Dehydrators are handy little kitchen appliances that allow you to preserve your browning fruits and wilting vegetables for dry, delicious snacks. Though there are many dehydrator brands on the market, there are a few that may have you wonder, “is this a good option?” — and these include the Devanti Food Dehydrator. Which is why, in this article, we have a Devanti Food Dehydrator review to narrow down the pros and cons of this machine and see if it’s a good fit for home cooks!
Without further ado, let’s jump right in!
The Devanti Food Dehydrator
Fairly cost-effective and efficient, the Devanti Food Dehydrator comes in at just a little over $200. It’s very spacious, holding 10 food-grade, ABS plastic trays, making it great for dehydrating large amounts of food at once. The Devanti’s temperature control ranges between 95 degrees to 154 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that it will work well for a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and even meat.
Operation is made extremely simple with this dehydrator, as it only features an ON and OFF switch and a dial to set the temperature. Printed on the dehydrator next to the temperature dial is a helpful drying guide which includes instructions on how to dehydrate Herbs, Raising Bread, Yogurt, Vegetables, Fruit, and Fruit Rolls, and Meats, Fish, and Jerky.
The powerful, rear-mounted fan forces hot air both horizontally and vertically throughout the trays to ensure even drying and no hot spots that may scorch your food. On the front of the dehydrator is a transparent door with a knob so that you can easily access the trays, as well as keep an eye on the dehydration process.
This unit is BPA-free and made of non-toxic and food-grade materials to ensure that your food is not exposed to an unsafe environment. The trays are also removable and machine washable so that you don’t have to be left with the hassle of washing them by hand. With each dimension (height, width, and depth) being a little over a foot, this dehydrator would fit nicely on any kitchen countertop or island and, thanks to its non-slip legs, would stay in place, too.
Advantages
- Roomy (10 trays for dehydrating)
- Drying guide
- Even heat distribution for more complete dehydration
- Will fit nicely on a counter
- Non-slip legs for sturdiness
If you’re looking for a dehydrator that has a lot of room for food to dehydrate at once, the Devanti excels in this category, which is great. No matter if you’ll be dehydrating foods regularly or you just want a large stash of dehydrated foods for a specific event, this dehydrator will get the job done. The drying guide printed on the dehydrator is also very handy and would work great for first-time users. We also like the tail-mounted fan, as it pushes air every which way rather than just vertically through the trays (like some other dehydrators do).
Disadvantages
- Too expensive for what it is
- Made with internal plastic components (trays)
- No variety in features (can be pro or con)
While this is a decent dehydrator, we feel it’s a tad on the expensive side for what it is. Though it’s relatively affordable in the grand scheme of things, the quality isn’t worth over $200, the way we see it.
And this is why:
For starters, the trays of the Devanti are plastic rather than stainless steel. Even though the plastic is considered safe and food-grade, this in itself isn’t exactly an ideal feature and is often a deal-breaker for those who are concerned about health. Stainless steel is preferred by many dehydrator users (and, frankly, by us) because it doesn’t have the potential to break down microscopically or transfer any chemicals or micro-plastics to food during the heating process (as plastic may).
Additionally, the unit lacks versatility and personalization. While it’s pleasantly easy to operate, for those looking for more features, this dehydrator simply won’t cut it. Other dehydrators may feature temperature control that you can set down to the last number, or other personalizations that this unit lacks. This can be a pro or con, depending on your preference and experience with dehydrators, but overall we feel the slack in versatility outweighs the ease of use.
Benefits of a Food Dehydrator
Despite any cons of the dehydrator itself, there are still benefits to owning a dehydrator. These include:
- You won’t have to worry about produce going to waste. Bananas turning brown? Cucumbers looking a bit dull? No problem with the food dehydrator. Just slice and dice those suckers, pop them in the dehydrator, and they’ll be good to go for the next few years.
- Dehydrated food takes up less space. Compared to canned foods or frozen foods, dehydrated food takes up significantly less space in your kitchen or pantry, since the process of dehydrating shrinks the foods into smaller sizes.
- You’ll be set in the event of an emergency. It’s always a good idea to expect the unexpected and have some sort of a food supply somewhere in your home and a dehydrator provides the perfect means to do so.
- You can prepare whatever meals you want, in or out of season. Some produce prices hike way up out of season. With a dehydrator, you can purchase produce in season, preserve it, and use it out of season. This will save money and give you your favorite meals all year round.
- You don’t have to worry about nasty chemicals or preservatives. When you dehydrate and store your own food, you know exactly what goes in it — and in your body.
Tips for Making Dehydrating Easy
- Don’t let food touch on the trays. Overlapping food on the drying trays will result in food that is only partially or unevenly dehydrated.
- Only dehydrate one type of food at a time. Though some dehydrators have functions that prevent the transfer of flavors, it’s better to be safe than sorry! To avoid flavor transfer, only dehydrate one type of food at once.
- Keep blueberries whole, but cut tomatoes and grapes in half or slices (for bigger tomatoes). Whole tomatoes and grapes take a long time to dehydrate, so to speed up the process, cut them in half. Blueberries are small and don’t take long to dehydrate when whole.
- Rotate the trays for even drying in a crowded dehydrator. Though some dehydrators have drying processes that don’t require you to rotate trays, it still may be a good idea to rotate the trays in a crowded dehydrator. This will ensure that the food is completely dehydrated.
- Make sure you have the correct temperature for whatever you’re dehydrating. Most dehydrators will have a guide helping you to set the unit to the perfect temperature for whatever food you’re drying. Generally, the lower temperatures are best for fruits and veggies and the highest temperatures are best for meats.
- Allow the dehydrator to warm up to the right temperature. Waiting a few minutes for your dehydrator to heat will lessen the time you wait for your food to dehydrate.
The Verdict
When it comes down to it, the Devanti food dehydrator is an effective option, though there are other options on the market that are just as great (or better) for an even lower price. After all is said and done, this food dehydrator can get the job done at a relatively affordable price tag, making it a pretty decent budget buy, and great for those who need a lot of room to dehydrate an excess of foods.