What kind of dehydrator do you use?

[BlackCatWhiteChest]

Looking to start a raw diet ASAP! :D Before i drop tons of $ on a dehydrator, i thought it would be best to ask around for some advice. I want to make sure I get the best kind of dehydrator possible (BPA & toxin free, stainless steel would be nice -- or if you know of something better than stainless steel please let me know ;) ). Help please :rolleyes:

[revdrcyn]

Excalibur - without a doubt, the best purchase I have even made.

I bought my Excalibur on eBay (from Excalibur - seller name = excaliburdehydrator):


They offer "cosmetically blemished" dehydrators at a discounted price. I have looked at mine inside-out and upside-down and honestly, I cannot see any so-called blemishes.

I bought the 5-tray and now wish I had gone for the 9-tray.

Also, the timer is a plus - could not live without that!

[BlackCatWhiteChest]

That's actually what I've been leaning towards getting. The only thing about the Excalibur I wasn't crazy about was the outer case containing BPA, then again being that it's on the outside i don't think it would do my food much harm.

[JennaHoneyBear]

I use the GOOD4U brand. It's better looking, imo :) and it has a timer, which is great too
and it's cheaper :cool:

[brightly]

I love my Excalibur as well. I have had the 9 tray for about 6 years and it has been great so far. According to the Excalibur site BPA only becomes a problem at higher temps than those used for dehydration. http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/article.php?action=view&article_id=34&return_url=YXJ0aWNsZS5waHA/X3JlcXVlc3Q9WVRvd09udDk=
I sure hope so! :D

[dlt123]

I use the GOOD4U brand. It's better looking, imo :) and it has a timer, which is great too
and it's cheaper :cool:

Hey, thanks for sharing... I have a 5 drawer Excalibur and am looking at getting a 9 drawer, but after looking at the Good4U, I think I'm going to get this one.

Healthy eating,
Dennis

[DebB]

Here's another vote for the Excalibur. I've had the 9 tray with timer for a couple years and am very happy with it. I like the large 14'x14' trays. I like the fact that I can remove any trays that I want to without it being an issue - to accomodate something larger.

When I make kale chips, I remove every other tray and it works out very well.

I snapped up a 4 tray Excalibur at GoodWill 2 weeks ago for $10.50. It works like a little champ. *Ü*

[revdrcyn]

I snapped up a 4 tray Excalibur at GoodWill 2 weeks ago for $10.50. It works like a little champ. *Ü*

Some girls have all the luck!!!

I dream of one of the restaurant size dehydrators full of kale chips!

[Evie]

Excaliber without a doubt. I have wasted my money on the other dehydrators. None of them compare to the Excaliber. Well worth it.

[rkk]

Hey, thanks for sharing... I have a 5 drawer Excalibur and am looking at getting a 9 drawer, but after looking at the Good4U, I think I'm going to get this one.

Healthy eating,
Dennis

Excalibur put out an article about how Good4U unethically copied off their product and plagiarized their written materials. The other reason why the Good4U is cheaper is because it is the copied product made in China, while Excalibur is a US brand made here in the US. I think Excalibur is taking legal action against the Chinese company for infringing on their design and materials.

http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/article.php?action=view&article_id=46&return_url=YXJ0aWNsZS5waHA/X3JlcXVlc3Q9WVRvMU9udHpPams2SWtWWVEwRk1TVUpWVWlJN2 N6b3pNam9pTkdJME5UWXhNbUpoTkRFd01XWTJaakV4TURJd05t TXdObVEzWXpaaVlXWWlPM002TmpvaVgxOTFkRzFoSWp0ek9qVT FPaUl4TVRneE56TTJOakV1TVRVek1EQTFNakl5TXk0eE1qY3lP RFV3TURjd0xqRXlOekk0TlRBd056QXVNVEkzTWpreE5USTBOeT R5SWp0ek9qWTZJbDlmZFhSdFl5STdjem81T2lJeE1UZ3hOek0y TmpFaU8zTTZOam9pWDE5MWRHMTZJanR6T2pFd05Eb2lNVEU0TV Rjek5qWXhMakV5TnpJNU1UVXlORGN1TWk0eUxuVjBiV05qYmow b2NtVm1aWEp5WVd3cGZIVjBiV056Y2oxeVlYZG1iMjlrZEdGc2 F5NWpiMjE4ZFhSdFkyTjBQUzl6YUc5M2RHaHlaV0ZrTG5Cb2NI eDFkRzFqYldROWNtVm1aWEp5WVd3aU8zTTZOam9pWDE5MWRHMW lJanR6T2prNklqRXhPREUzTXpZMk1TSTdmUT09

[brightly]

interesting!

[somelikeitraw]

Did a lot of research when I was looking to buy a dehydrator. Bought an Excalibur 9 tray no timer. Love it but find I don't dehydrate as much as I thought I would.

Note: I do wish I had lots more paraflexx sheets though!

[DebB]

Did a lot of research when I was looking to buy a dehydrator. Bought an Excalibur 9 tray no timer. Love it but find I don't dehydrate as much as I thought I would.

Note: I do wish I had lots more paraflexx sheets though!

I agree - I ordered 7 sheets and there have been many times I wish I had 9, one for each tray. *Ü*

[rkk]

I wonder if the Teflon sheets are toxic, as I know it is made of the same stuff as non-stick pans, which I know are carcinogenic. If anyone has any info on this, that would be great.

[Soose]

I haven't seen the other brand. I have the Excalibur 9 tray. Nine trays is great; 9 teflex sheets is great (but have seen here some use waxed paper or something?) It has seemed reliable. It's a very simple design.

The only two features I would change are:

-- The door is not hinged on the side or even the bottom like a microwave door. It's a panel you lift off and then replace, sort of hanging on a lip at the top. This really surprised me when I got it. It's inconvenient to have to always find a place to set such a large door while I'm checking on things or putting trays in and out. I have to fiddle a little with the door when placing it on its lip to make sure it closes fully on the bottom.

-- The timer and temp knobs are on the back right top. The dehydrator is very deep and I can't see the timer or temp control really well enough to be exact about setting it. Plus I wanted to put it in the cabinet shelf where my microwave sits but I wouldn't be able to see the timer or temp at all if I did that. They should have brought the controls around to the front for convenience. In fact, I would like it if they put a more sophisticated control, at least indentations for the common settings or at least at each hour. If you can't see it, at least you could click it all the way off then forward 4 notches for 4 hrs.

I think all the worth of the Excalibur is in the design of the square trays, the plastic mesh, and the teflex -- the whole system works extremely well. As does the flexibility of spacing all the trays however one wants for height. Easy to keep clean, too.

Also, the whole dehydrator is simple enough to be very reliable. If the control or heat sensor fails, I have no doubt my husband could repair it. And I can't see the trays ever failing.

[christinajade]

Excalibur:D