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Skip the Preservatives and Chemicals!

People who dehydrate their foods don’t need to use preservatives or other chemicals for storing their food, which ultimately leads to a healthier lifestyle. We decided to research the best dehydrator out there. Not just a cheap one, but the one that has gathered raving fans and is of high quality.

After researching extensively, we discovered that the best dehydrator is the Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator. In this article, we are going to break down the features, benefits and downsides for this device and at the end of the review, you should have a clear understanding of the device and how to buy it.

The Excalibur 3926TB food dehydrator

The Excalibur 3926TB is a well designed food dehydrator that allows you to enjoy low fat snacks whenever you decide to have one. It is ideal for a large gathering and it gives you total control of the dehydration process, thanks to its adjustable thermostat.

It is easy to use because it comes with an easy switch for turning the device on/off. The Excalibur boasts a 26-hour timer that allows you to set the device on for long periods. Some foods require a longer time to dry than others do. You can put in anything you want to dry overnight and come back in the morning to find it dehydrated perfectly. Imagine sleeping and waking up to a nice scent of dehydrated fruits and vegetables. This can be more beneficial if you are a mother with toddlers.

Excalibur Food Dehydrator Benefits

It is easy to clean. It comes with a slew of great features that makes it easy for a first timer to use and most importantly, it is very durable.

The product is backed by 10-year warranty from the manufacturer. This means that you can get repair or replacement for a defective product. A long warranty shows that the company is confident in the quality of its product.

It is well constructed and does a good job. One of the customers who bought this product stated that she has been using then product for over 35 years and that she just bought a new one recently. Moreover, it is very quick and its past performance is superb.

If you have a big counter, this should fit in perfectly. It is also lightweight – whether you are buying it for travel or just want to be able to move it around the house, you will not be disappointed.

If you have a dog or some other pet that you will like to make some treats for, this is the ideal unit for you. Not only is it economical, but you also don’t have to worry about preservatives or where treats are manufactured from.

Unlike other dehydrators, the Excalibur 3926TB only has a small knob, located at the back, for choosing the temperature. The advantage is that it does not interfere with the handling of the product. In addition, the on/off switch is also easy to operate.

The manufacturer, Excalibur has been in the market for over 30 years and claimed to manufacture “America’s Best Dehydrator”. Being a market leader means that the company has perfected the art of making dehydrators and has been doing it right all the time.

If you are in for heavy use of your product, the Excalibur is up to the task. Weighing in at 22 pounds with a whopping 9 trays, it will be a good match for a big family.

Product Specs

• 9 Poly trays prevent food from sticking
• 15 square feet of drying space
• 26 hour timer
• Adjustable thermostat – 105°F to 165°F
• Safe for dehydrating meat into jerky
• The fan, heating element and thermostat are in the back of the unit, so cool air is drawn in, heated and then distributed evenly over each tray.
• Dehydrate evenly without tray rotation
• Remove trays to raise bread and make yogurt
• Made in the USA
• Backed by a 10 year warranty
• Unit Dimensions: 12-1/2 H x 17 W x 19 D (inches)
• 7-inch fan, 600 watts
• Voltage: 110-120 volt

Customer Reviews

There are many positive reviews from satisfied customers on Amazon. People find the Excalibur easy to use, relatively quiet and they love the timer.They find the dehydrator to be sturdy and well built and are consistently pleased with its results.

Some of the complaints customers have are that it does not come with solid mats for making fruit leather, and it does not come with a basic guide from food dehydrating.

People mostly love the ability to store fruits and veggies while still having them taste delicious. They also use the dehydrator to dehydrate liver treats for their dogs, incubate eggs, rise bread and make yogurt. .

Pros

• BPA free drying screens
• Backed by a 10 year warranty
• Has multiple uses, from drying fruits, veggies, herbs and meat, to making potpourri and yogurt as well as for rising bread.
• Many satisfied customers
• The best food dehydrator
• Easy to use
• Adjustable heat
• Temps are kept low enough to keep food enzymes active
• Drying method prevents mold and spoilage
• Fast, even drying

Cons

• Some people find the noise level a bit loud
• It’s bulky size can be cumbersome

Conclusion

This dehydrator comes with a flexible poly-screen tray insert. This enables the device to be in good shape as it prevents food pieces from sticking together when they come in close contact. Also, if you have a large family or love gardening, then this unit is a good fit. There are many other dehydrators out there that you can get your hands on – we will introduce these in the next paragraph –but the Excalibur is still the more preferable unit in terms of durability and reliability.

High-quality, well-made and backed by warranty products are worth paying more money for. Anytime I go for a cheaper product, I end up with buyer’s remorse. Something about the product doesn’t work, or something breaks. I end up regretting my purchase. However, when I actually spend the money and buy a high-end product, I do not have any regrets. If anything I feel delighted that I made the purchase, my life is better because of it. The Excalibur food dehydrator is one of these products that you will not regret purchasing.

Dehydrator Comparison

One of the dehydrators that is designed for first time users and those who still want to test the waters before spending serious money on a dehydrator is the Presto 06300 Dehydro electric food dehydrator. While it would save you a significant amount of money, it lacks an adjustable thermostat and a timer, so you are getting what you pay for. However, it gets the job done, just not as precisely as the Excalibur.

Another product worth looking at is the NESCO FD-1040 Garden Master if your budget is tight. Backed by a 1-year warranty, it comes with a 20-tray capacity, and is easy to use. However, if your budget permits and you want a durable, heavy-duty unit then the Excalibur is for you. A 1 year versus a 10 year warranty shows that the Excalibur is a superior product.

Name	Excalibur 3926TB	Presto 06300 Dehydro	Nesco FD-1040 Gardenmaster
Image
Price	$264.99	$59.99	$96.95
Country ​	USA	China	China
Fan	Back Mounted 7 Inch	Bottom Mounted	4.5 inch Top Mounted 2400 RPM
Airflow	Horizontal	Upward	Downward, then horizontal
Temp Range	105 – 165 degrees F	165 degrees F	90 – 160 degrees F
Trays (base)	9	4	4
Trays (max)	9	8	20
Drying Area (base)	15 square feet	N/A	4 square feet
Drying Area (max)	15 square feet	N/A	20 square feet
Outer Material	Plastic	Plastic	Plastic
Tray Material	BPA free polypropylene #5 plastic	Plastic contains BPA	BPA free plastic
Warranty	10 year	1 year	1 year
Dimensions	12-1/2 H x 17 W x 19 D (inches)	14.5 x 15 x 6.2 (inches)	15.5 x 15.5 x 9.5 (inches)
Weight	22 pounds	7.5 pounds	8.9 pounds
Wattage	440 watts	600 watts	1000 watts
Timer	26 hour timer	None	48 hour timer
Power Button	Yes	No	Yes
Dishwasher Safe	Trays are top rack safe	Drying trays and cover	Trays are top rack safe

Verdict

The Excalibur is not just made for drying fruits alone. It is also good for drying herbs and yogurts. It can even raise breads because the thermostat can be adjusted from 105 degree to 165 degrees to suit each type if food or vegetable you intend drying. In addition, this dehydrator does not use any food rotating during the dehydration process, thus giving you complete control over the unit. The most important thing is that it is made in the USA, a quality assurance that most people have learned to trust.

With over 1100 reviews on Amazon, the Excalibur is a popular dehydrator that has many satisfied customers. It is a great product that you will not be disappointed with. This is the Cadillac of dehydrators! ​

At The Best Organic Lifestyle, we always recommend buying products that will last a long time. You may spend more money in the short term, but it will pay off in the long term. When you buy a quality product that will last you a very long time, you are keeping garbage from filling up our landfills. ​This dehydrator is a quality investment that will serve you for years to come. No need to worry about it breaking after 1 – 3 years of use.

Amazon often has the best price, so I recommend buying from there. The 10 year warranty is still valid when you purchase through Amazon.​

Find it here!

Do you have any questions? Please leave them in the comments below, we answer all questions. Also, tell us what you are looking forward to dehydrating!  Check out our guide to choosing dehydrators and see how we evaluated this Excalibur model.

This post was originally published on June 22, 2016.