 10/10
Presto 06300
Capacity: 4 trays
Temperature Range: 165°F
The Presto 06300 stands out from the crowd because of its functional top-mounted fan that evenly distributes the heat among all the ingredients you have placed inside the machine. Similar to the Nesco FD-75A, you can also expand the capacity of the Presto 06300 to hold up to 8 trays.
After you are done using the Presto 06300, you can remove all the trays to compress and easily store the machine in your cupboard. Additionally, thanks to its convenient design, you can wrap the power cord around the machine for easy storage. Lastly, it has a functional carry handle that lets you easily carry the device anywhere you want.
Pros:
Functional top-mounted fan
Capacity can be increased by 100%
Can be compressed and stored easily
Functional carry handle
Cons:
Temperature is preset to 165°F
The biggest drawback of the Presto 06300 is its fixed temperature. It can only dehydrate your ingredients at a temperature of 165°F. Besides this drawback, its functional top-mounted fan, combined with its ease of storage, makes it one of the best food dehydrators under $100 on the market. If you do not mind the fixed temperature, you can go for it.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 10/10
Versatility: 10/10
Design: 9/10
Durability: 10/10
COSORI CFD-N051-W
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 95°–165°F
The COSORI CFD-N051-W is one of the best budget dehydrators we have tested because of its user-friendliness, making it our best home food dehydrator. This COSORI food dehydrator is not only an affordable option for all beginners but also a versatile machine that can dehydrate a wide variety of ingredients.
There are three main features that make the COSORI CFD-N051-W a user-friendly food dehydrator. First, it has an LED display touch control that you can use to control the machine easily. It also has an auto shut-off system that turns off the heat when your ingredients are dehydrated. Lastly, it has an overheating protection system to prevent accidents.
Pros:
Handy touch control LED display
Overheat protection
Versatile usage
Auto shut off system
Cons:
Limited storage options
The only issue you might have with the COSORI CFD-N051-W is if you want to dehydrate a lot of ingredients at once because of its limited storage. However, we say it is a top rated dehydrator for home usage because we do not need a bigger capacity than five trays in our homes. Other than that, its user-friendliness makes it one of the best food dehydrators under $100. If you are not a very tech-savvy person, this is perfect for you.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 10/10
Versatility: 9/10
Design: 10/10
Durability: 10/10
Hamilton Beach 32100A
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 100°–160°F
If you want an affordable dehydrator that comes with a timer so you can set when it stops automatically, the Hamilton Beach 32100A is the one for you. Besides the timer, the machine is well-designed, which makes it really easy to use. Lastly, it also provides continuous air flow to ensure that none of your ingredients are burned when dehydrating.
Pros:
Simple and easy-to-use design
Functional timer
Provides continuous airflow
Cons:
Can get noisy
The easy-to-use design, combined with its functional timer, makes the Hamilton Beach 32100A one of the best food dehydrators under $100 that you can buy. While the continuous airflow feature of the machine might seem attractive, it also makes the machine noisier than its competitors. So, if you do not mind a little noise in your kitchen, you can go for this dehydrator.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 9/10
Versatility: 10/10
Design: 10/10
Durability: 10/10
Elite Gourmet EFD319
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 95°–158°F
The Elite Gourmet EFD319 is perfect for people who want a machine that will let them see it in action. It has see-through walls and transparent trays that let you monitor the ingredients optimally. Additionally, it has a functional bottom-mounted fan that evenly distributes the heat and dries the ingredients faster.
Pros:
Dries faster than most dehydrators
See-through transparent trays
Functional bottom-mounted fan
Cons:
Could be more durable
While the transparent walls and trays are good for observing your ingredients, they make the Elite Gourmet EFD319 less durable than it could have been. However, this will not be an issue if you use it in a designated location. Thanks to its functional bottom-mounted fan and ability to dry faster, it is easily among the best food dehydrators under $100.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 10/10
Versatility: 10/10
Design: 10/10
Durability: 9/10
OSTBA GGJ-261B
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 95°–158°F
The OSTBA GGJ-261B has a unique feature among affordable electric food dehydrators, which is its 360° airflow circulation. This feature ensures that all the ingredients get even heat and keeps them from getting burned. Lastly, it has a versatile temperature control, which lets you dehydrate various ingredients.
Pros:
360° airflow circulation
Easy to clean and store
Versatile options
Cons:
Temperature accuracy could be better
The only issue we have with the OSTBA GGJ-261B is that the actual temperature inside the machine is a bit different than what the display shows. However, it might be a defect in our specific unit, so you do not need to worry about it. Besides that, if you want a machine with versatile temperature control, then this is among the best food dehydrators under $100.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 9/10
Versatility: 10/10
Design: 9/10
Durability: 10/10
Commercial Chef CCD100W6
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 104°–158°F
If you want an aesthetic mini food dehydrator you do not need to keep hidden away from your guest’s eyes, the Commercial Chef CCD100W6 is the one you should get. Besides having a beautiful design, it is also a functional dehydrator that can retain the original flavors of the fruits you are dehydrating. Lastly, it dehydrates your ingredients uniformly.
Pros:
Uniform dehydration
Retains original flavors
Aesthetic design
Cons:
Gets dirty easily
The only issue you might face with the Commercial Chef CCD100W6 is that it can get dirty easily because its white and transparent exterior attracts stains easily. Other than that, its ability to retain the original flavors, combined with its uniform dehydration functionality, makes it the best dehydrator under $100.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 10/10
Versatility: 10/10
Design: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Elite Gourmet EFD308
Capacity: 4 trays
Temperature Range: 95°–158°F
The Elite Gourmet EFD308 is perfect for people who want a dehydrator that is easy to clean after use. This is because it has dishwasher-safe trays and lids. Its components can be cleaned in dishwashers because it is a stainless steel food dehydrator. The build material also makes the machine very sturdy and durable.
Pros:
Sturdy and durable build
Dishwasher-safe trays and lid
Outstanding air circulation
Cons:
Limited capacity
Our only issue with the Elite Gourmet EFD308 is its limited capacity of four trays, which is not expandable. However, if you are not looking for the best commercial dehydrator, this will work just fine for home usage. If the capacity is not an issue for you, its dishwasher-safe trays, in combination with its outstanding air circulation, make it one of the best food dehydrators under $100 that you can get.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 9/10
Versatility: 9/10
Design: 10/10
Durability: 10/10
Magic Mill MFD-5000
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 95°–158°F
If you want premium stainless steel trays with your dehydrator, then the Magic Mill MFD-5000 is perfect for you. Besides its durable stainless build, the machine is also user-friendly, which makes it ideal for non-tech savvy people. Lastly, it has a higher nutrient retention rate than its competitors, so you can get the best out of dehydrated foods.
Pros:
Premium stainless steel trays
User-friendly operation
High nutrient retention rate
Cons:
Takes time to dehydrate
The only drawback of the Magic Mill MFD-5000 is that it takes time to dehydrate your ingredients. However, due to this lengthy operation, it is able to boost a higher nutrient retention rate. Overall, its durable stainless steel trays and user-friendly operation make it the best food dehydrator under $100. The bottom line is that if you do not mind a longer operation for higher nutrient retention, you can get it.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 9/10
Versatility: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Durability: 10/10
GDOR Food Dehydrator
Capacity: 5 trays
Temperature Range: 95°–158°F
The GDOR Food Dehydrator stands out from the competition because of its culinary-grade BPA-free build material, ensuring no toxins enter your ingredients when dehydrated. Besides that, it also boosts precise temperature control. Lastly, it comes with a handy recipe book to inspire your meals.
Pros:
Precise temperature control
Culinary-grade BPA-free material
Comes with a handy recipe book
Cons:
Not optimal for meat jerky
While the GDOR Food Dehydrator is the ideal fruit dryer dehydrator, it is not optimal for meat jerky. You can still make jerky with it, but its competitors do a better job at it. But its precise temperature control and culinary-grade BPA-free build material make it worthy among the best food dehydrators under $100.
Quantitative Measurements
Functionality: 10/10
Versatility: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Durability: 9/10
Final verdict
The best food dehydrator under $100 will be the one that caters to your specific needs. For example, if you want a food dehydrator with dishwasher-safe trays and lids, go for the Elite Gourmet EFD308. Alternatively, if you want the best small dehydrator on the market, go for the Nesco FD-75A. The best way to pick a dehydrator for yourself is to check your requirements and then see which products fulfill those requirements. If you liked our top picks, check out our choices of the best fruit dehydrators and herb dehydrators.
