The number of separate trays on which food can be placed during drying.
The design of the trays in food dryers can vary. Typically, they consist of separate closed compartments, but another option is a common chamber with shelves (refer to the "Location of the fan (heater)" section for more information). Regardless of the specific design, the trays are positioned vertically, with multiple trays or "floors" in modern food dehydrators. The most modest option is actually
3 trays;
4 trays — also quite a small number;
5-tray dehydrators are the most popular; noticeably less common models with
6 trays or
8 trays; and in individual devices
9 or more trays can be provided (12, and sometimes 20).
Using multiple trays or "floors" in a food dehydrators ffers several advantages. It allows for increased capacity while maintaining a compact width and depth for the entire device. The more tiers there are, the smaller the area of each individual tray becomes, enabling a smaller overall width and depth of the dehydrator. This is particularly beneficial when space is limited on a table or surface, but there is ample vertical space available. Additionally, having multiple trays allows for simultaneous drying of different types of products with varying drying times. By using ce
...rtain techniques, individual compartments and shelves can be removed without having to turn off the device. However, it's important to note that increasing the number of levels in the device affects its height and cost, reduces the capacity of each individual tray, and necessitates the use of more powerful fans to ensure even heat distribution.
It's important to note that the presence of numerous trays does not necessarily indicate a powerful or spacious food dehydrator. This design can be found in compact models as well. Devices with 3-4 tiers often do not significantly differ in capacity, although there may be exceptions to this.
At the same time, there are also models whose equipment with trays significantly exceeds the number of drying levels. But our paragraph indicates how many levels (trays) can be used simultaneously when drying.
