Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine Review

If you’re looking for a high-quality food dehydrator with an affordable price tag, Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine could be just what you need. A shelf-style digital food dehydrator, it is an all-around great gadget for your kitchen with more than good value for money. However, to make sure that it really is the best dehydrator for your personal needs, take a look at our comprehensive review and buying guide before making a final decision.

Why Do You Need a Food Dehydrator?

Before getting into specifics of the Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator, let’s cover why and when food dehydrators are a sound investment. Food dehydrators are a must-have for people who want to eat a healthy, have a garden, go camping, or prefer to make their own healthy jerky. They are also great for pet owners who love to create pet treats from healthy ingredients—for a fraction of the cost. Similarly, people who want to dry potpourri at home, create their own paper from scratch, or love doing arts and crafts also need a dehydrator in their arsenal.

In addition to helping you make healthy food at home, food dehydrators are a great way to save money. Buying in bulk and then dehydrating, preserving your own harvest, or subbing expensive organic chips and jerky for homemade alternatives costs much less than buying in a store. In conclusion, if you love experimenting in the kitchen or save money, a food dehydrator is definitely the right choice for you. 

How to Choose the Right Food Dehydrator for Your Lifestyle

All food dehydrators operate using the same principle—a heat source and airflow to eliminate moisture in food. The process of dehydration doesn’t only yield a chewy or crunchy snack but is also an excellent method of preservation. While the method is essentially the same, there are important differences between food dehydrators that could influence your decision.

The primary choice is between vertical flow dehydrators and horizontal flow dehydrators. Vertical flow dehydrators are stackable, with trays that go on top of each other. They are affordable and usually a good choice for regular use. Horizontal flow dehydrators are shelf-type, such as the Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator. Their heating element is located in the back, and they are usually more powerful and have commercial, heavy-duty use. 

Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine: Who It’s For

A commercial-grade food dehydrator, Magic Mill is ideal for users who have high expectations from their kitchen gadgets. Boasting a powerful rear-mounted fan, this horizontal flow dehydrator ensures high performance for drying meat, vegetables, fruits, and herbs. So, whether you’re looking to preserve your harvest surplus in just a few batches, make beef jerky at home, or dehydrate food for your big family, the Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator is an ideal choice. 

The capacity of the trays is more than 7 pounds. As a bonus, there is a fruit leather sheet included, so you can dehydrate pureed fruits as well. In the end, if you want a dehydrator that can tackle all types of food you throw into it, Magic Mill is the right choice.  

Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine: Best Features

• Rear-mounted fan for even drying
• Transparent door for monitoring the process
• No rotation needed
• Digital timer and thermometer settings
• Automatic shut-off feature
• Overheating safety protection
• 6 stainless steel trays (7 lbs+ capacity)
• 2 BPA-free plastic mesh trays
• 2 BPA-free non-stick fruit leather sheets/drip trays
• Dishwasher safe trays and liners
• Bonus gift: 2 silicone gloves 

Unlike round food dehydrators, Magic Mill has convenient see-through doors so you can monitor the drying progress. It’s also equipped with a digital timer and a temperature controller, so you can set it and forget it. The auto shut off also ensures there’s no risk of overheating, making it ideal if you want your food dehydrator to run overnight—and wake up to the smell of perfect jerky.

Since this is a horizontal flow dehydrator, it has a rear-mounted fan that distributes the heated air evenly throughout the trays for even drying. On the other hand, this also means that scents can mix, so it’s not the best idea to dry onions and strawberries together. The 600 watts of power and temperature control from 95°-167° F is more than enough to make sure that everything is perfectly dehydrated, be it a tough piece of meat or a tender ripe veggie. 

The trays boast an impressive 7-pound capacity, with 6 stainless steel trays that can be used for drying jerky, fruits, veggies, and more. For drying herbs, nuts, granola, or other small foods, you can use mesh trays. To boot, Magic Mill also comes with a fruit leather sheet so you can make your own fruit leathers from pureed fruits—that also doubles as a drip tray. The trays are easy to clean no matter how much of a mess you make, as they are dishwasher-safe.

Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine: The Alternatives

In case you’ve realized that Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine is not the right fit for you, don’t fret, there are plenty of choices. Here are our top picks for Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine alternatives:

The cheaper alternative: Magic Mill MFD-500

With a price tag under $50, Magic Mill MFD-500 is ideal for people on a tight budget that still want a high-quality food dehydrator. This round vertical flow food dehydrator has all the basic functions like temperature and timer settings, and it will satisfy the needs of any beginner. The 5 BPA-free plastic trays offer enough space for an average family’s needs.

The mid-range alternative: Magic Mill 6 Plastic Trays

If you want a shelf style food dehydrator, but don’t need a commercial-grade unit, this compact 6-tray dehydrator is an excellent choice. The BPA-free plastic trays might not be as sturdy as stainless steel, but they will give you a bang for your buck. 

The heavy-duty alternative: Magic Mill Pro XL Electric Food Dehydrator

Do you need an even larger food dehydrator with a stronger fan? Ideal for professional users who need a commercial-grade machine in their kitchen, Magic Mill Pro XL boasts impressive 1000 watts of power and 10 spacious trays. Made of stainless steel throughout, this unit is designed to withstand years of heavy-duty use.

Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine: The Verdict

This shelf food dehydrator has consistent results—the food is dried evenly without the need to fuss over it, whether it’s fruits, veggies, or beef jerky. Spacious enough to suit the needs of most families, Magic Mill Commercial Food Dehydrator Machine can dehydrate over 7 pounds of food in one go. The combination of superior performance and an affordable price make it a good choice for anyone looking to begin dehydrating their food or upgrade their outdated food dehydrator unit.