Question from Gigi
Debra, I understand that you have a dehydrator. Which one do you have?
I am looking at the following four models:
How would you rank them in terms of safety?
Also, I plan to use good quality parchment paper such as Beyond Gourmet.
Debra’s Answer
I have the Excalibur 9-Tray with Timer and am very happy with it.
I considered the stainless steel, but it was more expensive and I know enough about plastics to know which are the safest and which to avoid.
Here’s what Excalibur says about their case material:
The tray screen material is NOT polycarbonate. It’s polyprolylene.
I feel satisfied that this is safe at this low temperature. I had to balance this against the possibility of metals leaching from stainless steel or chrome.
Have you taken a look at these many new multifunction dehydrator/air fryer/ rotisserie ovens… Looks like you can even make popcorn with the rotisserie cage.. Maybe.. Mostly plastic outsides but not all of them.. And all stainless steel inside. Tempting because of multiple functions and probably lower prices then excalibur
I haven’t looked at them yet. Make sure the stainless steel interior does not have a non-stick coating.
I have had the 5 tray Excalibur plastic (no timer, just temp control) for about 20 years. I use it mostly seasonally in the summer and fall. It is a little beat up and some of the trays has cracked but it still works!!! I have had other cheaper ones that had melted and warped during regular use. That was before I know about toxics. Yuck!!! Get one and you will not regrett it.
I do wish there was more spacing between the trays. You may want the larger model and put every other tray in when in use.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
This has been my experience with the Excalibur also. I bought it after the cheap dehydrator I had cracked. I’m sure it will last the rest of my life. Very well made. I agree about the shelves. Thanks for the tip about using every other one.
I have had the 5 tray Excalibur plastic (no timer, just temp control) for about 20 years. I use it mostly seasonally in the summer and fall. It is a little beat up and some of the trays has cracked but it still works!!! I have had other cheaper ones that had melted and warped during regular use. That was before I know about toxics. Yuck!!! Get one and you will not regrett it.
I do wish there was more spacing between the trays. You may want the larger model and put every other tray in when in use.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
This has been my experience with the Excalibur also. I bought it after the cheap dehydrator I had cracked. I’m sure it will last the rest of my life. Very well made. I agree about the shelves. Thanks for the tip about using every other one.