Dehydrating food preserves it naturally, concentrates flavors, and creates healthy snacks like beef jerky, dried fruit, and vegetable chips. The best air fryer for dehydrating doubles as a reliable dehydrator, offering low temperature settings and enough airflow to remove moisture slowly and evenly. Instead of buying a separate dehydrator, you can use one versatile appliance for both crispy air-fried meals and perfectly dried snacks.
Dehydrating requires low, consistent heat over several hours to slowly draw moisture out of food. Standard dehydrators run between 95°F and 165°F. Some air fryers now include dehydrate functions that operate in this same temperature range with gentle fan speeds. The key difference is that air fryers typically dehydrate faster than dedicated units because of their more powerful heating elements and concentrated airflow.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is our top pick for dehydrating. It features a dedicated dehydrate setting with temperatures as low as 105°F and a 12-hour timer. The spacious interior fits multiple wire racks, giving you plenty of surface area for jerky strips, apple slices, or herb drying. Element IQ technology distributes heat precisely across all rack positions for uniform results.
The Instant Vortex Plus includes a dehydrate function that works surprisingly well for a basket-style air fryer. It operates at temperatures from 105°F to 165°F with a timer up to 72 hours. While the single-basket design limits capacity compared to oven-style models, it is perfect for small batches of jerky, dried mango, or banana chips.
The Cosori Toaster Oven Combo provides 12 functions including dehydrate. With its large interior and included wire rack, you can dehydrate multiple trays of food at once. The temperature range starts at 100°F, which is ideal for delicate herbs and flowers. The 60-minute to 12-hour timer covers most dehydrating needs.
The Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven flips up for compact storage and flips down to reveal a spacious interior with two cooking levels. The dehydrate function runs from 105°F to 195°F with up to 12 hours of continuous operation. The included wire rack and air fry basket give you flexibility for different dehydrating projects.
Slice lean beef against the grain into thin strips. Marinate for 4 to 12 hours, then arrange on the rack without overlapping. Dehydrate at 160°F for 4 to 6 hours until the strips bend without breaking. Homemade jerky costs a fraction of store-bought and contains no preservatives.
Slice apples, mangoes, bananas, or strawberries into uniform thin pieces. Arrange in a single layer and dehydrate at 135°F for 6 to 10 hours. The result is chewy, sweet snacks that last for weeks in an airtight container.
Thinly slice kale, sweet potatoes, beets, or zucchini. Spray lightly with oil and season with salt. Dehydrate at 135°F for 4 to 8 hours for crispy, healthy chips that rival anything from the store.
Dry fresh herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary at 105°F for 2 to 4 hours. This preserves their flavor far better than air drying and takes a fraction of the time.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is the clear winner for dehydrating thanks to its precise temperature control, spacious multi-rack interior, and 12-hour timer. If you want a more affordable option that still dehydrates well, the Instant Vortex Plus and Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven both deliver reliable results. For the best of both worlds — great air frying and great dehydrating — the oven-style models with multiple rack positions provide the most versatility.
No, only air fryers with a dedicated dehydrate function that reaches low temperatures (105°F to 165°F) can properly dehydrate food. Standard air fryers that only go down to 200°F will cook food rather than dehydrate it.
Dehydrating times range from 2 hours for herbs to 12 hours for thick jerky. Most fruits take 6 to 10 hours, vegetables take 4 to 8 hours, and jerky takes 4 to 6 hours.
An air fryer is more versatile since it also cooks food, but dedicated dehydrators offer more rack space and run more efficiently over long periods. For occasional dehydrating, an air fryer with a dehydrate function is a great space-saving choice.
Use 160°F to 165°F for meat jerky, 130°F to 140°F for fruits and vegetables, and 95°F to 110°F for herbs. Following USDA guidelines, meat should start at 160°F for food safety.
Yes, as long as your air fryer has a timer that extends to 8 or 12 hours. Models like the Breville Smart Oven and Instant Vortex Plus support extended dehydrating sessions safely.