Gear guide
Best Excalibur dehydrators: 5 to 10 trays compared
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
Excalibur Select 10-Tray: 16 sq ft with chrome trays
Matches the Performance 10-Tray's 16 sq ft drying area.
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Most for the money on paper
Excalibur Select 6-Tray: 9.6 sq ft at the lowest price
Same 9.6 sq ft as the 6-tray Performance at a lower price.
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Most complete listing
Excalibur RES10: two zones, 30 saved recipes
Two zones run at the same time with different settings.
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Excalibur sells several lines that look alike in photos but differ in ways that matter once you own one. The Select Series uses chrome-plated trays and glass French doors. The Performance Series moves to stainless steel trays, a longer 80 hour timer and an LED progress bar. The RES10 splits the cabinet into two zones you can run at different settings, and the older 3548CDB is a compact 5-tray box with a 48 hour digital timer. Tray count alone is misleading: the listings put the 6-tray models at 9.6 sq ft and the 10-tray RES10 at 9.3 sq ft. This guide compares seven Excalibur listings by drying area, tray count and material, temperature range, timer and door, so you can see what each price step adds. Every number comes from the listing; anything missing is marked Not stated.
Compare the picks
- Excalibur Select 10-Tray: 16 sq ft with chrome trays
- Drying area
- 16 sq ft
- Trays
- 10 chrome
- Temp range
- 85 to 165 F
- Timer
- Up to 60 hours
Excalibur Performance 6-Tray: 9.6 sq ft, stainless- Drying area
- 9.6 sq ft
- Trays
- 6 stainless steel
- Temp range
- 85 to 165 F
- Timer
- Up to 80 hours
- Excalibur RES10: two zones, 30 saved recipes
- Drying area
- 9.3 sq ft
- Trays
- 10 (material not stated)
- Temp range
- 85 to 165 F
- Timer
- Two zones, two time and temp stages each
- Excalibur Select 6-Tray: 9.6 sq ft at the lowest price
- Drying area
- 9.6 sq ft
- Trays
- 6 chrome
- Temp range
- 85 to 165 F
- Timer
- Up to 60 hours
Excalibur Select 8-Tray: compact, 80 hour timer- Drying area
- Not stated
- Trays
- 8 chrome
- Temp range
- 85 to 165 F
- Timer
- Up to 80 hours
Excalibur 3548CDB: 5 trays, 8 sq ft, 48 hour timer- Drying area
- 8 sq ft
- Trays
- 5 (material not stated)
- Temp range
- 95 to 165 F
- Timer
- 48 hour digital, two time and two temp settings
Excalibur Performance 10-Tray: 16 sq ft, stainless- Drying area
- 16 sq ft
- Trays
- 10 stainless steel
- Temp range
- 85 to 165 F
- Timer
- Up to 80 hours
| Pick | Drying area | Trays | Temp range | Timer | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excalibur Select 10-Tray: 16 sq ft with chrome trays | 16 sq ft | 10 chrome | 85 to 165 F | Up to 60 hours | - | Amazon |
| Excalibur Performance 6-Tray: 9.6 sq ft, stainless | 9.6 sq ft | 6 stainless steel | 85 to 165 F | Up to 80 hours | - | Amazon |
| Excalibur RES10: two zones, 30 saved recipes | 9.3 sq ft | 10 (material not stated) | 85 to 165 F | Two zones, two time and temp stages each | - | Amazon |
| Excalibur Select 6-Tray: 9.6 sq ft at the lowest price | 9.6 sq ft | 6 chrome | 85 to 165 F | Up to 60 hours | - | Amazon |
| Excalibur Select 8-Tray: compact, 80 hour timer | Not stated | 8 chrome | 85 to 165 F | Up to 80 hours | - | Amazon |
| Excalibur 3548CDB: 5 trays, 8 sq ft, 48 hour timer | 8 sq ft | 5 (material not stated) | 95 to 165 F | 48 hour digital, two time and two temp settings | - | Amazon |
| Excalibur Performance 10-Tray: 16 sq ft, stainless | 16 sq ft | 10 stainless steel | 85 to 165 F | Up to 80 hours | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · Excalibur
Excalibur Select 10-Tray: 16 sq ft with chrome trays
See price on AmazonThe same 16 sq ft of drying space as the Performance 10-tray, with chrome trays and a 60 hour timer, for about $50 less.
What the listing offers
- Matches the Performance 10-Tray's 16 sq ft drying area.
- Glass French doors let you check food without disturbing airflow.
- Hyperwave Pulse with Horizontal Parallex airflow, no tray rotation.
Limits to know
- Chrome-plated trays rather than stainless steel.
- The timer tops out at 60 hours instead of 80 hours.
Pick 2 · Excalibur
Excalibur Performance 6-Tray: 9.6 sq ft, stainless
See price on AmazonA smaller Performance model with stainless trays and the 80 hour timer. Fits households that want stainless without a 10-tray footprint.
What the listing offers
- Stainless steel trays with 9.6 sq ft of drying space.
- The 80 hour timer matches the larger Performance model.
- An LED control panel with a display progress bar.
Limits to know
- About $90 more than the 6-tray Select with the same stated area.
- Wattage is not stated on the listing for this Performance model.
Pick 3 · Excalibur
Excalibur RES10: two zones, 30 saved recipes
See price on AmazonThe Excalibur for running two foods at once. Each zone has its own two-stage time and temperature program, and the controller saves 30 recipes.
What the listing offers
- Two zones run at the same time with different settings.
- Program and save up to 30 recipes, per the title.
- Made in USA, according to the listing title.
Limits to know
- 9.3 sq ft is less drying area than the 6-tray Performance model.
- Tray material is not stated on the listing.
Pick 4 · Excalibur
Excalibur Select 6-Tray: 9.6 sq ft at the lowest price
See price on AmazonThe entry Select model with 9.6 sq ft of drying space, stainless construction and 700 watts, per the title. A fit for small households.
What the listing offers
- Same 9.6 sq ft as the 6-tray Performance at a lower price.
- The title states stainless steel construction and 700 watts.
- Glass French doors for checking progress.
Limits to know
- The 60 hour timer is shorter than the Performance models.
- Chrome-plated trays instead of stainless steel.
Pick 5 · Excalibur
Excalibur Select 8-Tray: compact, 80 hour timer
See price on AmazonA Select model with 8 chrome trays in what the listing calls a smaller footprint. It lists the long 80 hour timer at a lower price.
What the listing offers
- The listing states up to 80 hours of drying time.
- Compact design with a smaller footprint, per the listing.
- Glass French doors and Hyperwave Pulse airflow.
Limits to know
- Drying area in square feet is not stated.
- Chrome trays rather than stainless steel ones.
Pick 6 · Excalibur
Excalibur 3548CDB: 5 trays, 8 sq ft, 48 hour timer
See price on AmazonThe older compact Excalibur with a 48 hour digital timer and two-stage time and temperature settings. Suits garden leftovers and small batches.
What the listing offers
- Two time and two temperature settings speed up drying, per the listing.
- 8 sq ft of drying space in a 5-tray body.
- A clear door lets you check progress without interrupting drying.
Limits to know
- The shortest maximum timer here at 48 hours.
- The 95 F minimum is higher than the 85 F of newer models.
Pick 7 · Excalibur
Excalibur Performance 10-Tray: 16 sq ft, stainless
See price on AmazonA smaller cabinet for buyers who want an established home brand. Stainless trays, an 80 hour timer and Hyperwave airflow, but less space than true commercial units.
What the listing offers
- The listing states drying without tray rotation via Horizontal Parallex airflow.
- Up to 80 hours of timer for long, low-temperature drying.
- Stainless steel trays with a top view window in the door.
Limits to know
- 16 sq ft is the least drying area in this guide.
- The 165 F top temperature is below the 190 F commercial cabinets.
Read before you buy
- What can you dehydrate in a food dehydrator?What you can dehydrate in a food dehydrator: fruits, vegetables, herbs, jerky, fruit leather and pet treats, plus foods that do not dry well or safely at home.
- How to dehydrate herbsHow to dry herbs in a dehydrator: low temperature settings, whole leaf vs stem drying, how to tell when they are done and how to store them for color and aroma.
- Horizontal vs vertical airflow dehydratorsHorizontal vs vertical airflow dehydrators: rear fan box units against stackable round ones on evenness, tray rotation, flavor mixing, capacity and price.
- Freeze dryer vs dehydratorFreeze dryer vs dehydrator: how each removes water, what they cost, how the food turns out, storage life claims and which foods suit each method.
- Food dehydrator vs air fryer with a dehydrate settingFood dehydrator vs air fryer: tray area, lowest temperature and run time limits that decide whether an air fryer can stand in for a real dehydrator.
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