An electric dryer is relevant not only in a city apartment, where it is difficult to allocate a corner suitable for preparing dried fruits. In rural areas, where there is no problem with this, it is also needed. After all, products that dry under natural conditions are covered with ubiquitous dust, and insects are happy to taste future preparations. But when it comes time to purchase a dryer, the range becomes an obstacle. Only the knowledge of one’s needs will help to make the right choice.
Types of dryers for vegetables and fruits according to the principle of work
The task of this household appliance is to dehydrate products with minimal loss of nutrients. Dehydration in a dryer can occur through air circulation:
- natural when the hot stream rises without additional devices;
- forced - flows are regulated by a fan.
Models of the first type are cheaper. But they dry the food for longer and require regular rearrangement of the trays, with the aim of uniform heating of the products. Household appliances with a fan are a little more expensive, but they cope with the task much faster and without user intervention in the dehydration process.
Convection
Heating in such a dryer is carried out using a conventional heating element. According to the principle of operation, the technique is more similar to an oven. Dehydration of products in such a device will result in stiff fruits with a dense outer layer that have lost some of the aroma and color. The speed of operation depends on the fan: if it is, then one load dries twice as fast.
Infrared
In this case, the heating elements are built directly into the trays. Graphite rods emit infrared rays when exposed to electric current. The result of the device is close to ideal: the fruits are soft, retain color and aroma, and dry much faster than in convection drying. The cost of such devices is much higher. But relatively low operating temperatures and, consequently, lower energy consumption quickly pay off the difference.
Differences by Other Criteria
The cost of drying for vegetables and fruits also reflects its power, based on which the devices can be divided into three categories.
- Low-power - up to 250 watts, well suited for those who do not harvest anything except herbs. Devices are able to cope with vegetables and fruits, but the process of dehydration will take a lot of time.
- Average power - 300-800 W, ideal for seasonal harvesting of dried fruits. It works fast. The only limitation is the maximum load, for such models an average of 3-5 kg of fresh products.
- Semi-industrial - power over 1000 watts. Such dryers are capable of processing large volumes of raw materials for relatively short periods of time. Good for owners of sites annually pleasing with a good harvest.
For the attention of those who dry very few fruits or herbs, manufacturers offer a tablecloth dryer. A lot of it does not fit, but the device is inexpensive and compact.
By type of material
Plastic models are lightweight and relatively low cost. There are options with transparent trays, allowing you to control the stage of readiness without opening the dryer, and with lightproof.
The quality of plastic plays a key role: the trays should be made of food, and the body should be made of fireproof.
Steel has only one drawback - you can get burned about it. But those who are looking for a durable device with unbreakable components can opt for this material. Such dryers are more expensive, but are most often presented by models designed for serious loading.
By capacity
Instrument trays can hold between 0.5 and 2 kg of fresh produce. More often dryers are equipped with pallets without the possibility of regulating the height of the sides, which slightly limits their capabilities.
If you plan to dehydrate a wide variety of products, then it is advisable to choose adjustable or deep components.
Total capacity is directly proportional to performance. It can range from 1-2 kg of raw materials for low-power models to 15 kg with high-power equipment. The number of trays also depends on capacity:
- 3-4 for low-power;
- 5-8 for devices of the middle category;
- up to 20 for powerful ones.
When buying a dryer for vegetables and fruits, it is important to evaluate the ratio of the number of trays and capacity.
By type of management
Mechanical control is typical for simple and reliable devices. Buttons and rotary levers are easy to use. The only negative is the limited number of operating modes and the inability to accurately adjust the temperature.
Electronics wins in this regard. Whether it’s a touch or electromechanical control panel, it allows you to more accurately control the equipment. This makes it possible to select the temperature regime depending on the load of the dryer and the type of raw material. Cons: high cost and inferior mechanical type of control service life.
By type of arrangement of contents for drying
The heating element may be located above, below, or to the side of the feed trays. Based on this, dryers can be divided into:
- vertical - heating from below or above;
- horizontal - side heating.
The first option is more compact. The effect is enhanced by the round shape of the trays, providing uniform heating of raw materials. Devices with a lateral arrangement of a heater are more dimensional than analogues. But often equipped with more capacious square trays.
Additional features
The cost of fruit and vegetable dryers depends on the number of additional functions. Usually, in order to save money, it is recommended to abandon most of the additions, but in this device there are practically no superfluous ones.
Attention should be paid to protection against overheating. If there is no statement on its availability, it is better to refuse to purchase the device - it is dangerous.
Trays for meat and fish differ in the size of the cells - openings for air flows. If they are not included in the package, but it is planned to sluggish these products, then it is worth asking about the availability of suitable products for the selected equipment.
No less useful is the function of "cold air", which allows you to bring products to readiness without heating. A temperature controller is required for fine tuning. And the timer will give you the opportunity to set the working time and go away on their own business: after the time has passed, the dryer itself will turn off.
Leave Your Comment