How to make a dehydrator for products with your own hands

Drying vegetables and fruits is an excellent method for preserving their beneficial properties for an extended period. To efficiently and effectively dehydrate food products, you have the option to purchase a dehydrator that suits your needs from a household appliance store. Furthermore, apart from preparing fruits and vegetables for the winter season, these devices can also be utilized to dry meat, fish and even make homemade yogurt. However, buying a dehydrator from a store can be quite costly. If desired, you can save money by creating a similar contraption using readily available materials. This article explores several options for homemade dehydrators that can be built at minimal cost.

Homemade dehydrator from an old refrigerator

When it comes to creating a homemade dryer, the key consideration is finding the right material for the unit’s body. A discarded refrigerator happens to be the perfect choice for this purpose.

Preparatory measures

Repurposing an old refrigerator’s casing can be a fantastic choice for creating a DIY electric dryer. With its spacious and sturdy structure, it can be transformed into an external frame for a home drying appliance. The first step in constructing a dehydrator is to carefully remove any unnecessary components, such as the freezer, compressor, and radiator. This process should be executed with caution to prevent any leakage of the refrigerator’s working substance, which may include refrigerants like Freon, ammonia, or gas, all of which are hazardous to the human body.

Notably, it is crucial to also eliminate the refrigerator’s lining and insulation material, as these substances can release harmful emissions when heated. However, the rubber backing on the refrigerator door should not be removed.

Hint! To ensure your safety during the initial stages of the project, it is advised to wear a respirator, gloves, and safety goggles.

Assembling the dryer

Once all the necessary preparations have been made, it is time to mount a fan of suitable size in the location where the compressor used to be. A fan with a diameter ranging from 120 to 200 cm and a power output of 18 W should suffice. You can either purchase one specifically for this purpose or repurpose an old exhaust system. It’s important to note that the fan should be set up to blow air masses inside the dehydrator. To create an outlet for moist air, you’ll need to cut a hole with a 10 cm diameter in the top part of the refrigerator. This can be done using tools readily available at home, such as a hole saw or an electric jigsaw. A metal pipe or aluminum corrugation with the appropriate diameter should then be installed on the roof of the refrigerator, extending to a length of 2-3 meters. If you want to speed up the drying process, you can install a small extractor at the top end of the pipe. To prevent insects from entering, it is advisable to protect the top opening of the duct with a mosquito net or several layers of gauze. In order to load products into the dehydrator in the future, wooden slats should be attached to the sides of the refrigerator chamber. The slats will serve as a support for the drying trays. The spacing between the slats should be around 10-20 cm, providing enough room to place a variety of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and herbs, whether in chopped or whole form. If you need to dry larger pieces, simply remove the extra trays from the refrigerator.

Important! To optimize the performance of the homemade device, it is advised to incorporate a heat fan. Alternatively, electric heating elements can be utilized. Placed on the back wall of the refrigerator, they will significantly expedite the drying process.

It is important to note that when using heating elements, an additional fan will be needed to accelerate the ventilation. If these methods of hastening the drying process are not necessary, a basic fan will suffice. For those interested, the DIY dryer can be enhanced with temperature sensors. Additionally, with the appropriate skill, the equipment can be equipped with a timer and other automated features for convenience.

When choosing or creating trays for a dehydrator, it is important to consider the size of the refrigerator. The trays should have a 2 cm gap between their edges and the door, as well as between the trays and the back wall of the case. This gap allows for proper air circulation and ensures that food is evenly dried on all levels.

Tip! If you don’t have specific dehydrator trays, you can use alternative options such as oven trays, grill grates, metal sheets, or mesh shelves. These can be easily improvised from wire, plywood, or other materials.

Drying cabinet with your own hands

• plywood panels;
• slats;
• corner pieces;
• aluminum foil;
• electric heating device;
• conventional and heat fans;
• screws.

The initial step involves the installation of the cabinet frame, which is then covered with plywood or alternative types of wood on all sides, except for the door section. Pre-made holes for attaching fans can be included in the rear wall. The door is constructed separately using the same materials and affixed to the cabinet through hinges. In advance, multiple holes with a diameter of 5-10 mm are drilled into the door’s surface.

There are wooden slats fixed on the side walls of the cabinet, and the inside of the cabinet is lined with aluminum foil.

When choosing trays for fruits and vegetables for your dehydrator, it is important to follow the same methods used when converting a refrigerator into a dryer. The trays should be of a size that allows for unrestricted airflow inside the dehydrator.

Both fans in the dehydrator are positioned on the back wall of the cabinet. The fan heater is placed in the lower section, while the regular fan is located in the upper section.

There is a possibility to connect the devices in parallel in order to make them work from one switch. Another option is to equip the drying cabinet with light bulbs that will act as visual indicators of its functioning.

Assembly options for solar dehydrators

Solar dehydrators, also known as solar dryers, harness the power of the sun to carry out the drying process. These devices are ideal for preserving herbs, fruits, vegetables, and even fish. While they offer cost-effective solutions, their efficiency heavily depends on hot and sunny weather conditions. You have the option to create a basic design using a standard box, or opt for a more sophisticated model with supplementary features.

To create a basic solar dehydrator for the summer house, you will require minimal materials, tools, and time. The assembly of the framework is done in a way similar to constructing a homemade dehydrator cabinet. The only difference is that there is no need to create holes for fans and in the door of the dehydrator.

Instead, small vents are incorporated into the upper and lower walls of the structure and fitted with insect screens. Another distinction is that the lower surface should be longer than the upper surface to achieve an angled door position. The drying tray should be placed on a wooden block stand, resembling a stool.

Important! In order to ensure proper temperature control inside the homemade dehydrator, it is recommended to cover the back wall with a metal sheet. This will facilitate heating and maintain a temperature of 40-50 degrees within the box. Additionally, it is advisable to paint the interior of the dehydrator black, as this will help achieve higher temperatures.

For the door of the dehydrator box, it is best to use transparent materials such as glass, plastic, or polyethylene film. The door should be mounted at the top, similar to a frame.

In order to maximize airflow, it is important to install rails for the trays inside the dehydrator box. The number of rails required will depend on the size of the box. It is also important to avoid leaving too much space between the trays, as this can hinder the circulation of air.

Ultimately, all that’s left is to gather or create pallets that are the right size. From there, the homemade dehydrator can be placed in a well-lit area.

Device with collector

The solar dryer with a collector is an enhanced version of the product that requires more effort. The drying box is designed similarly to a basic dryer, but with several notable distinctions. This type of dehydrator is composed of two components: an air heating zone (collector) and a zone dedicated to drying the products. Both zones need to be covered with transparent material from the front.

Free air flow should be ensured at the bottom of the heating zone by creating openings. A black-painted aluminum plate needs to be installed on the inner wall of the collector. The air flowing along this plate will become heated and enter the lower part of the drying zone through an extra opening. As it moves upwards, it absorbs moisture and exits through the exhaust pipe to the outdoors.

In order to ensure the effective operation of the collector dryer, it should be relocated so that the collector always faces the sun. Alternatively, the dehydrator can be upgraded with additional collector devices on both sides to avoid this inconvenience.

Modification with a fan and thermoregulator

To create a solar dryer using a fan and thermoregulator, you will need the following materials:

• glass or plastic;
• plywood;
• corners, bars, laths;
• wheels with a diameter of 40-80 mm (for easy mobility of the setup);
• an aluminum sheet;
• a small fan (120 mm in diameter, 12 V);
• a thermostat;
• a voltage stabilizer with the KR142EN8B chip;
• a 12 V solar panel;
• a mosquito net.

To simplify the assembly process, refer to the provided diagram that includes the dimensions of the product’s components.

To start with, it is imperative to construct the structure of the item using beams and plywood and seal it shut. Following that, wheels are attached to the bottom of the dryer, allowing for easy rotation towards the sun. The back door of the dryer is then crafted from a transparent material such as glass or plastic.

If the dimensions outlined in the diagram are adhered to, this dryer can accommodate 7 trays spaced 7 cm apart. Wooden slats are affixed inside the housing to facilitate this arrangement. The trays for this setup should be made from mesh material and have supporting rails.

An aluminum sheet painted black is affixed to the collector. In the upper section of the box, a fan is installed, and an electrical circuit is assembled according to the provided scheme, incorporating the fan, solar panel, voltage stabilizer, and thermostat.

In order to enhance the efficiency of an assembled solar-powered dehydrator, it is important to position it in such a way that the solar collector and battery are oriented towards the direction of the sunlight.

Infrared dehydrator

A great way to create a unique dryer for herbs, nuts, mushrooms, and fruits is by utilizing an infrared bulb. To complete this project, you will need the following materials and tools:

• 5-8 mm diameter wire
• Small cardboard box
• Foil
• Metal mesh
• Lamp holder with fasteners
• Thermometer
• 60-watt infrared bulb
• Screwdriver, knife, and awl
• Self-tapping screws and tape

Pro tip! If you don’t have an infrared bulb, you can use a heating element typically found in warm floor installations. A piece of film measuring approximately 50 × 100 cm (based on the size of the box) and with a power of about 110 W will work just fine.

The foil is adhered to the inside of the box, and mesh shelves are fabricated to fit its dimensions. A hole is made on one of the walls near the bottom for the wire, where the infrared bulb cartridge is then affixed. Additionally, a thermometer is attached to one of the inner walls of the box.

Using pieces of wire, holders for the mesh trays are created. This is achieved by puncturing the walls of the box, threading the wire through, and securing the ends with tape.

Monitoring the temperature inside the device can be easily done with the help of a thermometer. To achieve optimal drying results for vegetable products, it is advisable to maintain a temperature range of 40-50 degrees Celsius. If the temperature inside the dryer goes beyond this range, there are a couple of simple solutions. One option is to temporarily turn off the light bulb, or alternatively, you can leave the lid of the box slightly open. Enhancing the convenience of operating this product can be achieved by incorporating temperature sensors, which will automatically shut off the lamp in case of overheating.

There is also the option to utilize a dryer for the processing of protein products, a process commonly referred to as curing. To create a dehydrator specifically for meat or fish, one can fashion it out of a plastic box that has a lid that fits accordingly. The materials needed for this DIY dehydrator include a fan, a piece of pipe or coupling, threaded rods, washers, and nuts. Numerous videos can be found online detailing the process of constructing a curing cabinet. For a more straightforward approach, you can refer to the provided video which demonstrates a simplified version of assembly.

Constructing your own food dehydrator with the appropriate accessories is a relatively simple undertaking. There are endless possibilities when it comes to assembly options that may not have been previously considered. The only limitations are one’s imagination and available resources. Additionally, any DIY model can be automated to minimize the hassle and eliminate the need for constant personal intervention during the drying process.

The best electric dryers

Dryer Lux SSh-010 Diva is available on Yandex Market.

RAWMID Dream Vitamin DDV-06 dryer can be found on Yandex Market.

Dachnik-4 dryer by Radiozavod is listed on Yandex Market.

You can purchase Kitfort KT-1910 dryer on Yandex Market.

Scarlett SC-FD421010 dryer is available for purchase on Yandex Market.