Getting into food dehydrating doesn't require a $200 machine. The under-$80 category has matured significantly — there are dehydrators in this range that will make excellent beef jerky, dried fruit, herb bundles, and even dog treats without any fuss. The challenge is sorting the genuinely capable machines from the ones that look the part but run too hot, too cold, or unevenly.
We tested over ten food dehydrators under $80, running each through batches of beef jerky, apple slices, banana chips, fresh herbs, and kale chips. We checked for even drying across all trays, measured temperature accuracy, noted how easy the controls were to use, and timed how long each batch took. The five picks below earned their spots. If you're building out your kitchen setup, pairing a dehydrator with a good food scale makes portioning and prep much easier. And if you're into healthy cooking more broadly, our best air fryers and best toaster ovens guides cover the other workhorses of a well-equipped kitchen.
One honest note before we dive in: at this price point, you're getting a capable machine, not a professional one. Budget dehydrators are louder than premium models, temperature accuracy can vary by ±10–15°F, and the trays are typically plastic rather than stainless steel. For a beginner making jerky on weekends or drying herbs from the garden, none of that matters much. For someone running a small food business or dehydrating daily, it's worth spending more. For everyone else, here's what we found.
#1 Cosori Premium 6-Tray — Best Food Dehydrator for Beginners
Cosori Premium 6-Tray Food Dehydrator
The Cosori Premium 6-Tray is the best food dehydrator for beginners under $80, and it's not particularly close. What sets it apart is the combination of a rear-mounted fan with horizontal airflow, a digital control panel, and a built-in timer — features you'd normally expect to pay significantly more for. The horizontal airflow system means heat circulates evenly across all six trays simultaneously, so you don't have to rotate trays mid-batch the way you do with cheaper stackable models. The digital panel lets you set temperature anywhere from 95°F to 165°F in 5-degree increments, and the 48-hour timer with auto-shutoff means you can load it up before bed and wake up to finished jerky without worrying about over-drying. The six stainless steel mesh trays are dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup genuinely easy. In testing, beef jerky came out consistently chewy and evenly dried across all trays — no wet spots on the bottom tray, no over-dried edges on the top. Apple slices and banana chips were equally consistent. The unit runs quietly enough that you can have it going in the kitchen without it being disruptive. At around $60–$75, it's the most capable beginner dehydrator at this price, and the one we'd recommend to anyone just getting started.
Pros
- Horizontal airflow — even drying across all 6 trays, no rotation needed
- Digital controls with precise temperature (95–165°F) and 48-hour timer
- Dishwasher-safe stainless steel mesh trays
- Auto-shutoff for worry-free overnight runs
- Quiet operation for a budget dehydrator
Cons
- Larger footprint than stackable models
- Plastic housing (not stainless exterior)
#2 Nesco FD-75A — Classic Reliable Dehydrator
Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro
The Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro has been a staple in the budget dehydrator category for years, and it's earned that longevity by being consistently reliable. It uses Nesco's Converga-Flow patented top-mounted fan system, which forces air down the exterior of the unit and across each tray from the outside in — a design that reduces flavor mixing between trays (useful when you're drying garlic and fruit at the same time) and provides reasonably even drying without tray rotation. The 600-watt motor is powerful for the price, and the adjustable thermostat runs from 95°F to 160°F. The unit comes with five trays but is expandable up to 12, which is a significant advantage if you want to scale up your batches over time without buying a new machine. The opaque exterior keeps light out, which helps preserve nutrients during longer drying sessions. In testing, jerky and fruit dried evenly and consistently, though the analog dial thermostat is less precise than the Cosori's digital controls — expect ±10°F variance. The trays are BPA-free plastic and clean up easily by hand. If you want a proven, expandable dehydrator with a track record of reliability, the FD-75A is the classic choice.
Pros
- Expandable from 5 to 12 trays — grows with your needs
- Top-mounted fan reduces flavor mixing between trays
- 600W motor — strong for the price
- Proven long-term reliability
- Opaque housing preserves nutrients
Cons
- Analog thermostat — less precise than digital controls
- No built-in timer or auto-shutoff
- Trays require hand washing
#3 Hamilton Beach 32100A — Most Affordable Dehydrator
Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator
The Hamilton Beach 32100A is the answer to "what's the cheapest food dehydrator that actually works?" At around $40–$50, it undercuts most of the competition while still delivering a genuinely functional dehydrating experience for everyday use. The digital controls are a pleasant surprise at this price — you get a temperature range of 100°F to 160°F and a 48-hour timer with auto-shutoff, which means you're not babysitting the machine. The five-tray stackable design with a bottom-mounted fan provides decent airflow, though you'll want to rotate trays halfway through longer batches for the most even results. In testing, herbs and fruit dried well and consistently. Jerky took a bit longer than the Cosori and required a tray rotation, but the end result was solid. The trays are BPA-free and dishwasher safe, which is a genuine convenience win at this price. The unit is compact and lightweight — easy to store when not in use. If you're not sure whether food dehydrating is going to become a regular hobby and you want to try it without committing much money, the Hamilton Beach 32100A is the most sensible entry point on this list.
Pros
- Very affordable — often under $50
- Digital controls with timer and auto-shutoff
- Dishwasher-safe BPA-free trays
- Compact and easy to store
Cons
- Bottom-mounted fan — tray rotation recommended for even drying
- Only 5 trays, not expandable
- Slower drying times than horizontal-flow models
#4 Magic Mill MFD-6 — Best Large-Capacity Dehydrator Under $80
Magic Mill MFD-6 Food Dehydrator
The Magic Mill MFD-6 is the pick for anyone who wants to dehydrate large batches without spending over $80. It comes with six stainless steel trays and uses a rear-mounted fan with horizontal airflow — the same design principle as the Cosori — which means heat distributes evenly across all trays without rotation. The digital control panel covers 95°F to 167°F with a 24-hour timer and auto-shutoff. Where the Magic Mill stands out is sheer tray space: the six trays offer more total drying area than most competitors at this price, making it ideal if you're processing large harvests from a garden, buying fruit in bulk, or making big batches of jerky for a family. In testing, drying was even and consistent across all trays. Temperature accuracy was slightly less precise than the Cosori — we measured about ±12°F variance at the 160°F setting — but for most dehydrating tasks that's not a meaningful difference. The stainless steel trays are a durability win over plastic alternatives and clean up easily. The unit is bulkier than stackable models, so you'll need dedicated counter or cabinet space. But if batch size is your priority and you want horizontal airflow at this price, the Magic Mill MFD-6 delivers.
Pros
- 6 stainless steel trays — largest capacity at this price
- Rear-mounted horizontal airflow — no tray rotation needed
- Digital controls with 24-hour timer and auto-shutoff
- Stainless steel trays are durable and easy to clean
- Good value for the tray count
Cons
- Bulky footprint — needs dedicated storage space
- Temperature accuracy slightly less precise than Cosori
- Timer limited to 24 hours (vs Cosori's 48)
#5 Presto 06300 — Best First Dehydrator for Absolute Beginners
Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator
The Presto 06300 Dehydro is the simplest, most no-fuss dehydrator on this list — and for a complete beginner who just wants to try dehydrating without any complexity, that's exactly the right thing to be. There are no digital controls, no timer, no temperature dial. You plug it in, load the four trays, and it runs at a fixed temperature until you unplug it. That sounds like a limitation, and it is — but it also means there's nothing to figure out, nothing to set wrong, and nothing to break. The bottom-mounted fan pushes air upward through the trays, and while you'll want to rotate trays for even drying on longer batches, the results for herbs, fruit slices, and simple jerky are perfectly acceptable. The unit is expandable up to eight trays with optional add-ons, which gives it some room to grow. At around $30–$40, it's one of the cheapest dehydrators you can buy from a reputable brand. The trays are BPA-free and dishwasher safe. If you've never dehydrated food before and want the lowest-commitment way to find out if you enjoy it, the Presto 06300 is the right starting point. Once you're hooked, you can upgrade to the Cosori or Nesco with a clear sense of what features you actually want.
Pros
- Extremely simple — plug in and go, no settings to learn
- Very affordable — often under $35
- Expandable up to 8 trays
- Dishwasher-safe BPA-free trays
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- No temperature control — fixed heat only
- No timer or auto-shutoff — must monitor manually
- Tray rotation needed for even drying
- Not suitable for precise recipes requiring specific temps
Which One Should You Buy?
- Best all-around beginner pick: Cosori Premium 6-Tray — digital controls, horizontal airflow, dishwasher-safe trays. The default recommendation for most people.
- Want something proven and expandable: Nesco FD-75A — expandable to 12 trays, reliable track record, great for growing into the hobby.
- Tightest budget: Hamilton Beach 32100A — digital controls under $50, solid results for herbs and fruit.
- Making big batches: Magic Mill MFD-6 — most tray space at this price, horizontal airflow, stainless steel trays.
- Complete beginner, zero commitment: Presto 06300 — plug in and go, no settings, cheapest reputable option to try dehydrating for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best food dehydrator for beginners?
The Cosori Premium 6-Tray is the best food dehydrator for beginners. It combines horizontal airflow (which means even drying without rotating trays), digital temperature controls from 95°F to 165°F, a 48-hour timer with auto-shutoff, and dishwasher-safe trays — all under $80. It removes the guesswork that trips up most first-timers and produces consistently good results from the first batch. If you want something even simpler and cheaper to start, the Presto 06300 is a plug-in-and-go option with no settings at all, though you'll outgrow it quickly once you get serious about dehydrating.
How long does it take to dehydrate food?
It depends on the food and the temperature. Herbs are the fastest — typically 1–4 hours at 95–115°F. Fruit slices (apples, bananas, strawberries) take 6–12 hours at 135°F. Beef jerky takes 4–8 hours at 160°F depending on thickness. Vegetables fall in the middle at 6–10 hours. Budget dehydrators with less precise temperature control may run slightly slower than premium models. The key is slicing food uniformly — uneven thickness is the most common reason for inconsistent drying times. A good food scale helps with consistent prep.
Can you dehydrate meat in a cheap dehydrator?
Yes, but you need to make sure the dehydrator can reach 160°F — the USDA-recommended minimum temperature for safely dehydrating beef jerky. All five picks on this list reach that temperature. The Cosori and Magic Mill are the most reliable at hitting and holding 160°F accurately. With the Presto 06300's fixed temperature, check that it reaches 160°F with a separate thermometer before making jerky. One safe practice regardless of machine: pre-heat your meat strips in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before loading the dehydrator, which ensures the internal temperature hits the safe zone before the drying process begins.
How many trays do I need?
For most beginners, 5–6 trays is the sweet spot. That's enough to dry a pound or two of jerky, a few apples, or a full herb harvest in a single batch — without the machine being so large it's impractical to store. If you're processing large garden harvests or making jerky for a big family, the Nesco FD-75A's expandability to 12 trays or the Magic Mill's 6-tray capacity are worth considering. If you're just experimenting, 4–5 trays (Presto, Hamilton Beach) is plenty to get started without over-investing.
Is a food dehydrator worth buying?
For most people who enjoy snacking, meal prep, or reducing food waste — yes, absolutely. A dehydrator pays for itself quickly if you make your own jerky (store-bought jerky is expensive), dry seasonal fruit and vegetables to extend their shelf life, or preserve herbs from a garden. The running cost is low — most budget dehydrators use 300–600 watts, so a 6-hour batch costs pennies in electricity. The learning curve is minimal, especially with a digital model like the Cosori. If you're on the fence, start with the Presto 06300 at under $35 — it's a low-risk way to find out if dehydrating fits your lifestyle before committing to a more capable machine.