Are you looking for the best air fryer with a dehydrator combo function? In this article, I am going to review the top air fryers that dehydrate as well. At first, I will review each of the best options that are suitable for different situations. I will extensively discuss the pros and cons of each important feature of the air fryers. From the discussion, you will be able to understand which air fryer and dehydrator is the best option for you. Finally, I will also share with you a guide that you need to follow during the purchasing decision.
I have chosen my list from all the available options. At first, I made a draft of around 15 good-quality air fryers that have dehydration function. After that, I discarded the products which did not have a users’ rating of at least 80 out of 100. Finally, I assigned my rating to each of the air fryers based on the features and users’ reviews. I tried to make my list diversified so that everybody having a different situation gets a good option to choose.
However, you may also read our article to find the best dehydrator for fruits and vegetables.
Top Air Fryers With Dehydrator Function
Model | Price | Size | Temperature | Power |
GoWISE USA Mojave | Check Price | 17 quart | 90F to 400F | 1800W |
Chefman 6.3 Quart Air Fryer | Check Price | 6.3 quart | 90F to 400F | 1700 W |
GoWISE USA GW44800-O | Check Price | 12.7 quart | 90F to 400F | 1600 W |
Instant Vortex Pro Air Fryer | Check Price | 10 quart | up to 450F | Not found |
Ninja AF161 Max XL | Check Price | 5.5 quart | 105F to 450F | 1750 W |
CalmDo Air Fryer | Check Price | 12.7 quart | 90F to 400F | 1500W |
After comprehensive research, we have shortlisted the above best air fryers with dehydrator function. In this section, I will describe the features of each of them. If you don’t have much time to read the whole article, then read out the review of our best pick GoWISE USA Mojave 17 Quart air fryer.
GoWise USA Mojave 17 Quart Air Fryer & Dehydrator [Champion]
GoWise USA is a reputed brand for a wide range of air fryers. They have a wide range of products in the basket – from the smallest to the largest air fryers. However, to become an air fryer and dehydrator, it needs some special features such as a lower temperature range, wide cooking time, and multiple racks. After researching almost all the air fryers in the market, I have found this Mojave model to be the best one if you are looking for this 2 in 1 facility – air fryer plus dehydrator.
The temperature range of this unit is 90F to 400F. Therefore, you can dehydrate the most sensitive fruits, vegetables, and herbs with no compromise. You can set the timer for up to 60 minutes in regular mode and up to 8 hours in dehydrator mode. You know that dehydration is a very slow process where you evaporate the water very slowly. Therefore, 8 hours timer option is very vital while dehydrating.
Now come to another important feature – multiple racks. This GoWise 17-quart air fryer has built-in 5 layer racks. Therefore, it maximizes the cooking capacity by enhancing the surface area. During dehydration, you need to make very thin slices of the food. Therefore, it requires a higher surface area to cook in a higher volume. The multiple-layer rack of this Mojave model is a very rare feature of an air fryer.
Advantages at a glance
- It is one of the largest air fryer dehydrators on the market.
- Its multiple-layer racks will allow you to maximize the dehydration and cooking capacity.
- It comes with a lot of free accessories.
- It has a rotisserie option.
- Up to 8 hours of cooking time is available for food dehydration.
- Price is comparatively lower. Value for money is great.
Chefman Air Fryer With Dehydrator [Runner up]
Chefman is undoubtedly a renowned name in the air fryer industry. This 6.3-quart model of this reputed brand is one of the best choices as an air fryer with dehydration function. The first reason I have selected this one in my list is the wide temperature range that is a mandatory quality if you want to dehydrate foods with an air fryer. You can lower the temperature as low as 90°F. Therefore, the temperature will never be an issue. You can dehydrate anything such as less heat-sensitive foods like fish and meat or highly sensitive foods like herbs and seeds. With the double layer removable racks, it can maximize the capacity of the cooking chamber which is so important for food dehydration.
What are the advantages of this Chefman 6.3-quart air fryer? First of all, the capacity of the food chamber is huge. With the 6.3 qt capacity, it can cook foods for 6 persons in a single batch. The dimension of 11 x 10.5 x 14.75 inches can be another advantage. Compared to similar air fryers, it is compact. Therefore, it is a better choice for a small kitchen. The large cooking chamber has a rotisserie option. With this option, you can even cook a whole chicken. The digital control panel of this Chefman air fryer has eight preset cooking functions for fries, bake, fish, shrimp, and so on. Other advantages include the large number of free accessories that come free with this unit. You will get a rotisserie basket, spit, drip tray, and removable racks with it.
Is this Chefman air fryer a good option for you? If you are in a large family, looking for an air fryer that will be good for occasional food dehydration, then you can go for it. You can dehydrate meat and fish with no question. Nuts, seeds, flowers, and even herbs can be dried without any issue with this. If you want to do it on a large scale like a dedicated dehydrator, then capacity will be a constraint.
Advantages at a glance
- It is compact compared to air fryers of similar capacity.
- It is probably the cheapest air fryer that has a dehydrator function.
- Auto shut-off function and BPA-free material has made it a good choice.
- The power of the heating element of this unit is an advantage compared to similar products.
- Although inexpensive, it comes with a sufficient amount of free accessories.
GoWISE USA 12.7 Quart Air Fryer With Multi-Function
GoWISE USA is another popular name in the field of air fryers. The 12.7-quart air fryer of this brand is one of the best choices as an air fryer and dehydrator combo. What are the reasons that I have selected this GoWISE air fryer on my list? The obvious reason is the wide temperature range. It has a variable temperature ranging from 90°F to 400°F. Therefore, it is capable of dehydrating anything, from meats and fish to seeds and flowers. The large cooking chamber is also perfect for dehydrating in larger volumes. It includes multi-layer racks. Therefore, you can get even more surface if you use these.
The other advantages of GoWISE USA 12.7 QT air fryer include the rotisserie function. You can prepare a whole rotisserie chicken with this option. With the multi-layer racks, you can have access to 3 different layers at a time. These layers are very important if you want to dehydrate food or cook different recipes simultaneously. Another prime advantage of this GoWISE USA air fryer is the free accessories that come with it. The free accessories include rotisserie tong, rod, skewer and cage, mesh basket, mesh tray, and so on. The digital control panel has 15 preset cooking functions that help you set the parameter without knowing the temperature and time for any specific recipe. The interior of this unit is made of stainless steel. Therefore, you can clean it conveniently just with a wipe.
Is this GoWISE USA air fryer good for you? If you are living in a large family, you love rotisserie chicken other than dried foods, then this is going to be the best option for you. The value for the money of this unit is also great. One thing I want to remind you is that although it has multi-layer racks, the dehydrating capacity is still not comparable with a standalone food dehydrator.
Advantages at a glance
- Gowise USA 12.7 Qt air fryer and dehydrator comes in 6 different colors and variations.
- It has 3 rack levels. Therefore, you can dehydrate on multiple levels.
- Multiple layer racks will allow you to dehydrate different items in a single batch.
- This Gowise air fryer dehydrator comes with a lot of free accessories including mesh tray and oven racks for dehydration.
- 8 hour timer setting option for dehydrator option is a good feature that is not common to the competitors.
Instant Vortex Pro – Air Fryer Dehydrator Combo
Instant Vortex 10-quart air fryer is another perfect choice with a dehydrator combo. What is the reason that we have chosen it as the best option? Firstly, it has a wide temperature range with a dehydration option. Although we do not know the exact temperature, from other similar models of this brand, we get an idea that we can get the temperature as low as 120°F. Because you will have toast and broil options, I expect that the highest temperature you can achieve with it is 450°F. Another reason that I have chosen this is the multi-layer racks that will maximize the dehydration capacity.
Other advantages of this Instant Vortex 10-quart air fryer include a multi-function facility. Other than air frying and dehydration, you will get options such as rotisserie, toast, broil, and bake. It is a rare advantage of an air fryer. Another advantage is the ‘one step crisp technology’. With this function, you can cook food with a tender inside and crisp outside. The food basket can be rotated during operation. Therefore, it spares you from shaking the basket manually to ensure cooking uniformity. The exterior of this Instant Vortex air fryer is made of stainless steel. Therefore, it is a great complement to your kitchen décor. You can clean it with easy wipes. It comes with a lot of accessories such as a rotisserie basket, spit, forks, drip pan, and so on. All of these accessories are dishwasher safe.
Is this Instant Vortex 10-quart air fryer a good option for you? If you are expecting multi-functional cooking options other than air frying and dehydration, then this one is a perfect choice for you. The removable 3-layer racks help you maximize the cooking capacity. However, go for a dedicated dehydrator if you need to dehydrate in a larger amount.
Advantages at a glance
- Apart from air fryer and dehydrator, this kitchen appliance has rotisserie and convection oven multi-functions.
- You can use multiple layers to maximize the capacity.
- Its stainless steel + back design looks elegant.
- The lowest temperature of 95F is good for dehydrating even herbs and nuts.
- It requires little or no preheating.
Ninja Air Fryer And Dehydrator
This Ninja air fryer is probably the most popular among users. Why did we choose this as one of the top choices for dehydration? The first reason is the wide temperature range that has made it cable of food dehydration. You can go as low as 105°F with this Ninja air fryer. What can you dehydrate with it? Flowers and herbs are the most sensitive when it comes to dehydration. You need a temperature near 100°F to dry these up. Therefore, this AF161 model can dehydrate almost anything that you want.
Any other advantages? Ninja AF161 has a ceramic-coated nonstick food basket. Therefore, you may not use cooking spray to prevent the foods from sticking to the basket wall. Because of the ceramic coating, the basket is free from BPA. Therefore, it can be a great choice if you are concerned about this harmful compound. The basket is dishwasher safe as well. Secondly, the control panel of this Ninja air fryer has a digital display with seven programmable preset cooking functions that include dehydrating, roast, reheat, air fry, air broil, and so on. When you are dehydrating, you can set the parameter manually as well. The highest temperature that you can get with it is 450°F. It is also a unique feature of this Ninja air fryer.
Are there any drawbacks? Ninja AF161 is a 5.5-quart air fryer. Therefore, capacity can be a constraint. It comes with a multi-layer rack that can help you maximize the capacity. But still, it cannot serve as well as a standalone dehydrator when it comes to the point of capacity. If air frying is your prime intention, then this one is the best option for you. As it is not that big not so small, I will suggest it for families consisting of 6 members at most. Although it is not compact if I compare it with the competitors, it weighs only around 9 pounds. Therefore, you can move it and need not fix a place for it on the countertop.
Advantages at a glance
- This is one of the very few standalone air fryers in the market that has a dehydrator function.
- It is a better suggestion for persons who are looking for a compact appliance for space-saving.
- It has a wider temperature range compared to equivalent competitors.
- The ceramic coated basket of this unit is BPA-free.
- Its maximum temperature ( 450F) has made it possible for versatile cooking.
CalmDo Air Fryer Oven Combo
CalmDo air fryer is another great option as a dehydrator combo. How does this unit perform as a dehydrator? First of all, the temperature range of this unit is just perfect for dehydration. The variable temperature range of this unit is 90°F to 400°F. You can dehydrate vegetables and fruits at a temperature of around 130°F. You can also dehydrate any heat-sensitive foods with it. There is an option to place the foods in three different layers with multi-layer racks. The racks are detachable. Therefore, you can dehydrate foods with skewers as well.
Other advantages of this CalmDo air fryer include the large cooking chamber. The 12.7-quart chamber is good enough for cooking for a family consisting of 6 members. Other than air fry and dehydrate, it has functions such as roast, bake, grill, and so on. The door of this air fryer is detachable and transparent. Therefore, you can see what is happening inside. You can clean it effortlessly as well. CalmDo air fryer combo comes with 10 free accessories including a drip tray, mesh tray, rotisserie accessories, and so on. The digital control panel is another great advantage of this CalmDo air fryer. It consists of 18 preset cooking functions. Therefore, whatever you want to cook, it will spare you from manually setting the parameter. Other than these, it has other good features such as splatter guard, return to previous selection function, and so on.
So, is this CalmDo air fryer and dehydrator combo suitable for you? If you are living in a large family or prefer a higher capacity with rotisserie function then this one is just perfect. On the other hand, if you do not like to manually select the temperature and time because you are a beginner, then the 18 preset functions can be a great help for you.
You can read our article to explore the best air fryers with the rotisserie option.
Buying guide – how to choose the best air fryer with a dehydrator?
Size of the cooking chamber
If you are living in a family of two or you are a single person, then a smaller air fryer may save you some money and space in your kitchen. Although the majority of the air fryers with dehydrator have a cooking chamber ranging from 6 qt to 12 qt, there are a few smaller options as well. If you have enough space in the kitchen, I will suggest you not go for smaller options if dehydration is your prime activity.
Multi-layer racks
An air fryer with a dehydrator function should have racks consisting of at least two layers. However, there are few options where you will get 3 layers of removable racks as well. Racks are so important to maximize the cooking capacity. When you prepare dried food, you should cut the food into slim pieces. Therefore, you require a lot of free surfaces to put these for cooking.
Temperature range
When you are purchasing an air fryer and dehydrator combo, then the temperature is the most important feature that you should check. An ordinary air fryer without a dehydrator has a temperature range of around 170°F to 400°F. But a perfect dehydrator should have a lower range of temperatures around 100°F to 120°F. Otherwise, you can not dry out the most sensitive foods such as herbs, seeds, and flowers. Therefore, check whether the air fryer you have intended to purchase has a wide temperature range or not.
Other cooking functions
Do you love multi-functioning or only dehydrator options are good enough for you? An air fryer and dehydrator combo will have functions such as bake, grill, roast, and rotisserie other than air fryer and dehydrator function. But if you want other high-temperature options such as toast and broil, then check the temperature. An air fryer with these functions will have the highest temperature of 450°F.
Timer setting option
It is also an important aspect of food dehydration. A perfect dehydration process may take a few hours to complete. Therefore, when you are choosing the dehydrator and air fryer combo, check the maximum timer limit. However, it is very difficult to find an air fryer having a timer option for more than one hour. But do not choose one which has only 30 minutes limit.
Price or value for the money
The price of an air fryer with a dehydrator will vary according to the size of the cooking chamber. On average, it will cost around 150 dollars. If you want additional features such as multi-cooking functions and multi-layer racks, then the price will be a bit higher.
What you can do with an air fryer that dehydrates
- You can use your air fryer and dehydrator to prepare any kind of dehydrated fruit. If you are harvesting your own fruits, then you may have excess fruits in the season. Therefore, these excess amounts of fruits need to be preserved for future use. You can dehydrate the fruits and enjoy them throughout the year. Fruits such as apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, figs, and so on can be dried out this way.
- Similarly, you can dehydrate any kind of herbs and vegetables. In this way, these perishable food items can be preserved for future consumption. Vegetables such as onions, peas, beans, tomatoes, and so on can be dried out this way.
- Other than fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you can also dehydrate meat and fish, sprouted grains such as rice barley, nuts and seed, and many other items.
Preparation for food dehydration with an air fryer
Whether you are dehydrating with an air fryer, standalone dehydrator, or an oven, you need to prepare the foods beforehand.
Peeling
If you are dehydrating vegetables or fruits, then peeling may be necessary. However, it is not always mandatory. For example, you can optionally peel off the skins while preparing dried apples. But I personally recommend peeling as the skins of the food create nonuniformity. Therefore, to maintain evenness, you should use a vegetable or fruit peeler to get rid of the skins.
Slicing
It is very important that you cut the food uniformly and make the slices as thin as possible. Thinness is important for the process to get faster. Uniformity of the slices is necessary so that all the slices get dehydrated at the same time. To make sure perfect slicing, you may need sharp kitchen knives. You may also use a mandoline.
Blanching
Blanching is the process of immersing the food in a hot liquid often as a preliminary stage of food dehydration. We use this technique sometimes for various reasons. Blanching softens the fruits and vegetables. Therefore, it quickens the dehydration process. On the other hand, it also helps the food retain its color even after the food is dried.
Addition of color or preservatives
It is completely an option whether you add color or preservatives to your dehydrated foods. Usually, commercially dried food manufacturers use these food-grade chemicals to retain the natural food color and enhance the shelf life. Commonly used chemicals in this process are ascorbic acid, citric acid, sodium bisulfite, and so on. However, it is completely your discretion whether you add these to your food.
FAQ
Do I need any additional accessories to dehydrate food with an air fryer?
Food dehydration requires a lot of space. Because you need to cut the food into small slices, the surface area consumed by the food will be higher. Therefore, it is important to use multi-layer racks when dehydrating foods in an air fryer. If you are using a regular coffeemaker-shaped air fryer, then you can use external racks. But I think the majority of the air fryer dehydrator combo has built-in double or triple layer racks.
Can I dehydrate food with a regular air fryer?
Dehydrating food with a regular basic air fryer is not possible. It is due to the required temperature. A basic air fryer has commonly a temperature range of 180°F to 400°F. But food dehydration requires a much lower temperature. Therefore, air fryers that can lower the temperature below or equal to 120°F can be used as a food dehydrator.
How long do I need to dehydrate?
Dehydration time depends on the type of food you are handling. It may vary between 2 hours to 24 hours. There is some kind of herbs that require only 1 hour to get dehydrated. On the other hand, basil leaves require 24 hours to get fully dried. Therefore, I can not definitively tell any certain fixed time other than a range.
What is the required temperature for food dehydration?
Food dehydration temperature may vary between 100°F to 170°F. Usually, fish and meat are less sensitive to heat. Therefore, you can dry these out with a higher temperature of around 170°F. Herbs, flowers, and seeds are the most heat sensitive. You need a temperature of around 100°F to dry out these items. Vegetables and fruits require a moderate level of temperature – around 130°F to 140°F.
Are food chips and dehydrated food the same?
Food chips are cooked at a higher temperature without keeping the property of that food perfectly. For example, if you prepare apple chips at 180°F, then the water and moisture will be dried out. But because of the high temperature, heat-sensitive nutrient contents such as vitamins, get destroyed. On the other hand, the dehydration process only dries out the water without destroying the nutrition elements.
Related Article
- What are the best BPA free air fryers?
- What are the top air fryer for a family of 4?
- Best air fryer suggestions that cost within 200 bucks.
Bottom line
So, which air fryer with a dehydrator is the best option for you? Dehydration needs a lot of space. Therefore, if you need to dehydrate the foods too often in large chunks, then you may purchase a separate food dehydrator. I understand that you have limited space in the kitchen. Therefore, follow my guide properly before making the final decision. If you find my article helpful, you may share it with others so that everybody gets benefited from it. Have a good day!