Use the lowest temperature that dries the food safely. Too hot and the outside hardens before the inside dries; too cool and food dries slowly enough for microbes to grow.
The chart
| Food | Missouri Extension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Herbs | 95–105°F | 95–110°F (Penn State) |
| Vegetables | 115–130°F | Blanch most first |
| Fruit | 125–135°F | Apples: Oregon State starts at 145°F for 2–3 hours, then 135°F |
| Meat jerky | 155°F | Heat meat to 160°F first (USDA); dehydrator must hold at least 130–140°F |
| Poultry jerky | 155°F | Heat to 165°F first (USDA) |
Why jerky is different
Heat the meat first
USDA advises heating meat to 160°F and poultry to 165°F before dehydrating, then drying in a dehydrator that holds 130 to 140°F or higher throughout.
NDSU Extension does this step by bringing strips to a full boil in marinade before drying. See how to make jerky safely.
Check your dial
NDSU and Ohio State Extension both recommend checking with a thermometer, since settings can be inaccurate. In TechGearLab's test, most models ran hot and one ran cool; the Cosori stayed within three degrees.
Dehydrator ranges
| Model | Temperature | Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Cosori Premium Food Dehydrator (CP267-FD) | 95–165°F | 48 hr |
| Excalibur 9-Tray Dehydrator with Timer (3926TB) | 105–165°F | 26 hr |
| Magic Mill Food Dehydrator (MFD-7070) | 95–167°F | 24 hr |
| Cosori Premium Pro 10-Tray Dehydrator (CFD-P101-SUS) | 95–165°F, 1° steps | 48 hr |
| Excalibur 10-Tray Performance Digital (DH10SSSS13) | 85–165°F | 80 hr |
| Tribest Sedona Express (SDE-S6780-B) | 77–167°F | Yes, two-stage |
| Nesco Snackmaster Pro (FD-75A) | 95–160°F | None |
| Nesco Gardenmaster (FD-1018A) | 95–160°F | None |
| Presto Dehydro (06300) | One fixed setting | None |
| Hamilton Beach 5-Tray Digital (32100A) | 100–160°F | 48 hr |
Sources
- University of Missouri Extension: Drying Foods (GH1562)
- Penn State Extension: Let's Preserve, Drying Herbs
- Oregon State University Extension: Food dehydrators
- USDA FSIS: Jerky and Food Safety
- NDSU Extension: Making jerky at home
- Ohio State University Extension: Making Jerky at Home Safely
- TechGearLab: best food dehydrator (tested, updated August 2024)
