How Many Vegetables
Fill A Dehydrator?

Deciding how many vegetables fill a dehydrator is not an exact science. It obviously depends on what size dehydrator you have.

We created this guide to help make that decision easier for you. It helps to have a rough idea how many vegetables to purchase at the store!

Celery on the Nesco dehydrator




This is what you need to buy to fill Four full dehydrator trays

An Easy Guide for Vegetables
so you'll know how many vegetables
fill a dehydrator!

This helps if you cannot afford to buy in bulk, and can only buy vegetables on a weekly basis. Time to get growing your own, you say? :-)

Most of us do not have tons of spare room in our fridges and freezers. Before you go out buying too much, here's a handy guide that shows you roughly how many vegetables will fit on four dehydrator trays. Please remember this is just a guide. It's not an exact science...

4 Trays is THE Minimum to Use
for Nesco Dehydrators

The reason why I picked how many vegetables does it take to fill four full trays is this: FOUR trays are the Nesco dehydrator brand's recommended minimum tray usage.

If you use any less than four full trays, for instance, only two trays, then you are not getting the proper air circulation necessary to dry your vegetables properly.

Read more about Nesco dehydrators here. They have plenty of great accessories, such as spare trays (I purchased the four-tray starter Nesco); non-stick sheets which are great for making fruit leathers. The non-stick sheets are also great for stopping smaller pieces of food from dropping down into the tray below. When food dries, shrinkage occurs.

Excalibur dehydrators also have the non-stick sheets for the same purpose as Nesco.





Guide to How Many Vegetables
Fills FOUR Trays

  • Cut Green Beans: fresh or frozen, 2lb
  • Broccoli: fresh or frozen, 2lbs
  • Butternut Squash: fresh, 1 medium squash; frozen 2lb
  • Cabbage: fresh sliced, 1/2 cabbage head
  • Carrots: fresh, sliced 5-8 carrots; frozen 2lb
  • Cauliflower: fresh, 1 medium; frozen 2lb
  • Celery: fresh, 1 stalk, sliced
  • Cut Corn: fresh: 6-8 ears; frozen 2lb
  • Garlic: Elephant, fresh: 1 large bulb
  • Mushrooms: fresh, 2lb
  • Onions: fresh 1-1/2 to 2 medium to large; diced frozen 2lb
  • Peas: fresh or frozen 2lb
  • Peppers: fresh, cut in strips 4-5; frozen 2lb
  • Potatoes: fresh, varies 4-6; frozen diced hash brown 2lb
  • Tomatoes: fresh, 7-9
  • Zucchini: fresh, 3-6

Nesco and Excalibur Brands
are Super Dehydrators

As mentioned in our dehydrator section, I have an Excalibur dehydrator and a Nesco dehydrator.
I use the Nesco on a daily/weekly basis, and the Excalibur is great for proofing bread!

microphone

If you wish to learn more, tune in to Susan's free Podcast: "What's the Difference Between Nesco and Excalibur Dehydrators" HERE.



Susan Gast owner, Easy Food Dehydrating plus Finally-Keto.com and SusanGast.com

Susan Gast began Easy Food Dehydrating in December 2010. Read Susan's story of what sparked her interest in all things related to "food dehydrating."

She is featured on Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It (SBI) who host this site. Read her first SBI interview, and her second SBI interview.

Since 1980, Susan's involvement in publishing - in one form or another - led her to create a "review site" of products related to the publishing industry. Visit ePubTechReviews today, also hosted by Solo Build It. Susan also runs her namesake site SusanGast.com on Solo Build It that showcases the books she has written since 2010.

Do you want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!

More Good Stuff to Read!

  • NESCO Food Dehydrator -- We purchased extra trays...   share your favorite Nesco items with us right here!

    NESCO Food Dehydrator

    NESCO Food Dehydrator -- We purchased extra trays... share your favorite Nesco items with us right here!

  • Guide to dehydrating food at home: the savory answer to food wastage!

    Dehydrating Food at Home

    Guide to dehydrating food at home: the savory answer to food wastage!

  • EXCALIBUR Food Dehydrator -- We have a four tray model... share your favorite with us right here!

    EXCALIBUR Food Dehydrator

    EXCALIBUR Food Dehydrator -- We have a four tray model... share your favorite with us right here!

  • Food Vacuum Sealers | We have one machine - by FoodSaver® and it's Fantastic! Share your favorite with us right here!

    Food Vacuum Sealers

    Food Vacuum Sealers | We have one machine - by FoodSaver® and it's Fantastic! Share your favorite with us right here!