Bad news on excalibur dehydrator???

[Ireland]

I found this site while doing a search because I haven't got a dehydrator yet and don't know what to buy. I was thinking maybe an excalibur and then found this site....now i REALLY don't know what to buy!

Does anyone have any insight on this? Do you know if it's true?

(I'm not sure if I know how to do a clickable link so you may have to copy and paste, sorry) It's definetly worth checking out though.

http://www.gogreen.org/compare.html

Also, if anyone wants to teach me how to do a clickable link, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

[Jay]

Hey there,

thanks for the link, I'll go read it in a minute.
i just wanted to tell you that you already make a clickable link! lol, as soon as it says http://www and then the rest, it forms into a link automatically...


Take care!
Joke

[glad_2beme]

There are several of us here using different ones. We all have opinions, but I have the American Harvest and I have no problems with it at all ($40 at Walmart). The round is not a problem for me, just work around it, and I can order extra trays. Iwould like the excalibur (Alissa sales them on her site), I have heard nothing but good, except someone thought it was loud, others think it has a nice background noise.

[Sharon in Colorado]

I've heard of the variations in Excalibur's temp. I've also heard that some things are still considered viable at higher temps (there were tests done on seeds that still sprouted after being in a really high heat - beyond 125 degrees).

But let's face it. I think in the back of our minds we all know that eating dehydrated foods is for transitioning and experimentation to mimic the food we all miss, and isn't really raw. There really isn't such a thing as raw bread or crackers (where is the bread or cracker tree? ;) ). What we are creating is dehydrated breads and crackers, so whether it is drying out at 85 degrees or 130 degress probably isn't going to make a whole lot of difference in our health.

And I think we all know that eventually most people doing raw long enough will gravitate (or hope to) toward really fresh, natural, whole foods, free of combinations and seasoning.

I say enjoy your dehydrated goodies, and feel okay about purchasing whichever dehydrator serves your needs, and don't worry about if the temperature gauge is a little off.

[Jay]

sharon! I so agree!

I couldn't have said it better!
Lol, I liked the 'where is the bread or cracker tree' LOL!!


That's also why I sometimes just think, is a slice of bread or a non raw cracker really that bad if I don't have a dehydrator to make myself a substitute... I think maybe it's okay to not have a dehydrator, because knowing myself a bit, I'd probably get hooked on all those cookies and crackers, and forgetting about the live foods...

[glad_2beme]

defiantely agree with you Sharon - so true, But it is better choices that the junk isle in the market.

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi,

I don't own an Excalibur, but from what I saw on that site, the only "problem" is with the thermostat. But that can be with any dehydrator (actually being one temperature when set on something different) and the remedy that some use is to get a cooking thermometer to test the temps.

I think, though, that since that site was first put up (I remember it from a while back when investigating which dehydrator to use) that Excalibur has since improved their temp. control situation, but I'm not certain.

There are ups and downs (as the site indicates by their comparison) with any model you get. But I really don't think you can go wrong with an Excalibur. But like Glad2be, I own the American Harvest Snackmaster and it's been working like a charm so far.

And Sharon, girl you're a card! But your right. The enzymes may be preserved better than cooking at higher temps, but it's still a form of altering the food and it's definitely not in it's raw, natural state once it's dried.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Oh definately the dehydrated stuff is better than the stuff in the store! I just meant the change in degrees shouldn't make much of a difference. At least the dehydrators don't cook to oblivion, or enough to change the structure to an addictive substance like bread is (at least I don't think it does)!

[FEELIN'GOOD]

I have the snack master by Nesco/American Harvest, and my motor is on top- this must be an old info site... I love my dehydrator. I would give it 4 thumbs up if I had them... :D

[Rawkinlocs]

I have the snack master by Nesco/American Harvest, and my motor is on top- this must be an old info site... I love my dehydrator. I would give it 4 thumbs up if I had them... :D

Yeah, that site is kinda dated...my motor is on top too!

Hey, you can improvise with 2 thumbs and 2 big toes! :D

[veggiemom2]

I own an excalubur and absolutely love it. I use it almost daily as I make snacks for my kids (apple chips, fruit leathers, cookies, etc). I love the shape, the temp gauge, and timer. The teflex sheets are a must have. This dehydrator dries very evenly.

I really enjoy it. I think with any dehydrator you purchase it will work great for you. It is all about personal choice, financial availability, and purpose for purchase.

I make a lot of cookies, crackers and fruit leathers. Therefore, I needed the larger surface area. This works great for me.

I think whatever purchase is made, as long as you use it, you will enjoy it.

[SimplyRawesome]

I too have the snack master by Nesco/American Harvest - with the motor on top - and I love it. No problems. Works great.

[Alice]

I have an excalibur and have used it 4 times since I just started raw. It has worked well for me, no problems. I have a 9 tray and I have filled all trays up every time I have used it. Hope this helps in youir decision making. :D

[Smileen]

I think there are pros and cons to each dehydrator. I have the Excalibur and absolutely love it.

[Ireland]

I hear what you're saying about it not making too much of a difference in the long run. I never thought of it as mostly a transitional thing but I suppose you're right. From what I've read of long time raw fooders, they do gravitate back to natural, completely unprossed foods.
Anyhow, thanks for the "food" for thought. :p

[Rawsomeone]

Do any of you with Nesco dehydrators (motor on top) have a problem with the noise it makes? Also, is that typical of all dehydrators? I researched dehydrators and found the L'Equip with the computerized temp control well-rated and for $90 on one website...I own the Nesco and am considering changing up to the L'Equip, but if it's just as loud, I won't bother.

[Rawkinlocs]

Do any of you with Nesco dehydrators (motor on top) have a problem with the noise it makes? Also, is that typical of all dehydrators? I researched dehydrators and found the L'Equip with the computerized temp control well-rated and for $90 on one website...I own the Nesco and am considering changing up to the L'Equip, but if it's just as loud, I won't bother.

I don't. To me, it's a humming sound, but I only hear it when in the kitchen, not throughout the entire house. The little bit of noise it makes dosn't bother me at all.

[Rawsomeone]

Also, my Nesco is warm to the touch (outside) even set on just 105 degrees. It's sitting under my kitchen cabinet (not too close) and the bottom of the cabinet is even warm...I hope it's not "cooking" things....

[Rawsomeone]

Thanks Rawkinlocs, maybe I just have overly sensitive hearing...my kitchen is open to my family room and I hear it while watching tv...guess I could move it into the garage! :p

[Rawsomeone]

Last night was my first night running the dehydrator all night long and I barely slept at all worrying about it. I checked it before bedtime and found the food drying out more quickly than I expected and wondered what would happen if the food became totally dry and the unit unattended?? So I kept getting up to check on it. :eek:

[Revvell]

One might think I'm a bit prejudiced as I am an authorized dealer for Excalibur. The reason I chose to do this is because 1) I've had one for 5 years and absolutely love it. 2) Their customer service. Somehow, mine first one broke and the new owner was at a conference I went to last month and I told him of the problem ~ he gave me an absolutely new one ~ no questions asked. 3) the new ones have timers on them so that if one is concerned about overdrying while being away, they can set the timer and it automatically shuts itself off.

I will forward the site posted to him and see what he says. In the meantime ~ dry on!!! :)

Revvell

[Ginger]

I just bought a 9 tray Excalibur and it does not have a timer! And it was supposed to come with 5 free teflex sheets but they were not with it. I do love it though.

[Revvell]

I think some companies might still be releasing some of their old stock. As far as the free teflex sheets, I would talk with the management where you purchased it. IF from Excalibur itself, I can give you the email to whom to write if necessary.

Revvell




I just bought a 9 tray Excalibur and it does not have a timer! And it was supposed to come with 5 free teflex sheets but they were not with it. I do love it though.

[simple berry]

i have a 4-tray excalibur, which has no timer. i don't use it often because i prefer to eat food as fresh as possible. but it is a wonderful dehydrator with no temp control problems. I'd consider getting one with a timer if it would allow you to adjust the temp after a certain time period, as well as shutting itself off.

RawVeganMom -- you Definitely Don't need Teflex and are better off without it! Use parchment paper or natural value waxed paper instead. DuPont Teflon should be kept as far away from your kids and your bodies as possible. Even though it isn't being heated to high temperatures, Teflon is poisonous to manufacture and poisonous as a product - and substances break down over time. Dentists used to tell us that mercury was just Fine in our mouths, because it wouldn't ever break up; we are aware now of what a tragic bunch of quackery that story reflected..

[Fuzzball]

Hmmm....I can't hear my Excalibur over the noise of the A/C and ceiling fan.......unless I'm in the kitchen....

[Ginger]

Thanks for that info SB! I will look into the parchment paper and natural value waxed paper instead! Where would I get something like that? Is it the stuff they sell in grocery stores? I've never used it before!

[rawpriestess]

I have an Excalibur 9 tray and love it, I've had it for 4 years now, without any challenges.

I can hear the fan, when I'm in the kitchen, but that's all. But my home is pretty large.

Teflon is deadly to birds if it gets too warm, and I use my teflex sheets all the time, with no effects on my birds at all. Just to let you know.

I personally would rather use something, that I can use over and over, instead of something that I have to through away, and continually buy new. it just seems like such a waste.

However, if the teflex sheets are really toxic, then that, of course, would make the throw away ones, the only choice, unless there is some kind of rubber, or other type of material that would work.

When I bought my Excalibur 4 years ago, the person I bought it from, said it used to have a thermostat problem, but that was fixed years ago, so the ones now don't have that problem.

I also don't care to use a timer (although mine does not have one) as, I once was dehydrating some lasagna snacks (they taste just like lasagna, but they are like a bar, that you can carry with you.) anyway, I left my dehydrator on, when I went to a friends home for dinner, I knew it had to dehydrate a few more hours, well it was 2 days before I could get home, as we got 1 foot of snow that night, and the only two roads to my home were blocked by two big trucks.

So my dehydrator was on for 2 full days, past the regular dehydrating time, no issues, no challenges, and my birds were fine.

So, I don't worry about leaving it on, as it's on pretty much 24/7 anyway, as I warm most of my food.

[simple berry]

RVM, yes, hopefully you can find those papers in the natural grocery. Our local store is very small & if yours is also, perhaps they can order them for you.

Priestess, exactly right, it is much nicer to have reusable items. Maybe we can ask some engineer friends to imagine a Teflon-free, chemical-free, low-impact reusable sheet for the dehydrator.

Since i don't often dehydrate, it works for me to just wipe off the paper sheets and put them back in the dehydrator. When they're no longer usable, they go to mulch :)

[bellamausi]

:rolleyes: I also would like to know, what natural value wax paper is?