7 Best Dehydrator Accessories to Buy in 2023

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned dehydrator user, finding the right dehydrator accessories is key to maximizing your food preservation results. This guide covers the most essential dehydrator accessories and how they can improve your food preservation process. The right accessories can make dehydrating easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable—helping you get the most out of your dehydrator, whether you’re prepping snacks, storing garden harvests, or experimenting with new recipes.

Do you know the magic of dehydration? It revolutionizes the way you handle fruits, meats, herbs, and more! The true magic, however, lies not only in the appliance itself but also in the best dehydrator accessories. Think about it: how could you dehydrate thinly sliced apples to get that perfect crispness without a mandoline slicer, or store your jerky neatly without helpful storage accessories? A mandoline slicer is the go-to tool for achieving uniform, thin slices, and it’s important to choose dehydrator sheets and mats that fit your specific dehydrator model for best results. Impossible, right?

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an excited newbie with your first dehydrator, having the right accessories can elevate your dehydration game from pretty good to absolutely marvelous! From trays to extra thin slicers and magic sheets, there’s a world awaiting your discovery. So, are you ready to amp up your dehydration prowess and make the most of your appliance? Let’s dive into this remarkable world together, exploring the best dehydrator accessories that every cook needs. Guaranteed, you’ll be wowed by the sheer potential these little wonders offer to your culinary adventures.

The Ultimate Guide to Dehydrator Accessories

So, are you looking to elevate your dehydrating game to the next level? You’re in the right place! Yes, a dehydrator could be a game-changer in your kitchen, but the right accessories? Those are the secret ingredients that can make all the difference. There are many options available to suit different needs, and choosing the right accessory can make any dehydrating job easier and more enjoyable. Lucky for you, we’ve gathered the best of the best dehydrator accessories you should consider adding to your culinary arsenal. Let’s dive in!

1. Dehydrator Sheets

Dehydrator sheets are a must-have for any dehydrator enthusiast. These sheets work miracles, preventing food from sticking and making the clean-up process a breeze. Can you imagine just pulling off the sheet, washing it, and voila – a clean food dehydrator! Plus, with the reactive nature of food items, these non-stick, BPA free, and heat-resistant sheets become a vital safety component in your dehydrating process. Silicone or mesh sheets are reusable, making them an eco-friendly and cost-effective choice. They also prevent small or sticky foods from falling through the tray cracks, ensuring good airflow.

Fruit leather sheets are a must-have addition to your dehydrating arsenal. They are perfect for drying small or sticky items that could fall through the dehydrator trays, like berries or fruit roll-ups. Fruit leather trays are specifically designed to hold liquids or purees, making it easy to create fruit leathers or rolls with minimal mess. Go for BPA-free, non-stick versions for a healthy and hassle-free dehydrating experience.

2. Food Slicer

Now, what’s an artist without their brush, or in our case, the dehydrator without a food slicer? The beauty of dehydration lies in uniformity, and that’s exactly what a food slicer offers. Mandoline slicers are used for uniform, thin slices of fruits and vegetables, which is essential for even dehydration. Slicers and choppers can also assist in the prep work of slicing and dicing for dehydrating, making the process faster and more efficient. It helps in maintaining the consistency and evenness of your food slices, ensuring that they all dehydrate at the same rate. Trust me; this precision tool will make your dehydrating sessions much more efficient.

3. Vacuum Sealer

Dehydrated food, while delicious and convenient, can be a magnet for bacteria and moisture if not stored properly. Here’s where the vacuum sealer comes in! It helps sealing your dehydrated food, thus ensuring their freshness for an extended period. Vacuum sealing helps preserve the freshness and quality of dehydrated foods, allowing you to store them safely for longer periods. Learn how long will dehydrated food last if vacuum sealed. This way, you can enjoy your dehydrated fruits, vegetables, or meat anytime you crave them! Isn’t that a comforting thought?

4. Jerky Gun

Are you a jerky lover? If you are, then a jerky gun should definitely be a part of your toolkit. This nifty accessory helps you create uniform strips or sticks of meat for perfect, mouth-watering beef jerky. Just load it up, squeeze, and you’ve got yourself homemade strips ready to be dehydrated! A jerky gun extrudes ground meats into uniform strips for jerky.

5. Thermometer and Timer

Here’s a game-changing duo – a thermometer and a timer. Dehydrating is a dance of precision – too high a temperature or too long a duration, and your food could lose its nutrients or become too dry. With a thermometer and a timer, you’ll have complete control over the dehydration process, helping maintain the quality of your food. Now that’s a win!

6. Food Grinders

Ah, the mighty food grinder – where would any serious cook be without this truly indispensable bit of kit? If you’re involved in dehydrating food, then you’re bound to love a food grinder! Are you wondering why? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of food grinders and their role in the dehydration process.

Consider this: you’ve got a tray full of beautifully dehydrated fruits or perfectly seasoned jerky just waiting to work their magic in a hearty, gourmet recipe. But there’s one more step needed – you need to grind them up to your desired consistency. This is where a food grinder comes into play!

Food grinders are perfect for pulverizing dehydrated fruits, spices, and herbs into powders or granulated substances. It’s like having your very own secret weapon in the kitchen. Homemade spice blends? Effortless. Your very own fruit powder for smoothies and granola? Oh-so-simple! Food grinders have the power to bring your dehydrated food creations to a whole new level.

However, all food grinders are not created equal. There are several types to consider, such as manual grinders and electric grinders, each with their own strengths. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Look for these features when shopping for your ideal food grinder:

  • Build quality: Look for durable materials like stainless steel for longevity and reliable performance.
  • Size: Consider the grinder’s capacity. It should match the quantity of food you plan to process.
  • Easy to clean: Very important! A dishwasher-safe, easily disassembled grinder makes cleanup a breeze.
  • Versatility: Different grind settings allow you to have control over the final output – from coarse to fine grain.

The Essentials of Dehydrator Accessories

Stepping into the world of food dehydration? Then, you’re in the right place! The right accessories can make the process easier, and exponentially expand the range of foods you can dehydrate. Let’s explore these must-have dehydrator accessories that you absolutely need to get your hands on!

Here are the essential dehydrator accessories every user should consider:

  1. Silicone Dehydrator Sheets
    Nothing sticks! This is the absolute charm of silicone dehydrator sheets. Silicone mats and fruit leather sheets prevent sticking and are useful for a variety of dehydrating tasks, including making fruit leather and drying sticky foods. Meant to be used with round or square trays, they ensure your food doesn’t stick to the racks, making clean-up a breeze. Silicone dehydrator trays are also available for handling liquids and making fruit leather. For best results, always choose silicone sheets that fit your specific dehydrator model to ensure effective drying and ease of use. Like GUCUJI’s Non-Stick Silicone Dehydrator Sheets. These top-rated sheets are FDA approved, designed for optimal air flow, and can tolerate temperatures up to 428℉!
  2. Dehydrator Mesh Screens
    Ever had tiny pieces of dried food falling through the food dehydrator trays? Then, dehydrator mesh screens, such as Bluedrop Pack of 5 Dehydrator Screens, are what you need! Silicone or mesh sheets prevent small or sticky foods from falling through the tray cracks, ensuring good airflow. They provide the delicate balance needed between air flow and food size, making sure you’re not losing any of your dried goodies.
  3. Extra Trays
    Extra trays increase the drying capacity of a dehydrator, allowing for larger batches. Additional mesh trays can be purchased for dehydrators, making it easy to expand your dehydrator’s output and process more food at once.
  4. Dehydrating Mats and Fruit Leather Sheets
    Silicone mats and fruit leather sheets prevent sticking and help with diverse tasks. Dehydrating mats or fruit leather sheets are necessary for running a dehydrator efficiently. Non-stick mats can be purchased as dehydrator accessories, and silicone dehydrator trays are available for liquids and fruit leather.
  5. Cutting Tools
    A good sharp knife is essential for your dehydrating journey. A cutting board is a useful tool when dehydrating food, making prep work safer and more efficient.
  6. Labeling Tools
    Label makers or masking tape are useful for marking containers with contents and dates, helping you keep track of your dehydrated foods and ensuring you use them at their freshest.
  7. Silicone Muffin Cups
    Silicone muffin cups, like Ozera Silicone Cupcake Liners, take dehydrating to the next level. Imagine dehydrating an egg or your favourite yogurt to snack on later. Dreamy, isn’t it? Not only can you dehydrate more types of food, but you can also control the shapes!
  8. Jerky Gun
    Do you love homemade jerky recipes homemade jerky but find shaping it hard? Then, you need a jerky gun! The LEM Products Jerky Cannon is amongst the best in town. It doesn’t only shape your meat, it also ensures your jerky is consistent in size, enhancing its dehydrating process. A jerky gun extrudes ground meats into uniform strips for jerky.
  9. Food Vacuum Sealer
    Lasting freshness is what every dehydrator owner strives for. That’s when a food vacuum sealer comes to the rescue. Foodsaver V2244 Vacuum Sealer Machine is a compact and trusted choice for storing dehydrated food. It offers an air-tight seal, ensuring your food stays crisp and fresh longer.
  10. Airtight Glass Storage Jars
    Speaking of storage, let’s not forget airtight glass jars. These are perfect for keeping your dehydrated food fresh, crunchy, and ready to eat. The Le Parfait French Super Jars are stylish, durable, and come with an airtight rubber seal. Plus, they’re a decorative addition to your kitchen! Airtight storage containers are mandatory for the storage of dehydrated foods.
  11. Digital Thermometer
    The quality of your dehydrating process largely depends on temperature control. A digital thermometer like ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer gives you precision and speed to ensure you’re dehydrating at the optimal temperature.
  12. Dehydrating Time & Temperature Guide
    Not sure how long to dehydrate or at what temperature? A guide like Complete Dehydrator Cookbook from Carole Cancler is a cheat-sheet you’ll find yourself turning to quite often. This paperback guide offers you a quick check for the times and temperatures for dehydrating various foods. Many experts recommend using comprehensive guides or cookbooks for dehydrating, and you can find curated lists of recommended resources in our latest post.

Now that you know the must-have accessories, let’s look at how to care for your dehydrator to keep it running smoothly.

Dehydrator Maintenance and Care

Cleaning Your Dehydrator

Keeping your food dehydrator in cracking condition is the secret to brilliant results and making sure your appliance lasts for ages. After every batch of homemade jerky or fruit leather, make it a habit to give those stainless steel trays and any bits you can take off a proper clean. Cleaning brushes are essential for keeping trays and heating elements free of grime. This doesn’t just stop food bits from building up but also makes sure your dehydrator runs like a dream for years to come.

Checking Airflow and Storage

Don’t forget to have a quick check for any blockages in the airflow—clear vents mean your favorite foods will dry nice and even every time. If you’ve got yourself a top seller like the Excalibur or Nesco dehydrator, make sure you follow the specific care tips in your manual. Each model might have its own little tricks to help you get the most bang for your buck. Stashing your dehydrator in a dry, safe spot will also help you avoid nasty issues like mold or bacteria, keeping your jerky, fruit leather, and other snacks safe to munch on.

Longevity and Cost Savings

With regular care, you’ll save yourself a load of cash by dodging costly repairs and enjoy your dehydrator’s brilliant performance for a proper long time to come.

Now that your dehydrator is well cared for, let’s talk about how to keep your kitchen organized for efficient dehydrating.

Dehydrator Storage and Organization

Storing Accessories and Ingredients

A well-sorted kitchen makes dehydrating grub even more of a cracking experience! After each go, pop your food dehydrator and all its bits in a proper spot to keep everything within easy reach. Use some good old canning jars or airtight containers to stash your dehydrated veg, herbs, and powders—these not only keep your tucker fresh but also make it dead simple to find exactly what you’re after for your next recipe.

Labeling and Organization

Labelling your jars by food type or recipe can save you a right load of time and help you stay organised, especially when you’re working with all sorts of dehydrated ingredients. Keep your favourite accessories, like mesh screens and fruit leather sheets, together so you’re always ready to get going on your next batch.

Keeping Manuals and Recipes Handy

Don’t forget to stash your dehydrator’s manual and any recipe books nearby for a quick butcher’s. With a bit of planning, you’ll knock up a kitchen setup that makes dehydrating easy as anything, efficient, and proper fun!

Now that your kitchen is organized, let’s explore where to find more information and inspiration for your dehydrating journey.

Dehydrator Resources

Finding Dehydrator Resources

If you’re after taking your dehydrating game to the next level, then you’re in for a right treat! There’s a cracking world of resources out there to help you find the best dehydrator, discover some brilliant accessories, and get your head around some top-notch recipes.

Online Communities and Reviews

Online forums and communities are absolutely packed with dead-simple tips, troubleshooting advice, and some proper creative ideas for making everything from jerky to fruit leather. Best seller lists and product reviews on sites like Amazon are super handy for making a smart purchase, whether you’re after a new dehydrator or some of the latest accessories.

Books, Guides, and Tutorials

Loads of companies, such as LEM Products, offer recipe books, guides, and support to help you get the most from your dehydrator – it’s a brilliant way to get going. Blogs and YouTube channels dedicated to food preservation are also fantastic spots to find step-by-step tutorials, product comparisons, and some proper innovative recipes to expand your dehydrating repertoire.

No matter what your experience level, these resources make it dead easy to find inspiration, learn some cracking new tips, and enjoy every single step of your dehydrating journey.

author avatar
Danny Content Writer
Hey there, since 2016, my mission has been to provide you with the information and guides you need to make food dehydrating simple and fun. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, my site offers helpful guides, reviews, and recipes to enhance your dehydrating experience. I take pride in only recommending products I believe in, ensuring my readers' trust. As an affiliate of various programs, including Amazon Associates, your support helps me continue providing quality content. Thanks for stopping by, and happy dehydrating!

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