Excalibur Performance 10-Tray Dehydrator Review: Worth It? (October 2026)
The Excalibur Performance Series 10-Tray suits large batches with 16 square feet of drying space, stainless steel trays and controls for two drying phases. Choose the 6-tray Select for a smaller footprint, or compare the Cosori if you want a 10-tray stainless steel alternative.
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The Excalibur Performance Series 10-Tray is built for large batches, with 16 square feet of drying space, stainless steel trays and adjustable controls for two drying phases. Its size makes it a better fit for regular, high-volume drying than for occasional small batches.
The Excalibur dehydrator reviews search often points shoppers toward a brand comparison. Here, the key choice is whether the extra tray area and longer timer suit your kitchen and drying habits.
What stands out about the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray?
The Performance model's strongest practical features are large capacity, stainless steel trays and flexible controls. Its horizontal airflow design is intended to dry food without rotating trays.
Excalibur Performance Series 10-Tray: Best for large batches
- 10 stainless steel trays
- 16 sq ft drying space
- 85°F to 165°F control
- Up to 80-hour timer
A large Excalibur with stainless steel trays, glass door and a control panel that supports two drying phases. Its size and 26.9 lb weight call for a planned counter or storage spot.
Pros
- 16 sq ft of drying space
- Stainless steel trays
- Two drying phases at different times and temperatures
- Progress bar and automatic shutoff
Cons
- Larger and heavier than the 6-tray Select
- Needs room for its 20.67 x 15.75 x 17.32 in dimensions
The control panel covers temperatures from 85°F to 165°F and timers up to 80 hours. It also supports two drying phases at different times and temperatures, which can help when a recipe calls for a change during the drying cycle.
A glass door and top view window let you monitor food without opening the door. The progress bar shows drying progress, and the unit shuts off automatically when the cycle ends.
Who should consider this Excalibur dehydrator?
It makes sense if you often dry large amounts of meat, fruit, vegetables or herbs, or want to work through a seasonal harvest. Ten trays can keep a bigger batch in one appliance instead of splitting it across several runs.
A smaller dehydrator may be easier to store and use if you mostly dry a few trays at a time. The Performance weighs 26.9 lb and measures 20.67 inches deep, 15.75 inches wide and 17.32 inches high.
What do the Performance and Select models offer?
The Performance provides 6.4 square feet more drying area than the Select, along with four extra trays and a 20-hour longer maximum timer. Both use Excalibur's horizontal airflow design and adjustable control from 85°F to 165°F.
| Detail | Performance Series 10-Tray | Select Series 6-Tray |
|---|---|---|
| Drying space | 16 sq ft | 9.6 sq ft |
| Trays | 10 stainless steel | 6 chrome |
| Temperature range | 85°F to 165°F | 85°F to 165°F |
| Maximum timer | 80 hours | 60 hours |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 20.67 x 15.75 x 17.32 in | 20.67 x 12.2 x 17.32 in |
| Weight | 26.9 lb | 18.3 lb |
| Door | Glass door with top view window | Glass French doors |
The Select still has substantial room for home batches, but its 9.6 square feet may fill faster with wide fruit slices or several racks of jerky. It weighs 8.6 lb less and is 3.55 inches narrower than the Performance.
Excalibur Select Series 6-Tray: Best for a smaller Excalibur
- 6 chrome trays
- 9.6 sq ft drying space
- 85°F to 165°F control
- Up to 60-hour timer
This Select model keeps Excalibur's horizontal airflow design in a smaller cabinet, with chrome trays and glass French doors. It has less drying area and a shorter timer than the Performance 10-Tray.
Pros
- Smaller footprint than the 10-tray model
- Glass French doors
- Adjustable control from 85°F to 165°F
Cons
- 6 trays and 9.6 sq ft provide less room
- Chrome trays instead of stainless steel
Choose the Select when its smaller footprint better matches your counter or storage space. If you regularly need more room, the Performance's extra trays may save you from drying in multiple rounds.
How does the Cosori compare with the Excalibur?
The Cosori gives you 10 stainless steel trays and 16.2 square feet of drying space, close to the Performance's 16 square feet. Its digital temperature control moves in 1°F increments from 95°F to 165°F, while the Performance starts lower at 85°F and supports two drying phases.
Cosori Premium 10-Tray Stainless Dehydrator: Best for precise temperature steps
- 10 stainless steel trays
- 16.2 sq ft drying space
- 95°F to 165°F control in 1°F steps
- Up to 48-hour timer
A 10-tray stainless steel alternative with slightly more stated drying area and temperature control in 1°F steps. Its timer runs for up to 48 hours.
Pros
- 16.2 sq ft of drying space
- 1°F temperature increments
- Rear fan and 48-hour timer
Cons
- Heavier at 35.8 lb
- Temperature starts at 95°F
The Cosori timer runs up to 48 hours, compared with 80 hours for the Performance. The Cosori weighs 35.8 lb, so it is also heavier than either Excalibur model.
For another brand comparison, see our Magic Mill vs Cosori dehydrator guide. If your main goal is drying larger quantities of meat, our big-batch meat dehydrator picks compare capacity across options.
What should you check before buying a 10-tray dehydrator?
Check the counter space, storage plan and batch size before choosing a full-size cabinet. Capacity matters only if the unit fits where you can use it.
Measure the available surface, including space to open the door and reach the trays. Also consider where you'll keep the dehydrator between batches, since its 26.9 lb weight makes it a substantial appliance to move often.
Think about the foods you expect to dry. Wide pieces may need room between them for airflow, so 10 trays do not mean every tray should be packed edge to edge.
If you're making jerky, review the recommended dehydrator temperature for jerky and how to tell when jerky is done. Safe handling and checking doneness matter alongside appliance capacity.
Is the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray worth choosing?
The Performance is a strong fit when you'll use its 16 square feet often and want stainless steel trays, a long timer and two-stage settings. For occasional drying or a narrower space, the Select is the more compact Excalibur option.
Choose the Cosori if 1°F temperature steps and 16.2 square feet are priorities. For broader options by batch size and use, browse our dehydrators for beef jerky guide.
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray good for jerky?
The Performance 10-Tray has 10 stainless steel trays, horizontal airflow and adjustable temperature control from 85°F to 165°F, so it has room for a large jerky batch. Follow safe meat handling and heating guidance, and check each strip for doneness instead of relying on a timer alone.
How much drying space does the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray have?
It has 16 square feet of drying space across 10 stainless steel trays. The cabinet measures 20.67 inches deep, 15.75 inches wide and 17.32 inches high, so check the counter or storage area before choosing it.
What is the difference between Excalibur Performance and Select?
The Performance model has 10 stainless steel trays, 16 square feet of space and an 80-hour timer. The Select has 6 chrome trays, 9.6 square feet and a 60-hour timer; both offer 85°F to 165°F temperature control and horizontal airflow.
Does the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray rotate trays?
Excalibur describes its Hyperwave Pulse Technology and Horizontal Parallex Air Flow as providing even drying without tray rotation. The control panel also allows two drying phases at different times and temperatures, with an automatic shutoff when the set drying time ends.
