About Sun Fired Food
Sun Fired Food is an independent buying-guide site about food dehydrators for homemade jerky. We also cover the fruit, tomatoes and peppers that people dry in the same machines.
We write for home cooks, hunters' families and gardeners who want to make jerky and dried snacks in their own kitchen. Our goal is to help you pick a dehydrator that fits your batches, your counter and your budget.
What we cover
Our guides compare dehydrators from brands like Cosori, Magic Mill, Excalibur, Nesco, LEM and Hamilton Beach. We sort them by tray space, tray material, fan position, heat range and timer.
We also cover the steps around the machine. That means meat cuts, slice thickness, drying temperatures and times, and the slicers and vacuum sealers that make jerky day easier.
How we work
We read the specs, the maker's manual and the maker's own claims for every machine we cover. We also look for patterns in what owners report after months of use.
Then we turn that into plain guides, side-by-side comparisons and clear picks. Our How we research page explains each step.
What we are not
We don't make or sell dehydrators, slicers or sealers, and no brand pays us to rank its products. Sun Fired Food isn't affiliated with Cosori, Magic Mill, Excalibur, Nesco, LEM or any other maker.
We don't claim to have tested every machine in a kitchen of our own. When we pick something, we say why, based on its specs, its features and owner feedback.
For food safety, we point you to the USDA's jerky guidance and to your dehydrator's manual. We don't invent drying times, temperatures or storage claims.
How the site is paid for
Some links here go to stores like Amazon. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
That never decides which machines we pick. Our affiliate disclosure has the details.
Get in touch
Spotted a mistake, or have a question about a guide? Write to us from our contact page.