Can You Dehydrate In The Cuisinart Air Fryer? [With Tips On How To Do So]

The Cuisinart air fryer appliances are excellent for providing busy people with a time-conscious method of preparing healthy meals at home. Perhaps you own one of these small appliances, and you are wondering if you could use it for dehydrating foods? Or how does one dehydrate with an air fryer? We've researched these questions and have found helpful research results to share with you!

Yes, you can use the Cuisinart digital air fryer and toaster oven combo to dehydrate various foods. Place the basket arranged with foods at the bottom of the fryer and set the dehydration temperature, fan speed, and timer. Check the status of your foods every few hours until fully dehydrated. 

Do you have a Cuisinart air fryer and have not tried the dehydrating functions it provides? Perhaps you are wondering how to use an air fryer to make homemade jerky? Or is it possible to dehydrate fish in an air fryer? Please continue reading this post; we have a lot of helpful information for you!

How well do air fryers dehydrate?

Air fryers dehydrate foods effectively because the low heat setting combined with the internal fan circulates the air evenly and quickly wick moisture out of the foods.

Using an air fryer for dehydrating is less expensive than purchasing a food dehydrator that only serves one function. Also, dehydrated foods retain more nutritional value than other methods of preserving foods for extended shelf life.

Click to view the Cuisinart digital air fryer and toaster oven on Amazon.

How do you dehydrate fruit in a Cuisinart air fryer?

The Cuisinart digital air fryer and toaster oven will dehydrate fruits and an impressive array of foods with air temperatures ranging from 100°F – 200°F for up to 72 hours.

This process is possible because of the low heat setting and the durable interior fan that continually circulates air to significantly reduce the water content in the foods, which helps dehydrate them evenly.

Refer to the food dehydration chart in the owner's manual for exact fan speeds and temperatures to dehydrate fruits and other foods.

Suppose you would like to dehydrate apples. Start with lightly washing and then peeling the apples. Next, you will have to remove the core and thinly slice the apples. Line the air fryer's basket with the apple slices single file. If the edges are touching, that's okay; try to avoid any apple slices from overlapping.

Preheat the air fryer to 135 degrees F, place the basket inside, and start the cycle with the fan speed on low. Depending on the thicknesses of the slices, types of apples, and water percentages, the time required to dehydrate the apples fully could vary between four to ten hours.

Check the apples' progress around the six-hour point and if more time is needed, continue checking the apples once or twice per hour until dehydrated.

Remove the basket from the dehydrator and allow the apples to fully cool before removing them from the basket. Store those apple slices in an air-tight container or Ziploc bag with the air removed for best storage results.

Suggestions for dehydrating foods in the Cuisinart air fryer

• Remember the default setting is 130 degrees F for two hours
• Drying times can vary significantly due to the thickness and water content of the foods
• The humidity in the home will affect the dehydrating process
• Gently paint the fruits with lemon juice to help reduce browning on fruits and vegetables
• Check your foods often while they are dehydrating to avoid over or under dehydrating
• Always arrange your foods so that they are in a single layer and not overlapping

Can you dehydrate fish in an air fryer?

Dehydrating fish, especially salmon fish jerky, is excellent in an air fryer. To begin, clean and wash the fish, cut into four equal strips, then remove any fish bones. Place the cut fish in a bowl with a marinade and allow it to sit covered in the refrigerator for four hours. Remove the fish from the marinade and let it drain in a colander placed in the kitchen sink.

Next, dry the fish by patting it with a paper towel. Do not place fish directly from the marinade into the air fryer. Set the fish into the air fryer's basket and arrange the pieces in a single layer so they are not entirely overlapping.

Set the temperature for fish directed by your owner's manual. Run the setting for six hours and check the fish's progress. Suppose the fish are not entirely dehydrated, close the door and reset the cycle. Recheck the fish in about 30 to 45 minutes.

The dehydration functions offered by air fryers are one reason these multifunctional appliances have grown in popularity. But are you wondering which oils are best to use for air frying? Read about the 7 Best Oils For An Air Fryer.

Can you use an air fryer to make jerky?

Using an air fryer to make jerky is an excellent method for making your jerky in your home kitchen. To get started, prepare your meats by cutting them into strips and placing them in a marinade for 24 hours. After marinating the meat, remove the meat from the container and pat it dry with a paper towel.

It is important to always dry the meats before placing those inside the air fryer. If the meats are too saturated, the dehydrating process will take several hours longer. Allowing the excess marinade to collect inside the air fryer could be problematic for the overall efficiency of the air circulation inside the appliance.

Preheat the air fryer to 160 degrees F. Once the meats are arranged in a single layer in the basket, set in the air fryer, and let the air fryer dehydrate the meats for three to four hours. Check the consistency and overall dryness of the jerky after about three hours has passed.

Suppose the jerky isn't thoroughly dried, and there are damp raw patches on the meats. Reset the air fryer for another hour or so at 160 degrees F. Recheck and remove the jerky from the basket once it is dehydrated. Please wait until the jerky is cooled thoroughly before placing it into a storage container. For the best results, sore the jerky in an air-tight container.

Does the KitchenAid air fryer dehydrate?

Yes, the KitchenAid air fryer does dehydrate foods. Also, the appliance is straightforward to use. Open the door and place your food onto the center of the rack. Close the door. Then, press the start button to begin the dehydrating cycle. Once the cycles have been completed, you will hear a "beep" indicating the cycle is done.

Check the foods for any signs of moisture; if the foods are not entirely dehydrated close the door and allow the appliance to run another cycle. Recheck the foods a couple of times per hour to avoid over dehydrating, which can diminish the flavors of the foods and cause them to be challenging to chew and digest.

Click here to view the KitchenAid air fryer on Amazon. 

Are you wondering if you could use flour breaded foods in your air fryer? Read Can You Use Flour In An Air Fryer?

Can the Philips air fryer dehydrate foods?

Yes, the Philips company states that their air fryers are designed to dehydrate foods as well. The ever-successful Philips air fryer was deemed the world's number one air fryer. T

his small appliance has seven digital settings, a non-stick interior, and air circulation technology that supplies the foods with continual air ventilation to thoroughly dehydrate your food in a matter of hours.

Click here to view the Philips air fryer on Amazon. 

In closing

Cuisinart air fryers are a long-term investment for your home kitchen that will significantly save you valuable time.  If in doubt whether a type of food could be dehydrated safely in your air fryer, reference the owner's manual for further instructions.  Please visit Kitchenseer.com soon for more factual information that will help you attain your culinary goals!

Please, be sure to check out some of our other posts to help further your culinary knowledge base:

How To Air Fry Potatoes – With 10 Tasty Recipes!

How Big Of A Turkey Can Fit In A 30 Quart Fryer?

Are Ramekins Air Fryer Safe?