Ninja Foodi Dehydrator Rack Review: Goldlion 5-Layer Stainless

A Ninja Foodi dehydrator rack turns the air crisp lid into a small food dryer, so you can make jerky, fruit chips and dried herbs without buying another appliance. The Goldlion version stacks five stainless layers inside a 6.5 or 8 qt Foodi pot.

This review is built from the listing and the maker's stated specs. It covers size and fit, build, how to load it, food safety for jerky and who should pick something else.

At a glance

Goldlion Dehydrator Rack for Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Duo Crisp 6.5/8 Qt

On paper, this is a well-sized dehydrating rack for 6.5 and 8 qt Foodi cookers and the Duo Crisp 6.5 and 8 qt. Five 304 stainless layers, burr-free edges and dishwasher cleanup cover the basics. Owners of a 6 qt Instant Pot or a 5 qt Foodi should look elsewhere.

Good for

• Foodi 6.5 and 8 qt owners with a dehydrate setting
• Instant Pot Duo Crisp 6.5 and 8 qt owners
• Small batches of jerky, fruit and herbs

Not for

• Instant Pot 6 qt owners, which the listing excludes
• Cooks who dry large harvests at once
• 5 qt Foodi owners, since that size is not listed

Check price →

Ninja Foodi dehydrator rack specs and fit

Compatibility is the part to read twice. Here is the fit exactly as listed:

How big is it compared with other racks?

Goldlion makes two stainless racks for multi-cookers. The skewer rack is narrower because it is cut for 6 qt Instant Pot models.

With five layers in 4.7 inches, each tier is shallow. That suits thin slices, which dry more evenly anyway. Thick cuts may touch the layer above.

If you own a 6 qt Instant Pot, the skewer rack is the stainless option that fits; it appears in the best Instant Pot accessories list.

How to load and use the rack

1. Slice thin and even, about a quarter inch or less, so pieces dry at the same rate.
2. Lay food in one layer on each tier with gaps for air to move.
3. Stack and lower the rack into the inner pot, then close the crisping lid.
4. Use the dehydrate function at the temperature your cooker manual suggests for that food.
5. Rotate tiers partway through if the top layer dries faster.

Fruit such as apples and bananas benefits from a quick dip in lemon water to slow browning. Herbs need the lowest setting and the shortest time.

What can you dry with a Ninja Foodi dehydrator rack?

Five shallow tiers are best for thin, flat pieces. A few good first projects:

• Beef or turkey jerky: lean cuts sliced against the grain, marinated and patted dry before loading.
• Apple and pear chips: cored, sliced thin and dipped in lemon water.
• Banana coins and mango strips: sweet snacks that need longer than apples.
• Tomatoes and peppers: halved cherry tomatoes or pepper strips for soups and sauces.
• Fresh herbs: basil, oregano, thyme and mint at the lowest setting.
• Citrus wheels: for drinks and garnish, sliced very thin.

Keep strong-smelling foods, such as onions or garlic, to their own batch so the flavor does not carry into fruit. Let dried food cool fully before packing it in airtight jars, and check for moisture after a day; any condensation in the jar means it needs more time on the rack.

Because each tier is small, one batch is a snack-sized amount rather than a pantry supply. That is a fair trade for a rack that lives inside the pot when you are not using it.

Build quality and cleaning

The listing highlights two build details. Roll hemming folds the mesh edges so they are burr-free and safe to handle. Toughened diamond mesh is meant to resist dents, which matters when the layers are stacked and unstacked often.

Sticky fruit and marinade can cling to mesh. Soak the layers in hot soapy water, then run them through the dishwasher, which the maker says is safe. A light oil spray before loading makes jerky easier to remove.

The stacked layers nest inside the pot, so there is no extra appliance to store between batches.

Who should buy it, and what to pair it with

This Ninja Foodi dehydrator rack suits occasional dehydrating: a pound or two of jerky, a bag of apple chips or a bunch of herbs. A full countertop dehydrator holds more, but it also needs counter and cupboard room.

Goldlion Dehydrator Rack for Ninja Foodi and Instant Pot Duo Crisp 6.5/8 Qt

Check price →

Goldlion Stainless Steel Inner Pot Replacement for Ninja Foodi 8 Quart

Check price →

Goldlion Silicone Storage Lid for Ninja Foodi Inner Pot

Check price →

Batch cooks with an 8 qt Foodi may want a second pot; read the stainless steel inner pot review. The full range is in the compatibility table of all fourteen accessories, and the fit-checking guide explains how to measure your pot. More Foodi picks sit in the best Ninja Foodi accessories.

FAQ