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I have been using this almost everyday since it arrived a couple of weeks ago. I am very pleased with the fabulous kale chips I have made and I have found a way to make good, safe beef jerky for my dog. It does take some experimentation though. The dehydrator itself seems to be of more than adequate quality made of a very sturdy type of plastic. It has a heater, fan and timer so as long as those components last I will be happy. The fan is quieter than I thought it would be. It is about as noisy as my very quiet dishwasher. Regarding the size, I have filled all five trays with only 2 bunches of kale so if you are thinking of using a dehydrator to make kale chips or other treats, I think it is worthwhile to make enough to serve more than 1 or 2 people at a time. The kale chips go very fast in my house. I also bought an inexpensive slicer as I think it is important to make thin slices of equal size to dehydrate adequately, especially of certain foods, such as beef jerky or sweet potatoes. I think a dehydrator is a good way to prepare foods in a different, yet healthy way....dehydration preserves the enzymes in contrast to cooking which destroys enzymes....but I have discovered that meat does need to be cooked to 160 degrees F. before dehydration to destroy harmful organisms. Measure the temperature with a meat thermometer. Using this method I have dehydrated beef jerky for my dog which turned out to be delicious. I know it is delicious because I can eat it myself. Three lbs. of round roast turns into 3/4 lb. of tender, melt in your mouth morsels, if you slice it thin enough and marinate it after cooking in a very weak beef boulion (no salt for dogs). My very fussy dog loves it. Thicker slices will make a chewier product.
.....UPDATE....It's been a few weeks since my initial review and I am still very pleased. Just want to add a note about the DRYER SHEETS. I bought a pack of 9 dryer sheets that go with the dehydrator. I used 3 of them and ruined them, I think, right off the bat. They absorbed some oil from the kale chips I was making and, after much effort, soap and hot water, I could not wash the oil out in my sink, in which the sheets did not fit...a very awkward process. One might do a better job by using the bathtub but I am not prepared to do that. I have not used these dryer sheets since. I have been using parchment paper (love it) or the mesh liners that came with they dehydrator. The mesh liners are much easier to clean. The choice of which liner to use is dependent upon what you are dehydrating. Sweet potato chips are fine on the mesh liners. Somewhat drippy marinated beef works well with parchment paper. These are my preferences so far.
Another note about SAFETY AND BEEF JERKY...I am now NOT precooking the beef but turning the dehydrator temp. to max (165 F.) for 1 hour, then I rotate the trays and dry them at max. for 1 more hour, finishing the process at a lower temp. I rotate the trays because the temperature is uneven since the heater is at the back of the unit. I am trusting this is sufficient to kill harmful organisms that may exist in meat products (see FDA recommendations for more information). All the beef jerky recipes I have seen so far don't address this issue and often tell you to use the temperature guide that came with your dehydrator. The temperature guide on my dehydrator says 145 degrees F. for meat. I only discovered this safety issue by surfing the web for recipes and recommendations about beef jerky. I think I will put a meat thermometer in the trays to see exactly what temperature is being achieved while drying my next batch of beef jerky. The beef jerky is still amazing, using this higher temperature method. Incidentally, I find my new electric slicer is a critical piece of equipment to cut the meat (frozen) and vegies thinly and evenly enough to dehydrator properly.
Also, I registered my dehydrator with Excalibur and GOT A 10 YEAR WARRANTY even though I bought the dehydrator from Amazon.com. I spoke with a representative of Excalibur about this before doing my online registration who outlined the warranty coverage for me.
Happy dehydrating people!
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From the manufacturer
Excalibur 3526TB 5-Tray Food Dehydrator
Drying Technology
Dehydrate fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat for jerky, fruit puree for fruit roll-ups, raise bread or make homemade yogurt. The perfect snacks for you and your guests.
Excalibur's patented hyperwave technology and horizontal parallex drying removes water from food with a continuous circulation of thermostatically-controlled warm air efficiently.
For the highest quality, Excalibur dehydrators have been made in the USA with USA and globally sourced materials since 1973.
Key Features
- 10 YEAR Limited Coverage
- Hyperwave Technology and Horizontal Parallexx Airflow is exclusive to Excalibur
- Convenient 26-hour timer and adjustable thermostat
- Built in on/off switch and 5-inch fan for increased air circulation
- 120 Volt, 440 Watts.
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Preserve Your HarvestThe oldest preservation method around, dehydration prevents and delays spoilage by removing most of a food’s water content. The result? Incredible shrinking grapes, tomatoes, berries and more, compact and light enough to pack on a hike or a trip. |
Prepare For EmergenciesYou should have two weeks’ worth of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare survival food in your home — no good prep is complete without it. Easily prepare long term storage dehydrated food at home with Excalibur Food Dehydrators. |
Make Jerky at HomeAdd to your food preservation skills and improve the variety in your food storage with home made jerky. Jerky is the ideal food for summer hiking, car trips, and trips to the park. It is nutritious and low in sugar. The additional salt reduces dehydration and exhaustion. |
Healthy SnacksMake healthy, preservative-free, fruit roll-ups and other snacks that kids of all ages will enjoy or all-natural dog treats. |
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| 2400 | 3900B | 3926TB | 3926TCDB | EXC10EL | |
| Size | 16.25 x 13 x 6.5 inches | 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches | 19 x 17 x 12.5 inches | 18 x 17 x 10 inches | 17 x 20.5 x 17 inches |
| # Trays | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Drying Space | 4 square feet | 15 square feet | 15 square feet | 15 square feet | 16 square feet |
| Thermostat | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Digital dual adjustable temp. settings |
| Timer Hrs. | N/A | N/A | 26-hour | 26-hour | Digital dual adjustable time settings up to 99 hrs. |
| Door Style | Solid | Solid | Solid | Clear | Clear |
| Body | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Stainless Steel |
| Tray material | BPA Free Plastic | BPA Free Plastic | BPA Free Plastic | BPA Free Plastic | Stainless Steel |
| Coverage | 5 Year | 10 Year | 10 Year | 10 Year | 10 Year |
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Poor Quality Control on excaliburs part.
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2016
I bought one of these thinking i was going to get a good dehydrator thatd last me a long while because of everything ive heard about them. Was very bummed out that when i plugged mine there was no fan running inside, followed by the smell of burning electrical and hot plastic because the back of the unit had become so hot you couldnt touch it. Trying again thanks to amazons return policy and will update my review pending receiving a working unit.Update: I received a new unit in quick order only to plug it in and be met with a noise similar to a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle tire as the fan was obviously grating on something. Upon closer inspection and removal of the trays I could see an electrical wire being routed through the fan blades causing the racket. I was able to scoot the wire out of the fan with a skewer through a hole in the back of the unit but come on.....for being "Made in the USA" and carrying the price tag that these units do and the hype that they have I expect a far superior grade of craftsmanship and ready-to-go quality of product.than what I received not once but twice in a row. I feel sorry for other people who have experienced similar disappointment and werent able to find a working solution like I was.Because of what I found with the new unit it prompted me to check the old unit which I still have yet to send back and I was saddened to see the same lack of quality control in the other unit. Again I removed the trays only to find an electrical wire wrapped around the fan blade in such a fashion that it was completely immobilized and non-functional which caused the severe overheating and noxious burning electrical smell that I experienced.With the above disappointment understated....I am satisfied with its functionality once I made the necessary repairs out of box. It does dehydrate things as one would expect it to do. The timer and temperature control are lovely additions to any dehydrator and I like the tray design. I bought this unit because of the perceived good reputation that they had among the dehydrating community and intend to use it for years to come (hopefully) to dehydrate all of my backpacking meals and healthier snacks. For the price tag and hype, I will say it again that I expected more which is why I am only giving this two stars. A person should not have to fix a product out of box of this "caliber" ESPECIALLY back to back.. If my opinion changes with use of the product I will update my review accordingly. Attached is a picture of the first unit with wire wrapped around the fan blade...its an easy fix but it shouldn't have to be fixed at all and could be avoided in my opinion with more care and wire management
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2016
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By far the best DeHydrator on the market there is
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Buen funcionamiento, aunque algo caro
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