LEM Big Bite 16 Tray Dehydrator Unboxing & First Look

I’m sharing an unboxing and first look at the LEM Big Bite 16 Tray Dehydrator, a large-capacity stainless steel food dehydrator I chose after years of barely using our tiny dehydrator, to see if this larger one is actually practical for everyday use and worth the space it takes up in my kitchen.

Why I’m Adding a Dehydrator to My Kitchen

My sweet sweet husband gifted me this LEM Big Bite 16 Tray dehydrator for Christmas. Truth be told, I didn’t know I wanted or needed a dehydrator until I unwrapped it on Christmas morning and he said that he did a ton of research but wanted me to do my own research to make sure this was the one I would love the most.

Watch the Unboxing Video

Why I Chose the LEM Big Bite 16 Tray Dehydrator

What I was looking for in a dehydrator:

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.

• Large capacity – When I started looking for a dehydrator, I knew right away that I needed something larger and more practical than what I already had. We’ve owned a very small dehydrator for years, but the trays are so tiny that they’ll barely hold one sliced apple. Because of that, it rarely gets used — it just isn’t practical for real-life food preservation.
• Ability to preserve my garden harvests – One of my main goals is to preserve more of our summer garden harvest. When produce is coming in all at once, I want to be able to dehydrate larger batches without having to run multiple cycles or constantly rearrange trays. A larger capacity dehydrator makes that process far more realistic and efficient.
• A high-quality, durable kitchen tool – I was also looking for a long-term kitchen tool that would hold up over time. I prefer to make one solid purchase and invest in quality rather than buy something cheaper that may need to be replaced after a short period. For me, durability and reliability matter, especially for an appliance I plan to use year after year as part of our food preservation routine.

The LEM Big Bite 16 Tray Dehydrator checked those boxes by offering the capacity I needed along with the sturdiness and build quality I was looking for in a long-term kitchen investment.

What Comes in the Box

Inside the box, you’ll find the stainless steel food dehydrator unit, 16 trays, plastic drip tray, and an instruction packet. Everything was packaged very securely, and all of the components felt well protected during shipping. The packaging was sturdy and gave me confidence that the dehydrator arrived in good condition and ready to use.

Tray Size & Overall Capacity

• Number of trays – 16 stainless steel trays *bonus that they are dishwasher friendly
• Size of trays – each tray measures 14.65” L x 11.7” W
• Capacity – 19 square feet of inside drying space
• Heating element/fans – 1200-watt heating element, dual rear-mounted fans and rear venting for horizontal airflow to ensure even drying
• Digital control panel – adjust the temperature in 2-degree increments (95°F to 176°F) and set the timer for 30 minutes to 24 hours
• Warranty – five-year factory warranty and lifetime customer support

Why tray count matters when dehydrating

While 16 dehydrating trays may seem a bit excessive or big, I assure you, it doesn’t take much to fill that many trays. When you slice your fruits, vegetables, herbs or meat and lay them out, you’d be surprise by how much space they actually take up. This large-capacity dehydrator is going to really come in handy for me!

Build Quality & First Impressions

When I was doing my own research to ensure that this was the dehydrator I wanted to keep, I was shocked to find that most of the dehydrators on the market were plastic. While I use plenty of plastic objects in my kitchen, I prefer for my appliances to be made of higher quality materials for longevity.

I also love that the trays slide into built-in slots on this dehydrator. With my smaller dehydrator, the plastic trays have to be stacked, and if whatever you’re dehydrating is even slightly thick, it makes lining everything up frustrating and time-consuming. Having trays that slide in individually feels much sturdier and makes the whole process simpler and more user-friendly.

• Materials and construction – stainless steel and transparent glass
• Weight and sturdiness – overall the unit weighs 32.85 pounds but feels sturdy and durable
• Door and tray fit – I love the door! It’s so nice to be able to peek in and check on how your foods are dehydrating without having to disassemble your whole dehydrator! The trays slide in and out super easily, making it effortless to check progress, rotate trays if needed, or remove finished items without disturbing everything else.

The overall feel right out of the box was impressive! I really felt like we made the right choice in selecting this dehydrator immediately!

Counter Space & Storage Considerations

• How much space it takes up – 15.94″ L x 15.94″ W x 20.27″ H. So it it on the larger side. However, if you are really interested in dehydrating foods, then you will find a space for this! I plan to store mine in my canned goods pantry in my basement.
• Whether it’s something you plan to leave out or store away – I personally do not have the space in my kitchen to keep this out. So I do have to keep mine in my basement. However, with the dehydrator unit only being 32 pounds, it’s fairly easy to move around. I can either choose to dehydrate my items while the dehydrator is in the basement, or I can carry it upstairs to my kitchen and use during my preserving months…just like I do with my pressure cooker, vacuum sealer and water bath canner.

Who This Dehydrator Is a Good Fit For

This Might Be a Good Choice If You:

• Preserve food regularly
• Garden or buy produce in bulk
• Like batch cooking and pantry prep
• Want a larger, long-term appliance

This Might Not Be the Best Choice If You:

• Only dehydrate occasionally
• Have limited counter or storage space
• Prefer small appliances

How I Plan to Use This Dehydrator

I have a lot of ideas for how I plan to use this dehydrator, both for everyday food preservation and for some new projects I’m excited to try.

Fruits & Vegetables

While I mostly grow tomatoes in my garden, I plan to dehydrate plenty of them, along with other vegetables like bell peppers. I also want to dehydrate fruits such as apples from our apple trees, which are great for snacks, baking, and pantry storage.

Herbs

I grow herbs like basil and garlic each summer, and dehydrating them is an easy way to preserve that fresh flavor to use throughout the year.

Snacks & Protein

We have a freezer full of wild salmon we caught in Alaska, and I’d love to try dehydrating some of it. This particular 16-tray dehydrator is very popular for making meat jerky. While that’s not something I’ve ever done before, it sounds fun, and I’m excited to learn a new skill.

Pantry Staples & Travel Food

We also travel a lot, and my boys love MRE-style foods. While I’m not a huge fan of the limited store-bought options, I like the idea of making our own dehydrated meals and pantry staples that we can pack along for trips. It feels like a more flexible and homemade approach to travel food.

I’ll be sharing dehydrator recipes and real-use tips once I start using it, and I’ll link them here as I publish them.

Final Thoughts (First Look)

Overall, I’m really happy with my first impressions of the LEM Big Bite 16 Tray Dehydrator. It feels well made, thoughtfully designed, and much more practical than the small dehydrator we’ve used in the past. The large capacity, sturdy trays, and easy-to-use design make it feel like a solid addition to my kitchen.

This post and video are meant to be a box opening and first look, giving you an idea of what comes with the dehydrator and how it’s built before it’s ever used. I always like seeing exactly what I’m getting before committing to a larger appliance, and I wanted to share that same perspective here.

Once I start using this dehydrator, I’ll be sharing real-life updates, recipes, and tips as I put it to work with fruits, vegetables, herbs, and more. I’ll be sure to link those posts here as I publish them so you can follow along and see how it performs over time.