Excalibur dehydrator - which size is best?

[dmama]

I'm just starting raw and am seriously considering an Excalibur dehydrator. I'll be making stuff mainly for myself, but hope to entice my 2 kids and husband with stuff I make.

Would the 9-tray be overkill? thanks!!

[snoops]

Never overkill - go for the biggie for sure. You won't regret it.

[RawinFL]

I think the bigger one would be best...mine is smaller and sometimes its a hassle...which I had purchased the larger one

[RawKnitster]

The 9 tray is ideal. At first I bought the less expensive 4 tray. The trays were only 11" x 11" instead of 14" x 14", and the paraflex sheets don't come in 11" x 11". Also it did not have an on/off setting on the temp knob. It had to be unplugged to turn it off. I took it back and traded up for the 9 tray.

Five trays isn't enough either. The trays are close together. Some foods I make (curly kale chips) are tall and I can only fit in 4 trays. Also, a bowl of soup or zuchinni marinara takes 3-4 slots. With the 5 tray you won't be able to dehydrate foods and warm your soup at the same time.

Get the 9. The foodprint is the same as the 5. You will be glad you did. :)

[sprouts2go]

I bought the 9 tray because everyone said you will not be happy if you buy the smaller one. They are right I have filled this one easily. You can also take out the bottom trays and slip a glass pan in for dehydrated foods. Yum peach cobbler and main entrees. You will not regret the large one but you might regret the smaller one.
I have had mine for 3 weeks. I bought all the paraflex and silicon sheets. I have poured leftover smooties on the sheets and had leather to eat. Kale chips are going in in about 10 mins. I make 3 trays of those and they are gone in 24hours!! Make some BBQ portabello mushrooms at the same time. Toss in some faux bacon.
If you buy one small and decide you want a bigger one you could sell the smaller one. If you add a second one you increase the electrical usuage so the big one is my choice.
Something to think about.

[DebB]

Well - here's yet another vote for the 9 tray! You won't be sorry.

I've got the model with the timer too and it works well for me, I love and use my timer all the time.

You may like to go ahead and get 9 Paraflex (non-stick) sheets too. I only ordered 7 when I ordered my Exc. and I wish I had 9. There have been many times I would have had all 9 trays with sheets going if I had them.

Right now I've got my Ex. going 24/7 literally as I'm dehydrating the beautiful tomatoes from our garden. *Ü*

[Raw Angel Mom]

9 Trays for me also. I cans fill up quickly. Sometime when you make some recipe, you need to remove some shelves because the food is too high.

[dmama]

Thanks everyone - big help!

[Mary Kay]

Sorry, I'm going to be the devil's advocate and vote for the five tray. I read many reviews before purchasing mine, and many said how much noisier the nine trays are (I've heard them at friend's houses too), as well as how much more electricity a nine-tray uses. I'm a busy mom, and will sometimes only have time to get two or three trays ready at a time.

Although outvoted, I'd buy the five tray again.

Also, although you get more bang for your buck initially with the nine-tray, consider the cost of electricity down the road. One other reviewer said, they'd rather spend the money for two five-trays because of both the noise, and the electricity. This way, they could only use both if needed, or only one to save electricity.

The five tray has the same size trays as the nine-tray, as well, by the way..

Sorry to be so disagreeable! LOL

Mary Kay