Buying a dehydrator means trying to choose from a wide range of brands and models available in the market. But if you’re looking for high quality and reliable dehydrators, you can never go wrong with well known brands like LEM and Excalibur.
In this article, we are going to discuss and compare the features and models of the dehydrators made by these two companies and figure out which dehydrators offer the best value for money. You can read through the article to find out more about the features and specifications that make the dehydrators from these two brands the best in the market.
First, let us find out some more about the two companies.
About Excalibur Company:
One of the most popular brands when it comes to dehydrators, Excalibur was founded in 1973 and the company’s headquarters are located in Sacramento, CA. Through the years, Excalibur has built a name for itself in the dehydrator market by providing unique dehydrators that are built to last. In 2011, Excalibur was purchased by The Legacy Cos of Florida.
The Excalibur range of dehydrators is known by their unique designs which is a square or rectangular shape with shelves for trays and a fan at the back that blows hot air to dry all kinds of foods. The design is highly effective and efficient as it removes the need to rotate trays during dehydrating. If you’re looking for heavy duty dehydrating tasks, then the Excalibur has a range of dehydrators that can go a great job at dehydrating food in bulk.
About LEM Company
Founded in 1991 by Larry Metz, LEM followed a simple idea, to provide quality equipment to people interested in dehydrating meat of any kind. With more than 35 years of experience as a meat cutter, founder Larry Metz used his knowledge of everything related to meat and established LEM from humble beginnings. From their first 98 minute video about processing deer meat, to creating a whole line of equipment and supplies for modern game hunters everywhere.
Among these products, LEM also makes dehydrators that are designed to fulfill the specific demands of customers who are looking for solid and reliable machines they can use to make jerky and dried meat products. Today, LEM carries over 700 different products including dehydrators. LEM products are available in over 600 retail stores and you can also order these products online. The company is based in West Chester, Ohio.
Comparing Excalibur Vs LEM Dehydrators
The dehydrators offered by both these companies are unique devices on their own but there are several factors that one can look at when it comes to comparing these dehydrators. Let’s have a look at the features of these dehydrators that set them apart from each other.
1) Tray Shape Excalibur dehydrators are popular for their rectangular or square shaped trays. With the fan at the back of the dehydrator, the trays get an equal amount of heat helping in better dehydration. LEM dehydrators also have square shaped trays that allow four-way rotation of trays while adding food.
What Does This Mean?
Having square shape of trays allows for better management of food while it is kept on the trays for drying. You can also decide if the dehydrator will be ideal for your kitchen shelf.
Result
As both brands of dehydrators have similarly shaped trays, you can choose any of these if you’re buying a dehydrator only based on tray shape.
2) Dehydrator Capacity A dehydrator’s capacity means how much food it can dry in one session. For Excalibur, the maximum number of trays that can be inserted in the dehydrator is 9, while in LEM models, you can find 10 tray dehydrators that offer a large capacity.
What Does This Mean?
More trays mean more square foot area that can be used to dehydrate different kinds of foods.
Result
When it comes to overall square footage, the largest capacity offered by LEM is more than the largest capacity offered by Excalibur. Therefore, LEM 10 Tray dehydrator would be the logical choice in this case.
3) Temperature Range Temperature range is essential for drying foods that need a higher temperature to dry out properly. Many foods need to dry at a lower temperature initially and then go to a higher temperature for deeper drying. For the top model of Excalibur range, the temperature range goes from 105°F to 165°F while for LEM’s top model, the temperature goes from 95°F to 155°F.
What Does This Mean?
A varied temperature range means you can dry different foods like meat, nuts, and fruits with ease. A higher temperature also means you will have to spend less time on drying some foods that require a higher temperature.
Result
If you’re looking at temperature, then Excalibur wins over LEM dehydrators as it offers a varied range of temperature.
4) Material The material that the dehydrator is made of goes a long way in form of durability and usability. If you’re using your dehydrator day in and day out, you’ve to make sure it’s made of durable material that can take the stress of daily usage. Excalibur dehydrators are made from BPA free plastic and there are steel versions available as well. While LEM dehydrators are available in stainless steel as well as food grade plastic housing with stainless steel reinforced corners.
The material of the trays also matters a lot. Excalibur dehydrator models can have poly-screen tray inserts that are made of plastic and some models also offer stainless steel trays. While LEM dehydrator models offer the choice of chrome plated, stainless steel and shatter proof ABS plastic trays.
What Does This Mean?
Having BPA free plastic is essential as a lot of food will be in touch with the plastic material of the dehydrators. Steel body dehydrator on the other hand can last much longer than a plastic body dehydrator that can lose its quality with time and usage.
Result
If you’re looking for highly durable dehydrator that will last you for years, then you can choose the stainless steel dehydrators from either brand. If your budget is low, then you can go for plastic housing dehydrators that also work very well.
5) Weight Excalibur dehydrators weigh less, in the range of 22-26 lbs while LEM dehydrators go till 37 lbs for models that are made of stainless steel.
What Does This Mean?
A heavier dehydrator is difficult to move around the kitchen and it’s difficult to carry it from one place to another. If you plan to dry your food out of the kitchen, say in the garage, you will have trouble in lifting a heavy dehydrator all the way.
Result
As most Excalibur dehydrator models have trays and bodies made of plastic these are a better choice if you’re looking for a lightweight dehydrator. If you intend to move your dehydrator from place to place, it’s best to choose a dehydrator that is easy to carry.
6) Built in Timer Feature The timer feature is available in only some of the models of Excalibur while in LEM dehydrators, all models have the timer feature. Moreover, LEM dehydrators offer over 30 hours of timer setup, while Excalibur models offer only till 26 hours of timer setup.
What Does This Mean
A timer is essential for drying foods when you cannot monitor the drying of the food through the process. If you plan to use your dehydrator at night then the time feature becomes even more important. The timer will shut off the dehydrator after the set time has elapsed.
Result
More drying time means you can leave the dehydrator on its own for a longer period. If you’re looking for a dehydrator with a long drying timer, then you can easily go with LEM dehydrators.
7) Warranty Excalibur offers up to 5 years of warranty for most dehydrator models, while LEM offers 1 year of warranty for some models, and 2 years for higher end models of dehydrators.
What Does This Mean?
The warranty is an important feature of the dehydrators as it allows you to get repairs or replacement in case something goes wrong with the device.
Result
Excalibur offers longer warranty for their products than LEM and if you’re looking for a longer warranty, it’d be better to choose Excalibur.
Popular Excalibur Dehydrators Comparison Chart
| Serial No | Product Name | Product Dimensions | Weight | No. of Trays | Temperature Range | Drying Space | Fan Size | Wattage | Timer | Editor's Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excalibur 3926TB Food Dehydrator | 17x19x12.5 in | 22 lbs | 9 | 105-165°F | 15 Sq Ft | 7 Inch | 600 | Yes, 26 Hour | 4.7/5 |
| 2 | Excalibur 3900B 9 Tray Deluxe Dehydrator | 17x19x12.5 in | 22 lbs | 9 | 105-165°F | 15 Sq Ft | 7 Inch | 600 | No | 4.7/5 |
| 3 | Excalibur 2900ECB 9-Tray Economy Dehydrator | 17x19x12.5 in | 22 lbs | 9 | 105-165°F | 15 Sq Ft | 7 Inch | 600 | No | 4.6/5 |
| 4 | Excalibur 3526TB 5 Tray Dehydrator | 17x19x8.5 in | 15 lbs | 5 | 95-155°F | 8 Sq Ft | 5 Inch | 400 | Yes, 26 Hour | 4.4/5 |
| 5 | Excalibur 2400 4-Tray Economy Dehydrator | 16.2 x 13 x 6.5 inches | 8 lbs | 4 | 95-155°F | 4 Sq Ft | 4 Inch | 220 | No | 4.2/5 |
Popular LEM Dehydrator Comparison Chart:
| Serial No | Product Name | Product Dimensions | Weight | No. of Trays | Temperature Range | Drying Space | Fan Size | Wattage | Timer | Editor's Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEM Products 1153 Food Dehydrator (10-Tray) | 19-20/41” x 16-15/28” x 16-13/14” | 15.43 lbs | 10 | 95-155°F | 15 Sq Ft | NA | 800 | Yes, 30 hour | 4.7/5 |
| 2 | LEM Products 1154 Stainless Steel Professional 10-Tray Digital Dehydrator | 17-1/2" H x 18 W" x 18-3/4 D" | 34.7 lbs | 10 | 95-155°F | 16 Sq Ft | NA | 770 | Yes, 24 Hour | 4.5/5 |
| 3 | LEM Products 778A Stainless Steel 10 Tray Dehydrator w/ timer | 18.25" D x 17" W x 16.75" H | 35.3 lbs | 10 | 90-150°F | 16 Sq Ft | NA | 770 | Yes, 12 hour | 5.0/5 |
| 4 | LEM Products 1152 Food Dehydrator (5-Tray) | 19-20/41” x 16-15/28” x 9-20/31 | 8.8 lbs | 5 | 95-155°F | 7 ½ Sq Ft | NA | 500 | Yes, 30 hour | 3.8/5 |
Conclusion
There are several factors that can decide the final decision to purchase a dehydrator, but in the end, it’s your needs, requirements, and budget that defines which dehydrator you should choose. We’ve compared the dehydrators based on their popularity, features, specifications and more.
By taking a look at these charts you should be able to easily decide which company’s dehydrator you should choose. If you’re looking for durable and high capacity dehydrators, then LEM should suffice. But if you need dehydrators that offer a higher degree of performance as well as longer warranty, then Excalibur is the company that’s right for you.
To sum up, both these companies make exceptional devices that have been used and appreciated by their customer segments. It’d be unfair to rate one company over the other as there is no fault or issues with these dehydrators as such and you can choose any of the models mentioned in the article and easily dehydrate the foods of your choice.
For more information on dehydrators, please browse through this blog. In case you have a comment, query, or a question regarding dehydrators, please feel free to leave a comment and our team will get back to you at the earliest. We sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this article and we’ve helped you in making a decision about the dehydrator you want to buy.