Excalibur Dehydrator Models: Select vs Performance
Excalibur dehydrators come in two lines: Select, with 6, 8 and 10 trays, and Performance, with 6 and 10 trays. The Select models have glass French doors, and the Performance models have a top window, a progress bar and two drying phases.
On this page (9 sections)
- What are the Excalibur Select models?
- What are the Excalibur Performance models?
- How do the Excalibur models compare on specs?
- How much counter space does an Excalibur dehydrator need?
- How do the doors and windows compare?
- Do Excalibur dehydrators need liners or mesh sheets?
- Are Excalibur dehydrators good for jerky, fruit and herbs?
- Which Excalibur model fits your batches?
- Which Excalibur dehydrator should you pick?
Excalibur dehydrators come in two lines, Select and Performance. Both run from 85°F to 165°F, so the differences come down to doors, drying options, tray count and drying space.
Excalibur says both lines use its Hyperwave Pulse Technology with Horizontal Parallex Air Flow for even drying without tray rotation. The food dehydrators for jerky guide covers the wider field, and this page stays with the Excalibur models.
What are the Excalibur Select models?
The Select line includes a 6-tray, an 8-tray and a 10-tray model, all with glass French doors and an LED control panel. Each one has a countdown timer on the screen that shuts the unit off when drying is complete.
The Excalibur Select 6 dehydrator
The Select 6 has six chrome trays and 9.6 square feet of drying space. It is rated at 700 watts and weighs 18.3 pounds.
It measures 20.67 inches deep, 12.2 inches wide and 17.32 inches tall. Excalibur backs the Select 6 with a three-year limited warranty.
The Excalibur Select 8 dehydrator
The Select 8 has eight chrome trays and 7.2 square feet of drying space. It has more trays than the Select 6 but less drying space, so check the square feet before you compare the two.
The Select 8 comes with a mesh screen and a crumb tray. It measures 17.32 inches deep, 13.39 inches wide and 14.08 inches tall, and it weighs 16.5 pounds.
Confirm the warranty length for the Select 8 in its manual before you buy.
The Excalibur Select 10 dehydrator
The Select 10 has ten chrome trays and 16 square feet of drying space. It is rated at 800 watts, has a timer of up to 60 hours and weighs 24.6 pounds.
It measures 20.67 inches deep, 15.75 inches wide and 17.32 inches tall. Excalibur backs it with a three-year limited warranty.
What are the Excalibur Performance models?
The Performance line comes in 6-tray and 10-tray sizes, with a top window, a progress bar and two drying phases. The window lets you watch the batch without opening the door.
The hideaway door under the unit gives you access to finished food once drying is done. Excalibur says the two drying phases let you set different times and temperatures, which suits different drying methods.
The Excalibur Performance 10 dehydrator
The Performance 10 has ten stainless steel trays and 16 square feet of drying space. It runs at 800 watts with a timer of up to 80 hours.
It weighs 26.9 pounds and measures 15.75 inches wide, so set it on a stable surface before you move it. Its drying space matches the Select 10.
The Excalibur Performance 6 dehydrator
The Performance 6 has six trays and 9.6 square feet of drying space, the same as the Select 6. It has the same top window and progress bar as the 10-tray Performance model.
The Performance 6 runs at 700 watts, weighs 18.3 pounds and has a timer of up to 80 hours. Choose it when you want the Performance features in a six-tray size.
How do the Excalibur models compare on specs?
The 10-tray models offer the most drying space at 16 square feet, and the Select 8 offers the least at 7.2 square feet. The table shows each model's trays, drying space, timer and wattage.
| Model | Trays | Drying space | Timer (up to) | Wattage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select 6 | 6 | 9.6 sq ft | 60 hours | 700 W |
| Select 8 | 8 | 7.2 sq ft | 80 hours | 700 W |
| Select 10 | 10 | 16 sq ft | 60 hours | 800 W |
| Performance 6 | 6 | 9.6 sq ft | 80 hours | 700 W |
| Performance 10 | 10 | 16 sq ft | 80 hours | 800 W |
The Performance 10 weighs 26.9 pounds, while the Select 10 weighs 24.6 pounds. Both 10-tray models run at 800 watts, and the 6-tray and 8-tray models run at 700 watts.
Tray count can mislead
Tray count alone doesn't tell you the batch size. The Select 8 has eight trays, but its 7.2 square feet is less than the 9.6 square feet of the six-tray models.
When you compare two models, write down the drying space, timer and wattage side by side. Then decide which of those numbers matter most for the food you dry.
How much counter space does an Excalibur dehydrator need?
The 6-tray and 10-tray models are 20.67 inches deep and 17.32 inches tall, and the Select 8 is the compact one. Measure your shelf before you order, because a tall unit may not clear a low cabinet.
The 6-tray models are 12.2 inches wide, and the 10-tray models are 15.75 inches wide. The Select 8 measures 17.32 inches deep, 13.39 inches wide and 14.08 inches tall.
How do the doors and windows compare?
The Select line uses glass French doors, and Excalibur says those doors make drying progress easy to monitor. You can see the trays without lifting anything, which suits a batch you want to check often.
The Performance line uses a top clear glass window instead. You can watch the batch from above without opening the door, and the progress bar shows how far the cycle has run.
Once drying is done, the Performance models let you slide the hideaway door under the unit to reach your finished food.
Do Excalibur dehydrators need liners or mesh sheets?
No, liners are optional. They help most with small pieces that could slip through the grid.
The Select trays are chrome plated, and the Performance 10 uses stainless steel trays. Kispog says its fine mesh sheets keep tiny berries, sliced herbs and seeds on the rack.
Kispog also says the sheets are pre-cut for Excalibur machines and can be trimmed with household scissors to fit round or square trays from Cosori, Nesco and Magic Mill. Each sheet measures 14 x 14 inches, so check your tray size before you order.
For more options, see dehydrator trays, mesh sheets and liners.
Are Excalibur dehydrators good for jerky, fruit and herbs?
Excalibur names jerky, fruit, vegetables and herbs among the foods its Select line is made for. Every model here runs from 85°F to 165°F, which covers a wide range of foods.
For jerky, USDA advises heating the meat to 160°F first, then holding the dehydrator at 130 to 140°F while it dries. The USDA jerky and food safety page explains both steps.
For fruit and herbs, follow the manual's chart and the National Center for Home Food Preservation guidance. The how long to dehydrate fruit guide gives general timing advice.
Which Excalibur model fits your batches?
Pick a Select model if the French doors matter most, and a Performance model if you want the top window, progress bar and two drying phases. Both lines have a 6-tray and a 10-tray option.
A 6-tray model keeps the weight lower, at 18.3 pounds against 24.6 or 26.9 pounds for the 10-tray models. Weigh that against how often you move the unit between counters or cabinets.
For the biggest batches, the 10-tray models give 16 square feet of drying space. For a smaller batch, the 6-tray models give 9.6 square feet, which is more room than the Select 8 offers.
The how to choose a food dehydrator guide explains the other criteria. If jerky is your main use, the best dehydrators for jerky picks come with more context.
Which Excalibur dehydrator should you pick?
Pick the Select 6 if you want six trays and glass French doors at 700 watts. It has the same drying space as the Performance 6, so the choice comes down to the doors and the window.
Pick the Performance 10 if you want 16 square feet of drying space, a top window and two drying phases. Plan for its 26.9-pound weight before you choose it.
For how other brands compare, see Cosori vs Excalibur or the best commercial-style food dehydrators. You can also browse the brands and accessories section.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Excalibur Select and Performance?
The Select line has glass French doors, while the Performance line has a top window, a progress bar and two drying phases. Both lines run from 85°F to 165°F, and the Performance models add a hideaway door under the unit for taking out finished food.
How many trays do Excalibur dehydrators have?
Select models come with 6, 8 or 10 trays, and Performance models come with 6 or 10 trays. The 10-tray models give 16 square feet of drying space and the 6-tray models give 9.6, while the Select 8 gives only 7.2, so compare space as well as tray count.
What temperature range do Excalibur dehydrators use?
Every Select and Performance model in this guide runs from 85°F to 165°F, which covers USDA's 130 to 140°F hold for jerky. The pre-heat step still comes first, and your manual has the exact drying chart for the food you are drying.
Which Excalibur dehydrator holds the most food?
The Performance 10 and Select 10 both have ten trays and 16 square feet of drying space, the most of the models covered here. The Performance 10 weighs 26.9 pounds and the Select 10 weighs 24.6 pounds, so plan a stable spot before you move either one.
