Excalibur - to time or not to time? That is the question!

[somelikeitraw]

So, after 9 months raw I am finally ready to get an Excalibur. Had a very long discussion with DH (who isn't raw save the occasional salad or bite of fruit) and I finally got through to him that not all dehydrators are the same. Been reading boatloads of posts about them, here and other places, and am wondering just how useful the timer really is.

If you have an Excalibur, with or without a timer, could you please toss your two cents worth in here?

Thanks!

[Vegansara]

I got one, and was gung-ho on getting a timer, until the fantastic woman I bought one from talked to me about it. She pointed out that often, we don't know exactly how long something needs to be in for, so if the timer shuts off before it's done we may lose the whole batch because it sat without dehydrating all night (for example) or we may have lost valuable dehydrating time because the machine shut off. Also, for most of the things many of us make, it is impossible to really over-dehydrate.

Those were the two main points I remember her making, so I bought one without the timer and have never thought I needed one. Hope that helps!

[DebB]

I have a timer on my Excalibur and I'm glad I have it. Once I got the feel of dehydrating in the Excalibur, I was able to gauge how long something would take until it's done and then setting the timer accordingly.

I often set the timer before I go to bed, knowing it will need a few more hours and not wanting the D. to run all night long. The timer goes up to 26 hours.

I'm in and out of the house during the day and the timer really works for me. I like being able to set it and forget it. *Ü*

The timer goes up to 26 hours.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i don't have one and don't need one. it's seldom that something needs to be in for a very specific amount of time and you can always pick up a little timer and plug your dehydrator into that if you need it.

[RawKnitster]

Ditto what Vegansara said.

I like to check it, take it out, and package it as soon as it is done.

What was it that helped you decide to go for it? Was it the lemon cookies? :)

[Revvell]

If I had to get another one, I'd get the timer yet, I agree with VeganSara. Unless you're making a "leather" which needs to be flexible, you most likely will not over "d" and, I've also had mine shut off when I didn't want it to ~ because I forgot to add more time to something I'd put in later :(.... although, I've also been known to make "bread" into crackers. :)

It's really a toss-up, now that I've written that, yanno?

You can just use a personal timer if you're home a lot ~ set it for the alotted time then check to see if it's time to turn over or remove. I do that even with the timer.

[Veganforlife]

I have one with a timer. Love it.

[snoops]

I don't have at timer and never thought I needed one but sometimes overnight is too long but its not ready at bedtime. But I don't know how you would know when to set it for. And then leaving the stuff in there for the rest of the night?? If it doesn't cost much more I'd get it but not sure if I would use it much. That's a lot of help isn't:D it

[DebB]

I'm one that would turn "burgers" into "crackers" from dehydrating too long - ha! It's all good though. *Ü*