Andrew James Digital Food Dehydrator (6-tray) review
By Tom Calder
The cheapest genuinely capable dehydrator we'd put in a kitchen: 550W, six trays and a real 48-hour timer, from a UK small-appliance brand with a long track record. One thing to know that Amazon's own listing gets wrong: the title calls it a 'Freeze Drier' and it isn't one — it's a hot-air dehydrator. For drying a garden glut, fruit leathers and jerky it's exactly right; just don't buy it expecting freeze-dried results.
- Best for
- The best-value proper dehydrator — 6 trays and a 48-hour timer for overnight batches.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Six trays and a 48-hour timer at a price most rivals can't touch
- Simple digital controls with a 40–70°C range that covers herbs to jerky
- UK-focused brand with spares and support
Worth knowing
- It's plastic, not steel — expect a faint warm-plastic smell on the first few runs
- Despite the Amazon listing title, it is not a freeze drier
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
The Andrew James six-tray dehydrator is a 550W hot-air dryer with a digital thermostat from 40 to 70°C and a 48-hour timer, which is the pairing that lets you dry a glut of apples or a batch of jerky overnight without watching it. It is the cheapest way into drying food at home that does not involve a cooker.
What it is
Retailer listings agree on the basics: six stacking trays, a 550W heater and fan, a digital thermostat with a 40 to 70°C range and a timer that runs up to 48 hours, on a 230V plug. The cabinet is about 43cm deep, 22.5cm wide and 29.5cm high by one listing, which looks like a packed size, so expect a footprint on the worktop similar to a large bread bin. Andrew James no longer appears to publish a page for it, so tray dimensions, weight and the guarantee are not stated anywhere we could find; the brand's small appliances have typically carried a two-year guarantee, but confirm with the seller.
Not a freeze dryer
Some listings call it a freeze drier. It is not one. A dehydrator blows warm air over food for hours until most of the water has gone, which gives chewy fruit, crisp vegetable chips and jerky with a shelf life of months in an airtight jar. A freeze dryer freezes food and removes the water under vacuum, which gives the 25-year shelf life of commercial emergency food and costs many times more. If a long-term store is the goal, see the Harvest Right medium. If using up a garden glut and making trail snacks is the goal, this is the right tool.
Using it well
The temperature range covers herbs at the bottom end, fruit and vegetables in the middle and meat at the top, which is the 70°C setting that matters for jerky. The 48-hour timer lets a batch run overnight and switch itself off. GOV.UK's consumer advice on preserving food at home applies: follow instructions exactly, label and date what you make, use it within the recommended time, and do not eat anything you are unsure was preserved safely, because badly preserved food may not look, smell or taste wrong. Dried food keeps best in airtight jars in a dark cupboard. Our how much food to store guide covers where home-dried food fits in a household store.
How it compares
On the dehydrators and freeze dryers page the Aigostar five-tier model has a longer 99-hour timer and one tray fewer. The Ninja Foodi air fryer has a dehydrate mode and is the right answer if you already own one and only dry the odd batch. The two Harvest Right machines are a different category of appliance and price. The Andrew James is the one to buy if you want a dedicated dryer with a proper timer at the lowest cost.
Our verdict
Buy it to dry fruit, vegetables, herbs and jerky from a garden or an allotment, or to make lightweight meals for walking and the grab bag. Skip it if you expect freeze-dried results or decades of shelf life, if you already own an air fryer with a dehydrate setting, or if you need published tray sizes and a stated guarantee before you buy: the listings do not give them. Expect a faint plastic smell on the first run or two, which is normal for plastic-bodied dryers.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Retailer listing: Andrew James digital food dehydrator, 6 trays, 550W; GOV.UK: consumer advice for food preservation at home.
Key specs
| Type | Hot-air dehydrator |
| Capacity | 6 trays |
| Power | 550W |
| Timer | 48-hour digital |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for True freeze-drying at home — 25-year shelf life, at a price that suits very few households.
Read the review →
Best for Long, slow, low-temperature drying — the 99-hour timer is the standout.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Best for Nearly double the batch size for ~20% more money — but only if you'll actually fill it.
Read the review →Questions
Is the Andrew James dehydrator a freeze dryer?
No, despite some listings. It is a 550W hot-air dehydrator. Freeze drying needs a vacuum machine such as a Harvest Right and gives a far longer shelf life.
What temperature range does it have?
A digital thermostat from 40 to 70°C by the retailer listings, which covers herbs at the low end and meat for jerky at the top.
How long does dried food keep?
Months in an airtight jar in a dark cupboard, depending on the food and how dry it is. GOV.UK advises labelling and dating preserved food and using it within the recommended time.
How many trays does it have?
Six stacking trays, with a 48-hour timer so a full load can run overnight and switch itself off.
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