Review on Excalibur 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator with Temperature Settings, 26-Hour Timer, and Automatic Shut-Off – Efficient Drying for Faster Results, Includes Dehydration Guide – Black by Dawn Jones

I've been using it almost every day since it arrived a few weeks ago. I am very happy with the wonderful kale chips I have made and I have found a way to make good and safe beef jerky for my dog. Although this will require some experimentation. The dehydrator itself is of more than adequate quality made of very durable plastic. It has a heater, a fan and a timer. As long as these components work, I'm happy. The fan is quieter than I thought. It is as loud as my very quiet dishwasher. Size wise, I filled all five trays with just 2 bunches of kale. So if you're thinking about using the dehydrator to make kale chips or other goodies, I think it's worth making enough to serve more than 1 or 2 people. Time. My kale chips cook very quickly. I also bought an inexpensive slicer as I think it's important to make evenly sized thin slices for adequate dehydration, especially certain foods like beef jerky or sweet potatoes. I think a dehydrator is a great way to prepare food in a different but healthy way. Dehydration preserves the enzymes as opposed to heat treatment which destroys the enzymes. destroy harmful organisms. Measure the temperature with a meat thermometer. Using this method, I made a dehydrated beef jerky for my dog that turned out to be delicious. I know it's delicious because I can eat it myself. three pounds. from round roast to 3/4 pound tender, melt-in-the-mouth chunks when sliced thin enough and marinated in very low beef stock (no dog salt) after cooking. My very picky dog loves it. Thicker slices make the product tougher. TO UPDATE. A few weeks have passed since my first review and I am still very satisfied. I just want to add a note about DRYLEAVES. I bought a pack of 9 drying towels that come with the dehydrator. I used 3 of them and messed them up I think immediately. They soaked up some oil from the cabbage chips I was cooking and after a lot of effort, soap and hot water I couldn't get the oil out in the sink which didn't fit the sheets. A very cumbersome process. It might be better to use the bathroom, but I'm not ready for that. I haven't used these dryer sheets since then. I used parchment paper (love it) or the mesh inserts that came with the dehydrator. Mesh inserts are much easier to clean. The choice of insert depends on what you are dehydrating. Sweet potato chips are great for mesh inserts. Slightly watery marinated beef pairs well with parchment paper. So far that's my preference. One more note on SAFETY AND BEEF JERKY. Now I do NOT par-cook the beef, I turn on the temperature of the dehydrator. on max (165 F.) for 1 hour, then I turn the trays over and dry them at max for an additional hour, completing the process at a lower temperature. I flip the trays because the temperature is uneven because the heater is on the back of the machine. I believe this is enough to kill pests that may be present in meat products (see FDA guidelines for more information). All the beef jerky recipes I've seen so far don't solve this problem and often advise you to use the temperature guide that came with your dehydrator. The temperature reading on my dehydrator says 145 degrees Fahrenheit for meat. I only discovered this safety issue while searching the internet for beef jerky recipes and recommendations. I think I'll put a meat thermometer in the bowls to see exactly what temperature my next batch of beef jerky will be drying. Beef jerky is still delicious using this high temperature method. Incidentally, I consider my new electric food slicer to be an essential piece of equipment for slicing meat (frozen) and veggies thinly and evenly enough to properly dehydrate. I also registered my dehydrator with Excalibur and RECEIVED a 10 YEAR WARRANTY even though I bought the dehydrator from Revain.com. I spoke to an Excalibur representative prior to checking in online and he told me about the warranty coverage. Happy Dehydrated People!