COSORI Food Dehydrator Review: My Kitchen Game-Changer
I’ve always been intrigued by food dehydration but never took the plunge until recently. After watching one too many YouTube videos of people making delicious dried fruit snacks and jerky, I finally decided to invest in a food dehydrator. After some research, I settled on the COSORI Food Dehydrator (Model CP26), and honestly, it’s transformed my kitchen adventures in ways I didn’t expect.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been experimenting with everything from apple chips to beef jerky, and I think I’m now qualified to share my thoughts on this machine. Is it worth the counter space? Let’s dive in.
Sleek Kitchen Companion
The first thing that struck me about the COSORI dehydrator was how surprisingly compact it is considering its capacity. It has a clean, modern design that doesn’t scream “bulky kitchen appliance” – something I definitely appreciate since my kitchen isn’t exactly spacious. The unit features a simple digital control panel on top that’s intuitive enough that I didn’t even need to crack open the manual (though I eventually did).
What I particularly love is how the transparent door lets me peek at my creations without interrupting the drying process. The multiple trays stack neatly inside, and despite having over 7 trays with a generous 6.5″ drying space, the whole unit doesn’t dominate my counter. It’s a thoughtful design that balances functionality with kitchen aesthetics.
- 𝗕𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝟳 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗦: With 6 stainless steel trays providing 6.5 ft² of drying space, this dehydrator is 27% larger than standard 7-tray models, allowing you to dry more food at once
- 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗨𝗟 & 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧: Equipped with a 600 W motor, rear-mounted drying fan, and upgraded airflow technology for faster, more even drying without manual intervention
- 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Features an advanced brushless motor with noise levels below 48 dB, letting you dehydrate your food quietly — even overnight
- 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗗: Comes with 6 dishwasher-safe trays, 1 mesh screen, 1 fruit roll sheet, 1 user manual, and a 50-recipe cookbook. Explore additional accessories by searching for 'COSORI Dehydrator Accessories', or 'C267-2MS', 'C267-2FR', 'C267-2ST'
- 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟: Set the timer for up to 48 hours and choose your desired drying temperature between 95 °F–165 °F accurately down to the degree using the digital control panel
Powerful But Patient Process
This COSORI model packs a 600W motor, which is apparently more powerful than standard dehydrators on the market. In practice, I’ve found it works efficiently for most foods, though drying times can still be… well, long. That’s just the nature of dehydration, I suppose.
The temperature range maxes out at 165°F, which is perfect for safely dehydrating meats for jerky (food safety is important, folks!). I tried making beef jerky from some marinated flank steak, and while it took about 8 hours, the results were impressively consistent – much better than my previous oven-drying attempts.
Where I did notice some patience was required was with fruits. I sliced some honey crisp apples for chips, and they definitely needed longer than I expected – close to 16 hours for the level of crispness I wanted. That said, the final product was absolutely worth the wait. The flavor concentration is incredible!
The trays are indeed easy to clean as advertised. After making some particularly sticky teriyaki jerky, I was dreading the cleanup, but the trays rinsed off surprisingly well. I think this ease of maintenance has encouraged me to use it more often than I might have otherwise.
Tech Specs Breakdown
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | COSORI |
| Model | CP26 |
| Power | 600W |
| Number of Trays | Over 7 |
| Drying Space | 6.5 inches |
| Maximum Temperature | 165°F |
| Category | Kit (includes dehydrator with multiple trays) |
| Manufacturer | COS |
The Good and The Not-So-Good
Pros:
- Compact design that doesn’t take up excessive counter space
- Generous 6.5″ drying space with multiple trays
- Powerful 600W motor for efficient dehydration
- Easy-to-clean trays (this is a bigger deal than it sounds!)
- Simple digital controls that are intuitive to use
- Clear door for monitoring progress
Cons:
- Drying times can be quite long for certain foods (especially fruits)
- No timer function that automatically shuts off the unit
- Fan noise is noticeable (though not unbearable)
- Limited temperature range compared to some higher-end models
What Other Users Are Saying
The overall sentiment from other users seems to mirror my own experience. Many appreciate the compact yet spacious design and ease of use, while some express frustration with longer-than-expected drying times.
One review specifically mentioned the extended time needed for apple chips: “Honey crisp apple slices took two cycles of 8 hours each to fully dehydrate.” This aligned with my experience – dehydration isn’t a quick process, particularly with moisture-rich fruits.
Another user highlighted the cleaning aspect: “The five shelves are easy to clean and the overall unit is easy to use.” I found this to be true as well – the maintenance factor can’t be overstated when you’re dealing with sticky, marinated foods.
Who Should Buy This Dehydrator?
For beginners: The COSORI CP26 is actually quite beginner-friendly. The controls are straightforward, and the clear door helps you monitor progress. If you’re new to dehydrating, this is a solid entry point that won’t overwhelm you with complex settings.
For intermediate users: If you already have some experience with food dehydration and are looking to upgrade from a basic model, this COSORI offers a good balance of features and capacity. The 600W motor and multiple trays will likely satisfy your needs for most projects.
For advanced users: Those who dehydrate foods professionally or in very large quantities might find this model somewhat limiting. While it’s powerful for a home unit, if you’re making large batches of jerky for sale or dehydrating foods weekly, you might want to consider a more robust, commercial-grade option with even greater capacity and advanced features.
You Might Also Like
If you’re exploring food dehydrators, here are some other popular options worth considering:
Ready to Transform Your Snack Game?
If you’re looking to create healthy, preservative-free snacks at home and explore the world of food dehydration, the COSORI Food Dehydrator offers a great combination of capacity, power, and user-friendliness that’s hard to beat at this price point.
- 𝗕𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝟳 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗦: With 6 stainless steel trays providing 6.5 ft² of drying space, this dehydrator is 27% larger than standard 7-tray models, allowing you to dry more food at once
- 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗨𝗟 & 𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧: Equipped with a 600 W motor, rear-mounted drying fan, and upgraded airflow technology for faster, more even drying without manual intervention
- 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗘𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Features an advanced brushless motor with noise levels below 48 dB, letting you dehydrate your food quietly — even overnight
- 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗗: Comes with 6 dishwasher-safe trays, 1 mesh screen, 1 fruit roll sheet, 1 user manual, and a 50-recipe cookbook. Explore additional accessories by searching for 'COSORI Dehydrator Accessories', or 'C267-2MS', 'C267-2FR', 'C267-2ST'
- 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟: Set the timer for up to 48 hours and choose your desired drying temperature between 95 °F–165 °F accurately down to the degree using the digital control panel
