Yet another dehydrator question...or two

[Basenjimamma]

Hi there,
I am new to the dehydrator scene, but have done lots of research and think going with Excalibur is the way..now my questions.

5 tray or 9 tray?
440 watt or 600 watt?
5 year or 10 year warranty?

I can not make up my mind on which one to get...please help me.

Thanks, Petra in Houston.
Dabbler in raw for a year, going 100% NOW..

[Revvell]

9-Tray with timer.

If you do a search on this forum, this question and the reasons why are here.

[Basenjimamma]

Thanks Revvell,
I searched the forum high and low and yes timer seems to be popular, I just didn't see info on strength of motor or the warranty, but I guess it might not matter.
again, Thanks for your quick response.

[DopeRawAbundance]

9-Tray with timer.

While I can see how that would be convenient, I haven't found any negatives to not having a timer. Then again, all and all I don't make that many recipes that involve dehydrating.

[punpkin]

I don't have an Excaliber but I agree it is the way to go. The one I do have has four trays and I have found that to not be enough. When I go to dehydrate something, like a recipe, I usually look around and find other stuff I could throw in there as well. Five trays just doesn't seem like enough. Kale chips take up two or three trays on their own- Alissa mentions in her book about dehydrating a few times a week and that is how it seems to work for me- I figure as long as I'm dehydrating, might as well do a whole load!

[DebB]

I love my 9 tray with the timer. To be honest - I don't know the watts on mine or the warranty (oops!). I didn't realize there was a choice on those. I ordered mine directly from Excalibur. *Ü*

[Revvell]

When I got mine there wasn't any choice on motor or warranty.

Well, if you order before Feb. 28th, you'll get the 10 yr. warranty.
And free shipping... and there's no choice on the motor. If you get the 9-tray, you get 600; if you get the 5 tray, you get the 400 so, basically it comes down to what size you want. Always get the biggest. You can do more stuff at one time and git-r-done rather than having it running AND, if you put larger stuff in, you'll need to remove trays to do so. For me, kale chips take at least 6 trays ~ 3 for the chips and 3 removed. If you've got only a 5 tray, you've got to make smaller batches ~ smaller trays, fewer trays, more work.


Thanks Revvell,
I searched the forum high and low and yes timer seems to be popular, I just didn't see info on strength of motor or the warranty, but I guess it might not matter.
again, Thanks for your quick response.

[Basenjimamma]

Thanks guys and gals..
Per your advice..I will go larger, and yes the 10 year warranty sounds nice. Thanks for all your input and help.

[OnMyJourney]

I'm late to the party as you have already decided, but I agree on the 9 tray. I just received mine last week directly from Excalibur, it was a gift. It came with the 10 year warranty. I'm VERY happy with it. Mine has the timer and I'm really enjoying that feature. My only gripe is that I wish it had an on/off switch. Once you set the timer to say 8 hours and you decide at 6 hours that your food is ready, you can't just turn the timer from 2 hours to off...or it feels like the knob will break. You have to unplug it to turn it off at that point.

Like Revvell said, it helps to have the biggest size because with kale chips you have to have a slot empty just above each tray to allow for room and with the 9 tray you still have space for other things. This weekend I had two trays of kale chips in, two trays out, a tray of sun burgers, a tray of bread and a tray of cheezits. I was thankful for the 9 tray!!

[Revvell]

Once you set the timer to say 8 hours and you decide at 6 hours that your food is ready, you can't just turn the timer from 2 hours to off...or it feels like the knob will break. You have to unplug it to turn it off at that point.


Not true in my case. I just switch it off. Knobs not broken in what, 8 years or so since I've had it? Might be a defect.

[DebB]

Hi OnMyJourney ~ I turn my timer off all the time - just turn it counter clockwise until it turns off. *Ü*

[OnMyJourney]

Not true in my case. I just switch it off. Knobs not broken in what, 8 years or so since I've had it? Might be a defect.



Hi OnMyJourney ~ I turn my timer off all the time - just turn it counter clockwise until it turns off. *Ü*


Thank you ladies, I just gave it a try and it did in fact work! I was very happy to see that it wasn't as flimsy of a knob as it appeared. I was scared I was going to break it because my timer knob is already a bit crooked! And even with a 10 year warranty, having to be without it in the interim would break my heart!

Thank you ladies so much, sincerely, for pointing this out to me. I am now happy. :D BIG hugs to you both!!

[DebB]

Yay! Glad it worked for you ~ gotta love all this sharing of information! *Ü*

[OnMyJourney]

Yay! Glad it worked for you ~ gotta love all this sharing of information! *Ü*

Do I ever!!! :D ...this reminds me, let me go check on my cheezits. :D

[Basenjimamma]

I did order one yesterday, 9 tray, white (to blend in better in my "not ever used" microwave cubby)...and 10 yr warranty..wow...
Thanks againb for all your input.

Today is my second day 100% raw, feeling good so far, should I expect to get worse? I hope I won't have too bad of detox symtoms..

[Basenjimamma]

Just checked the tracking on my Excalibur..and it is scheduled for delivery tomorrow..yippeee..
what should I try to make first?

[poleidopy]

cheeze-its. I posted a recipe in the recipe forum. They. are. delicious.

[DRiz]

I love those cheeze-its, but I've eaten a double batch of them in almost two days. They're addictive.

[Basenjimamma]

Thanks guys..yes cheeze-its are on my list..and kale chips..

[DebB]

Onion Bread is really good too! *Ü*

[OnMyJourney]

Onion Bread is really good too! *Ü*

Ooooh! Thanks for the reminder. THAT'S what I need to make next! :D I knew I was forgetting something!