The Excalibur 3900 Deluxe Series is a highly efficient 9-tray dehydrator that can be used to prepare a multitude of healthy foods, including fruit leathers, jerky, dried vegetables, crackers, chips, breads and biscuits. A lot faster than other similar appliances, the Excalibur 3900 can dehydrate all foods, and preserve their rich taste and nutrient content, without mixing flavors across different food groups that are being dried at the same time.
Equipped with the trademark horizontal airflow drying system, and powered by a heating unit located in the back of the device, the Excalibur 3900 can dehydrate all foods on its nine trays evenly and simultaneously, with a steady flow of warm air. Its seven inch, powerful fan runs on 600 watts and features an adjustable thermostat that can yield temperatures ranging between 85 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, and suitable for dehydrating a wide array of foods - herbs and flowers on low temperatures; fruits, vegetables and meat on higher temperatures.
In addition, its 9 trays that provide over 15 square feet of drying surface enable users to prepare a greater quantity of food at once, making it an excellent choice for a larger family who values healthy nutrition. The trays also benefit from mesh liners that prevent food bits from falling out of the dehydrator during preparation.
Made of durable polycarbonate, the 9 trays can be very easily removed, cleaned, and placed back within the dehydrator's housing. Unlike traditional tray systems that stack onto each other to distribute heat, the Excalibur 3900 trays are featured with polyscreens to facilitate the drying process. Moreover, the trays can be removed entirely and the dehydrator can be used to culture homemade yogurt or raise dough.
Most of the people who have purchased this appliance have been very pleased with its performance and versatility, although a few consider it a bit too pricey for its class. Users have also praised the appliance for being silent and effective even with tough jobs such as beef jerky (which may take up to two days to complete, however), and have welcomed the square shape of the trays, which allows for a more even distribution of foods. It is also noteworthy to mention that the standard product does not come with a timer, although some customers have stated that a timer feature can, in fact, be included upon request. Lacking an automatic shut-off feature, the device cannot be left running overnight and must be turned off manually whenever it has fully completed a dehydration cycle.
Article comments
1 - Zack Domike
Happy with the raw diet, & live enzymes which improve assimilation. I bought the Excalibur Dehydrator. Being very enthusiastic, I also borrowed a round Ezidri (AKA Harvest Maid or Harvester?), and made up double batches of everything. As I have a digital-memory thermometer, I was able to check the max & min temperatures of each machine.
I sprouted a collection of beans and seeds and dehydrated in each machine. Only the Ezidri samples were able to continue sprouting after dehydration, which shows that the enzymes were still alive. Excalibur temps averaged the set temp of 114*F 45*C but got up to 125*F 54*C. I returned the Excalibur I had bought, and will work with the round shape of the Ezidri, happy to keep my enzymes alive below 118*F. Raw, living, energetic nutrition is good, but difficult to retain.