To preserve vitamins, excess vegetables and fruits grown, for example, in the country, it is better to dry. The most affordable way is to do it in the sun, but the process will take a lot of time. For quick drying, a special device has been created - an electric dryer. We will figure out what kind of electric dryers are for fruits and vegetables, and also present a rating of the best models.
The electric dryer is suitable for berries, vegetables and fruits
What to look for when choosing an electric dryer
An electric dryer is a simple device consisting of a container and trays on which vegetables and fruits are laid out for drying.
After loading the container, you need to turn on the device at a certain temperature, and under the influence of warm air or infrared rays, the process of evaporation of moisture occurs. Devices differ in volume, power, type of control and other parameters. When choosing, it is recommended to consider the following characteristics:
- Capacity. Electric dryers hold from 3 to 15 kg of products.
- The number of trays (depending on the capacity of the device). You must consider the depth of the tray if you plan to dry, for example, apricots or whole plums.
- Power. It happens from 250 W to 1 kW. Household electric dryers have a power of 350-500 watts. 400-500 watts is necessary for drying fish and meat.
- Temperature condition. It can be adjusted according to the products.
- Drying method. Cheap devices work from a heating device (TENA) and convection from a fan. If you dry large pieces, then the process takes a long time, while vitamins and color of the product are lost. Dryers with an infrared heater are considered the best, but the products in it should be finely chopped.
- Type of management. Simple mechanical control is more reliable. Electronic control is not so reliable, but more precisely regulates all parameters.
- Additional functions: a thermostat that maintains a given temperature, a timer and the mode of preparation of kefir, yogurt.
Pay attention to the material from which the trays are made. There are quality ones made of plastic, but there are also metal ones. It is important that the metal does not absorb odors. A completely transparent dryer allows you to control the cooking process.
Infrared dryers without fan
The principle of operation of such devices is as follows: infrared radiation propagates, then the wave is absorbed by moisture from the processed product. The structure of the product does not change, while retaining nutrients and vitamins. Short infrared waves penetrate to a depth of several centimeters.
Infrared dryers have the following advantages:
- The dried product has an attractive appearance and retains all the nutrients.
- Complete sterility of the dry product.
- Microorganisms do not multiply in dried foods during storage.
- Drying occurs at low temperatures, so all vitamins are preserved.
- A minimum of electricity is wasted.
- Drying is very fast.
Dried foods do not contain preservatives or colorings. They can be used both raw and cook various dishes from them.
The dryer with a metal case heats up during operation, it can be burned. The plastic case is safer in this regard. Infrared dryers have many additional features.
For safety reasons, handle the device carefully:
- Do not place the dryer on a towel or in a wet place, or turn on the device with wet hands.
- Children must not be allowed to work with the dryer.
- Do not leave a running appliance unattended.
- When processing a large batch of products, it is necessary to give the dryer a break.
- It is forbidden to move the switched on device.
- It is forbidden to repair a failed device yourself.
If the plastic tray is cracked or cracked, it is better to order a new one.
The best infrared dryers for fruits and vegetables
Two models can be distinguished among the best infrared dryers: “Summer resident-4” and “Katrina Samobranka 50x50”.
"Summer resident-4" is the best, in the opinion of users, dryer of its own kind. It has high power and large capacity: you can put up to 7 kg of food at a time. The device has many functions, including for cooking yogurt. The cost of the dryer is 8500 rubles.
Model "Summer resident-4"
Katrina Samobranka 50x50 looks like a colorful rug that is easy to roll. The dryer emits waves that are harmless to humans, but quickly dries products. The drying temperature is only 40 degrees, so burning is excluded. The device operates silently, there is neither a heater nor a fan. Katrina can be adapted to dry shoes and clothes. Although the dryer has a small volume, but the cost is not high - 1100 rubles.
"Katrina Samobranka 50x50"
The best of low-cost dryers
The best inexpensive dryers for fruits, vegetables and herbs are presented in the following rating:
- Spectrum Device ESOF-0.5 / 220 "Veterok". This is a transparent convective dryer, the most popular among the owners of gardens. It has a simple design and a rather large capacity - 5 kg. There are 5 trays of transparent plastic. The adjustment is mechanical, power - 500 W, temperature in the box - 55-70 degrees. The model has a low price - 2300 rubles.
Model Spectrum Instrument ESOF-0.5 / 220 "Veterok"
- Supra DFS-523. Compact convective household dryer made of plastic. In the device you can dry fish and meat, dry mushrooms and herbs. There are 5 trays in a set, adjustment is by hand: there is a switch with indicator light and a temperature controller from 40 to 75 degrees. The power of the device is only 250 W, the assembly is Chinese, the budget price is 1380 rubles.
- Rotor SSH-002. Convective household appliance designed for drying fish and meat, drying garden products. The device is made of good heat-resistant plastic, has 5 trays. The temperature is regulated by a manual switch in the range of 30-70 degrees, power - 520 watts. The manufacturer is Russia, the affordable price is about 2300 rubles.
Model Rotor SSh-002
- Suchoway-M8. Convection dryer domestic production. Has a good power - 500 watts. Equipped with 8 trays that hold up to 700 g of food. No temperature switch, dries in optimal mode. The housing and motor compartment are made of heat-resistant plastic. The cost of the device is small - 2350 rubles.
All dryers have a low price, and therefore are in demand. In addition, they have high-quality indicators of the assembly and processing of products.
Metal convective dryers for garden products
Metal convection dryers can be round or square, small and large. These are heavy devices that require careful handling, because their walls become very hot during drying and can burn. Dried products in them lose their quality due to uneven heating. In this case, vitamins and useful components are lost. The price of such devices differs markedly from plastic, precisely because of the cost of the metal.
Drying takes place with heated air or superheated steam, which is fed to the dryer by a fan. Heats air TEN, temperature can reach 80 degrees. The device successfully copes with meat, fish, bread rolls and crackers.
We present the rating of the best convection electric dryers for fruits and vegetables.
- Petromash Ryzhik Super.The case has a square shape, painted in orange. The device creates a temperature of 70 degrees, so you can dry many types of products. The fan is installed at the base, the heater has a ceramic case. Vitamins and biological additives are stored in the products, and most importantly - the appearance. The model consumes a lot of energy, but dries quickly and in large volumes. There are 5 pallets, two drying modes. Acceptable price - 2850 rubles.
Model Petromash Ryzhik Super
- ThermMix. Convenient domestic dryer in an all-metal case. It is found in different colors: red, yellow, green, orange, gray. Five mesh metal trays. The power of the device is 600 watts. Heating modes are switched by a manual switch, the highest temperature is 60 degrees. The cost of the device is 2990 rubles.
- Alvin SU-1. Excellent dryer, cylindrical body. Large volume and high power, 8 metal trays. There are two temperature settings for drying, as well as many additional functions. The price is quite high - about 4000 rubles. Due to the ambiguous design, it is not suitable for every kitchen.
Model Alvin SU-1
Metal convection dryers are the most popular because of their low cost, decent power and versatility.
Plastic Case Dryers
The material of the body of the electric dryer affects the heat transfer and temperature conservation inside the device. In a plastic case, the drying process is slower. If the case is made of transparent plastic, then you can observe the whole process and correct it in time.
Plastic dryers are easier to clean than metal dryers. The price of these products is much lower.
The plastic case is safe, such a dryer weighs less, heating in it occurs more evenly, the products do not burn.
The best dryers from the presented category:
- BelOMO 8360 - manufacturer of Belarus. In addition to drying vegetables and fruits, the dryer is also suitable for making fruit and berry pastille. The case is made of high-quality plastic, a heating device and a fan are built into the base. A switch and a temperature regulator are installed on the case; the maximum heating temperature is 60 degrees. There are 3 heating zones: 1 - low, where herbs and greens are dried, 2 and 3 zones are intended for mushrooms and other products. There are 5 trays, the power of the device is 500 watts. The drying time depends on the moisture content of the product, the maximum duration of the process is 12 hours. The budget price is 3289 rubles.
Model BelOMO 8360
- VolTera 1000 Lux. Russian device manufactured at the Volga plant. The case is made of high quality plastic, the dryer volume is 20 liters. The power of the device is 1 kW. You can place 15 plastic trays at the same time. The dryer is equipped with a capillary thermostat with temperature control within 30-75 degrees. Air supply is carried out separately for each chamber, there is a function of cold blowing. Only 5 trays are attached to the dryer. The price of the device is 4900 rubles.
- Ezidri Ultra FD 1000. The case is made of food-grade plastic, it does not melt and is completely harmless, up to 30 pallets are placed inside. The air is supplied evenly, so the products are perfectly dried and do not burn. If you dry different types of products, the smells do not mix. Touch temperature adjustment in the range of 35-65 degrees. High power - 1 kW. The device has a high cost - 13,950 rubles.
Model Ezidri Ultra FD 1000
Electric driers in a plastic case are no worse than metal ones.
Electric dryers equipped with a timer
Dryers with the additional function "timer" allow you to set the process a certain time, after which the device turns off.
This is a necessary and useful function that prevents the product from overdrying. In this case, it is not necessary to be near the device.
The best dryers with a timer:
- Mystery MDH-325. A budget option. Convective device with a heating element located below. Equipped with pallets in the amount of 6 pieces. The top of the dryer is transparent.Installed electronic control with power indication and LCD screen. You can set the following parameters: temperature (32-74 degrees), operating time (30 minutes - 48 hours). The power of the dryer is 500 watts. In the presence of an additional function - protection against overheating. Instrument manufacturer - China. Low cost - 2730 rubles.
Model Mystery MDH-325
- Rommelsbacher DA 750. This dryer is similar to an air grill. Includes 4 opaque plastic trays. Everything can be dried, including fish and meat. The heating element and fan are placed on top after loading the dryer. A transparent top allows you to control the process. Manual control, there are three modes of heating power. The mechanical timer has a scale of up to 12 hours. Power - 700 watts. The price of the dryer is average - about 10,000 rubles.
- Rawmid Dream Vitamin DDV-07. Quality dryer for domestic use. A universal appliance capable of drying not only small products, but also impressive pieces. The dryer is made of high-quality plastic, a powerful fan is installed on the back wall. It comes with 6 trays of metal, 6 trays for drying pastilles and 6 grids for drying herbs. The volume of the chamber is 25 liters, you can immediately load 5 kg of products. The heating temperature of the device is regulated by a thermostat, the range is 35-70 degrees. The cover is transparent. Electronic timer with a period of action up to 19 hours. The main disadvantage is the high price of 14,500 rubles.
Rawmid Dream Vitamin DDV-07
Dryers with a timer are very convenient to use. But in comparison with other models, these devices have a high cost.
