Dehydrator Decision

[RighteousYogini]

Hi Everyone! Oh MAN! I am so high on raw!!!! I think I have just found my calling! I had raw vegan macaroons and . .. OH MAH GAWD. I need a dehydrator. I'm a single person starting out. Can anyone tell me whether the ex-calibur compact dehydrator is adequate???? Or is it really tiny........ it's really just for me . ..

Thanks!!!
Shanti!

PS. .I just made the quicked most nutrient dense dinner ever: food processed a head of cabbage in seconds, shredded carrots, added that, then diced green apple, sundried raisins, and tossed with raw vegan ranch dressing. The raw angels are singing!

[Lady Green Jeans]

I had the for-tray for quite a few years and had wished that I had invested in the nine-tray. Finally this past year I ordered the nine-tray with the timer and teflex sheets. You can get quite a lot of dehydrating done at one time if you organize and do it maybe one or two days a week. If you only do a little, a smaller model might suit your needs. Is there a store by you so you can see the units side by side?

Hope this helps.

[LaniB]

Hi Everyone! Oh MAN! I am so high on raw!!!! I think I have just found my calling! I had raw vegan macaroons and . .. OH MAH GAWD. I need a dehydrator.

One of my reasons for investing in a dehydrator. :LOL:

I"m a single person too but ordered the 9 tray as suggested above. I figure if I want to do Kale chips for example I will need to take out a tray and I'll want to get more done at a time if I can to save electricity and time. I also splurged the extra $30 for the model with the timer since I need to go to work everyday and won't be home all the time to turn off the dehydrator when a recipe is finished.

Good luck in your decision. :dance:

[GlimR]

I'd go for the nine tray if you can swing it w/teflex sheets.
Four trays fill up very fast...bread and crackers takes two....with kale chips, macaroons, granola, mushrooms, etc... you can only dry two trays at a time because they are tall and you'll have to remove two trays. It's a lot easier to fill it up and do two, three or more items at a time as many take a full day or more to dry. So worth it to have a variety of dehydrated food on hand.

[RighteousYogini]

Thanks everyone!!! Does the brand make a huge difference? Im hoping so, because I bought one at Walmart and everything I made was ruined. Nothing turned out. Im going to post a question about whether it's possible to use a conventional oven to dehydrate as well.
merci!

[Stina]

Even for just one person, get the nine tray Excalibur. You can do a staple stash where you dehydrate a bunch of nuts and seeds at once to have on hand. And a batch of kale chips will fill it right up. I bought an excalibur while making minimum wage and its been so worth it.

[RighteousYogini]

cool! Thanks! well I just bought the vita mixer.......wheatgrass, enzymes, and E3live....... so....... im trying to recoup a bit lol
People say that dehydrated food isn't the best obviously greens are optimal, but there are a few staples I NEED (guess I could always just buy them) like trailmix and now those damn macaroons!!!

[green goddess]

I'm with everyone else - the 9-tray excalibur. It's a great brand, and I'm glad for the extra large capacity - sometimes I go crazy with kale chips, and there's always enough room in there! You'll likely never be disappointed with the larger size, but you may wish for the larger size if you get the smaller one.

Good luck with your future dehydrating endeavours!

[kellybethx3]

How big is the 9 tray? I don't have a lot of room in my kitchen.. will it take up a lot of room? Cuz i was also looking into getting one and i was gonna get 5 tray but i think im gonna go with what you guys are sayiing and get a 9 tray! hah

[green goddess]

Well, the nine-tray is only a bit taller than the 5-tray; they take up the same amount of counter space, just one's a bit taller. Usually the height isn't an issue for people. But the dehydrators are quite large in width and depth. I have a teeny tiny kitchen, but I've carved out space in my pantry for it, thankfully! Otherwise, there's no way I'd be able to have it permanently on my counter!

[Aleesha Sattva]

definitely get a nine tray... i don't always use all the space but i'm soooo grateful for it everytime i do!!!

[Aleesha Sattva]

another thread here:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=64252

[kellybethx3]

Okay thank god i didnt order mine yet i would have got that 5 tray :o

[laughalways]

I found this dehydrator in my search. I want to get it but I am not sure about spending the money:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Excalibur-3926T-Electric-9-Tray-Food-Dehydrator-Dryer/7318198/product.html?cid=202290&kid=9553000357392&track=pspla&adtype=pla&kw={keyword}

It looks like a great price at $269 when all others of this kind are $299. I wish it were the black model though. Has anyone ever purchased from Overstocks.com?

[DebB]

I found this dehydrator in my search. I want to get it but I am not sure about spending the money:

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Excalibur-3926T-Electric-9-Tray-Food-Dehydrator-Dryer/7318198/product.html?cid=202290&kid=9553000357392&track=pspla&adtype=pla&kw={keyword}

It looks like a great price at $269 when all others of this kind are $299. I wish it were the black model though. Has anyone ever purchased from Overstocks.com?

I sell on ebay for a local charity, so I'm in the habit of checking there. Here's one for $220 including shipping:
I found this on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Excalibur-2900-9-Tray-Food-Dehydrator-ED2900-2900EC-/360129493859?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item53d963fb63

[DebB]

Wow - I kept looking and this auction is for 9 non-stick sheets for $21 including shipping. If these "are" like the Teflex sheets - that is an AMAZING price! I recommend to anyone getting a 9 tray Excalibur to go ahead and get 9 non-stick sheets if you can. I don't know about this brand though, but you can contact the seller easily through ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-pk-Non-Stick-Teflon-Dehydrator-Sheet-Drying-fits-Excalibur-2500-2900-3500-3900-/251028248307?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item3a727316f3

[DebB]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Excalibur-2900-9-Tray-Food-Dehydrator-ED2900-2900EC-/290817417424?pt=Small_Kitchen_Appliances_US&hash=item43b611a0d0

Another selling for $220 including shipping. Now, I don't know if this or the model above have a timer, so you can take that into consideration.

[laughalways]

Thanks for the links. I have only purchased a few items from ebay.

[K2Dreamer]

How funny, my husband and I were about to purchase one yesterday and he said "why dont you ask all the experts on here and see what they think" hmmmm. We were also going to get the 5 tray, but we will now go with the 9tray after all the opinions on here. Does anyone know if we purchase on ebay will the 5years warranty go along with it, or will we need to purchase from Excalibur itself for it to be appllied?

[DebB]

How funny, my husband and I were about to purchase one yesterday and he said "why dont you ask all the experts on here and see what they think" hmmmm. We were also going to get the 5 tray, but we will now go with the 9tray after all the opinions on here. Does anyone know if we purchase on ebay will the 5years warranty go along with it, or will we need to purchase from Excalibur itself for it to be appllied?

As an ebay seller (I sell for a local charity) - you can go to the posting you're interested in and contact the seller from there. Simply ask them if the 5 year warranty applies and they'll email you back (via ebay). It's the only way to know for sure..

And *yes* on your decision to get he 9 tray vs. the 5 tray. You will not regret that decision!