Counter space is the real reason people search for this. You already own an air fryer, or you’re about to buy one, and the idea of a second big box just for apple chips and jerky doesn’t thrill you. Fair enough.
Here’s the honest version. The best air fryer with dehydrator function is a real feature on some machines and a marketing checkbox on others. What separates them is three numbers almost nobody prints side by side: how low the Dehydrate setting goes, how long its timer runs, and how many layers of food you can actually dry at once.
So that’s what I lined up. Six machines with a dedicated Dehydrate mode, every temperature range taken from the maker’s own manual, plus the cases where a plain dehydrator is still the smarter buy. Let’s get into it.
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Quick Picks: The Best Air Fryer with Dehydrator Mode
- 🥇 Best Overall: Ninja DT251 Foodi Smart XL Pro Air Fry Oven – 85–200°F Dehydrate, two drying levels at once, 24-hour timer
- 💰 Best Value: Chefman 10L Air Fryer+ Rotisserie & Dehydrator – three wire racks in the box and Dehydrate up to 200°F
- 💎 Best Premium: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) – starts at 86°F and runs up to 72 hours
- 📦 Best Large Capacity: Emeril Lagasse French Door 360 (26 qt) – 26-quart French-door oven, 85–175°F for up to 72 hours
- 🔰 Best for Beginners: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart with ClearCook – window in the basket, 72-hour Dehydrate timer
- 🎯 Best for Small Batches: COSORI TurboBlaze 6-Quart – compact basket with a 100–200°F Dry mode
Best Air Fryer with Dehydrator: Comparison Table
| Model | Type | Dehydrate range | Max timer | Drying layers | In the box | Watts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja DT251 Foodi Smart XL Pro | Countertop oven | 85–200°F | 24 h | 2 levels at once (4 with the add-on dehydrating kit) | 2 wire racks, 2 sheet pans, 1 air fry basket | 1800W | $$$ |
| Chefman 10L Air Fryer+ | Tower oven, 10 L | 95–200°F | 24 h | 3 racks | 3 wire racks, rotisserie basket and spit | 1700W | $$ |
| Breville BOV900BSS | Countertop oven | 86–176°F | 72 h | 1 basket (up to 4 with extra baskets) | 1 air fry/dehydrate basket, 2 wire racks | 1800W | $$$ |
| Emeril Lagasse French Door 360 | French-door oven, 26 qt | 85–175°F | 72 h | Several rack positions | Wire rack, crisper tray, pans (quantity varies by bundle) | 1700W | $$ |
| Instant Vortex Plus 6 qt ClearCook | Basket, 6 qt | 95–175°F | 72 h | 1 layer | Basket with window, cooking tray | 1700W | $$ |
| COSORI TurboBlaze 6 qt | Basket, 6 qt | 100–200°F | 24 h | 1 layer | Ceramic-coated basket, crisper plate | 1725W | $$ |
Read the drying layers column first. It decides how much you can dry per run far more than the quart number on the box. A 6-quart basket dries one layer; an oven with racks dries two, three or more.
How I Picked These
Plenty of air fryers list “dehydrate” among their presets. Fewer of them can actually do it well, because drying wants the opposite of frying: low heat, a gentle fan and a lot of hours. In its normal mode an air fryer cooks rather than dries, which is the point the dehydrator vs air fryer guide makes. A proper Dehydrate mode is what changes that, so that’s what I judged.
- A low enough floor. Herbs want 95–115°F. Anything that starts much above that is a fruit-and-jerky machine, not an all-rounder.
- A long enough timer. Fruit and jerky runs take hours. A 24-hour cap is fine; 72 hours means you never reset it.
- Real drying space. Racks or levels you can load at once, not just a basket floor.
I took every temperature range and timer from the manufacturer’s manual, not from listing titles, which sometimes quote the whole appliance’s range instead of the Dehydrate setting. Two popular names didn’t make it. The Ninja DualZone baskets cap Dehydrate at 12 hours and Ninja publishes no separate Dehydrate range for them, and the GoWISE 7-quart with stacking racks has been hard to find new. No guesswork made the list.
1. 🥇 Best Overall: Ninja DT251 Foodi Smart XL Pro Air Fry Oven
- TRUE SURROUND CONVECTION: Up to 10X the convection power vs. a traditional full-size convection oven for faster, crispie…
- 10 VERSATILE FUNCTIONS: Air Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Whole Roast, Broil, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, Reheat, and Pizza, all in…
- SMART COOK SYSTEM: Achieve the perfect doneness from rare to well done at the touch of a button with the integrated Food…
Specs at a glance: Countertop air fry oven · Dehydrate 85–200°F · Timer up to 24 h · 2-level Dehydrate mode · 2 wire racks, 2 sheet pans, air fry basket, roast tray, crumb tray, smart thermometer · 1800W · $$$
If you want one appliance that air fries on Tuesday and dries a full batch of apple chips on Saturday, this is the one I’d buy. The Dehydrate range runs from 85°F, low enough for basil and mint, up to 200°F, which covers the hottest of the air fryer jerky recipes on this site. The timer goes to 24 hours.
The feature that earns the top spot is the 2 LEVEL button. Ninja’s owner’s guide tells you to press it when you dehydrate on two layers. Most air fryers on this page dry on a single layer, so this alone roughly doubles what you get per run. Ninja also sells a separate dehydrating kit that takes it to four levels, if your habit grows.
Be advised, it is an oven-sized machine with an oven-sized footprint, and only one air fry basket comes in the box. The smart thermometer is a nice bonus for roasts and doesn’t do much for drying. If you’d rather save some money, the DT201 is the same oven without the thermometer and has the same 85–200°F Dehydrate range.
Pros
- Dehydrate from 85°F, so herbs work too
- Reaches 200°F for hotter jerky recipes
- Two drying levels at once, four with the add-on kit
- Full air fryer, toaster and convection oven in one box
Cons
- Big footprint on the counter
- 24-hour cap, where some rivals run 72 hours
- Only one air fry basket included
Who It’s For
Households that want a real second oven and serious drying capacity from the same machine. Skip it if your counter is tight; a 6-quart basket below takes far less space.
Check today’s price on the Ninja DT251 before you buy. The best all-rounder here.
2. 💰 Best Value: Chefman 10L Air Fryer+ Rotisserie & Dehydrator
- Versatile countertop cooking: Air fry, bake, dehydrate, rotisserie, or roast to crispy perfection in one convenient appl…
- Cook faster: No need to preheat like traditional ovens. This all-in-one convection oven uses rapid air heating elements …
- Healthy cooking made easy: Make healthy meals using 98% less oil than traditional fryers
Specs at a glance: 10 L tower air fryer oven · Dehydrate 95–200°F · Timer 30 min to 24 h · 3 wire racks · Rotisserie basket and spit · Window in the door · 1700W · $$
This is the machine that shows up on more “air fryer and dehydrator” lists than any other, and on paper it’s easy to see why. You get three wire racks in the box, so you can load three layers of apple slices or jerky strips on day one without buying anything else. Chefman’s user guide puts Dehydrate at 95–200°F with a timer up to 24 hours.
There are separate dehydrate presets for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and chicken, which is handy for a first run. Look at the numbers before you trust them, though: the plain Dehydrate default is 165°F for 10 hours, which is jerky territory, not fruit. Set the temperature yourself for anything delicate.
Mind you, it’s a tower, and the rack nearest the heat dries faster than the one at the bottom. Swap them halfway, the same way you’d rotate trays on a stackable dehydrator, and you’ll get even results.
Pros
- 3 wire racks included: three layers out of the box
- 95–200°F Dehydrate covers herbs to jerky
- Window lets you check without opening
- Rotisserie and convection oven functions as a bonus
Cons
- Top rack dries faster: rotate halfway
- Default Dehydrate setting runs hot for fruit
- 10 L racks are smaller than an oven shelf
Who It’s For
Anyone who wants multi-layer drying for a mid-range price. Skip it if you want 72-hour runs or a lot of rack area; the ovens below have more of both.
See the current price of the Chefman 10L Air Fryer+ on Amazon. The most drying per dollar.
3. 💎 Best Premium: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS)
- The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro with Element iQ System is a versatile countertop oven allowing you to roast, air f…
- ELEMENT iQ SYSTEM: With 5 independent quartz elements, smart algorithms steer oven’s power where and when it’s needed to…
- AIR FRY AND DEHYDRATE SETTINGS: Air fry family favorites like French fries; Higher temperatures combine with super conve…
Specs at a glance: Countertop convection oven · Dehydrate 86–176°F · Timer up to 72 h · 1 air fry/dehydrate basket + 2 wire racks · Holds up to 4 baskets (extra baskets sold separately) · 1800W · $$$
The Breville is the one I’d pick if drying matters as much as frying. Its Dehydrate setting starts at 86°F, low enough for delicate herbs, and the timer runs up to 72 hours. Breville’s default is 125°F for 12 hours, which tells you the engineers expected you to dry fruit and herbs with it, not just jerky.
The oven is designed to take up to four air fry baskets at once for dehydrating. Only one comes in the box, so budget for extras if you want the full four layers. Even with one basket and the two wire racks, the convection fan moves air across the whole cavity rather than straight up through a stack.
The ceiling is 176°F. That’s plenty for jerky as long as you pre-heat the meat first (more on that below), but it’s lower than the 200°F some of the air fryer jerky recipes here call for. Follow the safety step and you’re fine.
Pros
- 86°F floor, gentle enough for herbs
- 72-hour timer
- Fits up to four baskets for big batches
- Excellent toaster oven and air fryer as well
Cons
- Most expensive pick here
- Extra baskets cost extra
- 176°F ceiling: pre-heat jerky first
Who It’s For
Cooks who dry herbs and fruit often and want the most control. Skip it if you mostly make jerky and want 200°F; the Ninja or Chefman go hotter.
Check the price on the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro first. Buy once, dry for years.
4. 📦 Best Large Capacity: Emeril Lagasse French Door 360 (26 qt)
- A VERSATILE AIR FRYER AND MULTI-COOKER COMBO: Elevates practically any meal, from air frying quick after-school snacks t…
- PERFECTLY DONE TOAST: Oven turns off automatically when the toast count-down timer ends, no burnt toast! Indicator light…
- DUAL-SPEED FAN: Golden fried crisping at its finest with 360º superheated air circulation for your homemade cooking.
Specs at a glance: 26-quart French-door air fryer oven · Dehydrate 85–175°F · Timer 30 min to 72 h · Several rack positions · Wire rack, crisper tray, baking pan, drip tray, rotisserie spit (quantities vary by bundle) · 1700W · $$
The biggest cavity on this page for a mid-range price. The manual puts Dehydrate at 85–175°F with a default of 120°F for 12 hours and a timer that runs up to 72 hours, so it handles fruit, vegetables and herbs as comfortably as the Breville does.
The French doors swing out of the way, which makes loading and checking racks easier than reaching past a drop-down door. The manual lists several rack positions for Dehydrate, so you can spread a big load across levels.
Worth noting: Emeril’s manual says rack quantities may vary, and some listings ship without the grill plate. Check what’s in the box on the listing you buy, and add a second wire rack or mesh tray if you want to dry on more than one level. Like the Breville, it tops out at 175°F, so pre-heat jerky first.
Pros
- 26-quart capacity: the largest here
- 85°F floor and 72-hour timer
- French doors make loading easy
- Mid-range price for its size
Cons
- Box contents vary by bundle
- 175°F ceiling: pre-heat jerky first
- Wide footprint
Who It’s For
Families and gardeners who want room for big batches. Skip it if you want everything in the box; check the bundle before you order.
See today’s deal on the Emeril Lagasse French Door 360. The most room for the money.
5. 🔰 Best for Beginners: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart with ClearCook
- 6 Cooking Functions: Air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate all in one sleek appliance with intuitive touchs…
- EvenCrisp Technology: Achieve the perfect crunch with 95% less oil than traditional deep frying
- Sneak a Peak: The ClearCook window lets you check your food without opening the basket, for easy monitoring.
Specs at a glance: 6-quart basket air fryer · Dehydrate 95–175°F · Timer 1–72 h · 1 drying layer · ClearCook window, OdorErase filters · 1700W · $$
If this is your first air fryer and you want to try dehydrating without committing to an oven-sized machine, start here. Instant’s guide sets Dehydrate at 95–175°F with a default of 130°F for 8 hours, and the timer runs up to 72 hours. Those are sensible defaults for fruit.
The ClearCook window is the beginner feature. You can watch apple slices curl and darken without opening the basket and letting the heat out, which is how most people learn when chips are done. The OdorErase filters cut cooking smells, which you’ll appreciate on a long jerky run.
It’s a single basket, so you dry one layer at a time, and no extra rack comes in the box. That’s enough for a tray of air fryer apple chips or a small batch of jerky strips. For a full bag of apples, look at the ovens above.
Pros
- Window lets you watch without opening
- 95°F floor and 72-hour timer
- Compact footprint
- Odor filters help on long runs
Cons
- One drying layer only
- No rack included for stacking
- 175°F ceiling: pre-heat jerky first
Who It’s For
First-time buyers who want an everyday air fryer that also dries small batches. Skip it if you plan to dry a lot at once; a basket can’t compete with racks.
See the current price of the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart on Amazon. The easiest way to start.
6. 🎯 Best for Small Batches: COSORI TurboBlaze 6-Quart
- 𝙇𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜-𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜: Advanced Turbo Blaze Technology boosts your cooking efficiency during busy times, allowing you t…
- 𝟵-𝙞𝙣-𝟭 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮: Includes Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate, Frozen, Proof, Reheat, and Keep Warm. Perfect alter…
- 𝙐𝙣𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨: The 5 Fan speed airflow system ensures golden, crispy, and juicy results for every meal
Specs at a glance: 6-quart basket air fryer · Dry mode 100–200°F · Timer 1–24 h · 1 drying layer · Ceramic-coated basket, crisper plate · 1725W · $$
COSORI calls its Dehydrate mode “Dry,” and the US manual sets it at 100–200°F with a default of 135°F for 6 hours. The listing title quotes 90°F, but that isn’t the Dry setting; check the manual and you’ll see Dry starts at 100°F. Still low enough for most fruit and vegetables, and a little warm for delicate herbs.
The 200°F ceiling is the reason it’s here. Of the two basket models, this one is the jerky machine: it covers the hotter air fryer jerky recipes without switching modes. The ceramic-coated basket also wipes clean after sticky marinades.
Single layer, single basket, like the Instant. Use it for a quick tray of chips or a small batch of jerky, not a garden harvest. If you love the brand and want a real dehydrator later, the Cosori dehydrator guide picks up from there.
Pros
- Dry mode reaches 200°F for jerky
- Compact 6-quart footprint
- Easy-clean ceramic-coated basket
- 24-hour timer
Cons
- 100°F floor: a bit warm for delicate herbs
- One drying layer only
- Listing quotes 90°F, but Dry starts at 100°F
Who It’s For
Small households that make jerky and chips in small, frequent batches. Skip it if you dry herbs often; the Breville or Ninja start lower.
Check today’s price on the COSORI TurboBlaze 6-Quart. Small basket, big jerky.
What to Look For in an Air Fryer with Dehydrator Mode
The Dehydrate button is the easy part. These are the numbers behind it that matter.
The Dehydrate temperature range, not the appliance range
Listings love to quote the full range, like “90–450°F,” which mixes air fry and dry settings. Look up the Dehydrate range in the manual. For reference: herbs want 95–115°F, fruit and vegetables 125–140°F, and jerky runs hotter. On this page the floors run from 85°F (Ninja, Emeril) to 100°F (COSORI), and the ceilings from 175°F to 200°F.
Timer length
Drying takes hours, not minutes. A 24-hour cap covers almost every batch; 72 hours (Breville, Emeril, Instant) means you never have to restart a slow run. Avoid anything that caps Dehydrate at 12 hours if you dry thick fruit or jerky.
Basket or oven
This is the big trade-off. A 6-quart basket dries one layer, which is fine for a snack-sized batch. An oven-style machine with racks dries two, three or four layers at once. Ovens also move air across the food rather than up through it, which is the same advantage the horizontal airflow explainer describes for dehydrators. If you want an oven first and a dehydrator second, the countertop convection oven guide is the next stop.
Racks in the box
Count what ships, not what fits. The Chefman includes three racks; the Breville holds four baskets but includes one. Emeril’s box contents vary by bundle. Extra racks are a small cost, but it’s a second order.
Jerky headroom
The air fryer jerky recipes on this site run between 160°F and 200°F. The Ninja, Chefman and COSORI reach 200°F in Dehydrate; the Breville, Emeril and Instant stop at 175–176°F. Either way, the USDA says to heat meat to 160°F, or poultry to 165°F, before you dry it (USDA jerky guidance). That pre-heat step matters more than the dial.
When a plain dehydrator is still smarter
If you dry big batches every week, a dedicated dehydrator wins on space, noise and running cost. Air fryer ovens are great for a few trays at a time. For bigger jobs, the best dehydrator for jerky and best dehydrator for fruit guides are the better place to shop.
How to Dehydrate in an Air Fryer: Quick Tips
- Use Dehydrate, not Air Fry, for keeping food. Air fry mode makes crisp chips you eat the same day, like the air fryer fruit chips here. Dehydrate mode dries them to keep in a jar.
- Slice thin and even. 1/8 inch for fruit and jerky. Uneven slices mean half the batch is done and half is still soft.
- Don’t overlap pieces. Air needs to reach both sides. One layer per rack, with gaps.
- Weigh down light food. Herbs and thin chips can blow around in a strong fan. A wire rack on top of the basket keeps them in place.
- Pre-heat jerky. 160°F for beef, 165°F for poultry, then dry. The air fryer overnight jerky recipe walks through it.
- Condition before storing. Cool completely, then keep the batch loosely sealed in a jar for a day and shake it to check for moisture. How long dehydrated food lasts has the storage numbers.
Best Air Fryer with Dehydrator FAQs
Can an air fryer with a dehydrator function replace a food dehydrator?
For small batches, yes. A good Dehydrate mode holds low heat for hours, which is what a dehydrator does. Where it falls short is capacity: a basket dries one layer, and even the ovens here hold two to four. If you dry a few trays a week, one appliance is enough. If you dry a garden’s worth, a dedicated dehydrator is still the better tool.
What temperature should I use to dehydrate in an air fryer?
Use the same temperatures you would in a dehydrator. Herbs want 95–115°F, fruit and vegetables 125–140°F, and jerky runs hotter, usually 160°F or above. Check that your machine’s Dehydrate range covers what you dry most. The floors on this page run from 85°F to 100°F.
How long does dehydrating in an air fryer take?
Hours, not minutes. Times depend on the food, the slice thickness and the humidity, and they’re similar to a dehydrator at the same temperature. For a sense of scale, the manufacturers’ default Dehydrate times run from 6 hours on the COSORI to 12 hours on the Breville and Emeril. Check the food, not the clock.
Can I make jerky with the dehydrate setting?
Yes. The USDA says to heat meat to 160°F, or poultry to 165°F, before drying it, then dry it at your recipe’s temperature. The Ninja DT251, Chefman and COSORI reach 200°F in Dehydrate mode; the Breville, Emeril and Instant stop at 175–176°F, which is still fine once the meat has been pre-heated.
Is a basket or an oven-style air fryer better for dehydrating?
An oven-style air fryer, if drying matters. Ovens hold several racks, so you dry two to four layers per run instead of one, and air moves across the food more evenly. Baskets are smaller and cheaper and work well for a single tray of chips or jerky.
Can I dehydrate in an air fryer without a dehydrate setting?
Only if its lowest temperature is low enough for your food and its timer runs long enough, which most basic models don’t publish. Without a true Dehydrate mode you’re usually cooking the food rather than drying it. If drying is part of the plan, buy a model with a dedicated Dehydrate or Dry setting.
Does dehydrating in an air fryer use a lot of electricity?
The models here are rated at 1700 to 1800 watts, but the heater cycles on and off once it reaches a low drying temperature, so real use is well below that. As an upper bound, 1800 watts running flat out for 8 hours is 14.4 kWh, roughly $2.50 at a typical US rate of about 17 cents per kWh. Actual runs use less.
Final Verdict: Which Air Fryer with Dehydrator Should You Buy?
- If you want one machine that air fries and dries real batches, get the Ninja DT251. 85–200°F and two levels at once.
- If you want multi-layer drying for less, get the Chefman 10L Air Fryer+. Three racks in the box.
- If you want a small basket for jerky and chips, get the COSORI TurboBlaze. Dry mode up to 200°F.
And if you find yourself drying more than frying, that’s your sign to look at a real dehydrator. The beginners guide is a good place to start. Right tool, right job.
Personal Tips You Can Steal
I run a first test batch of thin apple slices on every new air fryer before I trust its Dehydrate mode. The apples show you where the fan hits hardest: those pieces brown first.
I put a wire rack over light food like herbs, because a strong air fryer fan will blow dried basil straight into the heating element. And I write the date and the setting on a strip of tape on every jar, so I know which settings to repeat next time.
More Dehydrator Buying Guides
- Best Dehydrator for Beginners – when you’re ready for a dedicated machine.
- Best Dehydrator for Jerky – for big jerky batches an air fryer can’t hold.
- Best Large Capacity Food Dehydrator – gardens, hunting seasons and bulk drying.
- Best Dehydrator for Fruit – apples, mango and more, by the trayful.
P.S. Before you buy, open the manual on the maker’s site and look for the Dehydrate range. Two minutes there tells you more than the listing title. 🙂