LEM BigBite 10-Tray Review: A Jerky-First Stainless Dehydrator
- Data from official spec sheets
- Public scoring formula
- No paid placements
The LEM BigBite 10-Tray is a stainless steel dehydrator with 10 ft² of drying area, dishwasher-safe trays, a rear fan, 800 W, a 95-176 °F range and a 5-year warranty. It is a strong, well-documented pick for jerky and fruit. The catch: smaller trays than the Cosori P101 and a 24-hour timer.
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The LEM BigBite 10-Tray is a stainless steel dehydrator with dishwasher-safe trays, a rear fan, a 95-176 °F range and a 5-year warranty. On paper, it is the best-documented 10-tray unit in our US catalog and a natural fit for jerky. We have not run this unit ourselves: the figures come from the official Amazon listing and LEM’s own description, plus our math.
LEM BigBite 10-Tray Stainless Steel
10 trays · 800 W · up to 80 °C
9.5/10 · DryFoodLab scoreThe BigBite is built around jerky and easy cleanup. Its ten stainless steel trays come out and go in the dishwasher, a rear fan with rear venting provides horizontal airflow, and the range tops out at 176 °F. LEM backs it with a 5-year factory warranty, longer than any other dehydrator we track. At 8.8 kg, it is also the lightest of the three 10-tray units in this review. The trade-off is area. Its 10 ft² works out to about 1 ft² per tray, against about 1.6 ft² on the Cosori P101 and the Excalibur Performance. The 24-hour timer is also the shortest of the three.
Pros
- Reaches 176 °F, the highest top end among the 10-tray units we track
- Dishwasher-safe stainless steel trays
- 5-year warranty, the longest of any dehydrator in our catalog
Cons
- 10 ft² of drying area, about 38% less than the Cosori P101
- 24-hour timer, shorter than both main rivals
- Best for
- Jerky makers and hunters who want easy cleanup and a long warranty
- Skip it if
- Big fruit harvests that need the most tray area
Specifications
| Trays | 10 |
|---|---|
| Drying area (cm²) | 9,290 |
| Power (W) | 800 |
| Min temp (°C) | 35 |
| Max temp (°C) | 80 |
| Timer (h) | 24 |
| Trays | Stainless steel |
| Airflow | Horizontal |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Weight (kg) | 8.8 |
| Warranty (years) | 5 |
| Trays | 10 |
|---|---|
| Drying area (cm²) | 9,290 |
| Power (W) | 800 |
| Min temp (°C) | 35 |
| Max temp (°C) | 80 |
| Timer (h) | 24 |
| Trays | Stainless steel |
| Airflow | Horizontal |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Weight (kg) | 8.8 |
| Warranty (years) | 5 |
How much food fits on the BigBite?
About 1 ft² per tray, or 10 ft² in total. The math is 9,290 cm² ÷ 10 = 929 cm² per tray.
That is a solid capacity for jerky, where thin strips fill each tray efficiently. For bulky fruit, though, the Cosori P101 (16.2 ft²) and the Excalibur Performance (16 ft²) hold about 60% more per load.
Space is the main reason to pick a rival. If you mostly dry meat, 10 ft² is rarely the bottleneck.
Why does 176 °F matter for jerky?
It gives plenty of headroom above the USDA drying range. The USDA recommends keeping the dehydrator at 130-140 °F (54-60 °C) while jerky dries.
A unit that can reach 176 °F (80 °C) holds that range without running at its limit, even when you open the door or load cold food. The USDA also asks you to heat meat to 160 °F (poultry to 165 °F) before drying, by steaming or roasting. Our jerky guide walks through the full method.
For more jerky-ready machines, see the best dehydrators for jerky.
Does it dry evenly?
On paper, yes: a rear fan and rear venting push air horizontally across all ten trays. That is the layout that dries most evenly without rotating trays.
Even with horizontal airflow, the trays nearest the fan can run slightly ahead. Load similar thicknesses on each tray and leave gaps between pieces. If you still see uneven results, our uneven drying fixes cover the usual causes.
How much power does it use?
Up to 0.8 kWh per hour, since it is rated at 800 W. A 10-hour batch uses up to 800 × 10 ÷ 1,000 = 8 kWh.
Per square foot, that is 800 ÷ 10 = 80 W/ft², more than the Excalibur (50 W/ft²) and the Cosori P101 (62 W/ft²). The BigBite heats a smaller space with the same power as the Excalibur. Real consumption is lower than the ceiling because the heater cycles. Estimate your bill with the drying cost calculator.
Is it easy to clean?
Yes, and this is where it stands out. LEM describes the stainless steel trays as removable and dishwasher safe.
Neither the Cosori P101 nor the Excalibur Performance listing confirms dishwasher use. After a jerky batch, with marinade dripping onto the trays, that saves real time. A drip tray or a sheet of foil on the bottom of the cabinet helps too.
What does the listing leave out?
Mainly the noise level and cabinet dimensions. The BigBite weighs 8.8 kg (about 19 lb), so it is movable, but plan counter space for a 10-tray box.
The 24-hour timer is a limit for very slow, low-temperature runs. For those, you have to restart the timer.
Who should buy it, and who should skip it?
Buy it if jerky is your main use and you hate scrubbing trays. It also suits anyone who values a long warranty over the biggest capacity.
Buy it if you:
- Make jerky often and want a 176 °F top end with headroom.
- Want dishwasher-safe stainless steel trays.
- Prefer a 10-tray unit you can still lift, at 8.8 kg.
Skip it if you:
- Dry large fruit or vegetable harvests; more area pays off there.
- Run slow herb batches below 95 °F; the Excalibur starts at 85 °F.
What are the best alternatives?
The Cosori P101 for the most drying area, and the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray for the longest timer and lowest start temperature.
Cosori P101 10-Tray Stainless Steel
10 trays · 1,000 W · up to 74 °C
9.5/10 · DryFoodLab scoreThe Cosori P101 offers about 60% more drying area than the BigBite, with a 1,000 W heater and a 48-hour timer. It also uses a rear fan and stainless steel trays, and it declares jerky and fruit uses. The trade-offs are weight (16.2 kg), a lower 165 °F ceiling that still covers the USDA jerky range, and a 2-year warranty against LEM’s five.
Pros
- 16.2 ft² on 10 stainless steel trays
- 1,000 W heater
- 48-hour timer
Cons
- 16.2 kg (about 36 lb)
- Tops out at 165 °F and has a 2-year warranty
- Best for
- Mixed batches of fruit, vegetables and jerky
- Skip it if
- Buyers who want dishwasher-safe trays confirmed
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 |
Excalibur Performance Series 10-Tray
10 trays · 800 W · up to 74 °C
9.5/10 · DryFoodLab scoreThe Excalibur Performance 10-Tray has the same 800 W but spreads it over 16 ft². It starts lower, at 85 °F, and its 80-hour timer is the longest in our catalog. The warranty is 3 years. It weighs 12.2 kg and tops out at 165 °F, and the listing does not confirm dishwasher-safe trays. See how it stacks up against Cosori in Cosori P101 vs Excalibur Performance.
Pros
- 16 ft² on 10 stainless steel trays
- 80-hour timer
- Starts at 85 °F for herbs
Cons
- 800 W spread over 16 ft²
- No dishwasher statement and no declared uses
- Best for
- Herb growers and long, low-heat runs
- Skip it if
- Buyers who want the hottest top end
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 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the LEM BigBite 10-Tray good for jerky?
Yes, on paper. It reaches 176 °F (80 °C), well above the 130-140 °F the USDA recommends for the dehydrator during drying. Heat the meat to 160 °F (poultry 165 °F) before drying, as the USDA advises.
Are the LEM BigBite trays dishwasher safe?
Yes. LEM describes removable, dishwasher-safe stainless steel trays. Neither the Cosori P101 nor the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray listing confirms dishwasher use.
How much drying space does the LEM BigBite 10-Tray have?
LEM declares 10 ft² (9,290 cm²), about 1 ft² per tray. The Cosori P101 declares 16.2 ft² and the Excalibur Performance 10-Tray 16 ft², so their trays are roughly 60% larger.
What warranty does the LEM BigBite have?
LEM offers a 5-year factory warranty, the longest of any dehydrator in our US catalog. The Excalibur offers 3 years and the Cosori P101 2 years.
How long is the LEM BigBite timer?
Up to 24 hours. That covers most jerky and fruit batches, but it is shorter than the 48 hours of the Cosori P101 and the 80 hours of the Excalibur.
Based on official spec sheets, manuals and published owner feedback. We have not physically tested every model. How we review.