Excalibur Performance 10-Tray Review: 80-Hour Timer, 16 ft²
- Data from official spec sheets
- Public scoring formula
- No paid placements
The Excalibur Performance Series 10-Tray is a stainless steel box dehydrator with 16 ft² of drying area, horizontal airflow, 800 W, an 85-165 °F range, an 80-hour timer and a 3-year warranty. It suits big batches and low-temperature herbs. The catch: less power per square foot than the Cosori P101.
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The Excalibur Performance Series 10-Tray is a stainless steel box dehydrator with 16 ft² of drying area, horizontal airflow, an 85-165 °F range and an 80-hour timer. On paper, it is built for long, slow sessions and large harvests. We have not run this unit ourselves: the figures below come from the official Amazon listing, plus our own math.
Excalibur Performance Series 10-Tray
10 trays · 800 W · up to 74 °C
9.5/10 · DryFoodLab scoreThe Performance Series 10-Tray pairs a big drying area with the longest timer in our US catalog. Ten stainless steel trays give 16 ft², and Excalibur’s horizontal “Parallex” airflow pushes air across every tray from the back. The range runs from 85 °F, useful for herbs, to 165 °F, enough for the USDA jerky drying range. The 3-year warranty is longer than most rivals. What holds it back is power density: 800 W for 16 ft² is about 50 W per square foot, against about 62 for the Cosori P101. The listing also skips noise, cleaning details and declared uses.
Pros
- 16 ft² of drying area on 10 stainless steel trays
- 80-hour timer, the longest in our US catalog
- 3-year warranty and a low 85 °F minimum for herbs
Cons
- 800 W for 16 ft²: less heat per square foot than the Cosori P101
- The listing declares no uses, no noise figure and no dishwasher statement
- Best for
- Large harvests, long drying sessions and herb growers
- Skip it if
- Buyers short on counter space or who want the fastest heat-up
Specifications
| Trays | 10 |
|---|---|
| Drying area (cm²) | 14,864 |
| Power (W) | 800 |
| Min temp (°C) | 29 |
| Max temp (°C) | 74 |
| Timer (h) | 80 |
| Trays | Stainless steel |
| Airflow | Horizontal |
| Weight (kg) | 12.2 |
| Warranty (years) | 3 |
| Trays | 10 |
|---|---|
| Drying area (cm²) | 14,864 |
| Power (W) | 800 |
| Min temp (°C) | 29 |
| Max temp (°C) | 74 |
| Timer (h) | 80 |
| Trays | Stainless steel |
| Airflow | Horizontal |
| Weight (kg) | 12.2 |
| Warranty (years) | 3 |
How much can it dry at once?
About 1.6 ft² per tray, 16 ft² in total. The math is 14,864 cm² ÷ 10 trays = 1,486 cm² per tray.
That puts it level with the Cosori P101 (16.2 ft²) and well above 8-tray units. The HOPERAN BZ-1521 does not publish its drying area, so we cannot compare it directly.
In real use, capacity also depends on slice thickness and spacing. Thin fruit slices fill a tray fast; thick jerky strips need gaps for airflow. Ten full trays is a large batch for most households.
Is 85-165 °F the right temperature range?
Yes, and the low end is its strongest point. At 85 °F (29 °C), it shares the lowest minimum in our US catalog with the Excalibur Select 6-Tray. The Cosori P101 starts at 95 °F and the HOPERAN at 86 °F.
Low heat protects the color and aroma of basil, mint and edible flowers. At the top, 165 °F (74 °C) covers the 130-140 °F (54-60 °C) the USDA recommends for the dehydrator during jerky drying. The USDA also asks you to heat meat to 160 °F (poultry 165 °F) before drying; our jerky guide covers the steps.
For temperature settings by food, see our drying times and temperatures chart.
Does 800 W make it slower?
On paper, it has less heat per square foot than the Cosori P101, but that does not automatically mean slower drying. The ratio is 800 W ÷ 16 ft² = 50 W/ft², against 1,000 ÷ 16.2 = 62 W/ft² for the Cosori.
Drying speed depends mostly on temperature, airflow and how much water the food holds. Wattage decides how quickly the cabinet heats up and recovers after you open it. With a full load of wet fruit, a more powerful heater has more margin.
The upside of 800 W is a lower ceiling on consumption. The formula is W × hours ÷ 1,000, so a 10-hour batch uses up to 8 kWh. Real use is lower because the heater cycles. Try our drying cost calculator with your electricity rate.
What is the 80-hour timer good for?
Long, low-temperature runs where you do not want the machine to stop before you check it. Thick fruit pieces, whole berries and large herb loads can need many hours at low heat.
Most buyers will rarely use more than 24-48 hours. Still, an 80-hour ceiling means the timer never forces you to restart a slow batch overnight. It is the longest timer declared in our US catalog.
How easy is it to live with?
It is a mid-weight box: 12.2 kg (about 27 lb) with front-loading trays. That is 4 kg lighter than the Cosori P101.
The listing does not state a noise level or whether the trays are dishwasher safe. Stainless steel trays scrub clean easily in hot water. For sticky fruit or purees, a silicone liner cut to size saves time.
What does the listing leave out?
Declared uses, noise level, dishwasher compatibility and dimensions. The Amazon listing lists specs but no use cases, so our fit for jerky, fruit and herbs comes from the temperature range, not from the manufacturer.
None of these gaps is unusual. They are worth checking in the manual if the unit will sit near a living space.
What are the best alternatives?
The Cosori P101 for more power on the same footprint class, and the HOPERAN BZ-1521 for a lighter 8-tray unit with a hotter top end.
Cosori P101 10-Tray Stainless Steel
10 trays · 1,000 W · up to 74 °C
9.5/10 · DryFoodLab scoreThe Cosori P101 is the Excalibur’s closest match. It offers slightly more area, 16.2 ft², and 200 W more heating power, with the same 165 °F ceiling and a rear fan. It declares jerky and fruit uses. The trade-offs are a shorter 48-hour timer, a 2-year warranty and more weight. Read the head-to-head in Cosori P101 vs Excalibur Performance.
Pros
- 16.2 ft² on 10 stainless steel trays
- 1,000 W heater, about 62 W per square foot
- 48-hour timer and 95-165 °F range
Cons
- 16.2 kg (about 36 lb)
- 2-year warranty and no noise figure
- Best for
- Big batches of jerky and fruit
- Skip it if
- Herb growers who want to start below 95 °F
Specifications
| Trays | 10 |
|---|---|
| Drying area (cm²) | 15,050 |
| Power (W) | 1,000 |
| Min temp (°C) | 35 |
| Max temp (°C) | 74 |
| Timer (h) | 48 |
| Trays | Stainless steel |
| Airflow | Horizontal |
| Weight (kg) | 16.2 |
| Warranty (years) | 2 |
HOPERAN BZ-1521 8-Tray Stainless Steel
8 trays · 400 W · up to 91 °C
9.5/10 · DryFoodLab scoreThe HOPERAN BZ-1521 weighs 5.4 kg, less than half the Excalibur. It has eight stainless steel trays, a rear fan and a very wide 86-196 °F range. It is one of the few in our catalog to declare a noise figure, under 48 dB, and its trays are dishwasher safe. The weak points are data and time: no drying area, a 24-hour timer and 400 W of power. The 196 °F top end is higher than the usual range, but plausible.
Pros
- 8 stainless steel trays and horizontal airflow
- Wide 86-196 °F range
- Declared under 48 dB and dishwasher-safe trays
Cons
- No drying area published
- 24-hour timer and 400 W, half the Excalibur’s power
- Best for
- Mid-size batches in smaller kitchens
- Skip it if
- Buyers who need to compare drying area on paper
Specifications
| Trays | 8 |
|---|---|
| Power (W) | 400 |
| Min temp (°C) | 30 |
| Max temp (°C) | 91 |
| Timer (h) | 24 |
| Trays | Stainless steel |
| Airflow | Horizontal |
| Noise (dB) | 48 |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Weight (kg) | 5.4 |
| Warranty (years) | 2 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray good for jerky?
Its range tops out at 165 °F (74 °C), which covers the 130-140 °F the USDA recommends for the dehydrator while jerky dries. Heat the meat to 160 °F (poultry 165 °F) first, as the USDA advises.
How long is the timer on the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray?
Excalibur declares up to 80 hours, the longest timer in our US dehydrator catalog. The Cosori P101 stops at 48 hours and the HOPERAN BZ-1521 at 24.
What is the lowest temperature on the Excalibur 10-Tray?
85 °F (29 °C). That is low enough for delicate herbs and flowers, and lower than the 95 °F minimum of the Cosori P101.
How much does the Excalibur 10-Tray weigh?
12.2 kg, about 27 lb. That is 4 kg lighter than the Cosori P101 but more than twice the HOPERAN BZ-1521 (5.4 kg).
What warranty does the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray have?
The listing states a 3-year manufacturer limited warranty. The Cosori P101 and HOPERAN BZ-1521 both list 2 years.
Based on official spec sheets, manuals and published owner feedback. We have not physically tested every model. How we review.