Where the LEM BigBite 10-Tray is built for volume, the 5-Tray Digital Dehydrator is LEM’s answer for people who want the same brand reliability in a genuinely countertop-sized footprint. It’s the smallest unit in LEM’s current lineup, and it makes some real tradeoffs to get there.
Pros
- Genuinely compact — fits on a standard countertop without dominating it
- Clear housing and lid make it easy to check progress at a glance
- Chimney-style airflow gives more even results than a simple side-fan design
- Digital presets remove the guesswork of dial-based temperature control
- Includes mesh nets for herbs and other small items
Cons
- 250W heating element is modest — expect longer drying times than larger units
- Fixed temperature presets instead of a fully adjustable dial
- 3.5 sq. ft. of space fills up fast with anything beyond a small batch
- 1-year warranty, shorter than LEM’s stainless steel units
In This Article
Key Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drying Space | 3.5 sq. ft. across 5 trays |
| Tray Material | Clear polystyrene plastic, 3/8" diamond grid |
| Temperature Settings | 7 digital presets: 104–158°F |
| Power | 250W |
| Timer | Digital, up to 48 hours |
| Housing | Plastic with stainless steel wrap, clear plastic lid |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Drying Performance
The chimney-style airflow — air pulled up through the center of the stack rather than blown from a single side — is the standout design choice here, and it does produce more even results than the basic side-fan designs common at this price point. That said, the 250W heating element is on the low end, so don’t expect jerky to finish as quickly as it would in a higher-wattage unit like the LEM BigBite.
The fixed temperature presets (104–158°F in seven steps) cover the range most home dehydrating needs, but if you want to fine-tune to an exact degree the way LEM’s stainless units allow, this isn’t the model for it.
The included mesh nets are worth using for herbs and small cuts — the tray grid holes are large enough that small pieces can fall through without them, a common complaint on LEM’s larger square-tray models too.
Build Quality
Plastic housing with a stainless steel wrap keeps the price down while giving it a sturdier feel than fully plastic budget units. The clear lid and tray housing make it easy to check on food without opening the unit and losing heat, which partly offsets the lower wattage by reducing how often you need to interrupt a cycle.
5-Tray vs. MightyBite 5-Tray
LEM also sells a MightyBite 5-Tray with larger 15" x 15" ABS plastic trays, a stronger 550W heating element, and a 30-hour digital timer — more capacity and faster drying, at a higher price. If 3.5 sq. ft. feels tight for your needs but a full 10-tray unit is overkill, the MightyBite 5-Tray is worth cross-shopping before buying the smaller Digital Dehydrator reviewed here.
Who This Is For
- Good fit: apartment or small-kitchen setups, occasional herb and small-batch fruit drying, anyone testing whether dehydrating is a hobby worth investing further in.
- Not a fit: regular jerky makers or anyone processing larger batches — step up to the LEM BigBite 10-Tray or MightyBite 5-Tray instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can handle small jerky batches, but the 250W element means longer drying times than LEM’s higher-wattage units. For regular jerky making, the MightyBite 5-Tray or BigBite 10-Tray will be faster and more practical.
Only the seven digital presets between 104–158°F. If you need finer temperature control, LEM’s stainless steel models offer adjustable settings in smaller increments.
Meaningfully smaller. This model uses 12" x 9" trays for 3.5 sq. ft. total, while the MightyBite 5-Tray uses larger 15" x 15" trays and a stronger 550W element.
Bottom Line
The LEM 5-Tray Digital Dehydrator is a solid, no-frills entry point if counter space or budget is the priority over speed and capacity. For anyone planning to dehydrate regularly or process real batches of jerky, it’s worth the step up to the MightyBite 5-Tray or LEM’s stainless steel 10-tray lineup instead.
