Excalibur Food Dehydrator 9-Tray Electric with Adjustable Thermostat Accurate Temperature Control Faster Drying, Black review and price compare 2025
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
Brand
Excalibur
Material
Plastic
Color
Black
Wattage
600 watts
Item Dimensions LxWxH
19 x 17 x 12.5 inches
product features
This fits your .
by entering your model number.
DRYING SPACE - 9-trays totaling 15 square feet of drying space offers plenty of room for your favorite snacks
PATENTED - Hyper wave technology and horizontal parallex drying removes water from food with a continuous circulation of thermostatically-controlled Warm air
LOW AND SLOW FOR IMMUNITY BOOST - Cooking foods at a temperature no higher than 115-118 degrees in a dehydrator preserves nutrients and enzymes
DIAL IN - Adjustable thermostat 105 degrees Fahrenheit to 165 degrees Fahrenheit featuring accurate temperature control and built in on/off switch
EASY TO CLEAN - Poly-Screen trays do not need to be moved or rotated during operation and prevent foods from sticking
HEALTHY SNACKS - Dehydrate delicious fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat for jerky, fruit puree for fruit roll-ups, raise bread or make homemade yogurt. Great for preppers, large families, gardeners, and sportsman
Includes 7" Fan for excellent air circulation
From the manufacturer
9 BPA-free trays totaling 15 square feet of drying space allows for enough room to dry a wide variety of foods.
Hyperwave patented technology keeps the interior temperature high enough to remove moisture while ensuring food temperature is low enough to maintain enzymes and nutrients.
Parallexx horizontal airflow distributes air evenly over each tray allowing food to dry faster and taste better.
The adjustable thermostat (105°F - 165°F) allows for greater flexibility to dry herbs, fruit, vegetables, jerky and so much more!
Dehydrating foods at low temperatures preserve nutrients and enzymes for up to 9 months when stored correctly.
Get started immediately with the included “Guide to Dehydrating” book for great tips and recipes.
Size
16.25 x 13 x 6.5 inches
19 x 17 x 12.5 inches
19 x 17 x 12.5 inches
18 x 17 x 10 inches
17 x 20.5 x 17 inches
# Trays
4
9
9
9
10
Drying Space
4 square feet
15 square feet
15 square feet
15 square feet
16 square feet
Thermostat
Adjustable
Adjustable
Adjustable
Adjustable
Digital dual adjustable temp. settings
Timer Hrs.
N/A
N/A
26-hour
26-hour
Digital dual adjustable time settings up to 99 hrs.
Door Style
Solid
Solid
Solid
Clear
Clear
Body
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Stainless Steel
Tray material
BPA Free Plastic
BPA Free Plastic
BPA Free Plastic
BPA Free Plastic
Stainless Steel
Coverage
5 Year
10 Year
10 Year
10 Year
10 Year
product description
The 3900B Deluxe Dehydrator by Excalibur comes with 9 trays and a total of 15 square feet of drying space. The adjustable thermostat temperature control ranges from 105 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, 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 dehydrate faster, retain more nutrients, and look and taste better – all without manual tray rotation. Since 1973, Excalibur has been made in the USA with USA and globally sourced materials. Over the years, Excalibur has taken the lead in advancements related to the mechanics of Dehydration including air flow, heating dynamics, and materials. Your Excalibur dehydrator offers you the opportunity to cook at lower drying temperatures which increase the immunity boosting vitamin value in foods and keep it boosted for up to 9 months when stored in an airtight container. So, the next time you are looking for ways to improve your wellness, take on a tortoise mentality and know that low and slow will win the immunity race. Your body will thank you!
product details
important information
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Questions about Excalibur Food Dehydrator 9-Tray Electric with Adjustable Thermostat Accurate Temperature Control Faster Drying, Black
Q:
Does this unit have a timer? Is there a unit comparable to this that does?
Answer: This unit does not have a timer. I think there is a unit that is very much like this that does have one Excalibur 3926T 9 Tray Large Food Hehydrator with 26 hour Timer
Answer: No it does not. Excalibur does make one with a timer though, it is Excalibur 3926TB. It has a 26 hour timer.
Answer: I have the model WITH the timer but actually find little use for it. Most of the time you simply turn the unit off when the dehydrating is complete. As others have mentioned, due to variation in humidity, jerky that takes 6 hours one day might only take 4 hours a month later. Set the dehydrator on 6 and you'll have overdried it.
Answer: No timer but the use of a wall timer works just as well for way less money.
Answer: No timer on this model but you can plug it into a timer that plugs into your outlet and save yourself $100.
Answer: No timer. Costs a good bit more for that model. I put mine on a plug-in timer.
Answer: No, it does not have a timer. Since the humidity in your home and the moisture content of the food can vary considerably, you must check the dryness manually.
Answer: No it does not. I use my own timer, work great.
Answer: I use a lamp timer on mine,
Answer: It does not have a timer.
Q:
Do you find that your electricity bill goes up significantly while using this dehydrator?
Answer:
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Answer: I use mine 2-3 times a week, or about 20-30 hours and I have not noticed a spike in my electric bill.
Answer: $ 90.00 on other site....same unit
Answer: No! But I have put my entire kitchen under solar power, so it is not a problem. I did check the meter to see if there was any significant movement and there was not, so I run it quite often. I recommend it to you without reservation!
Answer: Great question. Never even crossed my mind. I have not seen my bill spike so I guess not.
Q:
how many pounds of jerky meat will it hold at one time?
Answer: Depending on how thick you slice the meat, you could reasonably put 4-5 lbs. A friend gave me two elk roasts that weighed in about 5 lbs. I sliced it on the thin side and used 8 trays. I had the butcher slice a 3.5 lb. beef roast and only used 5 trays. I spaced the heat about 1/4 in. between pieces. I hope this answers your query. Happy Dehydrating.
Q:
If price were no object, which Excalibur would be the most desirable? Anyone willing to rank all the choices? I have NO experience with dehydrators.
Answer: I agree with the other responses. We started dehydrating various foods years ago and have experience with a couple of the much cheaper units. The Excalibur 3900B was a huge move up. It really does dry dozens of pieces at a time. We tried apples, pears, and even experimented with summer squash and tomatoes. It is fast and works great. Organic apple chips with no additives at all - hard to beat! I didn't rank ALL of the choices either, but did quite a bit of research, too. It was well worth the purchase price for us.
Answer: I did some online research before buying this model, but I can't say I've ranked ALL the choices. I can tell you this dehydrator works well, is built to last, and performs as advertised. With 9 trays, it can dry several dozen apples or similar fruit at once. Well worth the money if you do much drying.
Answer: Price was not a factor in my choice and after doing my research, this is the one I chose. I chose well. It's quiet, efficient and clean up is a breeze.
Answer: I wanted a dehydrator that had a big open area inside. I use mine with the trays for food. And without the trays to dry sugar work . I love mine !!
Answer: I chose 3900B, cuz when adding a timer removes the human element. This is in respect to humidity and area temperature! Also, all electrical components are old school and easy to repair/replace and not subject to power surges!!! WA4MUC Lake Butler, Fl
Q:
Are you happy with this dehydrator even though there is no timer? I am trying to decide between this one and the one with the timer. Thanks!
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: I am happy with it and have done OK without the timer. If I could change anything it would be to make it smaller because I don't think I really need one with this many shelves, but that all depends on how much you will be dehydrating.
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Answer: I am happy without a timer...I like to go and check out what's going on inside and if I have yo leave for work I just turn it down real low...never had over drying
Answer: you do not need timer- you need to open dehidrat. to inspect fruits/vegetabl. anyway- you can use any timer if you wish.
Answer: I haven't needed to use a timer yet but know you can plug your Excalibur into a separate timer of required. (The same type I already have in the cupboard for use with electric blankets or lamps etc.) My best mate bought the model with timer and still hasn't used it yet either.
Answer: Timing varies on personal tastes of your liking. I sometimes will use a electrical timer to shut the unit off. A built in timer would be nice, question is it worth the extra price? IMO
Answer: Yes, it is easy to just go check the texture of the product, which I may prefer to have as crunchy. I do a lot of my own purees and made up recipes anyway, so I just go and check things after putting it in before work and checking it after 8 hours. I've never had anything in there for 24 hours as I've seen recommended on some recipes. I rarely follow the exact time frame that is recommended on recipes anyway.
Answer: I am very happy with mine but I guess the timer could come in handy at times
Answer: I love it, but I wish I would have thout about it not having a timer definitely get the timer
Q:
When making jerky, do you have to rotate the trays to dry them evenly?
Answer: i agree with blenderbender you don't have to but it does help dry evenly. also top two trays and bottom two i rotate to center...
Answer: No you do not have to rotate the shelves for jerky, it will dehydrate fine.
Answer: You don't have to but it does help if you do I've found.
Q:
How much space is there between the trays? Or what's the thickest thing you can put in with all trays loaded? Thanks.
Answer: The spacing between the shelf frames is 1.125 in. I would suggest that you limit the thickness of anything you wish to dry to .5 in. This would allow for any curling of the material and allow you to easily withdraw the shelves. I hope this helps you. Happy dehydrating.
Answer: There's pretty good space between the trays. I purchased the smaller model first, but you really have to keep slices thin with that one. The larger model is definately the way to go. Using a mandoline, you can use the largest setting, which seems to be 1/4 inch thick. You can halve cherry tomatoes and there is enough space for those (not so in the smaller model - the cherry's need to be cut into thirds). There's always the option to take every other tray out to create more room as well. Hope this helps.
Answer: Just remove trays if you need more space between them. You can take as many trays out as you need. Some people put bowls of bread dough in this.
Answer: About 1/4 inch. I need to lay the kale flat. Truth be told...I dont use it that much anymore...list tge novelty value
Q:
Is the front door supposed to fit tight or jost hang on the front with gaps on the sides?
Answer: It just hangs. It is NOT a tight fight. You want air flow, its not like an oven that is enclosed. The plus side is, while it is running, you don't need much additional heat in the room; it does it for you. If the extra heat is a problem, open a window near the back of the machine so the hot air from the back goes outside instead of in.
Answer: It just hangs on the front. Keeps the air flow circulating but it isn't a seal.. The moisture has to escape from somewhere :)
Answer: It just hangs there . It needs to breathe.
Answer: That is how ours fits
Answer: It's designed to just hang, and not be tight.
Q:
What is the lowest temperature setting it can go?
Answer: The temperature range is 95 to 155 degrees f. We have found that with the heating element and fan located on the back wall (cage protected) that our drying time is less than the older round stacked tray American harvester dehydrator that we have. I highly recommend this one. Good luck with your dehydrating.
Answer: This updated model does 115 to 165.
Answer: It adjusts from 95 to 155 Fahrenheit.
Answer: I think 125.
Q:
Who manufactured this appliance?
Answer: Excalibur is the manufacturer of this product and it is a fantastic piece of equipment. I love it. I have gallons of dried fruits and vegetables in just a few months.
where do you find the solid trays to do more liguid stuff?? I dont just want the flat ones. Need ones with a lip.
Answer: I don't know if solid trays are even made. I have purchased the sheets that can be used for a thick liquid like yogurt for yogurt bits
Answer: I don't have solid trays. What I use when drying runnier things is: Saran wrap for the first layer, then I layer parchment paper cut to fit the size of the tray over the saran wrap, or non-stick foil over the saran wrap. Usually I use parchment paper though. I haven't had any problems using this system. Hope this helps!
Answer: I haven't seen solid trays; however, you can use Paraflexx sheets to put over your screen trays, and pour pureed fruits & vegetables onto them to dehydrate into leathers or crackers. I've read that parchment paper works as well, but haven't tried it.
Answer: The trays included with this dehydrator are not built for anything that might drip. You might have to contact the manufacturer, Excalibur, directly to see if they make a dehydrator for your purposes. They have a website.
Answer: I use :
Q:
Is it 110v / 220v ?
Answer: It is a 110V. Very easy to use and just plugs into a normal outlet.
Answer: It is 115/120/130V single phase. In the US just - plug it in.
Answer: mine is 110/120 only
Answer: It's 120v only.
Q:
If purchased through Amazon, does it come with the 10 year warranty?
Answer: I can't swear to that, although I did read on one of the reviews that when one reader pushed the issue with Excalibur, they did honor the longer warranty. If something did go wrong, it should be relatively easy to troubleshoot and fairly inexpensive for parts. I do place alot of weight on warranties, though, so I understand your concern.
Q:
does it have a timer
Answer: The 3900 does not have timer..... model 3926 has timer. I find it unnecessary as there are so many other variables such as ambient temps and humidity. And there is lots of room for error so you don't need to be that precise anyway. In my case I have various batches all started at different times and a timer would be relatively useless. Unless you fill all 9 trays with the very same item it's kind of a non issue.
Answer: the model I purchased does not have a timer. While I was researching I found a few folks that advised not paying additional for a timer because they were not as important. The reason is that dehydrating different things depend on the moisture content of what your dehydrating as well as the humidity of the room your drying in. I have found one batch of bananas one day may take longer than another batch the next. The more you dehydrate you will find a timer is not as good of an option, at least that is what I have found
Answer: Don't have a timer on mine. I really didn't need one since I check it periodically depending on type of food I am drying.
Answer: No, it does not have a timer. When we use a timer, we use an external timer. Most of the time we simply look to see if the fruit, etc. is dry. Times given in the instructions are estimates anyway, and a timer could result in too dry or not dry enough. Looking has proven to provide better results for us.
Q:
Is this dehydrator NSF?
Answer: I do not know if it is NSF certified, you may contact Excalibur to ask them . I do know for the price point you will not find a better dehydrator.................
Answer: I realize that this is a very old question, but...... I don't believe they rate any household appliances NSF. NSF ratings are for materials, equipment, etc., used commercially in the manufacturing of food.
Answer: ditto.... what the heck is NSF?
Answer: I don't know what NSF means!
Q:
Does this come with a preserve it naturally book?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: No, this does not come with the Preserve it naturally book. That book is out of date and no longer even in print.
Answer: My Excalibur came with two books and that's all I ever needed to do the basics with. If you are doing unusual stuff you might need some outside help. The books that came with mine cover fruits, vegetables, meat and fruit rollups. I believe anyone who tries this dehydrator is looking for a way to do things the "natural" way, with no preservatives. I do know if you live where the moisture is high you may need some extra steps.
Answer: Yes, mine came with the PRESERVE IT NATURALLY book as well as the booklet, DEHYDRATION GUIDE both from Excalibur. Both books are a wonderful reference!
Answer: It comes with a book, which includes what you really need: a chart listing drying times and temperatures. Recipes are easy to find on the World Wide Web.
Answer: No, just a small guide. I use several books on canning and preserving which contain dehydration guides. Also I follow a Facebook group on dehydration. You will love this machine.
Answer: It did come with a book but I'm nor sure if it's the one you mentioned. I do warn you that I got the worst customer service from excalibur after my unit caught fire on the second use and never heard anything back from them concerning warranty. I called, emailed and commented on every site I could find the excalibur product. One year has passed and I still have a burned/melted unit.
Answer: Yes, it came with a manual and a preserve it naturally book.
Answer: Yes, it came with a manual and a book. Mine does not have a timer. My older one had a timer, so i assumed my new one has a built in timer,too.My older one was by the same company.
Answer: Yes it did! It came with a manual and a book.
Q:
Is it noisy?
Answer: I wouldn't say noisy. Sounds like an air filter appliance because it has a fan in the posterior side of the unit
Answer: It's more like white noise. I don't find it intrusive. When my husband is home and he sees me turn it on then he says its noisy, but if it's already on when he comes home he doesn't notice it.
Answer: The Excalibur is quieter than my older Le'Equip which it replaced. That being said, it's still a fan and is background white noise. If it's in the same room as a TV or radio you will need to ratchet up the volume.
Answer: I would definitely say it is not a whisper quiet fan but would equate it to a window fan on low to medium. I let it run overnight in the kitchen and can not hear it from the nearby bedroom.
Answer: Somewhat. If you have a small kitchen and are sitting in a room close by, you will hear it humming. However, I find that I block it out after only a few moments
Answer: It hums -- quieter than a normal dishwasher and louder than a normal refrigerator. It's basically the hum of a fan. I hardly notice it unless the house is really quiet.
Answer: I would describe it's noise level as medium. It's loud enough to where you can't have a conversation while standing next to it without raising you voice.
Answer: Yes I run mine during times I am not in the kitchen because it is so loud. I don't care because it works so well and I am really happy with it.
Answer: It's not quiet but we don't find it obnoxious either. It's about the same as running a fan.
Q:
Does all the FREE stuff comes with it: "Preserve it Naturally" book, 10 Year Warranty, 9 Mesh sheets for the trays
Answer: Mine came with "Preserve it Naturally" book, 9 mesh tray inserts, no non-stick liners (had to order separately), and 5 year warranty.
Answer: Yes. But you will want to order the tray liners if you want to make fruit leathers or anything that would fall through the mesh. It's a great dehydrator.
Answer: Excalibur will not recognize the 10 year warranty if purchased on Amazon.
Answer: Only if you pay the additional $30.33 noted at the bottom.
Q:
What is the difference between the 3900 and the 3900B models?
Answer: i can tell you that they are both the same size and watts. but the 3900B model gets up to 155 degrees, while the 3900 model gets up to 145 degrees.
Answer: 3900B is the black - 3900W is the white - difference is color only
Answer: One has an auto shut off and one doesn't. It's best to save your money and go for the one without the auto timer. You could always buy an electric auto shutoff for way cheaper!!
Answer: If you buy these anywhere other than an Excalibur licensed dealer, the 10 year warranty is void.
Q:
How many watts and where is the fan?
Answer: It's 440 watts. The fan is in the back.
Answer: 3900b is 600 watts...
Answer: Don't recall the wattage. Fan is at the back of the unit.
Answer: how tall is it?
Q:
can teflon liners be used
Answer: Yes. I have the teflon liners and they work very well for fruit leathers and such :)
Answer: Yes
Q:
does this unit has a 220v version ? can i order one ?
Answer: Johnny, Excalibur does make 220v versions, but they are not available to us to sell. They are sold through other international distributors. You might check with Excalibur for a list of distributors who are authorized to sell them. I hope this helps. Best Wishes.
Q:
what makes this 'deluxe'?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: The variable temps make this worth its weight in gold. I just did some salmon jerky last night in 5 hours on its highest setting, then smoked it in my smoker. Turned our great.
Answer: you can fit so much food on each tray, the flavors don't mix so you can max out the usage with a full unit each time. Super easy to clean also! I have had mine for about 6 months and am still very happy with this unit.
Answer: it may be the cabinet finish or some other feature that another model doesnt have. All I know is that it is a a very productive easy to use effective appliance for dehydrating produce
Answer: It has a timer. Thats it.
Q:
did you have another model 220v ?
Q:
Will I need to rotate racks regularly to avoid over-drying of foods --- if I get a 5 rack will I not have to?
Answer: Hello, I used 5 racks it to dry fruits (apple and banana) and didn´t have to rotate them. Once the time was done they all were perfect.
Answer: I personally rotate the racks just to get more even drying on the 9 rack. Not sure on the 5 rack.
Answer: I have had success just placeing the racks and setting the temp and letting it go. the heating element and fan are in the back of the unit. The warm air distributes evenly across all trays. you should not need to rotate racks.
Answer: The air circulation seems fairly even. I have not had to rotate the racks at all. Our fruits come out evenly dried from top to bottom rack. Just make sure all your pieces are the same thickness.
Answer: Rotating foods will quicken drying times of certain foods. Ive found that ive never needed to do so with this one
Q:
Are the screens that the food sit on BPA free?
Answer: Yes
Q:
What is the best voltage converting can be used on this machine?
Answer: Don't understand the question. The specifications state "Plug the power cord into standard 120 volt outlet or 220/240 volt outlet depending upon your voltage."
Answer: The machine is made to run 110/120v
Answer: 120
Answer: Not really sure about that question.
Answer: I don't know, you should ask either seller or manufacturer
Q:
Does this come with the 10 year warranty when ordered from Amazon?
Answer: Yes it has a 10 year manufactured warranty and yes it is valid if you buy it on Amazon.
Answer: Only if you buy it from Excalibur themselves.
Answer: Yes
Answer: yes
Q:
Are there stainless steel trays that fit this model?
Answer: The only stainless steel trays that I have found are 15 x 15. I have measured my trays and they are 14 x 14. Check to see if your dehydrator has a room enough for the larger shelves. They are on Amazon and quite pricey but have great reviews.
Answer: Hello, yes there are. In fact, they can be found on Amazons : stainless steel tray replacement for 35$
Answer: If there are I don’t know about them. The trays that come with it are very durable and I have used mine a lot with no problems. I guess you could contact the company who made it to find out.
Q:
I just want to know how much does Excalibur 3900B 9 cost to ship it to Africa Uganda Kampala
Answer: Hi, Stewart. The shipping price will vary depending on which seller you purchase the dehydrator from. We all have different rates in terms of weights and countries. The going rate at the post office to ship this item to Uganda is approximately $150. I recommend shopping around and doing sample check outs from each of the sellers to see which one of us offers the lowest rate. Please feel free to follow up with any additional questions. Thank you and have a great day!
Q:
Where is the fan located on this dehydrator?
Answer: In the back of the dehydrator
Answer: It is located in the back. This dehydrator is awesome!
Answer: Fan is on the back!
Answer: In the interior backside of the unit.
Answer: It's centered in a cage on the back wall.
Answer: Caged on the back wall
Q:
Does the machine blow air out of the machine while running? Hence would it need to be in an open ventilated space? Thanks!
Answer: I put mine on the kitchen counter with the back (fan area) next to the wall and outlet. The fan blows a bit of air thru the machine to the front, but I can only feel a tiny bit of air blowing out the front if I have the cover off. Otherwise, I can't feel any air movement. I would not put the machine in a tightly enclosed area...such as in a cupboard...such as I feel it needs some ventilation. I've had no trouble using it in my kitchen which is fairly small. Incidentally, I love the machine! Hope this helps.
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Very little. I keep mine on my kitchen counter. Just mAke sure you don't run it outside it will break it
Answer: A normal room is quite sufficient for the dehydrator.
Q:
Are the trays dishwasher safe?
Answer: According to the manufacturer, the trays are dishwasher safe. The plastic inserts however are not, and should be washed by hand.
Answer: I own a standard sized dishwasher and would have to remove the top rack in order to fit the trays in there. You'd have to have a really big dishwasher in order to put them in there. So with that said, I'm not sure, since they won't fit in mine. Residue from dried vegetables doesn't "become one" with the tray and washes off by hand very easily.
Answer: Yes and no. Hope that helps. Just kidding. The manual says the trays themselves are ok to put in dishwasher, but I don't heat dry them. They say to not put the mesh inserts in dishwasher, but I do. Again with no heat dry. Will this lessen the life of the mesh? I don't know, but it is much easier to clean them this way.
Answer: They are dishwasher safe on the top rack.
Answer: top rack safe, but they don't get "crusted dirty" they really rinse off in the sink very easily.
Answer: I dont own a dishwasher.
Q:
Is it dishwasher safe?
Q:
How long is the electric cord on this model please?
Answer: Great question! It is a little over 3 1/2 ft. long.
Answer: just a little more than 46 inches
Q:
how much is shipping to Brazil ?
Answer: Raphael,
Answer: We're so sorry, Raphael. We do not ship these units to S. America. Please check in with Excalibur at their website for vendors who do.
Q:
Will this one work on 220v ?
Answer: The Xcal 3900B is rated 110/120 Volt AC 60 Hz. To operate 220/240 VAC, as supplied, must use a step-down transformer in US. There is an application for this when a 220 Volt water pump runs off of solar/battery/ inverter, there is a split phase inverter system that will work! The cost of this system requires very deep pockets. If you are on Mains in Europe Contact manufacture for Export unit 220/240 volts @ 50Hz. Hope this helps
Answer: You would have to get something like this -
Answer: NO - 110- 120V
Answer: No, 110-120
Answer: No..it's for 110v
Q:
Viene algúno para 220v?
Q:
Does the 10 year warranty apply if purchased through Amazon
Q:
Which one do I need to get in order to get a timer? I want an Excalibur, want 600 watts, want adjustable temp up to 165 degrees and need a timer. Hel
Answer: Excalibur doesn't have a timer, but does have temp control
Answer: Read the 'Product Description' because I think this one has everything you're looking for and you can find out by reading the info they provide underneath the product. I love my dehydrator and I believe it has everything you're looking for.
Q:
Any voltage issue used in Singapore?
Answer: this unit is 120 volts and with no switchable circuit. Your voltage is 230. Unless you have a way of obtaining 120, I doubt it will work well.
Q:
How long Does it to dehydrate ginger or garlic?
Q:
Are you a certified Excaliber retailer to validate the 10yr warranty?
Answer: NO
Q:
Does this have t he isert to make fruit rollups?Or will i be able to use a liner for that?
Answer: No idea about insert. Seems you could use a liner by removing some of the shelves, if more vertical space needed. We've only used it to dry chopped veggies for dry canning in jars, some still fresh and dry about 4 years later don't recall how long ago we purchased the unit.
Answer: They (solid plastic sheets) did not come with this unit but they are available to buy. Or make your own with parchment.
Answer: Mine did not have them included. I did purchase them separately but you could also use parchment paper.
Q:
What are the detentions of the trays?
Answer: Usable space for each tray is 14x14. Please note that Harvest Essentials includes the Preserve if Naturally Book ($29.95 value) at no additional cost when purchasing from us.
Answer: 9 trays reffers to the amount of layers or levels in which you can dehydrate the most amount of food possible in one session (in 9 different levels one on top of the other to optimaze energy, time, yield, etc)
Answer: They are 15" x 15", but there is a 1/2" lip that you don't put food on, so the usable dehydration surface is 14" x 14".
Q:
Does this product have any ptfe anywhere in or on it? i have tried asking the company, who refuse to answer.
Answer: I don't believe it does, it is mainly plastic and BPA free. There is no non-stick coating as far as I can tell.
Q:
Any voltage issue used in Singapore?
Answer: this unit is 120 volts and with no switchable circuit. Your voltage is 230. Unless you have a way of obtaining 120, I doubt it will work well.
Q:
The door on my excalibur 3900b rattles really badly. to the point where i can't even use it in the house. i have to keep it in the garage. solution?
Answer: Put the small felt furniture pads around door frame where it's making noise. But never heard of a Excalibur making such troubles may need to have motor looked at
Answer: Make sure it's on all the way. Shouldn't be a gap at the sides and bottom.
Q:
Do I have to buy the non stick paper
Answer: You will only need non-stick sheets if you want to make crackers, fruit leather (or anything that starts as a liquid or puree) as the mesh sheets are perforated and will not contain liquids. You can buy the non-stick sheets here: http://www.amazon.com/Paraflexx-Premium-Non-stick-Dehydrator-14/dp/B000H6PBFQ
Answer: No, we have not had any trouble with food sticking to the trays.
Answer: I have purchased excaliber sheets for the best results, there are also non-brand sheets, all of them are pricey, but totally worth it, I would not use any other products (non-stick paper), but I am sure it is possible.
Answer: No. The non stick paper is for things like fruit roll ups.
Answer: I would say yes, buy the liners because the trays have pretty big gaps. I use them all the time and find no degradation in drying.
Answer: I just use regular parchment paper, works great. Huge roll from Costco lasts all fruit season.
Answer: No. I place the meat directly on the sheets and they come right off when its done.
Q:
What's the difference between this model and the 2900-ECB?
Answer: It's not just the color.. The 3900 has a 600 watt motor the 2900 has a 440 watt motor.
Answer: The 3900 is an updated (improved) version of the 2900, also the 3900 motor is stronger than the 2900. The Excalibur 3900 has a 10 yrs warranty while the 2900 has only a 5 year warranty.
Answer: I couldn't find any difference other than color.
Answer: Color
Product reviews of Excalibur Food Dehydrator 9-Tray Electric with Adjustable Thermostat Accurate Temperature Control Faster Drying, Black
James S. Bedingfield : Good unit
Trays are easy to use and reasonably well-supported; good mesh covering for the trays; good temperature control and even distribution of heat with the fan. I especially like that the machine cycles on and off to allow the food to dry evenly throughout.Easy access to the trays. Just purchased a second unit. I am using mine to dry coffee which tests the unit on two points: 1) I use it on the lowest temp setting, which has been a little tricky to keep it running and cycle; and 2) the trays do sag a little when loaded with wet parchment coffee, but they seem to come back to flat as the coffee dries.
Linda : Louder than my old one
I bought my first Excalibur Dehydrator in about 1985 or so. This year, (2016), the bottom cracked and started leaking. I checked into getting a replacement casing (the outside of the unit, minus the fan, timer, and racks), and they wanted too much for it. So, I decided to buy a new unit from Amazon, without the timer. Since I only run the dehydrator when I am home, I decided not to bother with the timer. This replacement dehydrator is a cheaper model than what I paid for years ago. I paid about $200 way back then, but the quality was much better then. I paid $197 for this new one, but the quality is not there. The racks are much thinner, and the unit itself is so much louder! After running for at least half an hour, it's not quite as loud (the vibration stops), but it's still not as good as my old unit. I've also noticed that the new dehydrator doesn't dry as well. The left side doesn't dry as well, so I am forced to rotate and turn the racks. I never had to do that before. It is still a good dehydrator, but, not a GREAT dehydrator as my old one was. I usually dehydrate a couple hundred pounds of chicken a year for jerky, so it's not like I don't use the thing. It's still much better than the other dehydrators I have used, but just not as good.
James S. Bedingfield : Good unit
Trays are easy to use and reasonably well-supported; good mesh covering for the trays; good temperature control and even distribution of heat with the fan. I especially like that the machine cycles on and off to allow the food to dry evenly throughout.Easy access to the trays. Just purchased a second unit. I am using mine to dry coffee which tests the unit on two points: 1) I use it on the lowest temp setting, which has been a little tricky to keep it running and cycle; and 2) the trays do sag a little when loaded with wet parchment coffee, but they seem to come back to flat as the coffee dries.
Jennifer Kleffner : Needs a removable drip tray
I bought this after lots of recommendations. Yes, its a good dehydrator. The square shape is efficient, and the removable trays means you can dry larger items by just taking out the tray above. My one quibble with this machine, and its kind of a big one, is that the bottom of the machine is VERY hard to clean if something you are drying drips - which most things do. The bottom isn't removable, and because of the wire mesh backing between the trays and the fan, you can't reach behind this wire to reach spills. I had a batch of apricots drip, and finally soaked the bottom over a sink, over and over, in order to get the dried on fruit out. Would be an easy thing to design this with a pull out bottom. So, from now on, I'm using the bottom tray with a liner as a drip catcher. Otherwise, very pleased with the product.
Lyra Bree : Best Dehydrator on the Market
This is such an easy to use dehydrator! It’s noise level is low amd is easy to clean. I wish there was a bottom removable “crumb catcher” but urs still easy to clean. The temperature controls on top are easy to use and understand. It’s so much quicker than my previous top rated top down fan one. The fan on the back really makes it dry more evenly and quicker. If your on the fence just buy and you won’t look back.
Dakota : Best dehydrator EVER!
This has been in my cart for over a year, I finally saw it on a daily deal for $70 off and I had to buy it! It’s awesome, best quality dehydrator! The size is awesome for larger projects and the mats are cheap to make roll ups!
Rissa : WORTH EVERY PENNY!
This is an incredible machine. If you garden and want to preserve dried fruits/veggies; it you are a raw foodist or just a foodie in general - this machine is WORTH its price. It was an upgrade for us and the first time we used it, we wished we had splurged on it WAY before! The controls are precise and fabulous. It's a workhorse, putting out tray after tray of dehydrated yumminess. We've preserved from the garden and farmer's market - way more than ever before. And tried fun new raw recipes, like crackers, fruit rolls and even raw pizza. If you're on the fence like we were, I'd say, just do it. This is the best dehydrator EVER!
James S. Bedingfield : Good unit
Trays are easy to use and reasonably well-supported; good mesh covering for the trays; good temperature control and even distribution of heat with the fan. I especially like that the machine cycles on and off to allow the food to dry evenly throughout.Easy access to the trays. Just purchased a second unit. I am using mine to dry coffee which tests the unit on two points: 1) I use it on the lowest temp setting, which has been a little tricky to keep it running and cycle; and 2) the trays do sag a little when loaded with wet parchment coffee, but they seem to come back to flat as the coffee dries.
D. Wold : Wow what a huge amount of drying space!!
This is definitely a large dryer both in capacity and counter space. It will not be something I leave on my counter which does not bother me at all.
I received this on Monday and so far have dehydrated strawberries apples and 4 pounds of jerky. The strawberries did not turn out well but this was totally user error. I'm used to using my square smaller dehydrator and did not check them soon enough. They dehydrated 1-2 hours earlier than I am used to. The apples over dehydrated also but they still taste fine.
This unit handled four pounds of ground beef and chicken jerky just fine with actual room to spare. I'm sure I could have put another's pound in there and been fine but wasn't sure what the capacity would be so I didn't. My jerky came out delicious and again didn't take as long as I was used to but this time I new to watch it closer.
It came with a large book on dehydrating how to along with recipes and other ideas on how to use the dehydrator. I've actually learned a few things by reading the book!!!
I put my trays in and turned it on for the first time to hear a horrible rattling noise but on closer inspection found that i had pushed the trays to far back and they were hitting the fan cage.
Of course it makes noise but no more than my other dehydrator and in fact it actually might be a tad bit quieter. You can't expect something like this to be able to do its job and be whisper quiet.
I upgraded to this dehydrator after I realized my other one ( which I will also still use) just didn't have the capacity that I needed and its very nice to have a square tray without a hole in the center like all the others. I also didn't want to buy this one until I could justify the price. This will be a lot easier to clean than the big bulky trays of my other unit and the plastic sheets that go in the trays have small holes so my small food (like diced carrots) won't fall through.
I also like all the different temperature options as my other one had veggies and fruits drying at the same temp.
I did not buy one with a timer as if I feel I need one i will just buy the plug in outlet timer that I will plug this unit into.
The only con I have found so far is that I feel for the price it should have come with at least one para flex sheet.
I know I've not had this long but so far it is exceeding my expectations. I will post an update in about a month.
Ross Bagne : First Inpressions.
I am brand new to the dehydrating food preserving method and I have only been using this product for a couple of days so these are just initial impressions, but I can see right now that you have to buy a high quality product like this if you want good results. These things run for HOURS. I didn't realize that ahead of time. This means that you have to have a durable high quality machine to do this. I wouldn't go with a cheaper product. This is just right for me at the right price.
Brittany Morris : BUY SOMETHING ELSE
I never even got to use my dehydrator, BECAUSE IT ARRIVED IN PIECES. Don't dump your money into this. More often than not this product arrives broken, and for some stupid reason, I thought maybe I'd be an exception. NOPE. It was completely crushed. It was crushed so badly, that even the book was shredded. Find another product guys, it's not worth it.
Billie Vanderburg (Smart Shopper) : This dehydrator works great
This dehydrator works great and is so much better than the old round trayed one had I previously. It circulates the air well and holds so much more than my previous one. I didn't see the need for the timer on the more expensive model and I'm glad I didn't get that one because the range of times it takes for things to completely dehydrate varies so much. In one bag of onions, there may be some with a very high moisture content and others with regular moister and still others on the dry side so there is no way without checking the dehydrator frequently that you would know when something is ready to be removed. A timer won't do that for you, it would just turn the machine off whether your items were ready or not. Great purchase!
Tom & Emily : Strange temperature control.
I thought I had done my proper amount of research before I purchased this item. I read tons of reviews here on Amazon. Now that I own it I can save some of you from making an uninformed decision like I did. This thing rattles like crazy! I mean makes tons of noise. The main selling point for me was the maximum temperature of this unit. I’d like to make beef sticks and jerky but I don’t want it dried out and leathery. This dehydrator does not seem able to get the internal temperature of food to 165 Fahrenheit.
Amazon Customer : Non-existant customer service
I have not been "dehydrating" for very long, but when 2 trays of curly parsley takes 3 days to dry and still has not even started to crisp, I kinda feel that something is wrong. I wrote to Excalibur with my concerns on May 18th; I received a standard "we are sorry for your inconvenience" e-mail. So I would like to know where my answers are. They haven't issued any further help, nor do I anticipate any answers to be heading my way.
The issue is that (following manufacturer's instructions) my food items are not drying at the recommended temps nor in the approximate time . I do understand that it can take longer than recommended times depending on the humidity, but more than 3 days to dehydrate parsley, come on!!! I also realize that sometimes you just have to up the temp at little bit. Tried that.
So, if you are looking for good customer service, DON'T buy from Excalibur. The actual unit may work just fine, but no one will answer my questions and explain what to do in these situations.
M. Klausmeier : Haven't even gotten started...
Received my dehydrator two days ago. Opened the box yesterday and unpackaged the machine. As I did, a small screw and washer fell out. I noticed a sizable crack in the machine near the temperature control. Returning an item this large is a major inconvenience as I am not near an Amazon drop off.
I used Gorilla glue to repair the crack and finally, after searching, found where the screw and washer came from. Unfortunately, they are from inside the machine where they held the metal mesh that is in front of the unit's fan.
Hopefully there won't be any issued using the machine, but if there are, I'll be driving...
S. Christenson : I LOOOOOOOOOOVVVE this machine
I was in need of a new dehydrator as mine was from the turn of the century. I've been trying to change my diet over to at least 80% raw and a dehydrator is a must. This is a splurge. I know it was hard to make that initial leap. I weighed my choices and figured that with how much I was going to use it, I might as well go for the big mamma. It was bigger than my mind thought it was. The nine pull out trays are heaven and they dry perfectly. The dial for the temperature setting is on the back right which wouldn't be the biggest hassle, unless you think that the space I made for it is on the far right side of my counter. So not the easiest reach over. The front cover hangs on the front. Literally. There are no hindges, just a shelf to sit it on. Sometimes after checking my items, I do not close it properly so you have to make sure. This unit is also super duper easy to clean. EVERYTHING pulls out and can get swabbed down. I do wish that it came with the solid sheets as well as you will have to buy them. The excalibut sheets are waaaaayy expensive, so I might go for that multi pack I keep seeing. Overall.... I wouldn't have gone another way. I love this machine and may go home and use it again now that I'm thinking about it.
LSS : Easy to use and a great investment that will very ...
Can't say enough about this dehydrator. I'm on a quest to stop wasting food and this dehydrator has been very helpful. Especially now with gardens in full growth. Vegetables that I once would throw away because of spoilage no longer see the trash can. I never thought about how the dried herbs, spices, vegetable flavorings etc. were made. Now I know! I not only avoid throwing food away but I'm saving money by making my own powdered flavorings. Some vegetables I've dehydrated as chunks to reconstitute in soups, casseroles and even give to the dogs.
I had quite a bit of meat that I didn't want to refreeze and was going to expire so I decided to take a chance. First I used a pressure cooker to kill any bacteria and then dehydrated some chicken, ground hamburger and pork. I rehydrated some of the meat and was pleasantly surprised! I could not tell that the meat had previously been cooked which I thought was a real thumbs up.
When I researched dehydrators I discovered that Excalibur brand is the only product to buy for an individual who is serious about dehydrating food. Easy to use and a great investment that will very soon pay for itself.
Nope : Damage and ripoff.
Received the new dehydrator and there was evidence of damage. The trays were misaligned and stuck. The Dehydrator body was warped. Received the replacement dehydrator. You could tell the inner box was open by someone before I received the box because the tape sealing the box was gone. Upon inspection, it was missing one of the books (preserve it naturally) and a polyscreen.
Devin Braun : Great improvement from common budget type
After years of frustration using a cheap department store dehydrator (a wedding gift), I finally bit the bullet and shelled out the cash for a better appliance. Huge difference in how efficiently and evenly it dries. I also went from 6 smaller round trays to 9 larger square ones. The amount of food I can preserve at one time is at least doubled. Note - very moist air escapes from the the edges of the door, if you are setting up on a wood table, protect it with something waterproof (I used a few flexible cutting boards). I like that this model has an old school knob for control - usually more reliable long term than digital electronics. Solid door doesn't bother me at all, very easy to lift of and check the "product".
Michael J. Tallmadge : Good value, works well.
This dryer is large enough, that one cycle will fill a gallon jar with dried apples. It’s easy to clean, if you buy sheets for messy items like tomatoes. Veggies and apples don’t stick at all. It’s lightweight, and easy to move around. I run it in a workroom where I can’t hear it, so without a timer, I can’t forget about it.
Samdread : Cheaply made, too many faults. Not worth the money and very disappointed
I bought this machine to dry surplus fruits and vegetables. Today I decided to use the dehydrator and to my horror the noise coming from it is so loud. The smell is disturbing. I'm afraid to use this machine incase it starts an electrical fire and burn my house down. I am very disappointed with this purchase. I have to dispose of this machine. Waste of money
Jonathan : Disappointing
Disappointing quality for the price. It doesn't seem to have more than $50 worth in parts so I assume you are just paying for the warranty. -The mesh liners were cut unevenly. Not a big deal, but really? -Fan assembly looks thrown together. Just a fan, and coils with all wires exposed. All protected by this top of the line chicken wire. Holes behind fan are drill sporadically. Not certain but the welds seem to be oxidizing or at least not cleaned. -Didn't come with a manual as listed on amazon -Sticker claims there will be a 15% restocking fee if returning. -Everything is plastic... -No drip tray. If food were to somehow drip down and flow behind their fan guard which has a large gap beneath, how would you ever clean that? -Upgrading to stainless steel trays will set you back $100 yet you could buy a Chinese unit with SS trays included for that. -No timer. Not a big deal before buying but seeing the quality and the markups to include the timer makes this a flaw now. -Massive hole in unit? Top right of the unit under the temperature decal is a large opening secured only by this decal. There is another on near the temp dial. Did they not want to create a new mold this model? I'm fairly certain they could have still used this cheap method but secured it more appropriately. -Temp dial secured for shipment with painters tape....
bryan : and they are packed with useful tidbits, especially the tips about preserving the live ...
First day and I already dehydrated 6 apples, 6 tomatoes, 4 onions and 2 whole garlic... all at the same time, with two trays empty. Two books come with the Excalibur, and they are packed with useful tidbits, especially the tips about preserving the live enzymes. Those tips also seemed to cut my dehydrating time to almost half of what it used to take me with other brands. Construction of this is a very high quality plastic, fully removable trays, and removable plastic mesh inserts. Those mesh inserts make cleaning SO EASY! They are extremely flexible, and seem like they will last a long time. I'm very happy with this machine.
I will keep you posted if any negatives reveal themselves.
Thanks from Chicago
David Smith : Good, but noisy
As dehydrators go, it does a good job, and doesn't have too large of a footprint. I prefer the square trays over the round ones of other dehydrators, they are easier to load up. It IS noisy. Better care could be taken to dampen the vibrations. I had to turn it off to watch TV, my kitchen opens into my living room, but was fine when I put it in the utility room. Other than the noise, and a door that just hangs on, it is fine. A timer would have been nice, but I wasn't willing to pony up an extra $100 just for a timer, I'll grab one for ten bucks at Lowes and have it around for other uses too.
Melinda : A dehydrator that you won't be sorry you purchased.
I have used many dehydrators over the years (all of them being the small round types) and have had many die after a year or less of use. I decided I wanted a dehydrator that could hold more items at a time. I dehydrate pumpkins and squash and don't enjoy having to do one pumpkin in different days. After reading reviews on many different dehydrators I decided to give this Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator a try. I used it for 6 months straight last year and am getting ready to use it again this winter. It held up well to heavy use and it held a lot of food at one time. The dehydrator is fairly quite as it runs and the air circulates nicely. Everything dries evenly (unless cut at different thicknesses) no matter what shelf it is on. I was happy to find that this dehydrator came with a book of recipes and I do plan on trying other items this year. If you are looking for a dehydrator, seriously consider taking a chance on this one.
Rissa : WORTH EVERY PENNY!
This is an incredible machine. If you garden and want to preserve dried fruits/veggies; it you are a raw foodist or just a foodie in general - this machine is WORTH its price. It was an upgrade for us and the first time we used it, we wished we had splurged on it WAY before! The controls are precise and fabulous. It's a workhorse, putting out tray after tray of dehydrated yumminess. We've preserved from the garden and farmer's market - way more than ever before. And tried fun new raw recipes, like crackers, fruit rolls and even raw pizza. If you're on the fence like we were, I'd say, just do it. This is the best dehydrator EVER!
m.vanbrackle : Set it and forget it
I bought this to do large batches of jerky and it doesn't disappoint. Most of the mixes I buy requires 5 pounds of meat and the one I had would take about 8 hours to do and only did half at a time. I would end up with a batch seasoned by my liking and another over seasoned. I can do it all in one batch and only takes 5 hours for the same results. I even set it with a smart plug so Alexa could do a routine. I just saw Jerky after setting up a batch as I leave for work and it's ready to my liking when I get home without being overly dry. I did use it on some fruits but mainly it's for my jerky. Wish I pulled the trigger and bought this thing years ago.
Glen E Thomas : Great product
Update: after using the 3900b since 2015 I decided it was time to buy another 3900b to increase my capacity. I have had no issues with the 2015 purchase and expect many more years of use.
Things I have found that I didn’t like;
Hate cleaning the mesh liners, I bought the premium silicone liners that clean up faster and allow food to be easily removed.
Replaced the trays with the stainless steel trays, no issues with the plastic trays but like the stainless steel.
Things I do like;
Overall noise is better than other brands, I can talk on phone in same room as dehydrators.
Large capacity and ability to remove trays for larger items. I have used the dehydrator to dry delicate items quickly.
Simple operation of controls and the ability to dial in the correct heat. I own a lesser brand that’s either all in at 1000 watts or off. Simple tray loading allows for checking the progress with out moving a bunch of trays around and finding a place to set trays while checking the lower levels.
I have been using this dehydrator for a few months and have dehydrated meats, fruit and veggies. Also tried eggs with very a messy result due to the tray design. Not having a timer has not been an issue for me. This is a great product and I am going to buy another.
Susan C. : Excalibur used to be the best dehydrator on the market, but that is no longer the case.
The first unit I received was defective. I lost 7 pounds of organic green beans in it when the fan stopped working and all the beans spoiled. I returned it to Amazon and was sent a replacement (Amazon's service was prompt.). The replacement had a door that was made incorrectly. It hangs improperly because it does not have the same construction as the door on the original unit. I contacted Excalibur and they sent out a replacement door...it was also defective. I called them again and was sent another defective door. The technical service department at Excalibur is nonexistent. All you get is a phone sales person who has no knowledge of the products. They will not/cannot help me. Now it is too late to send the unit back to Amazon. I will be contacting Excalibur until they address my issue, but I don't expect much as so far they have been less than helpful...polite, but not knowledgeable. Excalibur used to be the best dehydrator on the market, but that is no longer the case.
D. Wold : Wow what a huge amount of drying space!!
This is definitely a large dryer both in capacity and counter space. It will not be something I leave on my counter which does not bother me at all.
I received this on Monday and so far have dehydrated strawberries apples and 4 pounds of jerky. The strawberries did not turn out well but this was totally user error. I'm used to using my square smaller dehydrator and did not check them soon enough. They dehydrated 1-2 hours earlier than I am used to. The apples over dehydrated also but they still taste fine.
This unit handled four pounds of ground beef and chicken jerky just fine with actual room to spare. I'm sure I could have put another's pound in there and been fine but wasn't sure what the capacity would be so I didn't. My jerky came out delicious and again didn't take as long as I was used to but this time I new to watch it closer.
It came with a large book on dehydrating how to along with recipes and other ideas on how to use the dehydrator. I've actually learned a few things by reading the book!!!
I put my trays in and turned it on for the first time to hear a horrible rattling noise but on closer inspection found that i had pushed the trays to far back and they were hitting the fan cage.
Of course it makes noise but no more than my other dehydrator and in fact it actually might be a tad bit quieter. You can't expect something like this to be able to do its job and be whisper quiet.
I upgraded to this dehydrator after I realized my other one ( which I will also still use) just didn't have the capacity that I needed and its very nice to have a square tray without a hole in the center like all the others. I also didn't want to buy this one until I could justify the price. This will be a lot easier to clean than the big bulky trays of my other unit and the plastic sheets that go in the trays have small holes so my small food (like diced carrots) won't fall through.
I also like all the different temperature options as my other one had veggies and fruits drying at the same temp.
I did not buy one with a timer as if I feel I need one i will just buy the plug in outlet timer that I will plug this unit into.
The only con I have found so far is that I feel for the price it should have come with at least one para flex sheet.
I know I've not had this long but so far it is exceeding my expectations. I will post an update in about a month.
Dave Karl : Excellent piece of equipment
I had a cheaper round one from Bed Bath and Beyond actually the same manufacturer but didn't dehydrate fast or even plus was the stackable kind. While I admit the 3900-B is far superior it did cost twice as much but worth every penny. You don't want a stackable type and don't want circler. This 9 tray rectangle one is great plus the shelves/racks are lined with a fine easy to clean mesh. The holes are small so even tiny things will dry and not fall through to the bottom. Pay up and buy this one is gets the job done the most efficiently and everything comes out like it should.
C Will : Really glad I got this
Love this dehydrator! I've been using it every weekend since I got it to dehydrate all kinds of foods. The first thing I did was dry spring onions, garlic, celery and green peppers i had because I can't seem to use them up before they go soft. Then I simply rehydrate or just toss in recipe dry! Left some dried chopped garlic as is and made garlic powder with rest and did same with celery. Store had rump roasts at "buy 1, get 1 free" this week, so I had store slice them up for me and I made jerky for my husband. Love how much this holds and that I can dry bigger pieces of broccoli or other items by taking out every other tray. I dried frozen potatoes that were getting icy and rehydrate to use in stews and casseroles. Did same with frozen fruits that were getting old and icy -- makes a great natural snack. I just knocked all the ice off and put in frozen and they dried beautifully. Next weekend, I am going to cook various dry beans and dehydrate them into quick cook beans that cook in 20 min. instead of hours for faster meals. I don't have to buy canned with all that high sodium; however, i should note that many of the beans split as they dry, so they are best for soups and stews and refried beans. I could even rinse and dry canned beans, but cooking dry beans and then dehydrating is much more economical and I control the salt. I put all of my dried foods in mason jars and seal them with my FoodSaver, so they will last for years. It's so convenient to use what I need and simply reseal. You won't believe how much dried food fits into a quart mason jar. For longer storage, I put an oxygen absorber in jar with dried food and keep in dark, cool part of basement. Can't wait to grow, dry and store my own herbs next summer! I can even rise bread in this machine! Definitely very pleased with this machine because it will pay for itself in no time the way I use it.
Lucky Writer 777 : Best item I purchased in 2020 by far
Where has dehydrating been all my life?!! I’ve been missing out. I bought this product because it was rated number 1 by a YouTube vegan channel. I purchased the 9 drawer Excalibur Dehydrator. So far so good! The family loves the fruits! We come from the islands so the bananas and mango are our favorites. Next best are the apples (dipped in 6oz of pineapple juice, 6 oz of water and 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice to prevent browning). And, surprisingly, red bell peppers are delicious to snack on. Oranges are good to snack on and for tea (as well as lemons and limes). I plan on crushing the citrus fruit to make toppings for ice cream. The machine is a little louder than expected, but not intolerable.
Best item I purchased in 2020 by far.
Rissa : WORTH EVERY PENNY!
This is an incredible machine. If you garden and want to preserve dried fruits/veggies; it you are a raw foodist or just a foodie in general - this machine is WORTH its price. It was an upgrade for us and the first time we used it, we wished we had splurged on it WAY before! The controls are precise and fabulous. It's a workhorse, putting out tray after tray of dehydrated yumminess. We've preserved from the garden and farmer's market - way more than ever before. And tried fun new raw recipes, like crackers, fruit rolls and even raw pizza. If you're on the fence like we were, I'd say, just do it. This is the best dehydrator EVER!
blenderbender : Isn't as good as it could be but.....
I received the dehydrator a few days ago and it's been running almost 7/24 ever since. My first impression is that it seems a bit pricey considering it's mostly plastic, and nothing fancy at that. A tiny motor and fan, and some really basic thermostatic controller and that's it. Even at the best price I could find anywhere $225 seems a bit much for what you get. If you consider the 5 year warranty (10 years if bought directly from Excalibur for $250) perhaps that evens it out a bit. Time will tell whether it will prove all that dependable. At least I've got 5 years to test drive it. As for noise level, it's a bit quieter than my old Le'Equip dehydrator. It's still a white noise in the background and anything with a fan you're going to hear. You will need to ratchet up the TV volume if it's anywhere nearby. The plastic door that hangs down in front vibrates (annoyingly) intermittently. I had to wedge a small piece of cardboard in between the door and door jamb to solve that..... a minor inconvenience. The first thing I did was stick a digital thermometer probe inside to check the accuracy of the thermostat. My first reaction was " this thing runs way hotter than the thermostat setting". Then I read the book and realized that the air temperature is always going to be 20-30 degrees above the food temperature when you account for the water content of the food being dried and the effect of evaporation. I'm still not clear on what about when the food is nearly dry and the air temperature is higher than you'd expect. This only really matters if you are following a raw food diet and believe that anything above around 115 deg. destroys valuable enzymes. Otherwise, the hotter the better as the food dries more quickly. It dries much more evenly than the Le'Equip and you don't have to contend with that dead spot in the middle where the heat is pushed up through. This is true with most of the lower priced dehydrators, especially ones with round trays. Square trays with no gap in the middle is the only way to go I think. For now I'm giving it 4 stars based on the price I paid. If I paid any more, I'd expect more.
toddzilla : TOP NOTCH DEHYDRATORS
I have done a lot of research on dehydrators! Again and again I kept coming back to the Excalibur! Torn between the 2900 economy and the 3900. The 3900 does have better overall components. I happened upon different purchase options on amazon and looked into the "used" found mine for 160 bucks. It came to me with a slight cracked section upper left. 10 minutes and half a tube of epoxy fixed that right away! I can honestly tell you that these dehydrators are badass! I'm smelling my jerky right now! Can't wait to dry my veggies etc etc. I easily placed 10 pounds of marinated London broil on the 9 trays.i also ordered non stick liners for fruit leather. I am difficult to impress! Even my "used" (broken) Excalibur is keeping me up late! Do yourself a favor, get one. Did I mention made in usa?
LSS : Easy to use and a great investment that will very ...
Can't say enough about this dehydrator. I'm on a quest to stop wasting food and this dehydrator has been very helpful. Especially now with gardens in full growth. Vegetables that I once would throw away because of spoilage no longer see the trash can. I never thought about how the dried herbs, spices, vegetable flavorings etc. were made. Now I know! I not only avoid throwing food away but I'm saving money by making my own powdered flavorings. Some vegetables I've dehydrated as chunks to reconstitute in soups, casseroles and even give to the dogs.
I had quite a bit of meat that I didn't want to refreeze and was going to expire so I decided to take a chance. First I used a pressure cooker to kill any bacteria and then dehydrated some chicken, ground hamburger and pork. I rehydrated some of the meat and was pleasantly surprised! I could not tell that the meat had previously been cooked which I thought was a real thumbs up.
When I researched dehydrators I discovered that Excalibur brand is the only product to buy for an individual who is serious about dehydrating food. Easy to use and a great investment that will very soon pay for itself.
Melissa H. : Has worked perfectly for us, for years
After a lot of research on different brands and types of dehydrators, we decided to go with this one. We've had it for a few years now and have had no issues with it. It does everything it says it's supposed to do, including dehydrating all racks or food evenly. We've made many items from the extensive recipe book they provided with the dehydrator. We definitely recommend this to anyone who will use it regularly for regular food use, or food storage. It's large, so it requires a good amount of space for storage.
Amazon Customer : Excaliber 3900B
I looked through a lot of reviews and almost didn't buy this dehydrator because of how many people said it was so loud. But I bought it anyway. I'm glad I did. Is there noise? yes, but it is only the fan which is not as loud as I was expecting. There is no vibration noise or loose parts that I have seen yet. I use the dehydrator in the basement, so what little noise there doesn't bother me anyway. I have used it twice so far to make jerky. The first time I let it go too long and it over-dried the jerky. I waited 5 hours before I checked it and all the thinner pieces we past done. The second time, I started checking it at about 3 hours, then for every half hour after. I would pull off any of the jerky that looked ready each time. The 1st time I used it, my thermometer got up to 174 degs. The 2nd time, it showed 180 near the end. All in all I'm very pleased with this unit. It has a lot of drying space, it feels solid and seems like it will last for a while. It was also very easy to clean. The drying racks are plastic and will need to be handled carefully. I would recommend this unit and would also purchase again as a gift.
R.Brodnan : Broken
I did alot of research and thought I landed on the best dehydrator out there. It came broken. Its all made out of cheap plastic and the top corner came completely broken. Which also made the entire right side not quite line up correctly, almost seemed like it was warped. This for sure is NOT worth the price! Needless to say I returned it and ended up going to a local sports store and bought a different dehydrator that didn't feel as cheap but was $100 cheaper!
maria : No contact info for manufacturer! Non working numbers
There is NO customer support at all! Telephone number is non working. All their brochures and books all have the same contact info. Non working. Even Amazon could not get ahold of this seller. My dehydrator doesn’t work properly. Do not buy
Val : Love it!!
We love dehydrating our tomatoes and herbs. We've been using 2 round dehydrators with a fan for many wonderful years. One finally wore down so we "shopped around" and decided to get The Excalibur. The 9-tray model has been on our "wish list" for a long time and now was the time to get it. The manual/recipe books that come with it are easy to read and informative. Granted it's been a long time since we read a dehydrating manual but I think the dried puree/fruit roll-up type recipes listed in these guides may work for us. So much herbs and tomatoes got us to buy a second round dehydrator. No regrets but glad we were able to get The Excalibur this time. It's a bit pricey but we knew from everything we read that this was going to be THE dehydrator to have and we are not disappointed. I actually had dry tomatoes in a few short hours! Ours were sliced a little thinner than recommended since it was the first time. We also used only 3 trays spaced apart. The trays held more tomatoes than we thought. I used parchment paper carefully wrapped around the bottom mesh shelf to catch any dribbles. --Parchment IS recommended in the user guide. Very happy the company gives recommendations so you can fully use the dehydrator without buying more accessories. The special shelves would probably be easier and cost/time efficient over using parchment if you intended to use them often for roll-ups or craft work. I dried twice as much sage in one machine without any hassle other than checking for dryness. Most was dry at the same time. From 9 full sheets down to one to finish drying. When we dried the dill I noticed that the dill had been blown away a little from the fan on the center trays. Made sense since it's so light. It didn't seem to really affect the drying in any way. It was very quick. Clean up is always a chore dehydrating anything wet; it would be expected. With our round dehydrators I would spray a little oil on the racks. They were bulky and had to be scrubbed with a brush thoroughly anyway so why make it even harder? The racks from Excalibur are soooo much easier to clean. The black, hard plastic supports are light and durable. Easy to clean off. The mesh had quite a mess from the tomatoes that I would've been really down about had they been the thicker round shelves. I just put the mesh in the dishpan to soak while I washed other dishes and viola! Clean with no scrubbing :D Yeah, I'm reallllllly happy with this purchase
A67 : ... On/Off grounded appliance timer - with that it was perfect. We made multiple batches of apple chips so ...
We plugged it into an On/Off grounded appliance timer - with that it was perfect. We made multiple batches of apple chips so far and jerky. Both dried perfectly. The unit fan can be heard but is not extremely noisy... I have not owned another dehydrator, I read other reviews and decided to buy this as my first unit. The size for the amount of food we store is good. I almost wish it was bigger but then I probably wouldn't be able to move it in and out of storage as easily..
Danny : Perfect dehydrator, longevity in question
I have to say that I loved my excalibur for the first 3.5 years it was perfect. I made untold amounts of jerky from beginner mild to a version I called "Why?" that had reaper pepper painted on with maple syrup and reduced many a man to tears, and many more (myself included) to hiccups. I even made biltong in it which was a nice bonus, but prefer my dedicated biltong dryer as it takes up less space.
It's a pain to clean, especially the trays, but I guess not much you can do about that, it's less a design flaw and more a consequence of the device itself.
After about 3.5 years a crack happened somewhere in the base and now 6 months later it's pretty much done. I tried a few things to bolster it up but I think the plastic just gets brittle over time or I had a bad unit. I see they have a replacement case for sale so I'm guessing I'm not the only one that this has happened to, but it's out of stock on their website and for another $85 not sure I'm going to risk it. I'll probably move to a stainless steel dehydrator now. Shame because I was one of my most used kitchen tools.
If I had reviewed it back when I first got it, a clear 5, loved it and a much needed upgrade from my previous dehydrator, however now knowing the longevity I can't rate it more than a 2.
Brian Ouellette : does what it says
its huge, so if you're looking for something small to fit on the shelf look elsewhere, otherwise, it makes jerky and dried fruit really well. easy to clean and even easier to use. get a powered timer so you don;'t have to set an alarm and turn it off yourself.
C. Fillmore : Fan doesn't work
Didn't try it out until it was past the return date (it was a Christmas gift), only to find that the fan has problems. Keeps turning off after a minute or two. My food is going moldy! Not happy about the waste of food. Wish I could still return it.
nick g : Best investment Ever!
Best damn investment ever. Fantastic quality and well thought out design. I have a herb garden and it drys my herbs perfectly! The other settings work as advertised. If your serious about dehydrating then this is the machine for you. It's not loud and it doesn't expell its heat heating up the room. Super easy to clean. Just wipe out the bottom. Shelves are stupid easy to manage. I mean it's the grand Mac daddy of all dehydrator. Might have to purchase another. Highly recommend!
James : I'll begin by saying that I absolutely do recommend the dehydrator
I'll begin by saying that I absolutely do recommend the dehydrator. It is sturdy and works well.
The Good: Durable; dries a lot of food at a time; makes *SAFE* jerky (most dehydrators do not heat the meat sufficiently on their own to ensure safety); the trays clean a bit more easily than most dehydrators; ten year manufacturer warranty.
The bad: it takes up a lot of counter space and is heavy enough that you wont' want to move it often; it also vibrates rather loudly where the cover attaches; it is pretty expensive.
Jennifer Kleffner : Needs a removable drip tray
I bought this after lots of recommendations. Yes, its a good dehydrator. The square shape is efficient, and the removable trays means you can dry larger items by just taking out the tray above. My one quibble with this machine, and its kind of a big one, is that the bottom of the machine is VERY hard to clean if something you are drying drips - which most things do. The bottom isn't removable, and because of the wire mesh backing between the trays and the fan, you can't reach behind this wire to reach spills. I had a batch of apricots drip, and finally soaked the bottom over a sink, over and over, in order to get the dried on fruit out. Would be an easy thing to design this with a pull out bottom. So, from now on, I'm using the bottom tray with a liner as a drip catcher. Otherwise, very pleased with the product.
Alicia. : BUYER BEWARE OF THIS SELLER NO CONTACT NUMBER FOR WARRANTY
I brought this 9 tray hoping to have. WARRANTY and contact info from the seller whom I brought from But this Seller scares me because if and when I have a issue I can't contact ANYBODY ALL WORKING NUMBERS THAT COME WITH THIS PRODUCT DONT WORK I "REPEAT IT DON'T WORK IT WON'T CONNECT. SO THIS IS NOT A PRODUCT I CAN TRUST THROUGH THIS SELLER SO I MUST RETURN IT. ANYTIME AMAZON CAN'T CONTACT THEM THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING PLUS OTHER BUYERS ARE SAYING THE SAME READ THE REVIEWS YOU SHALL SEE. SO BUYER BEWARE OF THIS SELLER
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