Food dehydrators stretch the shelf life of snacks. Here's how they work.

Every new cooking method has a little bit of a learning curve, but it's a lot less intimidating when when you're accompanied by an appliance of the same skill level.

For food dehydrators, that approachable model is the Nesco Snackmaster Pro (FD-75A). A single dial controls temperature, with Fahrenheit and Celsius suggestions for foods like fruits and veggies, nuts, and fish spelled out on the lid to help you learn the ropes.

The lack of a built-in timer doesn't seem to faze people: This little guy has earned a number one spot in numerous dehydrator rankings across the internet, often beating out models that are double the price. For a machine with a top-mounted fan, this really does master balanced drying for most snacks, and is your best bet for making jerky in a round dehydrator.

Officially, every dehydrator can make jerky. But there are certain features that streamline the process and lock in each meat's unique flavor.

A non-circular dehydrator makes for easy arranging of rectangular strips without overlapping. The more square feet of drying space, the larger the batch — and the Excalibur's 15 square feet is generous. Air blown across the trays is just the circulation needed to ensure that every inch is dried evenly, and the airflow that best prevents flavor mixing.

Jerky needs to hit a certain internal temperature to kill bacteria without the need for curing salt: 165 degrees for poultry, 160 degrees for other meats. Cheaper dehydrators have trouble maintaining that range for long periods. The Excalibur easily hold consistently high temperatures for the 6 to 15 hours jerky might need, then powers down automatically.

This dehydrator's ability to remember two consecutive time and temperature settings is handy for the trial and error that comes with perfecting that chewy texture. If you're worried about over-drying, up the temperature to 160 degrees for a six to eight hours, check it, then switch to the low hundreds to seal the deal. (The main difference between this model and the 3926TB is that this one has a digital display instead of the 3926TB's dial, which is objectively sleeker.)

Dehydrating multiple batches of food a week will go much more smoothly with a machine that doesn't require a constant eye. The Tribest Sedona (SD-P9000) is an all-around great large batch option, but is particularly reliable for dehydrating overnight or while you're away for the day. 

Armed with two independent 300 watt fans, the Sedona's handiest feature is the option to dry only a few trays at a time. There's no use in wasting energy to push air to nine trays when your jerky only takes up four trays. Less power means less obnoxious noise, which is an obvious bonus.

When all nine trays are in use, you can rely on the Sedona to keep a consistent temperature for extended periods of time. The bright LED control panel being on the front won't seem important until you're fumbling around with the timer or temperature buttons in the dark.

People who will only blow the dust off a dehydrator when their favorite fruit is in season don't need anything fancy. The Presto Dehydro (06300) is a reliable no-frills machine for those in-and-out jobs.

By no-frills, we mean there's not a single button to press. It operates at a preset temperature of 165 degrees, though it is known to fluctuate in the 140s after running for a few hours. Someone looking to make jerky should consider a model that can hold a steadier hot temperature. The bottom-mounted fan won't do meat flavors any justice, either.

The Dehydro rules for simple projects, though. It can expand to eight trays (though it only comes with four) and handles fruit slices, fruit leather, flowers, and herbs with no problem. The trays are dishwasher-safe and can nest for storage, reducing the Dehydro's size by 35 percent.

Instant Pot's whole thing is replacing multiple countertop appliances with a single appliance that can perform all of those functions. The Instant Vortex Plus was notably the brand's first stab at air frying, but it's IP's first attempt at dehydrating, too.

The Vortex Plus isn't the only air fryer/dehydrator on the market. But its oven-shaped design over the common basket design makes spreading food out in layers much easier. Admittedly, your layering will max out at two trays, but it's enough for small batches like a pound of beef. (For reference, the 10-quart capacity can toast six pieces of bread at once.)

For an appliance that's not even a dedicated dehydrator, people are impressed by how well the Vortex Plus dries anything from fruit slices, to stubborn cauliflower, to marinated beef strips. Hitting "dehydrate" on the touch screen (!!!) lets you adjust your own time and temperature. Some people like to throw jerky in the oven after dehydrating just to ensure that it's cooked thoroughly, so it's nice that you don't have to switch appliances here.

If you can't picture how big the Sedona or Excalibur are in real life, think two microwaves pushed together. People with minimal counter space were essentially forced into buying a stackable dehydrator and forgoing the optimal rear-mounted fan. The Sahara Folding Dehydrator solved this problem.

While a nesting dehydrator has trays that can perfectly fit inside one another, Brod and Taylor claims that the Sahara is the only true folding dehydrator on the market. When collapsed, its 3.5-inch tall body resembles a gaming laptop and can be tucked into a kitchen drawer. 

When assembled, this 700-watt beast provides 11 square feet of drying space. A rear-mounted radial fan keeps air circulating and uniform across large batches — and does so quietly. The double heater system starts off on high power to dry wet food, then automatically shifts to low power for more efficient drying with partially dried food.

Jumping from a beginner's stackable dehydrator to the advanced ones with doors is a lot of pressure. This 6-tray dehydrator from Aroma is a dependable introduction to the sliding tray design that still fits in the budget-friendly category.

The first thing most people notice about the Aroma is that, well, they don't even notice that it's on. Dehydrator fans can sound like anything from an air purifier to a really obnoxious dishwasher, and the latter isn't something you can leave running all night if you have thin walls, kids, or a jumpy pet. Inexpensive models without sound mufflers and XL models are typically the loudest, so the Aroma is truly a happy medium.

Unlike the Sedona and Excalibur, the Aroma dries with a top-mounted fan. At least it comes with a drip pan — most dehydrators don't, and this at least prevents the dripping mess made by vertical airflow. The drying space is halved compared to those models, but that also means a much larger footprint on your counter. At any rate, each tray can hold one pound of food.