Food dehydrators are small kitchen appliances that are used to dry or dehydrate your food, which is how they earned their name. They use a small built-in fan and a steady, light flow of hot air to reduce the overall moisture found in foods like vegetables, fruits, meats, and several other foods. They are a great way to make quick and easy snacks or dry out fruits and veggies to make other things like spices.
If this is something you enjoy, you may find great use from the Excalibur dehydrator. It has everything you need to get started. Let’s take a look at what it has on offer for you.
Excalibur 2400 4-Tray Dehydrator Review
This food dehydrator from Excalibur features four trays that dry their contents simultaneously and evenly so that everything is ready at the same time. Dehydrating food concentrates its natural flavor, aromas, and sweetness, which leaves a flavor that is much healthier than more high-fat snacks and candies with high sugar content and that are filled with chemical preservatives.
The Excalibur 2400 Dehydrator is perfect for beginners. It offers a great 4 square feet of drying room and is ideal for trying out dehydrating for the first time. The thermostat is adjustable and features a temperature range from as low as 95°F to as high as 165°F. The Excalibur dehydrator is safe for drying fruits, vegetables, herbs, yogurts, raising bread, as well as a variety of arts and crafts.
Who Is This Product For?
As we mentioned previously, the food dehydrator Excalibur 2400 is perfect for beginners but is also great for professional chefs and DIY home cooking enthusiasts alike, which makes it one of the most versatile food dehydrators on the market.
It also boasts a whopping 4 square feet of drying space, meaning that it can be used in situations where a lot of food needs to be dehydrated and ready at the same time. The variable drying temperatures of the Excalibur 2400 make it great for use by more experienced cooks who know precisely what they want and need from a food dehydrator.
The variety of uses that the Excalibur 2400 provides makes it perfect for chefs of all skill levels. Beginners can use this as their introduction to food dehydrators, while more professional cooks can use this as their go-to dehydrator. It is also great for the everyday cook who is looking for a new way to make snacks and spices.
What’s Included?
The Excalibur 2400 food dehydrator is equipped with everything you need to dry your favorite food, which is not that much at all. Since all the magic happens inside the trays themselves, you do not need any extras or add-ons to use this dehydrator. Simply plug it into a power source, and you will be ready to dehydrate herbs, fruits, vegetables, meats, and a wide variety of other foods in no time.
The dehydrator comes with four built-in drying fans that let you dehydrate a large amount of food at once, making this the perfect food dehydrator for any kitchen. This dehydrator from Excalibur also comes with a front panel that lets you seal the device when in use, to prevent any hot air from escaping, and to prevent any cold air from entering.
Overview Of Features
The Excalibur 2400 Food Dehydrator features some of the most advanced technology that the brand has to offer, such as their Hyperwave Fluctuation technology. This feature helps keep the temperature of the food inside the device low enough to keep their enzymes active, while simultaneously keeping the temperature of the air high enough to dry the food.
This also helps overcome mold, yeast, spoilage, and other imperfections your food may have. Standard food dehydrators produce a constant, unchanging heat, which causes ‘case hardening.’ Essentially, a dry surface with moisture trapped within, which is the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria, as well as the ideal environment for yeast to form.
The Excalibur 2400 4 tray dehydrator also features Parallex Horizontal airflow, which provides dehydration that is fast and even. The heating element, fan, and thermostat are placed at the back of the appliance. Cool air is drawn in, heated, and is then evenly distributed over the trays and your food.
The dehydrator’s variable temperatures and adjustable thermostat range from 95°F to 165°F. They are safe for drying fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
How To Get The Most Out Of It
The trick to getting the most out of your Excalibur 2400 food dehydrator is quite similar to pretty much all other food dehydrators out there. The adjustable thermostat allows you to ensure that you have the right temperature for the job.
Choosing the right temperature for dehydrating your food is essential, as different foods will require different temperatures to dry adequately. General temperature and time guidelines are usually printed on the dehydrator label or are included in the appliance’s instruction manual.
You should also make sure that your foods are at least 95% dehydrated before you store them. If your food feels spongy, soft, or sticky, you should put them back in the dehydrator for a little while longer. When they are crunchy and breakable, they are done.
Finally, remember that preparation is vital. You do not need to worry about over-drying your food. Do not increase the temperature to attempt to dry the foods after – instead, let them sit in the dehydrator longer.
Pros
- 4 square feet of drying space
- The Excalibur Food Dehydrator 2400 is ideal for beginner cooks
- Adjustable thermostat for custom-dried foods
- Flexible poly-screen trays prevent foods from sticking
- 4 fans pull moisture from food
- Temperature is low enough to preserve active enzymes
Cons
- No drip tray or timer included
- The Excalibur Dehydrator 2400 can be difficult to clean
Food Dehydrator Ratings and Reviews
The Excalibur 2400 food dehydrator reviews on Amazon have rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for its performance and ease of use.
Alternatives
If the Excalibur 2400 food dehydrator does not interest you, you could always try the New House Compact Dehydrator. This dehydrator is multi-tiered to allow for many foods to be dehydrated at the same time. It is also far more compact than its Excalibur counterpart if space is a concern of yours.
If you are looking for something even more compact, then the Hamilton Beach 32100A dehydrator is the best choice for you. It is capable of dehydrating meats, fruits, and vegetables, in one of the most compact designs on the market, making it perfect for standard household kitchens
Conclusion
The Excalibur 2400 is one of the best food dehydrators on the market today and is excellent for both beginners and professionals alike. It has one of the largest drying spaces as well, which allows you to dry a large amount of food simultaneously. You can’t go wrong with this one!