Have you ever received an appliance as a gift and you had no idea that you needed it until you tried it? Perhaps it was that margarita maker that you got for your wedding, or the multi-purpose pressure cooker that your friend swears by. Today, however, we’re going to talk about food dehydrators — the Excalibur Res10 Dehydrator, to be precise. What is it about this household appliance that makes it so useful, and what are its most notable features?
What is a Food Dehydrator?
The title itself is pretty self-explanatory, but if you’re unfamiliar, a food dehydrator removes all the moisture from foods — or dehydrates them — by heating them at a very low temperature for several hours. A fan evenly distributes the temperature throughout the unit to dry all items at a steady pace; this is how foods like jerky, prunes, sun-dried tomatoes and raisins are made. People who garden a lot of produce, like to hunt for game or simply enjoy making their own organic foods at home are the perfect target audience for a dehydrator.
The Excalibur Res10 Dehydrator, however, is not for total beginners. It is a slightly intermediate piece of equipment that takes some trial and error to get used to, so don’t expect to plug it in and be happily dehydrating foods a moment later. Ensure that you read the owner’s manual and get used to the system as a whole before you use it for the first time. Also, it’s worth noting that there are two different models: A commercial dehydrator model for restaurants and professional food establishments, and a household model for the people like you reading this article.
What Are Some of the Best Features on the Excalibur Res10 Dehydrator?
Thanks to the ten trays that are included, a lot of good usage can be put into this item. The total square footage of the trays comes out to 9.3, which means that you have so much space to work with and can dehydrate many different foods at the same time. Use as many or as few trays as you want and adjust them to make room for the oddly-shaped ones that might stick up a little higher. You can also see what’s happening inside the machine as it’s doing its magic; the doors are clear, offering a great view so you can see the progress. More good news: The doors are also removable, which means that cleaning is as simple as removing the trays and door.
The unit is powered by a 600-watt motor with a rear-mounted fan, which is both a good thing and a bad thing: Good, because it ensures that there’s plenty of power to the 10 tray dehydrator; bad, because those 600 watts can be noisy. It’s typically better for the even distribution of air to have a rear-mounted fan, so what you lose in a quiet appliance you gain in the superiority of the air circulation. However, since the unit measures at only 16 x 12 x 16 inches, this means that it’s small enough to be considered portable and hidden out of sight when it’s not in use. Equally important, it is mostly rectangular, which means that it will easily fit in whatever cabinet or shelf it will live in the meantime.
If you know anything about food dehydrators, then you have probably heard that the dehydrating process causes foods to lose their natural nutrients and vitamins. The Excalibur Res10 Dehydrator has made this a non-issue thanks to the opacity of the unit itself while keeping the doors clear. Another feature is the low and slow setting to aid in this process, preventing foods from being cooked any higher than 115 – 118 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that you can dehydrate whatever you want without the fear of them losing their enzymes and good-for-you vitamins.
The panel is smooth and digital, showing you the menus and numbers in bright LED letters. It allows you to set a maximum dehydration time of 99 hours and 59 minutes, or roughly fourish days. That might sound crazy, but think about people who hunt and have a lot of meat to make jerky out of; it can take a lot longer than you might realize. One cool feature regarding the panel is that it allows you to save and store up to 30 recipes, which means that if you’ve got special settings for the things you dry the most often, all you need to do is navigate to that area on the menu.
Pros
- This Excalibur Food Dehydrator has a 10-YEAR limited coverage.
- It has ten trays with 9. 3 square feet of dehydrating.
- Can dehydrate fruits, meat for jerky, herbs, nuts and more in large quantities.
- It has a clear double door for easy viewing.
- Quality products, the Excalibur has been making food dehydrators since 1973.
Cons
- Some foods get stuck when dehydrating, but you can fix that by buying dehydrator sheets.
- Another downside? It’s a big dehydrator, so you’ll need plenty of countertop room or a high shelf if you plan on storing it. So make sure you check your measurements before investing in one!
Features
- This high quality food dehydrator has a digital display screen.
- It has 9.3 sq. ft of dehydrating space.
- It comes with ten trays that measure at 11.4 x 14.
- It has two timers (up to 99 hours 59 minutes)
- It has an adjustable temperature (85°-165°F)
- It comes with dual drying zones.
- On this dehydrator, you can program and save 30 recipes.
- The power of this device is 110 voltage and 550 watts.
Drying Process
- Horizontal Parallex drying technology for uniform airflow and even drying
- Thermostatically controlled warm air for precise temperature control
- Two temperature digital controller speeds up the drying process for variable food drying needs
- Unit automatically adjusts temperature and time for optimal drying results
The Excalibur 10 tray dehydrator is engineered with advanced features that cater to both novice and professional users. Its innovative design ensures that the drying process is not only efficient but also customizable to meet various food drying needs. The horizontal parallex drying technology guarantees uniform airflow, which is crucial for achieving consistent drying results across all trays. This technology eliminates the need for tray rotation, allowing for a more user-friendly experience.
The thermostatically controlled warm air feature provides precise temperature control, which is essential for preserving the nutritional content of foods. By maintaining a consistent temperature, the RES10 ensures that foods retain their natural enzymes and vitamins, making it an ideal choice for health-conscious users.
The two temperature digital controller is a standout feature that allows users to set different temperature settings for different stages of the drying process. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for drying foods with varying moisture content, such as fruits and meats. The ability to adjust temperature speeds up the drying process, ensuring that foods are dried evenly and efficiently.
Moreover, the unit’s automatic adjustment of temperature and time takes the guesswork out of the drying process. This feature is particularly useful for busy individuals who want to dehydrate foods without constantly monitoring the process. By automatically adjusting to the optimal settings, the Excalibur 10 tray dehydrator ensures that foods are dried to perfection every time.
Additionally, the dehydrator’s clear glass doors provide easy viewing of the drying progress, allowing users to monitor the process without interrupting it. This feature is complemented by the front access control panel, which provides easy access to all settings and controls.
Temperature Control
- Adjustable thermostat range of 95°F to 165°F for optimal drying conditions
- Two-time / two-temperature setting for precise control and variable food drying needs
- Temperature digital controller speeds up the drying process for efficient drying
The Excalibur RES10’s temperature control features are designed to cater to a wide range of drying requirements, making it a versatile choice for both home cooks and professional chefs. The adjustable thermostat range of 95°F to 165°F ensures that you can dehydrate everything from delicate herbs to hearty meats like beef jerky. This wide temperature range is crucial for preserving the nutritional integrity of foods, as it allows you to select the perfect setting for each type of ingredient.
Moreover, the two-time / two-temperature setting provides precise control over the drying process, making it possible to tailor the dehydrator’s performance to suit variable food drying needs. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who wish to experiment with different recipes, such as fruit roll ups or homemade yogurt, where specific temperature and time settings are crucial for achieving the desired texture and flavor.
The temperature digital controller not only speeds up the drying process but also ensures that the heat is distributed evenly across all trays. This results in consistent drying and prevents the need for tray rotation, saving you time and effort. Additionally, the digital controller allows for easy setting adjustments, making it user-friendly for both beginners and experienced users.
Capacity and Trays
- 10 stainless steel trays with 16 square feet of drying space for large batches of food
- Exterior stainless steel construction for durability and ease of cleaning
- Trays are removable and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and maintenance
The Excalibur 10 tray dehydrator is designed with professional-grade efficiency and convenience in mind. With its 16 square feet of drying space, it offers ample room to dehydrate large batches of various foods, making it ideal for both home cooks and commercial kitchens. The 10 stainless steel trays are not only durable but also ensure excellent air circulation, which is crucial for achieving consistent drying results. The exterior stainless steel construction adds to the unit’s durability, making it resistant to wear and tear while also being easy to clean.
Moreover, the removable trays are dishwasher safe, simplifying the cleaning and maintenance process. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who frequently use the dehydrator, as it minimizes the time and effort required for upkeep. The design also allows for flexibility in loading food, as the trays can be adjusted or removed to accommodate larger or oddly-shaped items.
The Excalibur RES food dehydrator is equipped with advanced features such as a two temperature digital controller, which allows for precise temperature settings to meet variable food drying needs. This ensures that different types of foods, from delicate herbs to hearty meats like beef jerky, are dried to perfection. The unit automatically adjusts temperature and time, taking the guesswork out of the drying process.
Benefits for Professionals
- Ideal for making beef jerky, fruit roll ups, and homemade yogurt
- Excellent air circulation and horizontal Parallex drying technology for even drying, ensuring that each piece of food is dried uniformly without the need for constant monitoring or tray rotation.
- Increased air circulation for efficient drying and reduced drying time, which means you can prepare large batches of snacks like dried fruits and vegetables in a shorter period, making it perfect for busy professionals and home chefs alike.
- Variable food drying needs can be met with two-time / two-temperature setting, allowing you to customize the drying process for different types of foods, whether you’re working with delicate herbs or robust meats, ensuring that each item retains its nutritional value and desired texture.
- Dual-zone system allows for separate temperature and time settings for each zone, catering to diverse drying needs by accommodating different types of food simultaneously. This feature is particularly beneficial for professionals who require precision in their dehydration process, ensuring that delicate herbs and robust meats can be dried at their optimal settings without interfering with each other.
- Two independent fans and heating units for even coverage of airflow, enhancing the efficiency of the drying process by ensuring consistent air distribution across all trays. This design minimizes the risk of uneven drying, which is crucial for maintaining the quality and texture of the dehydrated food, whether you’re preparing fruit roll-ups, homemade yogurt, or beef jerky.
- Unit can reach a minimum temperature of 84F for delicate ingredients, making it ideal for preserving the nutritional integrity of sensitive items like herbs and spices. This low-temperature capability is essential for retaining the natural enzymes and vitamins in foods, which is a significant advantage for health-conscious users who prioritize nutrient preservation in their dehydrated snacks.
- Excellent performance for drying a wide variety of ingredients, from fruits and vegetables to meats and herbs. The Excalibur RES10’s versatility is enhanced by its adjustable thermostat range and two temperature digital controller, allowing users to customize the drying process to suit specific recipes and ingredient types. This flexibility not only broadens the range of foods that can be dehydrated but also ensures that each batch is dried to perfection, making it a valuable tool for both home cooks and professional chefs.
How to Use the Excalibur Res10 Food Dehydrator
Take control of your culinary destiny with the Excalibur Res10 Food Dehydrator, a top-tier appliance designed to elevate your food preparation game. Its unique features, such as dual-zone drying, adjustable thermostat, and 10-tray capacity, make it the ultimate tool for creating dehydrated delicacies.
Safety First
Before we embark on our dehydration journey, let’s ensure safety. Always place the device on a flat, heat-resistant surface, away from water sources or flammable materials. Never leave the dehydrator unattended while in operation.
Setting Up Your Excalibur Res10
1. Power up: Connect the dehydrator to a power source. The Excalibur Res10 operates on standard household voltage.
2. Heat settings: The adjustable thermostat ranges from 85°F to 165°F. Lower temperatures work best for herbs and spices, while higher temperatures are ideal for meats and fish.
Trays and Loading
The Excalibur Res dehydrator comes with ten trays, providing ample space for all your dehydration needs. Position the trays evenly and ensure no food overlaps, as this could lead to inconsistent drying.
Monitoring Your Dehydrator
Keep an eye on the dehydrator’s progress through the clear door. If you notice uneven drying, simply rotate the trays.
Achieving Consistent Drying Results
Patience is key here. The drying time of food increases as its thickness increases. Fruits take 4 to 12 hours, veggies 6 to 12 hours, and meats require anywhere from 5 to 15 hours.
Cleaning Up
Once you’ve got the perfect dehydration, it’s time to tidy up. Give those trays a clean with some warm, soapy water. Then wipe down the inside of your dehydrator with a damp cloth for that extra bit of sparkle!
Essential Tips, Tricks & Common Missteps to Avoid
Avoid these common missteps:
- Overloading: This leads to uneven drying. Less is more.
- Not rotating trays: This ensures even drying.
- Ignoring temperature settings: Different foods require different temperatures.
Unlock the full potential of your Excalibur 10 tray dehydrator with these tips:
- Pre-treat foods: This enhances color and flavor.
- Slice uniformly: This promotes even drying.
Master your Excalibur Res10, and you’ll command the world of food dehydration. Happy dehydrating!
Alternative: Excalibur EXC10EL
Unleash the power of dehydration with the Excalibur EXC10EL. This electric food dehydrator machine is a game-changer in the culinary world. Engineered with a timer and temperature control, it allows you to cook food at lower drying temperatures, thereby increasing the immunity-boosting vitamin content of your meals.
The EXC10EL is not just any food dehydrator; it’s a state-of-the-art tool that brings you 600 watts of drying power. This machine is packed with advanced features, thanks to its cutting-edge horizontal air flow drying technology and a 6 1/2″ fan. It’s one of the best on the market for providing efficient drying results!
This stainless steel marvel offers ten 15 x 15-inch trays, providing ample space for dehydrating a variety of foods at once. The digital controls and a 99-hour timer ensure precision and convenience, and the clear doors allow you to monitor the progress without interrupting the drying process.
The Excalibur EXC10EL isn’t just built to perform; it’s built to last. Its exceptionally solid stainless steel case and tray construction provide durability, ensuring that this dehydrator is a long-term investment for your kitchen.
Excalibur has been a trusted name in dehydrators since 1973, designing and manufacturing their products in Sacramento, California, USA. Their Adjustable Thermostat leverages the power of Hyperwave™.
So, if you’re looking for a powerful, efficient, and reliable dehydrating solution, the Excalibur EXC10EL 10-Tray Dehydrator is a great alternative worth considering. It may not be the cheapest model out there, but it delivers exceptional value for those seriously invested in the art of dehydration.
Where to Purchase the Excalibur RES10 Food Dehydrator: Top Retailers and Online Marketplaces
Elevate your culinary capabilities with the Excalibur RES10 Food Dehydrator. This innovative appliance is available at numerous online and physical retailers, ensuring you can easily access this game-changing kitchen tool. Here’s where you can buy one:
- Amazon: A leading online marketplace that offers quick shipping and a user-friendly experience. Visit the product page to grab yours.
- Excalibur Dehydrator Official Website: Purchase directly from the source on their website.
- Sam’s Club: An excellent option for bulk shoppers and bargain seekers. Check out the dehydrator on their website.
- Home Depot: Known for its comprehensive home improvement items, they also carry the Excalibur 10 Tray. See it here.
- Equippers: Specializing in restaurant equipment, you can find the dehydrator here
- eBay: This auction site often has new or gently used products. Check out the availability here.
Additionally, if you prefer shopping in person, consider checking your local Walmart Supercenters.
As for the company itself, rest assured that Excalibur is still very much in business, continuing to manufacture quality dehydrators with the same passion that’s defined the brand since its inception. These products are designed and manufactured in Sacramento, California, USA, setting the industry standard for over 40 years.
Remember, when buying a food dehydrator, look for brands that offer durability, adjustability, and superior performance – all of which you’ll find in the Excalibur RES10.
Buying and Maintenance
- Available for purchase from authorized dealers with strong warranties, ensuring peace of mind and long-term satisfaction for your investment.
- Easy to clean and maintain with removable trays and dishwasher safe surfaces, making the upkeep of your dehydrator hassle-free and allowing you to focus more on creating delicious dehydrated snacks.
- Compact design fits well on a kitchen counter, offering convenience and efficiency without compromising on space, making it an ideal addition to any kitchen setup.
- The Excalibur RES10 Dehydrator is crafted with user-friendly features that cater to both novice and experienced users. Its innovative design includes a front access control panel, which provides easy access to all settings and controls, allowing for seamless operation and monitoring.
- The unit’s advanced drying technology, such as the horizontal parallex drying and thermostatically controlled warm air, ensures precise temperature control and even drying, preserving the nutritional content of your foods.
- With a two temperature digital controller, it offers flexibility in setting different temperature speeds for various stages of the drying process, catering to a wide range of variable food drying needs.
- The clear glass doors provide easy viewing of the drying progress, enabling users to monitor the process without interrupting it, ensuring that each batch is dried to perfection.
- Its durable exterior stainless steel construction not only enhances the unit’s longevity but also makes it easy to clean, while the removable and dishwasher safe trays simplify maintenance and minimize mess.
- The Excalibur RES10 is a versatile tool that can be used to create a variety of dehydrated foods, from fruit roll ups and homemade yogurt to beef jerky and dried herbs, making it a valuable asset for both home cooks and professional chefs alike.
A Learning Curve
Again, like any new appliance, it’s best that you read the manual and start small when you familiarize yourself with the unit. For example, instead of trying to make beef jerky for the first use, why not start with some berries? The better you get to know ideal temperatures for specific foods, the easier it will be for you to work your way up to get the most out of your unit. Don’t expect to be an expert the first time that you use it; there will be a bit of a learning curve, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Besides, wouldn’t you rather your food turns out perfectly and evenly-cooked instead of sloppy and uneven because you were too impatient to learn how to use it?
A Great Unit That You Can Trust
At the end of the day, it will all come down to your personal preferences and how you tend to use the unit. You know yourself best; will this investment be something that you take the time to learn and understand to make efficient use out of it? If the answer is yes, then the Excalibur is a fantastic model to work with. Built to retain the best, healthiest parts of your foods while doing its job to dehydrate them at the same time, you’re getting an item that performs its task admirably. Just remember that you need to understand it and get to know how it works before diving in and dehydrating everything in your freezer. It takes some time, but it’s worth it.
FAQ
How long to dehydrate herbs in Excalibur?
When using the Excalibur dehydrator to dehydrate herbs, the process typically takes between 1 to 4 hours, depending on the type of herb and its moisture content. Set the adjustable thermostat to a low temperature of around 95°F to 105°F to preserve the delicate flavors and essential oils. The Excalibur’s excellent air circulation and horizontal parallex drying technology ensure that herbs dry evenly without the need for tray rotation, allowing you to achieve perfectly dried herbs that retain their natural aroma and potency.
Hey there, since 2016, my mission has been to provide you with the information and guides you need to make food dehydrating simple and fun. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, my site offers helpful guides, reviews, and recipes to enhance your dehydrating experience. I take pride in only recommending products I believe in, ensuring my readers' trust. As an affiliate of various programs, including Amazon Associates, your support helps me continue providing quality content. Thanks for stopping by, and happy dehydrating!
