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Food Dehydrating Starter Kit: What You Need to Begin

Photo of Susan Gast
Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

Want to start dehydrating food but not sure what you really need? Don’t worry — I’ve pulled together a simple food dehydrating starter kit that covers the essentials without overloading your kitchen.

✅ Quick Answer: What do you need for a food dehydrating starter kit?
A food dehydrating starter kit includes latex gloves, cut-resistant gloves, a sharp knife, cutting board, and/or a mandoline for prep. A dehydrator (like Nesco or Excalibur) for drying. For storage, use a vacuum sealer, jars or bags, with oxygen absorbers and desiccant packs to keep food fresh long-term.

Here’s a list of tools I recommend for your Food Dehydrating Starter Kit. With these basics, you’ll be fully set up to prep, dehydrate, and store food at home. 

What you need for a food dehydrating starter kit with dehydrator trays of colorful sliced fruits and vegetables on a rustic kitchen counter.

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Prep Tools That Save Time and Fingers

NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves

Cut-resistant Gloves – Safety First When Slicing

These NoCry cut resistant gloves are a popular choice for anyone handling sharp tools. 

Cutluxe Chef Knife

Cutluxe Chef Knife

This chef's knife has a full tang which means the handle and blade "are one" so they can't come apart when we're slicin' and a dicin'.

HOMWE cutting board set

Sturdy Cutting Board Set - 3 Pack

3-piece cutting board set with non-slip handles and juice grooves. Dishwasher safe, BPA-free.

PL8 Professional Mandoline

Mandoline Slicer by Progressive

Make it a little easier on yourself - try this mandoline, but please be careful. Sharp blade!


Dehydrators That Get the Job Done

Nesco Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator

Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Dehydrator

Nesco Snackmaster FD-60 (vertical airflow) – budget-friendly and beginner-approved by me.

OR:

Excalibur 4-Tray Food Dehydrator

Excalibur 2400 Food Dehydrator, 4-Tray Starter

Excalibur (horizontal airflow), decent temperature control, costs more than a Nesco for some reason...

OR:

Elite Gourmet Food Dehydrator

Elite Gourmet EFD319

  • Elite Gourmet EFD319 (vertical airflow) – a great price, plus you can SEE what's on it!

    • Food Vacuum Sealing Machines

    FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine

    FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer Machine

    FoodSaver vacuum sealer – keeps food fresh for months (or years).

    OR:

    Bonsenkitchen Vacuum Sealer Machine

    Bonsenkitchen Vacuum Sealer Machine

    Bonsenkitchen Vacuum Sealer Machine. Comes with a full starter kit. Nice! When my FoodSaver goes to heaven, I'll be getting one of these...


    Food Vacuum Sealer Bags and/or Rolls

    FoodSaver Precut 1-Quart Size Vacuum Sealer Bags

    FoodSaver 1-Quart Food Storage Sealer Bags

    FoodSaver Precut 1-Quart Size Vacuum Sealer Bags.

    AND/OR:

    Wevac Vacuum Sealer Bags

    WEVAC Vacuum Sealer Rolls

    Wevac Vacuum Sealer Rolls, 8"x50' and 11"x50' (2-pack). Heavy-duty, BPA-free, and commercial grade.


    Storage Supplies - Mason Jars

    Ball Regular Mouth Quart Jars

    Mason Jars Regular Mouth Quart Jars


  • Quart-Size Mason jars – airtight and reusable.

    • AND/OR:

    Kerr Wide Mouth Half-Pint Mason Jars

    Kerr 8 oz. Mason Jars


  • Kerr 8 oz jars, wide mouth, 12 jars with lids and bands.

    • Storage Supplies - Mylar Bags 10" x 14"

    Dry-Packs ShieldPro Mylar Bags

    Mylar Bags, 10" x 14" Size

    Dry-Packs 1-Gallon ShieldPro Mylar Bags for storing 3 or 4 vacuum sealed bags.


    Storage Supplies - Oxygen Absorbers

    100cc Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers

    Oxy-Sorb 100cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • 100cc Oxygen absorbers – for quart-size vacuum sealer bags and Mason jars.

    • AND:

    Oxy-Sorb 300cc Oxygen Absorbers

    Oxy-Sorb 300cc Oxygen Absorber

  • 300cc Oxygen absorbers – perfect for 10"x14"Mylar bags.

    • Storage Supplies - Desiccant Packets

    Vbeijll Color-Indicating Silica Gel Packets

    5g Desiccant Packets

    5g Desiccant packs – for quart-sized containers.

    AND:

    Wisesorb Silica Gel Pack

    20g Desiccant Packets

    20g Desiccant packs – for 10"x14" Mylar bags.


    That’s it - your food dehydrating starter kit. With these basics, you’ll be set for safe, successful dehydrating.

    Now that you’ve got the kit basics in hand, why not put them to use? Grab your free 5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Great PDF — including carrot soup, minestrone, split pea soup, spicy beef jerky, and banana cinnamon rolls — and start making delicious, shelf-stable meals today.

    5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

    5 Free Dried Food Recipes
    That Actually Taste Great

    Put your dried food to delicious use!
    Five very different recipes    .
    Not one dull bite...

    ← Get your free copy now!

    5 Free Dried Food Recipes
    That Actually Taste Great

    5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

    Put your dried food to delicious use!
    Five very different recipes    .
    Not one dull bite...

    Get your free copy now!

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    Save the Harvest food dehydrating game featuring jars of dried bananas, beets, mushrooms, peas, and corn.

    Test Your Food-Dehydrating
    Know-How

    Choose a food, make the right preparation, drying, and storage decisions—and see how many stars you can earn!

    Play “Save the Harvest”

    Test Your Food-Dehydrating
    Know-How

    Save the Harvest food dehydrating game featuring jars of dried bananas, beets, mushrooms, peas, and corn.

    Choose a food, make the right preparation, drying, and storage decisions—and see how many stars you can earn!

    Play “Save the Harvest”