Solar Drying — The Simplest, Most Affordable, Cleanest Way to Preserve
Your produce is never exposed to direct sunlight
By protecting your produce from direct sunlight, it preserves vibrant colour, vital nutrients and rich, natural flavour.
This versatile hybrid system harnesses the power of the sun for maximum efficiency and seamlessly switches to electric backup when needed — working indoors or outdoors, day or night. Enjoy perfectly dried foods all year round while dramatically reducing your energy costs.
Use it indoors or outdoors
Free up your kitchen
Put “Dried from the sun” on your labels
Let your products stand out, create awareness and build a unique green brand that few can compete with
How does it work?
Mini Solar Dehydrator – Smart, Efficient Drying
The Mini Solar Dehydrator features a unique dual-heating design that maximizes solar energy. The top and sun-facing side include a specially engineered cavity with a transparent outer layer and an inner black-painted aluminium surface.
Black surfaces absorb sunlight efficiently, while aluminium conducts heat rapidly. This allows heat to enter the dryer in two ways:
- Directly, as the thin 0.5 mm aluminium layer transfers heat into the drying chamber almost instantly
- Indirectly, as air inside the cavity is warmed and drawn into the dryer by two fans, circulating consistent heat throughout
To protect food quality and optimize efficiency, the dryer is designed to operate at temperatures below 55°C. Instead of relying on high heat, it uses a steady flow of gently warmed air—proven to be more energy-efficient and more effective for drying.
The result: lower energy use, reduced costs, and consistently high-quality dried produc
The Mini Solar Dehydrator was properly tested
It is an identical replica of our commercial rusk drying trailer, which was tested over eighteen months.
It was also experimental and performance tested by the University of North West and the results were published in two international papers.
Find the paper here
The Mini Solar Dehydrator for
Small Scale Farming
This solar dehydrator offers small-scale farmers a reliable, low-cost way to preserve their harvest while reducing post-harvest losses. Powered entirely by the sun, it eliminates the need for electricity or fuel, making it ideal for off-grid environments. Its controlled drying process improves product quality, hygiene, and shelf life compared to open-air drying, enabling farmers to add value to crops like tomatoes, chilies, and fruits. By extending marketability and reducing waste, it helps increase income while supporting sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.
customized to suit your specific needs
The Mini Solar Dehydrator Features
- The Dryer heats up using free solar thermal energy (the energy that heats up your car in the sun)
- It has no solar panels and does not generate electrical power
- Size: 65 x 50 x 50cm, Weight: 13kg
- Backup element 400W
- Can take up to 8 drying racks of 55 x 38cm, which can be easily rotated
- Two electrical fans circulating warm air from the top and side
- The dryer has no temperature control as it will never heat up above 55°C
- Manufactured from rust free, chromadek metal sheet
- Unbreakable, UV protected polycarbonate sheets let the sun in
- Fully sealed and insect proof
Did You Know?
Successful drying isn’t about high heat — it’s about moving large volumes of air. Our dehydrator is designed around this principle, using powerful airflow to extract moisture quickly and evenly, ensuring perfectly preserved food every time.
The Patio Solar Oven and the Mini Solar Dehydrator are all hand made in a wool shed on a sheep farm outside Prieska, with less than 5% imported materials
