Excalibur 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator with Adjustable Thermostat For Temperature Control Patented Technology For faster & Efficient 15 Square Feet Drying Space, Black review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Excalibur
Material	Plastic
Color	Black
Wattage	600 watts
Item Dimensions LxWxH	19 x 17 x 12.5 inches

product features

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SIZE: 9-trays and 15 square feet of drying space provides extra-large capacity for your favorite snacks
TEMPERATURE: The adjustable thermostat ranges from 105 degrees Fahrenheit to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature range is low enough to preserve active enzymes in fruits and vegetables and is also high enough to meet safety standards for dehydrating meat for jerky
DELICIOUS SNACKS: Dehydrate fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat for jerky, fruit puree for fruit roll-ups, flowers, herbs, pet treats, raise bread, or make arts and crafts. Great for large families, gardeners, and sportsmen
EASY TO USE: Trays do not need to be moved or rotated during dehydration. Trays can also be removed if necessary to increase the height needed to dehydrate bulky items or raise dough
110/120 Voltage and 400 Watts
Made in the USA with USA and globally sourced materials

product description

The Excalibur 2900ECB comes with 9 trays, a total of 15 square feet of drying space. The adjustable thermostat temperature control ranges from 105◦F to 165◦F making it safe to dehydrate meat for jerky. The fan, heating element and thermostat are in the back of the unit, so cool air is drawn in, heated and then distributed evenly over each tray. This patented Parallex Horizontal Airflow is exclusive to Excalibur and helps the food to dehydrate faster, retain more nutrients and look and taste better, without tray rotation. Since 1973, Excalibur has been made in Sacramento, California. Over the years, Excalibur has taken the lead in advancements related to the mechanics of dehydration including air flow, heating dynamics, and materials. Any dehydrator will dry food. An Excalibur dries better, faster & safer thanks to Excalibur’s patented Hyperwave Fluctuation technology. Ordinary dehydrators produce constant, unchanging heat causing “case hardening.” Basically a dry surface with moisture trapped inside – the perfect environment for yeast, mold and bacteria growth. With the Excalibur Hyperwave Fluctuation technology the air temperature fluctuates up and the food’s surface moisture evaporates, then the air temperature fluctuates down and the inner moisture moves to the drier surface. This keeps the food temperature low enough to keep the enzymes active, but the air temperature gets high enough to dry food, overcoming yeast, mold, and spoilage. Dehydrate Fruits. Dehydrate Vegetables. Dehydrate Meat or Fish for Jerky. Re-crisp breads, crackers, etc. Make soup mixes and reconstitute later. Make animal / pet treats. Use for arts & crafts such as cake decorations, potpourri, dough art, drying photographs.

product details

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Questions about Excalibur 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator with Adjustable Thermostat For Temperature Control Patented Technology For faster & Efficient 15 Square Feet Drying Space, Black

can you make yogurt with this unit?

Answer: Yes, definitely. I have made soy yogurt in one. Just put the container in without the shelves and set temperature to 105-110 degrees.

Answer: I don't consume dairy, but several sources claim the unit can make yogurt.

Answer: Though I never have, I did find recipes on YouTube using this dehydrator to make yogurt. Looked yummy, especially when one lady used dehydrated fruits that she dehydrated on her Excalibur.

Answer: I havent done it but there is a temperature setting for it. You just remove the trays from the unit and put in your container. I love my excaliber.

Answer: Yes you can! You can also make cheese, raise bread, dry nuts, herbs, spices, even dry homemade pasta. It's great for making homemade dry soup mixes. It really is a wonderful machine. I am EXTREMELY happy with my purchase. Definitely worth the money! I did not buy the Paraflexx sheets, though. Parchment paper works just as good. I hope this helps answer your questions!

Answer: I can't imagine how to use a dehydrator for yogurt, but no, I haven't used it for that. It makes great jerky though

Answer: You are very welcome! Best of luck to you!

Answer: I don't know..I have never tried.

I still don't understand difference between the 2900B and the 3900B?

Answer: The 3900 has a 10 year warranty and upgraded plastics and electrical components, while the 2900 only offers a 5 year warranty. I hope this answer helps you!

Answer: i tried to figure that out myself. i thought it might be the watts or the fan size but after researching, it wasn't that. i love the one that i got! it works great and fast! sorry i couldn't give you the answer you were looking for, but i couldn't find the answer either. i would have called excalibur, but i got a fantastic deal on the one from amazon and just bought it.

Answer: I believe the 2900 is 440 watts and has 10 year warranty vs. 3900 is 600 watts and 5 year warranty.

Answer: are both units Bpa free

Answer: Here is the technical diff explained http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znHL_k8wYn4

Any idea of about how many pounds of meat it can do at once? And how long that might take? Also wondering the same thing for fruits and garden veggie

Answer:

Answer: I dried appox 8lb sliced 1/4" thick apple rings in 8-9 trays. Appox 5 lb boneless chicken breast cut in 3/8 strips for jerky will fill about 4-5 trays spaced close together.

Answer: I just put in 2 lbs of venison sliced thin for jerky. That took up 2 trays. I also dried zucchini slices to make chips. For those, I sliced the zucchini in my 14 cup Cuisinart foodprocessor and the Excalibur held three batches of that- so around 30 cups sliced. It was really surprising how much it held and they turned out delicious!

Answer: I purchased 2 eye of round, best for jerky because it's so lean. About 7 lbs total, I was able to do it all in one shot.

I heard Excalibur changed the lowest temperature on the thermostat from 95 to 105 what is the lowest temp. on this unit?

Answer: I just purchased this in July of 2017, and the lowest temp is 105F. There is a little room between the off position and 105, but not sure if that will result in a lower temp or not.

Answer: If I needed to dehydrate at only 95, I would just put my food outside. My unit's lowest temp is not marked, the line starts at the "off" position. Meaning my unit starts to run before reaching the 105 mark. I'll make an educated guess that's somewhere around 95-100. Hope this helps.

Answer: It is 105, never use the lowest at least not yet. If I had more money I would have got the one with the timer. This one has been great, recomend it highly.

Answer: 105 on mine. Is there a need for 95?

Answer: 105 and on mine there is no room to go lower (it turns off). Also, my digital probe shows a consistent 113 when set to 105. I suppose you could go lower by setting the front door ajar somewhat.

Answer: The lowest temperature is 105F...

Answer: the lowest actual place to stop is 105, but I think you could turn it down from there, but I haven't tried it-

Answer: This one goes from 95 to 155

Answer: 105

Can anyone please tell me what the difference is between this "9 tray economy dehydrator" and the regular 9 tray version? Thanks.

Answer: I went to the Excalibur website, and the only difference between the two is the timer. The 9 tray economy and regular deluxe versions both have the same size motor and fan, and the same warranty.

Answer: the difference is in the quality of the motor, fan and heating elements. If you go to the excalibur site i think it tells you

Answer: oh and i think the warranty is longer on the regular version

Answer: I believe the other one has a timer. I have both and I like the one without the timer better. It seems to run quieter. I've had it for years and it is great.

Answer: I dont see a warrenty even mentioned.

the energy consumtion. Which is more efficient ?

Answer: We do not see a significant difference in our electric bill whether we use or do not use our Excalibur unit...and we live in Alaska

Where is the excalibur 2900ECB 9 tray made?

Answer: I don't rally know, rigid plastic(?) and the booklet that came with it doesn't say either. No food touch the plastic, just the screens, not plastic, woven something. and not rigid. I'm not much help, sorry

Answer: It is made in the USA.

Answer: Made in the good USA!

Answer: In the USA

Can this model stay outside in the garden? Is it waterproof in case it rains while it is outside?

Answer: This is a ridiculous question. Of course you can put it outside in your garden, right next to your oven and fridge!

Answer: No. The back of the unit is where the heating element is and water could enter from the back causing a short or shock. In addition, thermostat control is on top and water would short that out.

Answer: It is an indoor appliance.

Answer: Can you fix stupid?

Answer: No, inside only.

How long is the electrical cord ? I have not seen the "length" of the cord in any of Excaliber's specss... Thanks for answering !

Answer: The 3 pronged power cord is about 3 foot long. I have it plugged into a power supply that gives it longer range.

Answer: It measures 45/46 inches. I've had mine for a long time, but I doubt it has changed.

Answer: About 48" long

Answer: 51 inches (including plug)

Answer: Approximately 4 feet

does the 2900 come with a door

Answer: Yes it does come with a door.

Answer: Yes it covers the entire front.

Answer: yes

Answer: yes, even if it's no in the picture, and I love it

Answer: Yes it does...

Answer: Yes

The picture has text that indicates 600 watts. is that correct??? for the 2900ecb 9-tray economy dehydrator, black

Answer: Yes, my Kill-A-Watt meter indicates 620 watts when the dehydrator is set to 165 degrees F.

Answer: For Maximum temp setting it may correct.

how big are the trays?

Answer: It depends but mine are the larger plastic ones 15"x15". Scroll to the bottom of this page.

Answer: usable trays are 14inches X 14 inches. this is with the edges.

Answer: 15 1/8" by 15 1/8"

Answer: 15"x15" total, but usable drying space is 14"x14".

Answer: 15 inches by 15 inches, nice and large.

Answer: 15" x 15"

Answer: They are about 16 inches square

What are the trays made of?

Answer: plastic. have not had a problem with their durability. Have only used it at the jerky temperature. Have cleaned them in the dishwasher. Hope this helped

Answer: I returned this item. Very large

Answer: Plastic

Do you need to use the mesh sheets to make jerky? They look like they would be hard to clean?! What can you use as a drip pan?

Answer: Yes- I use the mesh sheets for jerky. They are hard to clean...if you are wanting spotless and no crevice filled with drippings/dried flavorings. But if you just need clean enough...resting them in hot water, dish soap and scrubbing in areas...that keeps the mesh pretty clean. The mesh does discolor; but you are drying meat...that is bound to happen. We have two and I haven't had a complaint about clean up.

Answer: By "mesh sheets" do you mean the plastic trays themselves? Because yes, you'd set the jerky you're making on them, so air can flow all around, and come up underneath through the holes in the tray. As far as cleaning, I haven't had any issues. They're plastic and rinse off easily. If you get something stuck to them, you might need to use soap and water and pick it off, but generally speaking, I haven't had any cleaning troubles.

Answer: Yes you do. We just soak the mesh sheets for a short time and they clean right up. We hav put them in the dishwasher (top rack) as well, and that worked too. Hope that helps.

Answer: Wish I could answer this, but I am a vegan. I do dry fruit on the mesh sheets, bananas, starfruit, and more

Answer: I have not tried making jerky with this. It is great for drying fruit.

My machine is not drying at the rate the Excalibur manual recommends. It took me 24 hrs to dry fruit leathers. Is there something wrong with my macho

Answer:

Answer: if you're trying to keep your food "living", then no hotter than 115. Drying time will increase. if you're drying at a higher temp and times are increased, then something's wrong with your machine.

Answer: What the previous comments wrote are true and also it depends on the temp. In your house, the coolness or heat in your home can affect the drying process too. Some books recommend dehydrated for the first hour or 2, at 145 degrees then setting it to 115.

What is the difference between the economy and deluxe models?

Answer: The difference is in wattage. The Deluxe model is 600 watts and the economy model is 440 watts.

Answer: I would look at wattage, and if a timer is included.

where is the exhaust for humid/"used" air?

Answer: The door fits loosely and the air comes out around it.

Answer: The fan is in the back of the unit, so I give mine extra space there. You can go to Excalibur's website and download a .pdf of the manual. Love mine; picked up bananas at 66¢ # yesterday to dehydrate for snacks - so much cheaper!

Answer: It comes out the back but it really doesn’t amount to much since it’s such a slow process. It is noisy, though. I can’t wait to use it for my garden tomatoes! I highly recommend dehydrating them (just finished the last quart a month ago).

IS there any model of Excalibur dehydrator that is the LEAST noisy?

What happened to the 5 tray ?

Answer: No idea. I love the 9 trays as I use mine a lot.

what is the thickness of items you can put on trays without rubbing the bottom of top trays?

Answer: About two inches, maybe a bit more.

Answer: about 1 inch

does this unit have a door

Answer: Yes it has a front black door that hangs on the top notches in front on top.

Answer: It has a cover for the door. It is not attached

Answer: Yes. Technically it is a front piece that hangs from the top of the Excalibur.

Answer: Sure it does! It comes off cmpletely forr easy removal of the racks.

Answer: Yes, but it comes all the way off, it is not hinged on..

Is this like an oven

Answer: Kinda sorta. It's like an oven but it doesn't hold moisture and expels the moisture with the fan. You use the temperature gage for what ever your dehydrating, it gives you the temp for fruits, meats, veggies etc etc.

Answer: Yes, except it has a very low heat range which is used for a longer period.

Answer: drying not cooking, highest temp is 165 F.

Can anyone shed light as to what is the difference between 600and 400 watts excalibur dehydrator?

Answer: The 600 watt dehydrates faster

what kind of plastic is it made of?

Answer: Please direct that question to Excalibur, they have all the specs.

No esta disponible por piezas? Yo nesecito la tapadera

Is this unit NSF rated?

Answer: Not sure of the answer. Contact the company directly and ask. https://excaliburdehydrator.com/pages/contact-us

What are the dimensions of the racks and the distance between each of the racks?

Answer: The rack dimensions are 15 1/8” by 15 1/8”. The white liners are 14 x 14”.

Answer: Trays are 15X15 and approx.1 inch apart. Hope that helps.

Can i run in in the new zealand? we have different sockets here.

Answer: 120V 60hz required

Hello, is it possible to order a 220v device ?

Answer: Hello,

Answer: Excalibur does make this item in 220 volt that restricts its cell strongly in the USA it only you have to have an international exporter's license in order to be able to get the 220 volt version

Answer: Hello Sayer,

How much to ship this to Bangkok, Thailand?

Answer: We are unable to ship out of the USA.

i can hear fan running but is not getting warm.i trying to make a jerky for my dogs and im not sure if this denydrator should be very warm?

Answer: The warmth depends on the temperature at which you are dehydrating. Check your temperature dial on the top. You should feel some warmth if the gauge is at a higher temperature. This unit will not get so warm as to damage walls or create any problems with nearby items. Although, always give ample room in the back for adequate air draw by the fan. How did the jerky turn out? I do find that some foods (like pineapple) take longer than the suggested time.

Answer: Adjust the temperature with the dial. If it’s still not getting warm it needs to be serviced

Answer: There is a heater in the unit so it should feel warm.

I am looking to buy 9 tray excalibur dehydrator should I consider a timer or not? Also is the 2900ECB a good model to consider buying ? Thanks

Answer: I love my 2900ECB 9 tray Excalibur. It was definitely worth the price I got it for on Amazon. I didn't get the timer but my sister bought one cause she wanted it to have it turn off automatically at night when it would be about done drying. I usually just turn it off and turn it on again on the morning instead of rising it burning during the night. She loves her timer and thinks it was worth the $.

Answer: Ours doesn't have a timer, we just dehydrate everything until it is ready, and we haven't had a bad batch of anything yet. I really don't see a need for a timer since you are going to be using it for 18+ hour stretches, but if you want to be exact and away at the time something is finished, then you can consider getting the model with the timer.

Answer:

Answer: My Excalibur has an internal timer, so it says, with that being said I still find it it will run until I shut it off, which is good for me, I can let it go all night. I have the 2900 ECB model, it works like a horse! I have run it just about every day since I bought it in November, it's been about a month. Hope this helps :)

Answer: I did not get a timer, it takes 12+ hour to be done, so I just check it and turn it off when done. If you need to have it off while you're gone, get a timer. I got the economy and it works fine, and I did purchase the sheets, for leather, which work wonderful!

Answer: If you can afford it, it will be a great idea that way if you go out or to bed your food will not be over done and less worry about being there to turn it off.

Answer: Personally I can't see an advantage because I usually make different size slices than they recommend. I usually deviate from the norm by experimenting.

what is the voltage? What's included? Are there instructions in Russian?

Answer: 110 Volts, No Russian Instructions

Answer: American voltage, however you may be able to use an adapter. The dehydrator and trays, and of course manual binder with matching recipies binder. Instructions are not in Russian, but I don't see why one couldn't contact the company and request instructions in your language. Good luck!

What is the wattage

Answer: 600 watts on 9 tray

Can you run the dehydrator without any heat?

Answer: No, it is not possible to run it without any heat.

Answer: Not without any heat but I eat raw and you can keep it in the zone that is considered still raw.

Answer: No

Where is the heating element for this product? at the bottom or on the sides?

Answer: The fan is in the back of the unit. The whole unit gets very warm and it takes longer than the directions state to dry most items. It does work well. I use mine a lot and so far I like it.

Answer: It's at the back. I keep the silicone mats for fruit leather on the bottom when I'm not using them, even when the dehydrator is running. And I rotate the trays because the back tends to dry quickest.

where is the fan

Answer: It is in the back .. works great!

Answer: In the rear of the box

can this be used in the Philippines? 220v

Answer: you would need to step the voltage down to 120v

A reviewer stated they "dry canned" the items they dehydrated. Does the dehydrator manual explain this?

Answer: Can't say. It might depend on the item you are working with, like jerky versus fruit. Fruit will still have moisture and could eventually start to get moldy, I would think. I have had jerky and dried tomatoes in my refrigerator in bags for over a year and they are fine.

can you tell me the wattage on this machine?

Answer: 600 watts & 120 volt

Answer: 600 watts at the maximum tempurature setting.

What can you do with the 9-tray "deluxe" version that you cannot do with the "economy" version?

Answer: Way more food

Can the trays be removed so this dehydrator can be used to make yogurt?

Answer:

Answer: The trays are completely removable, but i don't know anything about making yogurt.

Answer: Yes, you can remove all the trays to dehydrate larger items. It's also a great way to dry baseball caps, baby shoes, or things that you don't want tumbling around in your clothes dryer.

Answer: Yes. Any number of the trays can be removed. You can put in trays at every other level, or wherever you want. Very easy and effective to use!

Answer: Yes, and I frequently use it for making yogurt. Works great!

Answer: Yes, all the trays come out.

Answer: Yes they can be removed

Has anyone with the Excalibur economy 9 tray had a problem with the back getting very hot and the air blowing out one side more than the other?

Answer: Hi Al,

Answer: Sorry, I've never noticed the back getting hot. It always seems to heat with an even air flow.

does this machine come with recipes for fruit leather? or reusable drying sheets for the fruit leather?

Answer: Yes it does. It comes with a handy user manual. The reusable silicone sheets for fruit leathers are extra.

Answer: It does come with recipes but not with the sheets. You purchase them separately. It's a great machine. Quiet and very efficient.

Answer: It does come with recipes but does not include tray liners!

Answer: No.

Would these trays fit inside this model? https://www.amazon.com/pack-excalibur-dehydrator-stainless-replacement/dp/b01jl0xl8w/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=kitch

Answer: Yes thank you. I have the plastic ones, right now. But if I need to replace them, I may go with the stainless, next time.

Answer: They are the same dimensions. I don't have the SS ones though. Hope this helps.

Are the trays covered with chemical or non stick coating?

Answer: No. There are removable, washable, mesh tray liners that serve that purpose. Neither, as far as I can tell, are the liners themselves coated. The liner material itself is, I believe, non-stick, teflon. By the way, great dryer. I've enjoyed having it. Have seen no design problems. Someone complained about the fan noise. It is not that noisy and anyway, because of heat generation I have it set up in the garage where, even if it were noisier, it wouldn't matter. After over a year using it, I would still give it five stars.

Answer: Not that I am aware of. Just plastic

Answer: no

The white tray inserts are not listed as dishwasher safe? Has anyone tried washing them in dishwasher? What happened?

Answer: I did. The white tray inserts are dishwasher safe. But it is also extremely easy to wash them by hands.

Answer: I havent.... i let them soak over night in the sink and they wipe clean the next day

In the dimensions: 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches, which number is the height?

Answer: 12.5" is the height, 17 is the width, and 19 if front to back.

Answer: 12.5 Is the height 17 the width and 19 the length from front to back. I hope this has helped.

Answer: 12.5 is the height. Sorry for the delay, computer is at work, dehydrator is at home.

Answer: The 12.5" is the height.

Answer: 12.5 is the height

Answer: Another thing about this product is that you can put it in a garage, it does not need to be in your kitchen to use it. As long as it can be plugged in, it isn't something you have to keep a watch on.

does it have an automatic cutoff switch when jerky is finished ?

Answer: No

How many watts on this machine?

Answer: Good question. The booklet that came with the machine says that it is 600 watts and uses 3 - 6 cents per hour. I do hope this information helps you.

Answer: Yvette,

Answer: 600 watts

Product reviews of Excalibur 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator with Adjustable Thermostat For Temperature Control Patented Technology For faster & Efficient 15 Square Feet Drying Space, Black

Happy Go Lucky : Great buy

We mostly make beef jerkey but i also dried herbs. Its quiet and the house smells amazing. I bought a small stand for it because its really big/bulky. Great tool for a healthier lifestyle.

J. Toney : Great Product

I really debated between the economy model and the deluxe model. Functionally, the only difference is the timer, but in actuality, the deluxe model has heavier duty components. In hind sight, I would say buy the deluxe model if you can afford it, for one, it doubles the warranty. I don't really see this one wearing out anywhere within the warranty period, however. Convection dehydrating is far superior to the round heating element at the bottom types. The drying in this is very even, the temperature control is nice, and pretty accurate. I ran it with a quick read thermometer stuck in the door just to check, and it was within a degree or two, which is good enough. This thing is great for making fruit leather, dried vegetables, etc. We have dried apples, tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, and one or two other things I can't remember at the moment, and all of them have done very well. Every place I read said this was the best brand on the market, and I think I agree. I would buy this again without hesitation.

Missy E : Love this product!

This dehydrator is great! We're not a vegan or vegetarian family, but we still use it all the time. It has definately improved the nutritional health of the entire family. Everyone is more adventerous also. Always suggesting new things to try. Yogurt leather anyone? It's not bad! I read lots of complaints about the fan noise. It's like the exhaust fan over your stove, set on low. Not bad at all. SO many things are louder...the microwave, dishwasher, washer, dryer, TV, the kids! Hasn't bothered us at all and we live in a pretty small place. The quality of it is excellent. Well worth the money.

S : Get this machine!!! You want 9 trays or more!

LOVING this machine since we got it! SO much better than the smaller machines I've had in the past. The circulation is excellent, cleanup couldn't be easier (I put the black trays in the dishwasher). I can actually buy produce from Costco now without wasting anything! Pears, pineapple, mango, and apples have turned out the best. If you want to try something really delicious as a "candy"--I had a box of mandarin orange cups from Costco (you know, the kind with the peel top that you throw in a lunch box) and I opened a few and drained the fluid and placed them on the dehydrator just to see what those would turn out to be like--SO delicious! SO sweet! I bought some fresh mandarins and they were such a hassle to peel or slice for one tiny wedge of fruit--they didn't turn out nearly as good as those from the cups! Definitely more pricey, but we really weren't eating them fast enough, so I decided to get some use out of them. Yum! I've been using the greens from everything we buy that I would normally throw away (beet tops, leek tops etc) and dehydrating them and grinding them to a powder making my own "super food" mix and putting them in everything I cook (stews, soup, quiche, eggs etc) as well as my husband's daily "shake". Nothing is going to waste in this household! I need all 9 trays to make it worth my while! If I'm going to have to do as much chopping and prepping as it takes, I want to do it all in one sitting if I can. The smaller machines are much more of a chore because you can't fit much in them. This is amazing! What an upgrade! Worth every penny! :)

Adam vanWestrienen : workhorse

does the job. giving it 4 because compared to what else is out there its solid. you can dehydrate a lot of product. it is big and somewhat loud. but hasnt broken down and ive had it for over 3 years and used it heavily.

J L Ferguson-Byrd : Best Dehydrator Ever!

I've had this nearly a week and it has been turned off about 24 hrs total in all this time! Is great. Easy to use with the temperature guide so you can't mess up! Is easy to make healthy veggie chips, dehydrate veggies and fruits, herbs. Makes fruit rollups for whatever flavors you can dream up. I am so glad I bought the 9 tray unit as it is less time consuming when you can do so much more. The house smells like good home cooking while the dehydrator is in use.

Adam vanWestrienen : workhorse

E. McKee : Doing the Job!

I had some concerns when the unit arrived and I found out that it's mostly made of plastic, but it appears to be sturdy and I haven't detected any outgassing. Before using, I wiped the unit down inside, washed the trays, and then turned the thermostat to the highest heat setting for 30 minutes. There was a few minutes of hot motor smell, like you would expect from a brand new appliance, but that quickly went away. Still no odor from the plastic. I used my oven thermometer to test the temperature and it was accurate.

First batch of apples dried beautifully (and were very tasty). I appreciated the info in the user guide on starting at a higher heat and turning the heat down as a technique for certain uses, also the info on various methods to use to avoid oxidation (turning brown) although I've owned several dehydrators and am a fan of the lemon juice method. Always good to have info on alternates.

I have owned several dehydrators. The square trays and fine mesh screens of this machine are much easier to use than the round style of many other units. They also fit in my sink better. :) All in all I'm pleased. I'm much more confident about making jerky in this unit than I was in my old round dehydrator.

Brittaney Mead : Seems to work great so far!

Never had a dehydrator before but this works great. Using it to dehydrate homemade tempeh starter before grinding. Have also found other uses like homemade banana chips.

GardenLover : Great Unit, Quiet, with Easily Cleaned Screens

When my small, plastic dehydrator suddenly died, I had a 20# bag of onions to process, so needed something well-made, and delivered quickly. My parents had used an Excalibur for years, so I searched and was pleased to see that a unit in my use and price range was available. Shipping was fast, packaging was good, controls easy and my favorite: the screens are no-stick, SO much easier to clean (brush off) than the old plastic dehydrator trays were! Also, I do not find it noisy at all, and I am easily irritated by undue background noise. I'm very pleased.

rdulmage : Absolutely the BEST dehydrator on the market - WORTH EVERY PENNY!

THE BEST PURCHASE I have ever made. I use this all the time. Super-even drying, not too noisy, easy to clean up, works as advertised. I did a LOT of research before buying this dryer. Well worth every penny.

MN_Ranger : Simple and To the Point

It dehydrates a lot of food and does exactly what it should. It's a simple product, but simply works.

Fan might be a little loud, but no where near as loud as exhaust fan in most kitchens. I have no problems at night since our bedrooms are upstairs.

Apples - Love them, far better than store bought!

Pears - Reminds me a bit of freeze dried pears in flavor, but with different texture. A hidden gem.

Bananas - OK, I'll need to work on this one. Store bought is better to me. With this dehydrator, it's not crunchy and taste comes across as more brown bananas, if that is your thing, which is not mine.

Fruit Roll Up: Our kids love it! Be careful not to over dry them...more on this later.

Jerky - Other than needing to refine our recipes, this does an awesome job! I can now make tasty jerky without all the sodium.

HINT: Since this has no timer built in, simply use a light timer, like the one you'd use to turn your light on or off when you are on vacation, or something similar. Bingo, no more need to set your alarm or babysit the dehydrator. However, you'll still need to learn the ideal time for each item being dried.

For beginners like myself, the included manual does a nice job of explaining the ins and outs of dehydrating various items. It won't make you an expert, but gets you going with confidence.

NOTE: It is a bit of a pain to wash the trays and screens by hand.

Francine Leavitt : Amazing Dehydrator

I have purchased one for myself a while back while I was making jerky. It was a family favorite product so I purchased one for myself. I love it. So thus last purchase was for my dad for fathers day. He has been loving it. He has dehydrated veggies for soups later and has made seasoning. I never even thought of things like that. I have always done jerky or apples. My dad has been teaching me so many new things to do with this dehydrator. It has so much space to do so many thing. I love it and so does he.

Amazon Customer : what a wonderful dehydrator

This machine is so easy to use. The trays are a great size, and there are more than enough of them for any one food processing session. They are so easy to clean, even when drying apple slices coated in cinnamon and sugar. It runs steadily and while slightly noisy, its no noisier than more boring appliances like laundry machines and dishwasher! lol! The guide that comes with it is very handy. Only issue is when the device is on a counter, I can't see the temp dial that well, but since I almost exclusively dry fruit, I got used to where the dial turns.

Randy Conrad : Faulty temperature, faulty product

I bought this product about a year ago and used this dehydrator twice. I was using it with foods claiming to be raw, unaware that the dehydrator was 65° degrees hotter than the temp you set it at. It’s really upsetting that I had to bring this to a restaurant and get its temperature read, after the return policy is over, just to realize the unit can’t even do it’s basic purpose. It literally burned my fruit several times. It was very loud. Also, the product arrived with a broken knob. I would rate zero stars because it was a experience full of bs. You’ve been warned.

Amazon Customer : extremely loud but good machine

working wonderfully so far I am cranking out fruit leather every day ..it is a bit loud ..be warned nothing subtle about the noise and that is the only reason it gets three stars is the noise otherwise the system is very good

Kindle Customer : Mixed thoughts

So far so good. Dries well. Bulkier than I expected. The noise doesn't bother me. Will keep, but I am not sure it is all that superior to the American Harvester I replaced, which was cheaper. I am hoping it lasts longer. The trays on the Harvester cracked on me...maybe I should not have sent them through the dishwasher...and the heating element gave up the ghost.

Kindle Customer : Mixed thoughts

Amazon Customer : Broke into pieces on the bottom in a year with minimal use.

I loved the dehydrator but its literally breaking apart on The bottom. I received it in October 2019. I only move it to clean it. I only used it like one week out of every month Some months I skip. Is there some kind of warranty cause its defective? Zoom in and you will see several cracks?

marion louis rathbun : satisfied

I purchased one of these last summer with the object to dehydrate as much food as I could that was in my freezers and become less dependent on electricity. That is working out quite well and I have discovered that there are other advantages as well. I watch for fruits and veggies to go on sale, buy up a bunch and dehydrate for later use. I can make a big batch of soup, dehydrate most of that for later use. I purchase some foods in #10 cans such as peaches, pineapple, and diced tomatoes at reduced prices, dehydrate the contents and use just what I need at the time plus reducing storage space. I have dehydrated stuff just for fun to see how it would turn out---marshmallows, dill pickle slices, and ketchup (ketchup doesnt dehydrate well) . This worked so well for me I purchased another of these last fall and quite often have both in operation at the same time

The dehydrators are very dependable, never had any problems with them and they do a good job. I have never had a need for a timer when dehydrating, I just check on things once in a while. I find that sometimes it is necessary to move trays from one location to another as the bottom tray doesnt seem to get as much heat as the others. And sometimes it helps to rotate the trays . I can hear the fans run but to me at least that is not a problem, they are not excessively loud. I like the fact that trays can be left out to allow thicker or taller foods, such as broccoli florets, to fit . All in all these are really good dehydrators and do the job I need done. There are hundreds of videos on YouTube relating to dehydrating different things and I also have and use 'The Dehydrator Cookbook' by Tammy Gangloff and sold on Amazon as a guide. Like most all things these units are not perfect but in my opinion will do you a good job and are dependable. Dehydrating does take a bit of a learning curve but be patient and you will get there...

Amazon Customer : what a wonderful dehydrator

Laura : Love this dehydrator

I love this dehydrator, I have done tomatoes, spinach, coleslaw mix, mushrooms ect., it has done great job. But everytime I use it, I get a bad cold and have trouble breathing.

1Venus : Love it!

What can I say? I wanted a food dehydrator and after reading all the reviews I picked this one. It was the perfect choice for me! I love that I can dehydrate so much at one time and I love that the food pops right off the screens. It's an awesome way to avoid food waste. I just dehydrate things if it seems we won't finish them before they spoil. I also dehydrated all the fruits and vegetables in my freezer to create so much space for other things. The down side is that it takes up alot of space on the countertop. I have mine in a corner of the counter so it's not so much in the way. It is also pretty loud. I wouldn't say it disrupts my daily life when it's on, but it does make noise.

dordavidov : Don't buy! Very inaccurate. Especially for raw foods.

I purchased it to.make raw foods (105-118 degrees) as I am using it on 105 everything get burned!
Don't waste you time money or beautiful food.

kyle : Luke I'm your jerky maker

This dehydrator is bitching it's like the death star of jerky making I have probably made pounds and pounds of jerky with this machine. It's a little loud but that just lets the neighbors know you aren't screwing around !!!! Cleanup is easy I just take the trays soak them in the sink pull them out and load them in the dishwasher no heat . Soak the screens and spray them off easy Peezy.

Delores R. : wonderful power and product

love this dehydrator....been using it for a year now, and the power makes me be able to complete my trays, in half the time of my friends, and have two to three times more product~

Michael J. Gorga : OK, gets the job done

It's OK. comments are good about BPA free mesh trays, but everything else is bad plastic. Oh well...a little on the loud side. Plenty of room. Not worth the huge increase to get the one with the timer in it. We have an inexpensive digital timer that we plug this into so it shuts off automatically. Better if ALL the plastic were BPA & poison free...

Michael : Went for the best, ended up with frustration.

Honestly, I am coming back to write this review because while we've owned it for a few years, we've only used the appliance about 10 times and today, it just wouldn't turn on. It's dead and for this price, that's really frustrating.

I will say when it did turn on... it took FOREVER to "dehydrate" anything and to call anything that came out of it "dehydrated" would be a massive overstatement. Also this appliance is LOUD, way louder than we expected.

We bought this because it was supposed to be the premier dehydrator on the market, our experience didn't match the expectations.

E. McKee : Doing the Job!

Randy Conrad : Faulty temperature, faulty product

Kindle Customer : Great Dehydrator!

Have been heavily using this for fruits, veggies and herb drying. Love the large capacity, quickness in drying. The trays are easy to clean, and food does not stick to them like my old dehydrator. Very pleased with this purchase!

Christie Fruit : Reliable Workhorse

We use our two constantly and they are worry free. We actually have a small dehydrated fruit business and sell the product at Farmers markets., so we work the heck out of them. Great performance!

Nhewyt : This does the job.

I don't need all sorts of bells and whistles. I need a dehydrator that does the job and can handle a large load of food at one time. This does the job very well.

J. Brewer : Why didn't i get this sooner?????

I've had my Excalibur dehydrator for about two weeks now and it has been going nonstop, day and night since i got it. What a workhorse! I'm loving the results. I've done jerky, vegetables and fruits. I am pulling stuff out of my overloaded freezer and drying it. I am also drying canned fruits that are about to go out of date. The think I really like is this allows me to store meats, chicken and fish over a long shelf life. Everything I've done so far has turned out great. The machine and trays are very easy to clean, trays and screens with soapy water and a quick rinse, machine with a soapy rag. So easy to use! This machine gets 5 stars from me and i would give it more if I could!

MN_Ranger : Simple and To the Point

Kindle Customer : Great Dehydrator!

Donna J Whedon : Highly recommend!

Larger and heavier than I anticipated, which is a good thing. I was worried about how noisy it would be after reading some other reviews: my worry was unfounded, it makes less noise than the exhaust fan above my stove! Works beautifully and I am looking forward to trying some of the ideas in the book provided!

Sly Gray Fox : Super!

No regrets on this purchase at all. It replaced our Oster, and is sooooooo much better. It has been in almost constant use since we got it, from fruits and herbs, to jerky. Works absolutely great, and faster than our old one. I really like the temp controls so I can keep the enzymes alive. I should have purchased this one first, wasted $60 on the other brand.

colleen anderson : I love everyrhing about this unit.

I love this unit. There is so much space to put things on it. I have had a Cabela's unit for years. This one is 100 times better. Better heat control and just plain better constrution.

JHobson : Easiest to clean

By far the best dehydrator of all the hydrators I’ve used. Simple, strong, Easy to use, and easy to clean. An added bonus is that the trays fit in the dishwasher nicely

Amazon Customer : Wife loves it

Got this for my wife and she loves it. She started using it right away and we both started to realize just how much you can do with this thing. We are fixing to start a garden and this is just what we needed to preserve certain foods. If i have to complain about anything it would be that it doesn't have a timer, but otherwise a great product. I was told this was the Mercedes of dehydrators.

Dr. Salena Potter : "Nothing like an Excalibur"...

This is exactly what a friend told me when we visited him last year and learned that he was using one. I have researched dehydrators, even had a couple a long time ago...none of which were very impressive and most were hard to clean. I was hesitant to purchase one for more than a few bucks, but after seeing the beautiful foods and tasting the delicious beef jerky my friend shared with us from his Excalibur, hubby insisted we make the investment. Not one day have we regretted buying our Excalibur. It is so simple to use and even easier to clean. The thorough drying technique provided by the rear forced air circulation is unbeatable! We now have a stock of deliciously dried fruits, vegetables and meats for a fraction of the cost of purchasing commercially dehydrated foods. Like my friend, I can now say without reservation, there's "nothing like an Excalibur"!

Donna Roane : Excellent Product

Easy to operate. Holds a lot of food. I have had so much fun drying everything.

Michele Colatosti : Very large machine

Only gave one star because it is a very large machine and I returned it and did not try it

Amy Grace : a bit loud but I don't care

Have had this almost a year and just love it. I have the 9 tray and got the stainless steel shelves to use instead of the plastic and am very happy with it. I was toying with getting the clear door, but then, thought, why? so I just use the door it came with. I mostly dry veggies, herbs and meaty puppy treats, but have done jerky in it once or twice and it all comes out great.

Kelsey Jones : Perfect for speeding up cookie dry time

This was exactly what I was needing to help speed up dry time for decorated cookies. Plenty of trays to fit lots of cookies. It's not really loud- just a deep hum to it. Fits perfectly on my counter underneath the top cabinets. I do wish the temperature control could be in a different place as it's hard for a shorter person to see when it's sitting on a counter.

Jeannie Johnson : So far this has been a great purchase and it has functioned exactly as expected

So far this has been a great purchase and it has functioned exactly as expected. I have had a Le'Equip dehydrator for 8 years and I decided it just wasn't enough during food preservation season. This can handle almost double what I was able to dry before and in about half the time. It is only slightly noisier than my other dehydrator and doesn't bother me. The door is designed to come completely off instead of being on hinges when opened; I am not sure what I think about that yet. That feature is not bad, just different. I am very glad I purchased this.

Brittaney Mead : Seems to work great so far!

Never had a dehydrator before but this works great. Using it to dehydrate homemade tempeh starter before grinding. Have also found other uses like homemade banana chips.

colleen anderson : I love everyrhing about this unit.

I love this unit. There is so much space to put things on it. I have had a Cabela's unit for years. This one is 100 times better. Better heat control and just plain better constrution.

James S. : A Good Dehydrator for the Price

My wife just starting using this but so far so good. There are smaller cheaper models and there are larger more expensive models. We only have a few people in my family and this seems to produce plenty for us and them some. A friend of our has a similar model and stopped by and showed my wife how to use this model in about 20 minutes so its fairly easy to use. This model is about the size of a decent size microwave but doesn't weigh very much so its easy to carry around. It also comes with a nice little recipe book with all kinds of foods in it.

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