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Excalibur French Door Dehydrator Review:
Preserve Like a Pro

Susan Gast, founder of Easy Food Dehydrating

by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!

Looking for a way to preserve your favorite fruits, veggies, and meats? Here's my review on the Excalibur Compact 8 Tray dehydrator, and it not only looks good, it gives off that "commercial" vibe with its fancy French doors! (That's an Amazon Affiliate link, thanks).

Excalibur Compact 8 Tray dehydrator

This sleek stainless steel Excalibur French door dehydrator has 7.2 square feet of drying space, which to me is perfect for tackling large batches of homemade jerky, or drying out seasonal fruits and vegetables.

I love being able to monitor the drying process because I can see through the glass French doors, and the digital controls make setting the right temperature and time so easy. (You know I'm all about "the easy" at Easy Food Dehydrating)...

The Excalibur Hyperwave and Parallexx technologies are in place for even drying across all trays, which means we don't have to rotate the trays during the dehydration process.

I did a Google search on what exactly "Hyperwave" technology was. Here is what came back: Hyperwave Technology ensures food temperature stays low enough to maintain enzymes and nutrients in foods being dehydrated by controlling evaporative moisture.

Ditto Google search on what exactly "Parallexx" technology was. Here's what came back: Parallexx horizontal airflow distributes air for food to dry faster and taste better.

The image below is from Excalibur's website which says it best:

Excalibur definition of Hyperwave and Parallexx technologyImage source: ExcaliburDehydrator.com

What this means is no more worrying about your dried fruit snacks or your cat treats and dog treats being under-dried or over-dried.

Excalibur's included recipe book also gives me plenty of inspiration!

Adequate Temperature Range

I've found their temperature range of 85°F to 165°F covers all my needs, (see my page for Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here), whether I'm drying herbs or tougher meat for jerky.

I love that it has an automatic shut-off feature - gives me peace of mind when running longer drying cycles because there's nothing worse than forgetting to turn the dang thing off and ending up with over-dried food...

One minor drawback: It can take up a fair bit of counter space, but the results are worth it, especially for frequent dehydrating enthusiasts and style-lovers of French door ovens! 😉


A person with dehydrator, fresh food

Overview of the Excalibur Electric Food Dehydrator

  1. This stainless steel dehydrator has 8 chrome trays, providing ample space for all our drying needs. Again, I love the clear glass doors that lets me peek at my creations without disrupting the process.
  2. The digital controls are easy to use and easy to see. You can set the temperature anywhere from 85°F to 165°F and run it using its timer for up to 80 hours. It's perfect for everything from delicate herbs to beef jerky.
  3. As mentioned at the top of the page, the Hyperwave and Parallexx technologies are there for even-drying across all trays, so that means I don't have to rotate them. The motor and rear-mounted fan work efficiently to dry foods quickly in this 700-watt unit.
  4. One small drawback is its size - it's not tiny. But for the amount of drying space, I think it's worth the countertop real estate encroachment...

Stylish Design and Substantial Capacity

Excalibur 8-tray dimensionsImage Source: ExcaliburDehydrators.com

This Excalibur dehydrator is 17.32"T x 13.39"W x 14.08"D, so measure to see if it will fit beneath your upper kitchen cabinets if that's where you want your new shiny Excalibur 8-tray dehydrator to live.

With 7.2 square feet of drying area, it's spacious enough to handle large batches of fruits, veggies, and jerky. The clear doors are a nice touch and there's an interior light!

Hyperwave and Parallexx Drying Technologies...

  • Excallbur is proud of their patented Hyperwave and Parallexx air flow systems which work together to give us even heat distribution and consistent air circulation across all eight trays.
  • The unit has the standard on/off button, along with a button for an interior light(!) so you can see what's going on... plus an invaluable (countdown) TIMER button. I say "button" when I really mean "touch pad." You can also see the "time" and "temperature" toggle back and forth as you use it.
  • While it's a bit pricier than basic models, I think the superior drying performance makes it worthwhile for frequent users.

User-Friendly Digital Controls

The LED control panel on this Excalibur dehydrator is an easy-to-use touch panel. Setting the exact temperature and time is simple with the touch controls that gives you precise numbers - instead of educated guesses when using "dial dehydrators."

Easily adjust the temperature from 85°F to 165°F for different foods. A stated earlier, the timer can run up to 80 hours, which is great for longer drying projects! See °F to °C converter here.

I love that it's easy to see the countdown display so I know how much time is left. I do like the automatic shut-off - no worrying about overcooking if we forget, or get distracted. The clear digital readout is easy to see at a glance.

Overall, the controls make operating this dehydrator very straightforward.

High-Quality, Durable Materials

  • I am impressed by the robustness of this Excalibur dehydrator. The stainless steel body feels solid and is built-to-last. The glass French doors add a touch of elegance (and a commercial feel at the same time) which provides easy monitoring of the drying process.
  • The chrome trays are sturdy and easy to clean. The unit ships with 8 chrome trays, 1 mesh tray, and 1 crumb tray. I like that!
  • Excalibur uses food-safe materials throughout, so our snacks remain healthy and contaminant-free. The dehydrator has smooth-operating doors which open wide and out of the way, and the unit has a good responsive touch control panel.
  • This dehydrator seems designed for years of reliable use, making it a worthwhile investment for serious food preservation enthusiasts.

Pros and Cons

After using the Excalibur 8-Tray dehydrator, this stainless steel model has made a good impression in our kitchen (and my Nesco is looking over at it, with an envious look on its face)...

Pros

  • Spacious drying capacity with 8 chrome trays
  • Precise temperature control from 85°F to 165°F
  • Digital timer with auto-shutoff for up to 80 hours
  • Glass doors allow easy monitoring without heat loss
  • Even drying thanks to Hyperwave and Parallexx technologies
  • Versatile for fruits, veggies, meats, and pet treats
  • Includes helpful accessories and recipe book

Cons

  • Takes up considerable counter space
  • Higher price point compared to basic models
  • Some users report issues with fan functionality
  • Controls can be finicky for a few users
  • Make sure it will fit beneath your upper cabinets first.

Its large capacity is perfect for batch processing herbs, for instance, and as I've said (twenty times probably!) I love being able to peek through the glass doors without disrupting the drying process. Also, its digital controls makes it easy to set and forget, which is great for longer drying sessions. This Excalibur is a solid, efficient dehydrator. 

The included accessories are the finer mesh screen, and a crumb tray. For making fruit leathers, you need to use solid sheets so the mix doesn't drip down!

On the downside, this unit does need a fair bit of kitchen counter real estate, so it might not be ideal for small spaces.

Even though I haven't encountered any issues, a few users reported problems with the fan. A properly-working fan is required for proper drying of our foods!

The price is also on the higher end, but I feel it's justified.

Customer Reviews

Many users raved about how easy it was to make delicious beef jerky overnight. They were pleased with the overall capacity and the spacing of the racks. Customers also appreciated the user-friendly touch controls on the front panel, making it simple to set temperature and time.

The stainless steel construction and glass French doors were praised for their durability and how they look. Several reviewers mentioned upgrading from other models and finding this Excalibur dehydrator superior.

While most experiences have been positive, a few users reported issues with fan functionality (as mentioned earlier), or display problems. While checking out the reviews, these seem to be isolated cases. The majority of the reviews reflect satisfaction with the dehydrator's overall performance and reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

I've compiled a few common questions about the Excalibur 8-tray dehydrator. I hope they help you make an informed buying decision.

What are the key features to look for in an Excalibur 8-tray food dehydrator?

I recommend focusing on these key features:

  • Adjustable temperature control (85°F to 165°F). See our °F to °C Converter here.
  • Digital timer with auto-shutoff
  • Stainless steel construction for durability
  • Glass doors for easy monitoring
  • Hyperwave and Parallexx airflow technologies
  • Spacious drying area (7.2 square feet)

How does the Excalibur 8-tray dehydrator compare with other top-rated dehydrators on the market?

The Excalibur 8-tray model stands out in several ways:

  • Larger capacity than many competitors
  • More durable construction with stainless steel and glass
  • Advanced airflow technologies for even drying
  • Wide temperature range for diverse foods
  • User-friendly digital controls

What are the advantages of using an Excalibur dehydrator for making beef jerky?

Here are the benefits to using the Excalibur for beef jerky:

  • Consistent drying thanks to even heat distribution
  • Adjustable temperature for perfect texture
  • Large capacity for batch processing
  • Easy monitoring through glass doors
  • Removable trays for thick cuts of meat

With taller cuts of meat (or other fruits and vegetables, to be fair), bear in mind you simply remove a tray and hey presto! you have additional head room.

How do user experiences with the Excalibur 8-tray dehydrator vary across different platforms like Amazon, Reddit, and YouTube?
  • Amazon: High ratings for performance and durability
  • Reddit: Enthusiasts praise its reliability and capacity
  • YouTube: Reviewers demonstrate its versatility for various foods

Some users were a little concerned with the price, but thought it was worth the investment. There were a couple of complaints about noise levels, but they're not widespread.

Again, I think it's good background "white noise."

Thanks so much for reading my Excalibur French Door Dehydrator review.

Before you go, don't forget to pick up your free eBook called "How to Grow and Dehydrate Herbs" here!

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