3 Best Non-Electric Food Dehydrator

Do you want to keep your freshly grown fruits and veggies or meat available later in the year? It is possible without electricity.

You can buy non-electric food dehydrators or make one yourself for the same purpose.

Non-electric food dehydrators are affordable and easy to set up. They are also reliable in drying fresh produce. However, deciding on the product to buy can be challenging.

Read on as we review the 3 best non-electric food dehydrators.

The Benefits of Non-Electric Food Dehydrator

Dehydrating food increases shelf life, thereby reducing wastage. Apart from the extended shelf life, dehydrated food also tastes great if you use an appropriate dehydrator.

But what are the benefits of using a non-electric dehydrator?

First, you will not need more electricity to power the dehydrator. We know how limited commodity electricity is when you are not connected to the grid.

Choosing alternative ways of dehydrating food will lower your need for the same.

Secondly, non-electric food dehydrators are cheap. You will not need to pay a high upfront cost. In fact, there are DIY approaches to making one at home with locally available materials.

How To Choose The Right Non-Electric Food Dehydrator?

Different non-electric dehydrators exist, and each of them has its pros and cons.

Some are quick and easy to set up, while others require the help of a technician. On the other hand, some are expensive and do not offer the best value.

So, how do you choose the best non-electric dehydrator? Consider the following factors:

Quick and Easy to Set Up

Logically, you will go for a non-electric dehydrator that is easy to set up and will take you a few minutes to have ready. Time is precious. And even if you have the whole, you will not want to spend it just setting up a dehydrator.

Additionally, consider portability. You don’t know when it will be time to hit the road or move it to another place.

Fast Drying of Food

The faster a dehydrator can dry food, the better. It will save you time to preserve the food.

Also, most nutrients are not destroyed when the drying time is short. That is why dehydrated food is considered raw food.

Faster drying means removing moisture content on time before bacteria and fungi multiply to spoil the food.

Compact and Lightweight

A non-electric dehydrator you choose should be compact and lightweight to enhance portability.

Even if you don’t plan to relocate, it doesn’t have to take the entire space. Compare the options available and go for the most portable one.

Suitability With Types of Food

Ideally, a non-electric dehydrator should be flexible and versatile. It should be a one-fit-it-all appliance for dehydrating all types of foods.

Be it fruits, vegetable chips, meat jerky, granola, or your pet snacks, you should dry it at will.

But if that is not the case, consider the type of food you will be mostly dehydrating. If it is fruits and vegetables, go for a dehydrator that can efficiently do that.

Also read: 5 Basic Steps to Dehydrate Sour Cream

Match To The Climate Conditions Where You Live

Most non-electric dehydrators depend on solar energy. As we all know, some regions receive more sunlight than others.

That means you should consider the climatic conditions of the area you live in. The dehydrator should give optimum performance under any conditions in your area.

Review Your Budget

Like all other products you buy, the prices of non-electric dehydrators vary. Before you go to the market or make one yourself, you should consider the size of your budget.

Usually, people believe the more expensive an item is, the better it is. That is not always true.

Even if you have the budget to buy the most expensive non-electric dehydrator on the market, don’t do it blindly. Strive to get the best value for your money.

3 Best Non-Electric Food Dehydrators & Their Review

There are many non-electric dehydrators in the market. However, we will only review the three most reliable products.

These are the most recommended, considering all the factors. Read on for details!

Solar Food Dehydrator

Solar Food Dehydrator comes as a complete set consisting of dehydrating and baking rack, 2 easy stack pots, and two loaf pans. Additionally, you find an eCookbook that contains 600 recipes.

Sun Oven Solar Energy All American Sun Oven with Dehydrating Accessory Pack

Solar Food Dehydrator relies on power from the sun. You don’t need any expertise to set it up and use it to dry foods.

If you are ready to dehydrate your food, simply arrange the pieces inside and place them in the sun. This product performs best in hot areas with enough sunlight.  

You can easily stack your food inside the dehydrator. It comes with wire racks that allow up to 3 different drying layers.

And what’s more? You just need the sun to naturally dry fruits, meat, vegetables, herbs, or other foods.

Solar Food Dehydrator can heat up to 360-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Apart from using it just for drying food, it can double up as a cooking oven for spill-free cooking.

You get all these benefits for just a budget of under 40 dollars.

Buyers like this product as much as we do for its cost-effectiveness and reliability.

You don’t need to worry about unexpected power outages and high gas prices because you can conveniently bake your cake cost-free.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Can dehydrate any food
• Doubles up as an oven cooker
• Comes as a set with wire racks and cooking pots
• Compact and lightweight

Cons:

• It fades off after some time of use

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Homemade Food Dehydrator

You don’t have to spend a buck to make your own non-electric dehydrator. And even if you can’t source all the materials locally, the cost will be low compared to buying the same product.

Homemade food dryers also rely on the power of the sun. The design might be different, but the principle never changes.

The idea in almost all the DIY dehydrators is to concentrate the sun’s energy on the food being dried.

The design is only limited to your creativity. You can choose any that fits your skills or follow online tutorials to make it. But there is a particular design that we like.

The Infrared Solar Dryer by Tom Bartels is the most effective homemade non-electric dehydrator worth considering.

Despite the compactness and portability, it has all other benefits. Go to the link to find out the materials you need and the procedure to make it.

You will love the experience and have a functional homemade dehydrator.

Pros:

• Very cost-effective
• Easy to make
• Eco-friendly
• Effective for dehydrating fruits and vegetables

Cons:

• Not recommended for meat drying

Solar Hanging Food Dehydrator

Solar Hanging Food Dehydrator can be made at home or bought from online stores. Like other dehydrators we have mentioned, it also uses solar energy to dry fruits, vegetables, meat, and other foods.

But in this case, the dehydrator hangs outside in the sun or any other well ventilated space for effective drying. You don’t need electricity to run it.

Making a Solar Hanging Food Dehydrator at home is straightforward. You only need the right tools and materials.

And with an entry-level DIY skill, you can have your dehydrator ready. Alternatively, you can look for a ready-made product from a nearby store.

Solar Hanging Food Dehydrator works in almost all climates, provided the sun’s energy is enough to dry the food slices.

Pros:

• Affordable
• No electricity required
• Effective in most climates
• Made using locally available materials

Cons:

• A ready-made dehydrator can be expensive
• May not effectively dry all types of food

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Hydgooho Herb Drying Rack Net Dryer

This is a 6-layer, 5 feet long herb drying rack. It offers a great alternative to dehydrating large quantities of herbs, flowers, and other plants.

HYDGOOHO Drying Rack Net Dryer 6 Layer 2ft Black W/Green Zippers Hydroponics

This dehydrator is collapsible. That makes it compact and easy to store until needed again. Also, the netting does not absorb moisture from the content being dried.

Apparently, people praise it as a quality product for drying herbs and other plants. It offers large compartments for handling large quantities and is easy to use.

Pros:

• Collapsible for portability and storage
• Six large drying compartments
• Non-absorbent netting material
• Easy to use and effective

Cons:

• The top ring can collapse under much weight

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Riogoo Herb Drying Rack

This product is a smaller version of the Hydgooho herb dryer. Instead of six layers, Riogoo Herb Drying Rack has just four.

Herb Drying Rack Net 4 Layer Herb Dryer Black Mesh Hanging Dryer Rack with Zipper

Regarding efficiency, it can dry herbs quite well under the right temperature and sunlight.

Users have found the four layers just enough in dehydrating the herbs. They have even reported its efficacy in maintaining the color and texture.

They also appreciated it for its ease of use and handling. Additionally, it has a loop at the top for hanging.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Maintains herb’s color and texture
• Top loop for easy hanging
• Easy to use

Cons:

• The build quality could have been better

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Casolly Herb Drying Rack

If you have a lot of herbs to dry out when stocking up for winter, this Casolly Herb Drying Rack may be your best option.

CASOLLY Herb Drying Rack

It consists of 8 layers with breathable space between the compartments. It is perfectly designed to dry flowers, herbs, vegetables, and other plants.

Another highlight of this dryer is compactness and portability. If you don’t need to use it, you can just collapse it and keep it.

And if you don’t plan to use all the 8 layers, you can simply clip the bottom ones that you don’t use.

The rack is flexible and easy to handle. It is also effective in drying herbs and can handle large quantities.

Pros:

• Collapsible for storage and portability
• Large compartments for drying herbs
• Excellent functionality
• Aesthetic design

Cons:

• Build quality could have been better

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Ipower 6 Layers Heavy Duty Hanging Dryer Rack 

This is a 6-layer, foldable, heavy-duty hanging dryer. It comes with clips and a carrying bag for keeping and portability. You can simply collapse the rack to fit in the bag.

iPower Collapsible Breathable Mesh Herb Drying Rack

The hanging dryer rack makes it easy to dry and preserve your harvest without compromising the nutritional content. It is also in the spotlight for reliability and good quality.

Pros:

• Foldable and collapsible
• Large drying compartments
• Its bright color adds aesthetics

Cons:

• Complaints of false advertisement

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Finlon Drying Rack

Finlon Drying Rack is made of environmentally breathable mesh reinforced with steel wire rings to keep it sturdy.

Finlon Drying Rack Folding Fish Mesh 4 Layers Fish Net Blue

It is the best fish rack to dry your harvest for future use. Besides, its long handle makes it easy to hand anywhere. That can be outdoors, garage, ceiling, closet, tents, etc.

This collapsible hanging plastic drying rack is ideal for storing different foods. It is reliable and likable for its effectiveness.

Pros:

• Made of high-quality nylon and steel rings
• Foldable for easy storage
• Quality metal two-way zipper
• Mesh design for efficient ventilation

Cons:

• A bit pricey considering the size

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Winterworm 3 Layer Hanging Net Food Dehydrator

The food dehydrator is a 3-layer, food-grade nylon netting with long loops for hanging. It is collapsible and has a zipper to access the compartments when you want to put or remove food.

3 Layer Non-toxic Nylon Netting Collapsible Mesh Hanging Drying Dry Rack Net

The dehydrator is best for drying vegetables, fruits, jerky, herbs, flowers, and other foods. The versatility makes it the most recommended product. It works great and is very convenient.

Pros:

• Easy access
• Compact design and collapsible
• versatile

Cons:

• Limited space

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Suomei 4 Layer Mesh Hanging Herb Drying Rack

Suomei 4 Layer Mesh Hanging rack is the most cost-effective option for faster food drying.

Desy & Feeci 4 Layer Mesh Hanging Herb Drying Rack Dry Net with Zippers Black

It is also easy to use for drying the content while keeping away birds and insects. You can also choose between 4, 6, and 8 layers.

Apart from the small-size zipper, many people are content with the quality of the rack. It has more space and is effective in drying herbs.

Pros:

• Foldable design
• Zipper closure design
• Convenient hanging loop
• Spacious for drying large quantities of herbs

Cons:

• Zippers could have been larger

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Hanging Herb Drying Rack Dry Net

This 8-layer hanging dehydrator gives you enough compartments for drying hydroponic plants, herbs, and buds.

Growsun 2ft 8 Layer Black Mesh Hanging Herb Drying Rack Dry Net

The product is well designed and folds perfectly for easy storage when not in use. It is a perfect solar hanging dryer.

Pros:

• Collapsible for easy storage
• Enough drying compartments
• Hangs anywhere with enough ventilation
• Quick to set up and easy to use

Cons:

• Mesh looks low quality

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FAQs

Wrapping Up

Dehydrating foods ensure the excess you have now will be available for use later in the year after harvesting.

You can use different food dehydrators. But as an off-gridder, you are better off with non-electric products. They are equally effective and will save you the headache of generating more power.

Thank you for visiting Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time reading this article and invite you to explore the site for related content.

Also read: 5 Excellent Methods Of Dehydrating Food Without Electricity

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• 10 Effective Ways To Preserve Meat Without Refrigeration
• How Did They Store Food Before Refrigeration? – 13 Best Methods To Store Food Before Refrigeration
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• 7 Ways To Preserve Fish In The Wild (Natural & Unnatural)