Stock Up On Healthy Food With The Best Air Fryers With Dehydrator

I think my family and I have been watching too many zombie and alien movies recently. The idea of having a living pantry, though, began years ago. My husband and I were kidding about how we would stock up in case zombies overtook the cities, or when aliens finally decided to invade the Earth.

Fast forward to today, our air fryer with a dehydrator was the first thing that we thought would save us. I’ll get to that in a second.

Like any new kitchen equipment, acquiring a dehydrator was not at the top of my list. It never even crossed my mind. When we were scouting for our own air fryer, the built-in dehydrator was one of the selling points for most brands.

I tried to look up what the advantages were of having an air fryer with a dehydrator, but saw very limited resources explaining how it could actually add value to my kitchen. So I went on my own quest to discover what dehydrating food was and the benefits were.

Thus, the zombie apocalypse and alien invasion topics. We thought that we could build your own emergency food supply to last us until the antivirus is discovered or when Tom Cruise finally beats the aliens.

Fiction aside, who wouldn’t want to be able to stock up on food when the next storm or power outage comes? Dehydrating food has a ton of benefits, the best of which is extending your food’s shelf life.

You just need to ensure that any food that you dehydrate is stored in airtight containers. If you can afford a vacuum sealer, this will help preserve your food for many years.

A lot of commercially-available air fryers have a dehydrator as an added feature. There are dehydrators sold separately, but if you can get the air-fryer and dehydrator as a single equipment, then it’s a win!

Our Top Choices Of Best Air Fryer Dehydrator Compared

Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

You know that feeling when you have studied for an exam, and you just know, deep in your heart, that you would ace it? I could say the same about my research on air fryers with dehydrators. For me, these are the best of the best, and I’ll be sharing some key pointers later on why you should consider them as an addition to your kitchen, too!

How Do You Choose The Best Air Fryer With Dehydrator?

KITCHEN SPACE: It’s best practice to take measurements around the space where you are planning to place your air fryer. When making an online purchase, dimensions are always indicated in the product description. This will help you provide enough space for both you and your new equipment as you work in the kitchen.

POWER REQUIREMENT. The way your air fryer cooks or dehydrates is highly dependent on heat. If an air fryer consumes a lower amount of energy, this could mean that it will take much longer for the equipment to heat up. A more powerful unit in terms of energy use, will take up only a fraction of the time, but it could more expensive both in price and in consumption.

COOKING CAPACITY: A bigger quart-capacity might require more energy to operate. Consider the amount of food that you would be preparing on average. Will there be only one or two persons consuming the meals? Are you cooking for an average or big family?

You can also think of the timing of the volume of your food preparation. Do you cook daily? Or do you prepare batches of food in advance? Your capacity requirement can help you decide on which unit to choose.

My Top Choices For The Best Air Fryer With Dehydrator

Instant Vortex Plus: The Best Air Fryer With Dehydrator

Imagine all of your family’s favorite dishes can now be created without the usual amount of oil or fat. I am also thrilled to eliminate the use of some kitchen equipment, as this air fryer does the job, and it does it quite well! I also like the program presets, so I can get to cooking in no time.

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This wonderful equipment also remembers my settings, so whenever I need to prepare the same meal, I can proceed with cooking with just a single tap. This is definitely efficiency and flexibility combined!

Pros

• The Instant Vortex houses 7 presets, such as toasting, roasting, baking, broiling, activating the rotisserie, and dehydrating
• Their trademark EvenCrisp Technology cooks your food to perfection. Your kids will surely enjoy a batch of crispy fries every time.
• With its large, layered capacity, you can prepare several meals all at the same time
• There is absolutely no need to preheat, which cuts your cooking time in half, and even more.
• All the components of this air fryer are dishwasher safe

Cons

• You need to make sure that there is enough space at the back of the air fryer, otherwise your wall or wherever this equipment is set up against, will feel hot.
• The door weighs a bit more than it looks.

Ninja Air Fryer AF101: Perfect For Couples Or For Those Living Solo

For those living solo or as a couple, it’s quite normal to be apprehensive about purchasing such a seemingly complicated equipment. But when you do unlock the full potential of the Ninja Air Fryer, you’ll discover that there are a lot of healthy dishes you can prepare instead of the usual microwave dinners.

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This takes away your worries that cooking for one or for two always ends up with a lot of food wasted. You can also use the dehydrator to start building your own healthy stash of snacks.

Pros

• This temperature of this air fryer ranges from 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, responding to gentler temperature requirements for dehydration, to high heat in crisping chicken.
• The basket, with a capacity of 4 quarts, can accommodate enough food for two, or for an entire day if you’re living solo. For families, this can also create a big batch of snacks in one go.
• The combined presence of low temperature and fan speed ensures perfect dehydration.
• The parts are also dishwasher safe, no need to stay forever in the kitchen just to do the cleanup!

Cons

• The Ninja Air Fryer requires some time for pre-heating.

COSORI Air Fryer: Your Smart Kitchen Partner

If you are into assisted cooking, or are curious on starting this way of cooking, then the COSORI Air Fryer can be the perfect kitchen partner for you!

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Pros

• Big in capacity and big in function, this air fryer has 12 settings that will address your needs, while you cook your favorite meals in its 26 quarts worth of capacity.
• Your smart assistant right at your fingertips! Using the free VeSync app, you can make the most of the following functions:
  • Monitor you cooking progress even remotely
  • Receive notifications while you’re in another part of the house, such as when your meal is ready to be taken out.
  • Use voice commands to prompt your air fryer, such as pre-heating
  • Through the app, you can browse tons of recipes, save and review recipes that you have tried (and loved!), and even create your own customized and programmed recipes

Cons

• More of a precaution, you have to keep the air fryer at a distance from any wall or item, as the back of the fryer emits hot air.

Cuisinart’s Air Fryer TOA-65: For Custom Cooking Needs

This air fryer has that classic, timeless look. Not only does it serve as a reliable kitchen equipment, this model of Cuisinart’s air fryer can also dehydrate and proof your food. The large window lets you check how your meals are doing in one glance.

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Pros

• This air fryer is constructed with a motor of 1,800 watts, which provides fast and efficient airflow that guarantees perfect cooking results every time.
• Produces very minimal noise when in use.
• Highly customizable cooking, which includes a variety of adjustments in cooking time, temperature, and fan speed.
• A baking pan is included with your purchase.

Cons

• Make sure that the air fryer is placed in a spot with enough allowance for air circulation.

GoWISE USA GW44800-O Deluxe: Best Air Fryer For Big Families

Always hustling around the kitchen? Check out the GoWISE USA GW44800-O Deluxe, which is a heaven-sent for the busybodies with lots of folks to feed! If you are that kind of cook with no time to tinker with the different cook settings, then the GoWISE will work well for you. It has presets right on panel, all you need to do is tap!

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Pros

• This air fryer boasts of a 12.7-quart capacity to make meals for big families or groups. This ios one of the most spacious air fryers available.
• Despite its big capacity, the quality of your food is never compromised even as you cook in big batches.
• Enjoy the benefits of a rotisserie that comes with this air fryer.
• You don’t need to be limited to frying and dehydrating, right? This includes a lot of accessories so you can further explore the versatility of this air fryer.

Cons

• It might take a while to get used to the menu function button. If for example you missed your desired function by accidentally pressing the button one extra time, you would have to keep pressing and go through all the options again, until you reach the cooking function you’re going for.
• Make sure the rotisserie has enough space for food to get tumbled inside of it, avoid putting in a lot of food into the rotisserie.

PowerXL Air Fryer Pro: For The Busy Couple

The PowerXL Air Fryer Pro is another great option for busy couples who are looking for an air fryer with just the right capacity and cooking presets.

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Pros

• This air fryer has just the right capacity to accommodate cooking for two busybodies.
• With their patented Rapid Air Technology, your food is cooked with powerful and evenly-distributed airflow.
• No need to go through an entire cooking menu as this air fryer has presets right on the surface, just tap your cooking mode, and you’re good to go!

Cons

• Be careful with taking out food with juices or sauce, as these might drip onto your counter.

Emeril Lagasse Power AirFryer: For Commercial Quality And Quantity

This air fryer provides high-quality food that can be prepared in large quantities, thanks to its large capacity. The food you will prepare is enough to nourish a large family. This air fryer can also be your kitchen sidekick in preparing meals for big group gatherings.

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Pros

• It has a very large cooking capacity of 930 cubic inches
• There are 5 heating elements that surround your food, making sure it is evenly cooked
• No need to fumble with a thermometer or timer. There is a dozen patented “Set Smart Buttons” to make cooking settings a breeze
• This air fryer is so durable that you can also slow cook or dehydrate your food for up to several hours.

Cons

• The drip tray could be a bit deeper, as it is a challenge taking the food out without the drippings ending up on your counter.
• Be careful as the surface can get hot while cooking.

Innsky Air Fryer: The Easiest Air Fryer To Clean

A multifunction air fryer that serves as an oven, a rotisserie, and dehydrator. Their one-of-a-kind design of a detachable door makes it so easy to clean this unit. You can also opt to wash away splatters on the door by hand, or place the detachable door inside a dishwasher.

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Pros

• This air fryer can be considered your one-stop shop! Prepare great dishes while easily switching between different cooking modes.
• It has a wide temperature range, with a large cooking capacity to serve even bigger families.
• The unit, when left powered on, will automatically turn off as soon as it detects inactivity.

Cons

• The fans can be a bit noisy when in use.
• You need to consistently check your food (and rotate, if needed) especially if you are using the upper and lower trays to make sure that they are evenly cooked.

Crownful 10-In-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven: One Of The Best All-In-One Air Fryers

An air fryer that is created to replace a dozen kitchen equipment. With this air fryer, you can also dehydrate, roast, and have your very own countertop oven!

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Pros

• It has a digital touch screen to help you efficiently monitor your cooking.
• It also comes with additional accessories, so you can prepare more meals that would perfectly fit any occasion, holiday, and even mood!
• This air fryer comes with a cookbook, so you’ll never run out of recipe ideas.

Cons

• Note that there might be a burning smell, accompanied by a small amount of smoke, when you use this air fryer for the first time. This is simply the coating of the heating elements. To eliminate this after first use, you may place slices of lemon and cook for 5 to 10 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The temperatures indicated on the recipe book are recommended, but feel free to adjust according to your preference.

Ultrean Air Fryer: Best Air Fryer Dehydrator And Rotisserie

Sometimes, for multifunctional air fryers, the rotisserie could be a miss. If you’re looking for the perfect rotisserie, this could be for you! Make more than just fries, fried chicken, or even just reheating pizza.

Last update on 2024-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pros

• The LED panel provides a clear menu of cooking presets, as well as facilitates setting up timer and temperature.
• This air fryer also offers a large capacity, for you to prepare meals in one go the whole family.
• You will surely love the efficiency of this air fryer’s rotisserie, which will give you evenly-cooked roast every time.

Cons

• The equipment can produce noise that might not be tolerable to some, such as loud beeps following the timer.
• Ensure there is enough space for air ventilation if you are placing this against a wall, to avoid overheating.

Things To Consider When Buying Your Air Fryer With Dehydrator

In a separate post on this blog, I’ve discussed the benefits of cooking with an air fryer. If you are purchasing one with an added feature in mind, such as a dehydrator, you might want to consider the following before you click “add to cart”. First, let’s do a run-down of the benefits of having an air fryer with dehydrator.

SPACE SAVER. When you have your dehydrator built within your air fryer’s system, then that’s one less equipment to worry about, saving you space in your kitchen. A lot of air fryers with dehydrators also have other cooking capabilities that replace even more equipment, such as rotisseries and broilers.

PROLONG YOUR FOOD’S SHELF LIFE. Once your food is dehydrated and stored in an airtight container, such as fruits and herbs, you can keep it up to a year. When vacuum-sealed, which is an even more efficient way of storing food, you can stock up on goodies that would last you for YEARS.

BUDGET-HELPER. When fruits are in season, they sell really cheap. For example, pineapples are in abundance and you would love to purchase several kilos, but you know that they’ll get spoiled even when inside the fridge. Slice them up and dehydrate! It takes very little time for dehydrated food to rehydrate, so just take a portion of your stored pineapples and toss them in your piña colada punch bowl, and watch them return to their juicy state in no time.

EATING HEALTHY. When you can dehydrate and store same day-bought meat, or fresh fruits and vegetables, you are always assured that there is something healthy to serve your family.

THE RAINY DAYS. The dehydration method is something that we should all learn and practice. While we are obviously getting for any apocalypse or invasion, it best to be ready with storage techniques to ensure that our families have something to consume during emergency situations (and healthy food, at that).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Air Fryers Make Good Dehydrators?

Definitely yes! However, there are a lot of air fryers that already have the dehydrate function available. If you have an air fryer without this function, you can still use it as a dehydrator. You have to check for the following:

• Does your air fryer allow a setting for very low heat setting?
• Does it have a good ventilation system?
• Are there racks within your fryer to allow enough air to circulate?
• Can your air fryer stay powered on for several hours? Dehydrating food can take anywhere between 2 to 4 hours, so you need to check if your equipment is suitable for this.

Can You Air Fry In A Dehydrator?

This is not something I would recommend. The main purpose of dehydrators is to remove moisture within food while maintaining the enzymes and nutrients.

While you can use your air fryer to dehydrate, it won’t work well when you use your dehydrator to air fry. All you will be doing is drying up your food – imagine your chicken wings losing all their juiciness in the dehydrator!

What Are Some Air Fryer Oven Dehydrator Must-try Recipes?

You can prepare soup packs with your dehydrator. Dehydrate onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, and other staples. Pack them in an airtight container by batch, or vacuum seal for longer shelf life. Whenever you need soup, just get a pot of good broth boiling, and take a pack of your dehydrated mixed veggies for your healthy, instant soup without preservatives.

You can also dehydrate onions and garlic, and turn them into powder and store in jars. Are you a fan of the outdoors? Dehydrate your favorite fruits and create your own trail mix or granola mix.

Wrapping Up

The Instant Vortex, Ninja, and COSORI air fryers are my top choices as they have a lot of functionalities and features, including a reliable dehydration system. These make them a one-stop shop for anyone who loves to cook or for someone just finding their way around the kitchen.

The multifunctionality of these air fryers replaces a whole range of kitchen equipment, saving space and cleanup time. Air fryers with dehydrators help us in both cooking and preserving food.

Purchasing an air fryer with dehydrator can be one of the best kitchen decisions you’ll ever make. So, whether we are keeping that zombie apocalypse or alien invasion in mind or not, I think we all share the same goal of wanting nothing but to serve our families delicious meals all the time, and stock up on healthy, preservative-free food that we can use for the rainy days.

Related Reads: Which air fryer is the best? Check our review of the Best Air Fryers in 2021 to find out.