Excalibur Dehydrators and 9-Tray Upgrades Compared

Best for
Owners upgrading 5 or 9 tray units

The 9 Stainless Steel Trays Compatible with Excalibur dehydrators are a replacement set from a third-party accessory maker, not an Excalibur product. The listing says the 15 inch square trays fit all 5 tray and 9 tray Excalibur dehydrators, as well as other dehydrators that use a 15 inch square tray.

The pitch is simple: swap older plastic trays and plastic mesh sheets for 100% stainless steel. Food goes directly on the steel mesh, so no separate mesh sheets are needed, and the maker says the trays will not crack or break the way plastic can. For anyone running an older 9-tray Excalibur for jerky or dried fruit, that is a durable upgrade, and you can replace the whole set at once rather than one shelf at a time.

Care instructions call for hand washing or wiping with a damp cloth. The listed dimensions include a 15 inch height, which is clearly an error for a flat tray. The listing does not say whether these trays fit the current 6-tray and 10-tray Excalibur models below, so do not assume they do. Very sticky or liquid foods still need a solid sheet, which is where the silicone sheets come in.

• Nine 15 x 15 inch stainless steel trays
• Fit 5 tray and 9 tray Excalibur units per the listing
• No plastic mesh sheets needed
• Hand wash or wipe clean

Best for
Fruit leather and cracker batches

The 9 Silicone Ultra 14″ X 14″ sheets are also a third-party accessory made for Excalibur dehydrators rather than an Excalibur part. The pack includes nine non-stick silicone sheets that are BPA-free, and the listing says they can be cut to suit your needs.

Solid sheets are what you need for anything runny: fruit leathers, pastes, flax crackers and cookie or chip batters would drip through a mesh tray. The listing also names fruit, vegetables, seeds, herbs, spices and jerky, and says the sheets double as oven baking mats up to 425°F. For snack prep, that means homemade fruit rollups and crunchy crackers are on the table.

Fit claims are a little inconsistent. The title and features say the sheets fit 5 and 9 tray Excalibur models, while the description adds 10-tray units. The color field reads as a mislabeled entry. If you own one of the current 10-tray models, measure your trays before relying on the 10-tray claim.

• Nine 14 x 14 inch silicone sheets
• BPA-free, non-stick and reusable
• Cut to size as needed
• Oven safe to 425°F

Best for
Big snack batches with visible progress

The Excalibur Food Dehydrator Select Series 10-Tray gives you 16 square feet of drying space across ten chrome trays. It uses Excalibur’s Hyperwave Pulse Technology with Horizontal Parallex Air Flow, which the listing says dries evenly without rotating trays, a real time saver on long jerky runs.

The LED control panel sets temperatures from 85°F to 165°F with a timer of up to 60 hours. Clear glass French doors let you check progress without opening the unit. The body is described as stainless steel, the machine draws 800 watts, and it includes a Preserve It Naturally book and a 3 year manufacturer limited warranty.

It suits large-batch prep when you are stocking up snacks for a tournament weekend. The Performance Series 10-Tray offers the same drying space with stainless steel trays and an 80 hour timer, so choose that if tray material or longer runs matter to you.

• 10 chrome trays, 16 sq ft of drying space
• 85°F to 165°F, up to 60 hours
• Glass French doors
• 800 watts, 3 year limited warranty

Best for
Compact starter for jerky and fruit

Best for
Smaller kitchens wanting the 80 hour timer

Best for
Largest capacity with the longest timer

The Excalibur Electric Food Dehydrator Performance Series 10-Tray is the top of this lineup. It includes ten stainless steel trays and 16 square feet of drying space, with the same Hyperwave Pulse and Horizontal Parallex Air Flow system for even drying without tray rotation.

The main upgrades over the Select 10-Tray are the stainless steel trays and an 80 hour timer, plus a glass door with a top view window and an LED display progress bar. The temperature range is 85°F to 165°F, and it draws 800 watts. The listing says it suits preserving harvests or game, making healthy treats or crafting, and it includes the Preserve It Naturally book.

The listing does not state a warranty, unlike the other Excalibur models here. It suits committed dehydrators who run long batches and want steel trays from the start, which also removes the need for the third-party tray upgrade.

• 10 stainless steel trays, 16 sq ft
• 80 hour timer
• Top view window and progress bar
• 800 watts

The Excalibur Electric Food Dehydrator Performance Series 6-Tray brings the Performance features to a smaller footprint. It offers 9.6 square feet of drying space, the 80 hour timer, an 85°F to 165°F range, a glass door with top view window and an LED progress bar.

The listing conflicts on tray material: the title and features say stainless steel trays, while the included components list six chrome trays. Check the product page before buying if tray material is your deciding factor. It includes the Preserve It Naturally book and a 3 year manufacturer limited warranty, but the listing does not specify wattage.

It suits smaller kitchens or anyone making snacks for one or two people. If you want more capacity with the same timer, step up to the Performance 10-Tray.

• 9.6 sq ft of drying space
• 80 hour timer
• Top view window and progress bar
• 3 year limited warranty

The Excalibur Electric Food Dehydrator Select Series 6-Tray is the compact entry point. It has six chrome-plated trays, 9.6 square feet of drying space, stainless steel construction and clear glass French doors, drawing 700 watts.

The control panel covers 85°F to 165°F with a timer up to 60 hours, and the drying system is the same Hyperwave Pulse and Horizontal Parallex Air Flow used across the range. It includes the Preserve It Naturally book, and the listing notes a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

It suits beginners and anyone making weekly batches of jerky or dried fruit to snack on during sessions. The Performance 6-Tray adds the longer timer and top view window. For other small-kitchen choices, see our compact countertop dehydrator guide.

• 6 chrome trays, 9.6 sq ft
• 85°F to 165°F, up to 60 hours
• Glass French doors
• 700 watts