Dehydrators for mushrooms can priceless. This is because Mushrooms (also known as superfoods) are among the most nutritious foods ever discovered by humanity. They’re low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with vitamins, making them ideal for your health. They also have a lot of niacin, which is used in cholesterol-lowering medications. Also, when baked, mushrooms can give a variety of flavors to a dish.
Fresh mushrooms, unfortunately, do not last forever. Drying mushrooms that cannot be consumed immediately is the easiest and most flexible method of preserving them. It’s an excellent way to store them for an extended period or to use them in traveling meals later. This is why food dehydrators are excellent machines to preserve mushrooms for extended periods
They’re incredibly light, nutritious, and simple to rehydrate. Various kinds of food such as soups, omelets, spaghetti, stews, omelets, noodles, popcorn and various other recipes will benefit from dried mushrooms.
Why You Need a Mushroom Dehydrator
Air drying or direct sunlight is all that is needed to dehydrate mushrooms. It’s a simple process that demands no technical or special equipment.
All you have to do is finely dice the mushrooms and arrange them over a table. Even in a wet area, most mushroom species will dry within 48 to 72 hours if the ventilation is strong enough.
A mushroom dehydrator can preserve your mushrooms much quicker than traditional sun drying.
There’s increasing concern that some mushroom species such as Portobello, Girolle, Shiitake, and Blewitt mushrooms, to name a few, contain a compound called Agaritine, which may be toxic to humans if taken raw. As a result, it is advised that you roast them before consuming them.
The easiest way to preserve mushrooms is to reduce the amount of excess water or moisture content in the mushrooms, roughly 80 to 95 percent. This is exactly where a mushroom dehydrator comes into the picture.
Although various dehydrators are suitable for specific uses, few work exceptionally well when the task requires dehydrating mushrooms within a few hours.
Essential Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Dehydrator for Mushroom
Electricity Consumption
Using the air conditioner and a heating unit (mushroom dehydrator) simultaneously will consume more energy and increase electricity bills.
It’s good to know how much electricity the dehydrator will consume, particularly if you’ll use it frequently. The best model is one with a low power wattage and which still meets the user’s needs.
Temperature Range
A dehydrator for mushrooms must have an adjustable digital thermostat. The sad part is that most food dryers have a programmed temperature that you cannot adjust.
An adjustable temperature control feature is essential for dehydrating mushrooms to avoid fights between spouses!
For instance, my mom prefers crispy mushrooms, and my dad prefers soft mushrooms, so it’ll be better if the average temperatures can be adjusted so that you can achieve the desired textures. (You know what’s better than a delicious dining table? A quiet one!)
Easy Maintenance
With proper and reasonable maintenance, even an inexpensive device could last several years.
Dirty dehydrators breed harmful bacteria to both the dehydrator and the consumer.
Mushrooms do not produce juice like fruit or beef; they produce spores. When drying, certain species emit spores that may clutter the air extractor and damage it. Therefore, considering the ease of cleaning while choosing a mushroom dehydrator is very important.
Timer
Keep an eye on the progress of dehydration. The dehydrator must have a timer. Ideally, the mushrooms should be fully dehydrated within five to seven hours.
If there is a built-in timer on the dehydrator, it will switch off automatically as soon as the drying is done. You should adjust the timer according to the needs of the meal.
Capacity
Dehydrators range in size from small ones that can only accommodate a few pounds to large industrial models that can accommodate numerous batches of mushrooms.
Choose the one that suits your household needs because it will save you space, cleaning process, and power consumption. A monthly family gathering is not a good reason to purchase a large-capacity mushroom dehydrator.
Transparent door
Choose a dehydrator with a transparent door because it will allow you to monitor the level of dehydration from the outside, i.e., without having to open the machine’s door.
If you look closely, this will also reduce the time it takes to dehydrate the mushrooms. This is because now you’ll be opening the door less often to check progress, allowing the machine to do its job.
Types of Dehydrator
You can be faced with the dilemma of choosing between various varieties of dehydrators, such as vertical flow dehydrators, horizontal flow dehydrators, digital food dehydrators, or electric dehydrators. Each of them has different features and is meant for different purposes. Thus, selecting one that best suits your needs can be a tedious process.
The Best Dehydrator For Mushrooms – Top 5
I kid you not, there are tons of dehydrators available online, and it can get very confusing very fast. The last thing you want when picking a mushroom dehydrator is to dehydrate your brain and body, haha!
For those who want convenient shopping and an efficient, good-quality dehydrator at an affordable rate, listed below are the five best options to choose from.
1. Gastrorag Food Dehydrator Machine
The Gastrorag Food Dehydrator is a portable digital device that performs very well when it comes to drying mushrooms. I like its simplicity and how easy it is to operate. It weighs just 7.87 pounds (one of the lightest on the list), making it easy to store.
I know we’re talking about mushroom dehydrators, but this baby right here is highly effective at drying any type of food. This includes vegetables, trail mix, potato chips, beef jerky, dried herbs, fruit snacks, and other nutritious cookies and snacks for yourself or your pets.
There’s a jerky cure and spice coupled within the dehydrator to make lip-smacking jerky. The adjustable digital thermostat ranges from 100 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, one of the product’s standout features, allowing you to dry mushrooms within a specific time frame.
There’s a bottom fan that evenly distributes heat throughout the drying trays. More importantly, the taste remains intact!
It comes with five trays that are dishwasher resistant and easy to clean. Plus, it boasts of a quiet operation as there’s no annoying beeping at the end of the drying process!
Details and Specifications:
- 14.8×14.5×11.7 inches in size
- 5 dehydrator trays
- Weighs 7.87 pounds
- Simple LED display
- Temperature range from 100℉ – 160℉, with 5-degree increments
- Timer up to 48 hours, with 1-hour increments
- Dishwasher resistant
- Automatic shut-down
- BPA free
- Voltage 120V, Power rating 500W
Pros:
- Dries uniformly and efficiently
- Five large dehydrator trays
- Temperature range adequately dehydrates a variety of meals
- Comprehensive and straightforward display
- No need to rotate the drying trays
- No threat of mixing flavors
- Dehumidify overnight with a timer of up to 48 hours to avoid over-drying
- No noise
- Free of plastic smell or deformation
- Modern, sleek, and fashionable
Cons:
- Unsuitable for large scale drying
- Absence of touch control
- Customer service is questionable
2. HOTSTORE Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator
The sleek Hotstore Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator is ideal for drying and storing mushrooms and other types of food. This dehydrator is great for drying food for your family, friends, pets, outdoor picnic, or for a casual family dinner.
If the Gastrorag Food Dehydrator Machine didn’t meet your capacity requirements, this will! It has multiple stackable dehydrator shelves (5 of them with 20 liters capacity), which can easily accommodate a significant amount of mushrooms. The shelves are self-sufficient when it comes to drying foods.
The heated air flows from the bottom to all parts of the device and ensures all-round drying without the need for rotation. Thanks to the holes at the bottom, the dehydrator can let off steam and keep its longevity intact.
A major concern could be its weight. It weighs as much as 4 times the Gastrorag Food Dehydrator Machine. However, it’s just 11×11×12.6 inches, so it shouldn’t take up much real estate despite the weight.
That said, it is still pretty easy to clean. All you need is a damp kitchen towel or a sponge. You’ll also need to place a fruit roll sheet on the bottom tray to prevent the base from being covered in dripping water.
Details and Specifications:
- 11×11×12.6 inches in size
- Food Grade AS material
- Voltage 110V/60Hz, Power rating 350W
- Temperature range from 95-158° Fahrenheit
- 20 liters capacity
- Weighs (net) 30.82 pounds
- White in color
Pros:
- Dehydrates everything from beef jerky to fruits and vegetables
- Easy to clean
- 5 dehydrator trays
- Steady flow of air for effective drying
- Cooling vents to extend shelf life
- Temperature regulation for food preservation
- Stylish and compact design
- All-inclusive (family, friends, or pets)
- Comes with an instruction manual
Cons:
- Heavier than its peers
- Temperature can’t exceed 158°F
3. Snowtaros Food Dehydrators Machine
My daughter surely loves this one, thanks to its baby pink color and contrasting trays. No matter what you dry, be it vegetables, fruits, beans, or mushrooms, the Snowtaros ensures non-toxicity of the food through its food grade PP material.
Besides its visual appeal, it saves a great deal of electricity as well. Even after operating for 4 hours, the electricity consumption remains lower than 1 KW.
Like the HOTSTORE, there is 360° heating with ventilation at the bottom ensures quick and even drying and longevity of the machine. The temperature range is the same as well, i.e., 95-158° Fahrenheit.
Its 5 trays can be removed or adjusted to suit various food thicknesses, making it really flexible to changing requirements. For equal mushroom dehydration across trays, change their position every 2 hours.
The dehydrator is neither all white nor pink. The time setting has a grey color.
Details and Specifications:
- 11.02×9.84×8.26 inches in size
- Touch control panel
- Power rating 350W
- 360° circulation heating
- 5 dehydrator trays
- Temperature range from 98°F to 158°F
- Food Grade PP material
Pros:
- Low energy consumption
- Visually appealing
- Ventilated upper cover for better drying
- Does not slide when operating
- Adjustable thermostat for drying as per preference
- Touch control panel makes it look modern and sleek
- Retains 97% of minerals and vitamins
Cons:
- Only 0-24 hours timing setting
- Temperature can’t exceed 158°F
4. Electric Food Dehydrator Machine of Mushrooms Vegetables and Fruits
If the Snowtaros was pink, this is pinker! The pinkness almost hits you in the face this time. Nonetheless, it looks really good. Unlike its pink counterpart, this one doesn’t have touch controls, which doesn’t do this stylish dehydrator any justice.
Other than looks, the Electric Food Dehydrator has a unique feature of multiple trays positions. They call it the ‘Low’ and ‘High’ positions. Use the ‘Low’ option when you want to dehydrate small items like banana chips or fruits. The ‘High’ option is good for bulkier food items like beef jerky.
Before you start drooling, you should know that The Electric Food Dehydrator is quite expensive. But it’ll save you money as it’s decently powerful and efficient. It has a power rating of just 230W, which is less than half of the Gastrorag one!
The 5 trays provide a tremendous capacity to dehydrate a lot of food items at once. Plus, it’s transparent, so you won’t have to open the lid to check for progress.
The automatic shut-off lets you stay aloof after starting the timer, which is an added advantage if you suddenly forget to feed your guests, haha!
Details and Specifications:
- Food Grade PP material
- 10.15×9.52×7.36 inches in size
- 5 dehydrator trays
- Power rating 230W
- Temperature range 104-158°F
Pros:
- Automatic shut-off
- Low energy consumption
- Compact and easy to store
- Transparent body for easy monitoring
- Two different trays positions for drying small/large foods
- Large capacity
- Adjustable temperature for different tastes and foods
Cons:
- Temperature range could’ve been wider
- Absence of touch control
- Very Expensive
- 15-25 days delivery
5. Magic Mill Food Dehydrator
Probably the most visually appealing on this list, the Food Dehydrator Machine will light up your kitchen countertop.
Like every other mushroom dehydrator on this list, this one too dehydrates the trays’ contents equally thanks to its bottom-to-top airflow.
If you’re responsible for doing the dishes, you’ll love this one – the trays are dishwasher-safe. Pro tip: pour a little cooking oil or put a layer of paper on the tray for easier cleaning. Moreover, the trays are heat-resistant, durable, and stackable.
Adjust the temperature from 95 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on what you need. The transparent body allows you to monitor the food items from the outside.
A standout feature is the machine’s low power consumption – just 1KW of electricity after 5 hours of usage. It saves your ears too! There is little to no noise in its operation.
Another standout feature is its price. The price is double compared to other dehydrators on this list. To not have a touch control panel at this price is a turn-off considering the price.
Details and Specifications:
- BPA free
- Power rating 245W
- 360° air circulation
- Food Grade PP material
- Temperature range 95-158°F
- 5 dehydrator trays
Pros:
- Saves electricity
- Dries uniformly and efficiently
- Visually appealing
- Eight speed adjustment for flexibility
- Easy to clean; trays are dishwasher-safe
- Adjustable temperature
- Transparent for easy monitoring
- Low noise emission
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Absence of touch control
Final Verdict About Mushroom Dehydrator
Phew! Let me drink after that, I’m dehydrated (and I didn’t even need a machine!)
Having discussed 5 mushroom dehydrators in-depth, I hope you have the needed clarity now to make a good buying decision.
- If you’re looking for a budget-friendly food dehydrator, stick with the first 3 on the list.
- If a touch control panel is necessary, the Snowtaros should be your pick.
- You get the lowest power consumption with the Electric Food Dehydrator. This one wins the race in terms of compact size as well.
Now you know about the best dehydrator for mushrooms. We hope you’ve benefited immensely from this guide. If you need similar reviews and insights into the world of mushrooms (planting, cooking, drying), check out more at MyMushroomTips.com.