WHICH DEHYDRATOR IS BEST? Excalibur VS Cosori VS Nesco Food Dehydrators

Have you ever wondered which dehydrator is best? I put three of the most popular dehydrators to the test - which one is the champion? (CLICK MORE FOR INFO)
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[@oldtimerlee8820]

I started out with an inexpensive round dehydrator. Simple on/off, no adjustment for temperature. It dried everything as if I were making beef jerky. Result was poor, at best. Gave up on dehydrating until a neighbor loaned me her Excalibur. Fell in love with it. This was an older model with the controls on the front. Sadly I had to return hers. Shortly thereafter I received my 9 tray w/timer. That was in 2001. Yes, 20 years ago! It still works. Couple of years ago, I bought a new fan kit for it, for just in case. Havent' needed it. Also had a 4 tray that I liked to use to make yogurt. Gave that one to my sister. While I'm glad I could help her out, sometimes I wish I still had it for small batches and yogurt. Even though it's fairly large, mine has a permanent place on a kitchen counter. It is a multipurpose machine. Yes, I dehydrate fruits and vegetables. Buy things like green peppers, celery and onions when on sale. Using a Chop Wizard style cutter, it doesn't take long to have a batch ready for a full load in the dehydrator. Same thing for in season fruits. Take advantage of sales and local farmers markets. Appreciate the amount of food I can get on the square trays. That was another complaint I had with my round dehydrator. Also watch for sales of plain frozen vegetables. Especially, mixed vegetables and green peas. All the prep work has been done! Break up the clumps before opening the bag. Spread the frozen food on the trays and load the dehydrator. To catch any drips, I keep a sheet of parchment paper on the floor of my Excalibur. Held down with a few river stones, found at one of the discount stores that are used in vases for flower arrangements. Been using 6 stones, 3 across the front and 3 across the back. I use my dehydrator to dry 2 liter soda bottles used to store rice, popcorn, blackeye peas, sugar and such. Take out the trays and lay the bottles on their side with the mouth facing the back of the dehydrator. Takes about 20 minutes rather than hours to dry them. Since last year, I've been using my dehydrator to heat jars for pressure canning. Remove the trays and set the jars on the floor of the dehydrator. It will hold 7 quarts, 16 wide mouth pints or 18 regular mouth jars. I start these when I start heating the water in the canner. The jars are hot when I need them. I've canned around 500-600 jars, mainly pints, since I started this and haven't had a problem. A good dehydrator is well worth the investment. If mine fails and I can't repair it, I wouldn't hesitate to order another one. Hope this helps, someone.

[@cowdogconnoisseur2809]

Great ideas here!!😊

[@SkelNeldory]

Why would you dry out plastic bottles?

[@oldtimerlee8820]

@@SkelNeldory When plastic bottles, such as soda and juice bottles are used for dry food storage, they need to first be thoroughly washed, rinsed, sanitized and dried. Once clean, it takes a fairly long time for them to air dry on the inside. They must be completely dry before adding food to be stored. Using a suitable dehydrator reduces the time from a couple of days to approx 20 minutes, depending on several variables. Note: 2 or 3 liter soda bottles are strong because they must endure the pressure of a carbonated beverage. Thus, they are an option for long term food storage of appropriate items. (Rice, sugar, salt, small dried beans & peas, popcorn and such. Disposable water bottles do not make good candidates for long term dry food storage. They are biodegradable, thus will break down fairly quickly.

[@richardazianyo3443]

Can you please tell us the brand cus we are all looking for the best dehydrator to buy

[@oldtimerlee8820]

@@richardazianyo3443 My dehydrator is an Excalibur 9 tray with timer.

[@thestickerfarm1254]

I bought a Cosori because it was cheaper than Excalibur, rated at lower decibels, and had a hinged door. I love it and am really happy with my decision. I cut old white sheet into squares to fit trays. When finished dehydrating I wash squares in vinegar and air dry. That eliminates heated plastic mesh.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for sharing!

[@donnagarcia4541]

What a great tidbit of info!!!! Sheets 🤦‍♀️ I would not have thought of that on my own!! Awesome share, thank you 👍

[@thestickerfarm1254]

@@donnagarcia4541 thanks for the compliment, but it was not an original idea. Somewhere in my deh

[@thestickerfarm1254]

@@donnagarcia4541 didn’t finish my comment🤪. Somewhere in my dehydrating journey another utuber posted it.

[@minnietomlinson8761]

Awesome idea.

[@idpreppergal4827]

I have a 5-tray Excaliber that I found at an estate sale for $20! It's an older one, but it works great. If I'd had to spend $300 for it, I probably would have chosen another brand, but I got VERY lucky!!

[@anniep1511]

I got one for $50 at ya

[@LarsLarsen77]

I ended up getting a chinese knockoff of the excalibur. It was actually bigger which was a huge plus, and worked about as well, but the trays were incredibly cheap.

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Sweet !!!!!

[@r.ramirez1521]

Just wanted to add my two cents and express my joy at finding a barely used 4 tray Excalibur for 15 bucks. Can't wait to start this dehydration journey.

[@jeanflaig6903]

When I made the decision to buy a dehydrator, I compared the Excalibur to the Cosori and I finally bought the Cosori due to the cost for one, but had every quality as the Excalibur. And I can say, the Cosori has not let me down.

[@canonli]

Mine let me down 1 year after purchase

[@jeanflaig6903]

@@canonli Well I haven't had mine that long but I have been using it a LOT, so we'll see how it does. Most people who I've seen who recommend it also too love theirs and have heard no complaints about them. Maybe try and get in touch with them.

[@kawaiisenshi2401]

How are you liking your cosori now

[@jeanflaig6903]

@@kawaiisenshi2401 I am still loving my Cosori. I use it a lot, even during the winter months and non canning season.

[@tlsnana9539]

When I got my Nesco, 10+ years ago, I didn’t even know there were others. I got an amazing deal, 12 trays, 12 fruit trays, and 12 mesh trays for less than the 4-tray units. I’ve used it happily, until I watched your video. Now I feel like I want the latest and bestest. But then I look at my old faithful slow poke and guess I’m pretty happy. It’s worked this long. I’ll keep it. Thank you for a very interesting video. It was fun to learn.

[@Marie-xt2hy]

Since the 1960s when I mainly did fruit leather in the round. Somewhere along the way I bought a Ron Popiel round tall dehydrator which needed to be changed out often. The layers had a number assigned in their booklet. Eventually it got crooked or must have overheated and no longer worked. There were a few more along the way until I saw ads, probably in Mother Earth News, for my eventual dream machine....The Excalibur 9 drawer. ☆☆♡♡♡☆☆ About 30 years. Although I am currently in a travel trailer and have been using my toaster oven for frozen vegetables....just returning from food bank I will need my Excalibur for preserving all my precious foods, mixed frozen veggies, blueberries fresh zukes, potatoes, onions, angel food cake, and more. Thought of buying a small freezer.....but at this juncture I will love making room for Excalibur 9 drawer. I love dried sliced apples and ground some 10 year old apricot fruit leather that is simply Devine. I am 76 years young. Isn't life great?

[@FrederickDunn]

This was a very good practical test and review. You've helped me validate what I had already decided on. I loved your approach to consumer testing. The Excalibur is my selection because I need that additional space for drying honey samples :) Non-Digital and no timer is fine with me. Size is everything, along with drying efficiency. You did a fantastic job reviewing the value of the many features. Very much appreciated!

[@CarlPapa88]

You're drying honey? How does that turn out?

[@susancnw59]

@frederick dunn. how do you dry honey?

[@DEPARTUERS19]

Excalibur wins

[@judichristopher4604]

Cosori... is quiet... I'm sold!

[@karennakamura-evert3448]

After doing a ton of research, I decided on a Cosori last year and absolutely LOVE it. There is more than adequate space between trays, is unbelievably quiet and dehydrates very well. Yes, I do wish the mesh trays extended to the sides for more coverage but that is not a show-stopper. I highly recommend the Cosori to anyone thinking of getting a dehydrator.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@joemann7971]

Thank you. I was about to get the Excalibur but opted for the cosori. It was half the price of the Excalibur I was looking at. I think the area for dehydrating is less, but I think its a good trade off for lower price and quieter machine. I think a loud machine would drive me nuts.

[@CapreDiem86]

You can buy mesh mat and cut it to the required size you want... There are for dehydrators and BBQs

[@GeckoHiker]

I love my Cosori. My old Excalibur completely failed at dehydrating delicate herbs and teas. Actually, the Excalibur failed at everything. It wanted to cook everything I tried to dehydrate. So I just finished another season of dehydrating mint, echinacia, chamomile, white pine needles, basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley, garlic, onion, lemongrass, celery, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, kale, mushrooms, squash, and other vegetables. I even bought a second Cosori because it saves so much money over canning. Now I'm going to try dehydrating stock and vegetable stock veggies, as well as fully prepared foods for backpacking trips. Like spaghetti, chili, curries, and stews. No more Mountain House!

[@desert_moon]

I have one too and love it!!

[@KentuckyGinger]

I bought the Cosori last year and use it all the time. I also wish the mesh extended to the sides, so I bought larger BPA-free mesh sheets and cut them to size. The added benefit is that I can fold them up to dump contents straight into jars. I don't have any kind of problem with food sticking. Also, tip for those cursing that hole in the middle while loading and unloading trays. I put a 4oz ball jar upside down over that hole while filling so nothing falls through the middle while loading. And I have put tray on top of ball jar and scoop contents through the middle hole straight into the jars. Happy dehydrating!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

I ended up using that same mesh on my nesco to make one large round mesh without cutting hte hole - it works wonders!

[@IamThePedestrian]

I have a Cosori also and did the same. Bought it last summer and bought mesh sheets, cut them to size. They are working out very well - and the Cosori is SO quiet. Wonderful! =^..^=

[@mariamagdadequesada6137]

Which brand larger BPA-free mesh sheets, please. Thank you

[@mariamagdadequesada6137]

My question is addressed to those that purchased the larger sheets. Like 14x14 or little larger. Thank you

[@dorothyroush6273]

Years ago I bought my used Nesco at a garage sale and it looked almost new. Worked great but again limited surface area. As the years have gone on I have picked up additional trays where ever I can fund them..I think I am up to 13...which is too many to dry at once. I have hung on to them because over time the plastic does become some what brittle and that way I have spares. Last year I found an almost new set with 4 trays and bought it. Now I have 2 setups with extra trays. I have heard good things about Excaliber and thought I had to have one, but just had not spent the money. I had begun thinking maybe I didn't want to spend the exta money for it and here are my reasons I have decided to stick with what I have: 1. I don't feel that inconvenienced about having to remove dried product and rotate the trays. 2. My son has become a vegetarian so I don't need to make as big batches of jerky ( I used to give him between 2-4 lbs, dried, for holidays and birthdays, plus gift it to my daughters and their husband and boyfriend. Now I only need to make enough for my 2 girls and us. 3. Yes it is noisy..and they do put out heat and moisture into the room. If any of these issues bother me, I just put it out in the attached garage. 4. Length of time to dry- now that I am retired, I have more time to work with it and it is easier to plan dry time. 5. I do purchase produce to dry as well as using vegetables and herbs from my small garden and so far it works fine for that. 5. I already own the 2 Nescos and i can live with #1-4. If I were to have to replace these, I would likely go with a Cosiri due to price, size, and noise level. Also, since we don't hunt, drying massive amounts of any thing (such as game), the Excalibur seems unnecessary for me at this point in time. 6. Space- storage of the Excalibur would be a problem as well as having a place to use it when drying. I would have to carry it up and down the stairs to store. I store the 2 Nescos with the trays in 13 gallon trash bags with the pull closure. Easy to store and keep clean, store, and carry up and down the stairs. Hope these reasons help you with your decision.

[@RCPrepping]

Been using Nesco dehydrators for decades. Always in my price range. Very pleased with their performance.

[@ust7243]

One thing I would also consider is the energy cost to dry. Energy prices have been going up a lot and even if the Cosori is more expensive, in the long run I think you save money if you dehydrate a lot.

[@donnalovintexas8760]

I am a newbie to dehydrating. I bought an excecaIibur 5 tray. I found it around October of 2020 at Ollie's for $75. I had seen a couple of videos on dehydrating so I knew a lot of people had the Excalibur. I have used it a lot this week. It is loud and puts off some heat but I love it. I am pulling veggies out of my freezer to dehydrate Lol. Im having a blast dehydrating. So glad i found your channel tonight. Stay Safe and God Bless.

[@Netzienet]

I love my nesco it might take a bit more attention but I usually just run mine over night or in the garage I’ve even had on back patio doing onions. It’s light weight and gets the job done. Perfect for people without a dedicated space. I store mine on my appliance shelf in the garage

[@Linsky17]

I have the Corsori. I purchased silicone sheets for it and cut them to fit. I am not a fan of heated plastic. I love it.

[@judichristopher4604]

That is something to think about... Good to know.

[@thistlemoon1]

I have an American Harvest Snackmaster Dehydrator which became Nesco at some point. I’ve had mine some 30+ years. I like it so well I bought a second one off eBay. Mine has the motor and fan in the base with a temperature dial for heat settings. I’m one of those people without room or money for an Excalibur.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for the info!

[@treasurespastnpresen]

I have one I purchased in 82-83 and my son uses it now as I bought a new one so he could have mine.

[@crazyaboutcards]

I have this same machine that was gifted to me by an elderly friend. I don't know how old it is but I have to wonder if it's older than me haha (45). I don't know any different but I'm glad to have it and it seems to work well. I could technically afford a new one but I'm not sure if it would make that much difference. Any thoughts on that? I want to use my resources wisely.

[@thistlemoon1]

@@crazyaboutcards use it until it dies. That’s the best use of resources.

[@sandrarichardson2713]

I do have the Nesco you reviewed. I had no idea it would take soooo long to dehydrate an onion sliced almost paper thin. So I checked out what you had to say in what I would say was a very just and fair test. I will be checking out the Cosori for sure. What a relief to hear someone I consider to be an honest person just tell the truth about the test results and the observations made. Jesus bless.

[@knothead35]

I bought a brand new nesco at a liquidation store for $36. I couldn't pass it up as my first dehydrator. Plus, I needed one that took up very little space. I like that it can expand to 12 trays if needed. And, if in 6 months I decide it's not for me, I'm not out of a bunch of money.

[@sandrarichardson2713]

@@knothead35 Thanks for the input and hope we both have a long lasting machine!! Jesus bless.

[@2fargonedaytona128]

Have a nesco usually made jerky with fair results. I just tried it for rosemary drying 13 hours later still not dry. I’m ready to put the nesco in the garbage because except for jerky it sure seems like what it is…. Garbage

[@sandrarichardson2713]

@@2fargonedaytona128 Thanks for your input. I've still so far to go in canning, dehydrating, etc. My next goal is drying herbs. I am seeing here and there that some have enough oils in them it really takes a little while to dry them sufficiently. Of course, I have learned to take things with a grain of salt....you can get a 100% surefire answer from both ends of the spectrum...lolol. I feel Darcy is pretty solid and I trust her methods and knowledge. Hope your experiences constantly improve. I hope mine do. Take care and Jesus bless.

[@2fargonedaytona128]

@@sandrarichardson2713 thanks Sandra! I need all the blessings I can scrape up. I didn’t mean to come off so brutish but you certainly could sense my aggravation. I’ve had as I mentioned fair luck w/meats & jerky and this Nesco has to be 12 years old. Yes, the rosemary was oily and almost resin or tar like stickiness just in the touch and the sprigs were pretty bushy. I guess would set me off is I’ve read 3-4 hours at 120 degrees and I set this as the machine said 95 or so. It took about 16-18 degrees with me shutting machine off and resuming later on the next morning. This device wasn’t expensive and in betting it with like most all other things you get what you pay for. Cheers and I like you will continue learning, researching, practicing and in my case experimenting!

[@mssixty3426]

Thank you for mentioning the air circulation differences between the circular/stackable model and the square tray/rear fan model.

[@dfuss2756]

I run 2 dehydrators during the summer. I finally wore my American Harvester out after 22 years. I loved that machine so much my daughter gave me hers! She benefits from my drying crazy summers.

[@maxsdad538]

Both Lowes and Home Depot carry the Nesco at their regular price of $66 (usually with free shipping, mine is due Monday), which makes it a solid deal if you're looking to get into (or back into) food dehydrating. You can always buy up if you think you'll stick with it.

[@Jeo_Momma]

We bought a Cosori 18 months ago. Love it. I use parchment paper on the stainless steel trays plus just bought the silicone trays and cut to fit flexible silicone mesh mats. Being able to set the timer and temp is a real advantage. It is quiet and doesn't put out much heat. Huge pluses since it's currently set up in a one room studio while we build a house.

[@cathysteele924]

Would you mind sharing where you got the sheets? 🌻

[@dollyhamilton6702]

I've had a Cosori about 2 months now and love it. Yes it is very quiet and I like the automatic timer. I also ordered dehydrator sheets from Amazon that can be cut to exact size of the tray.

[@aprilgraham4490]

What is on the bottom floor of the cosori? I watched an add and it showed them putting thick sliced bacon in it. How hard would it be to clean up all that grease?

[@DrValerie800]

My dehydrator, that I bought for $20 about 30+ years ago, was just too slow and inefficient. Considering a new dehydrator, it was between Excaliber and the collapsible Brod & Taylor Sahara. A few years ago, the Sahara was outrageously expensive. In the meantime, the Excaliber prices kept climbing. But I have NO place to put a dehydrator in my tiny, overstuffed kitchen. *sigh* Finally, I checked the Sahara again and found the price to be around the same as the Excaliber..EUREKA! So I bought it and I LOVE IT. It's quiet, fast, and dries evenly. It's stupid-simple (for those of use that are mechanically-challenged) and is a really slick design. And, it folds down to 1/3 of its expanded size and stores neatly in a case you can purchase separately (which I did, so I could fit the shelves and mats in it as well). Now I can pull it out for my 1-2 week a month dehydrating runs and then store it away neatly until the next time (so I can use my top-load washer). Brod & Taylor customer service is terrific too. When I bought my Sahara, it went on sale for $20 less the next day. I wrote to them, didn't ask for a refund, but they gave me $20 back anyway! They also had a deal of 3 free silicon mats if you purchased the carrying case but I didn't realize you had to add them to the cart; they sent me the mats right away. They have a very happy new customer now!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Cattitude48]

I got my Cosori in June 2020. Debated between the Excalibur and the Cosori. Cosori had a lot of good reviews and I liked that people commented how quiet it is. I'm still learning but don't regret my decision in the least. Like others mentioned, I purchased mesh and cut to fit the shelves. I haven't made leathers yet but that's next on the agenda. I'm working my way through your videos. Wish I'd found them earlier. Lot's of good detail. Thanks

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for watching!

[@chiquitathompson9827]

That was a great comparison. I had considered an Excalibur or Cosori but due to expandibility and 1000 watts,and price, I chose a Nesco Gardenmaster. I am not saying it is better than any of the others. It is just a better fit for me. I now have 2 units and 24 trays.

[@markbrouk7857]

I just bought one and it ran for about 10 minutes and something electrical burned up inside. I can smell it and it no longer runs 😂

[@countryroads190]

I have had an old one-speed round, stacking dehydrator for years. I would get it out in the summer to attempt dehydrating my garden's overabundance. Alas, that one speed - high - did not yield a successful product most of the time unless I was willing to endlessly rearrange and rotate contents. I started researching newer dehydrators and narrowed it down to the three you just compared in your great video. I ended up choosing the Excalibur, not because I have a big budget, but because I felt its capacity would help me cope with abundant produce from the garden. Though I have used it exactly once, it beautifully dehydrated a full load of mixed brassica greens that had to be harvested during the recent Arctic cold snap. I am so pleased!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@winnie2379]

I purchased mesh sheets for my Cosori and cut them to the exact size of the trays. The sheets wash easily & have served me well.

[@carolavant3778]

I really enjoyed this review! Right now, I have three of the round, stackable dehydrators, and the stainless steel Cosori. My first was a Mekey. It's okay - It has a thermostat and it does a good job, but like the Nesco, the trays have to be rotated and it takes a long time. I was given a Victorio - it has bigger trays that have to be rotated, and it only has 1 heat setting. Hot. Having those two worked pretty well, because I could make jerky with one and dehydrate veggies with the other. And then I was given another dehydrator - It's the size of the Victoria, but has a thermostat. When I started dehydrating potatoes, I bought my Cosori. I bought the Cosori because I couldn't afford an Excalibur, and honestly, I got lucky! I love this thing! Quiet and efficient! Everything dries so much faster (HOURS faster) than the round, stackables, and consequently, I use it a lot. The only time I use any of the other is if I've got more than will fit on those six Cosori trays.

[@Dan-yw9sg]

Thank you for the review. We have been dehydrating for years and have several dehydrators; 2 Excalibur and 3 Nesco. We have found advantages and disadvantages to either one, depending on what you are processing. I can tell you that all of the machines are running 24/7 during canning season! Lol! One of the things that we do with the Nesco is rotate the trays bottom to top and cycle through the stacks every 2-3 hours initially. It seems to help speed up and even out the drying time.

[@deborahmetzger3591]

I have the Nesco. I like it because it is lightweight and trays fit in dishwasher with a little adjusting. When I stack 12 trays I do have to rotate but I got a 600 watt for 60 dollars new online. I don't care about stainless steel, timers, digital readouts. Usually does what it needs to overnight. Maybe before but I prefer to run it then. If you just have to time it buy a 4 buck timer from Wal-Mart and plug it in. It holds more than I normally do at once so the less trays the faster its is done. I just got a new one several weeks ago because the one I bought 7 years ago at a thrift store quit heating. I was wanting to expand the number of trays but they were so expensive I didn't. The new machine cost me less than the trays and the old trays fit the new one. I made sure by checking tray part numbers for both machines. I have been well satisfied with it's construction, longevity and cost. I am going to add an inline switch for on and off. To me that is it's only downfall.

[@twohenshomestead597]

VERY, very helpful review! Thank you for taking the time to test and share the info. We are looking to purchase our first dehydrator (1st year homesteaders with the blessing of a bountiful garden harvest this year so far...) and this video has helped us narrow it down. Many thanks!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful! There are lots of brands on the the market that are great, but I only have so much room and money :) Magic Mill would be a good larger mid-range machine to invest in, too.

[@RobRussellCM]

I absolutely adore your videos! I recently got into dehydrating, after wanting to for many years - I finally live in a home with counter space and some fruit trees outside!! I have a stressful job (but I love it!), and at the end of the long day, while eating dinner, I watch your videos, and it just calms me right down. I learn some great tips to try that next weekend, and I get a good laugh from your cool sense of humor. Your videos bring me a lot of joy - thank you! 🌻

[@lindabare6409]

Thank you for the reviews. I have the Excalibur w timer. I disagree about the timer. I think it is a must have. You don’t have to babysit it, you can go off and leave it running. I have also purchased the stainless steel racks to make jerky and the silicone sheets to do fruit leathers. At first I bought very cheap silicone mats. Don’t bother they just don’t work. After watching these comparison between the machines. I wish that the door was different on the Excalibur and it was a little quieter. Thanks for the reviews.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Truly not trying to be argumentative, but I can leave my machine running forever and never babysit it :) I just think it's not something you have to pay more for. But we all have our preferences!

[@CarlaSpacher]

Love my folding Brod & Taylor dehydrator!

[@ZxChase]

I love my Nesco. Just made jerky in it two days ago. The fan on the top is a big plus for jerky makers. You don’t have to be concerned with fluid going into any electrical areas.plus the stackable trays is amazing. I have 8 total trays.

[@Rhin0xl]

This is the most useful dehydrator review on the Tube. It's what people who were looking need to see; simple and to the point. It would be great if you could do this same video with some beef and deer jerky (maybe even one video on slice and one on ground), it would be a huge asset and it would get a ton of hits. Also, I might suggest getting a hold of a new Gardenmaster from Nesco for the tests. Don't change anything else. Great work!

[@BlessedStacy]

I have the cosori and I love it. It also looks nicer than the others

[@sharonbrown2352]

I have two of the Excalibur like you showed. I purchased stainless steel racks for them. I bought mine about 10 years ago and they still run just like the day I bought them. But I did buy the heavy duty motor on both of them and that may be why I haven't had any issues.

[@susantelchik5986]

I have a Food Pantry stackable dehydrator that was gifted to me. I never opened it or started using it until I found your channel. You give so much GREAT information. I caught the dehydrating fever. Got a Cosori 6 tray on Amazon Prime Days. Now I can run both at different temps. Thanks Darcy for all your amazing instructional videos.❤

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

That is awesome!

[@JenB.188]

I spent $15 on a dehydrator at Christmas. I am loving dehydrating but I've already outgrown my machine (it's the round style). Thanks for the review of the Excalibur vs. Corsori. I have both in my Amazon shopping cart just waiting for me to save up enough money.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Sounds great!

[@lindaa1148]

Thanks for the comparison! I have an Excalibur and hate the fact I have to remove trays! Also, when I dry light items like herbs, they get blown out of place by the blower. I also have a nesco which I love. I use it for most of my herbs and other things. If I had to repurchase, I think I would still buy the nesco first. Love your videos!

[@rowenakotelniski2603]

I started with the Hamilton Beach rectangular dehydrator but passed it along to a good friend when I found an exceptional deal on a barely used 9 tray Excalibur that came with the paraflexx sheets for $100 CAD. It is the same model you used in this video. I do sometimes wish that there was a bit more space between the trays without having to take out every other one.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Use a mesh piece on top to push things down as you slide it in - works like a charm!

[@katicapenzato5101]

Hi! I bought the Cosori quite a few months before I knew about your videos... I just started dehydrating a few days ago and I like it a lot, but after watching your review/comparison I am even more pleased with my decision ☺ I like that it is not plastic and it is nice and quiet, but I had no comparison before. I thought they were all this quiet. 😁

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad you like them!

[@DonnieReno]

I have a Cosori because I had a Cosori air fryer that was eligible for the recall replacement and it was a spare after being set aside for the Cosori Dual Blaze. Otherwise I probably would never have gotten a dehydrator at all. I’m enjoying it though 👍🏼

[@Jomama02]

The results did surprise me. I really thought they were all about the same drying time except maybe the Nesco might take a bit longer with rotating the trays. I've got a old Bee Beyers square machine from the 70's and 2 Nescos from the 80's that are still going strong! I picked them all up from church rummage sales, spent a total of $30 for all 3! I use the mesh trays on all of them. It's just easier to get the product off of them. I use them year round as I look for really good sales and clearance items! My favorite thing to do in them is onions and it's what I do the most of. Really a money saver!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

I was surprised, too - not that the Nesco didn't win, but by how much longer it took. I knew stackables were slower, just surprised by how much slower this one was.

[@CcDecember-yq1nf]

I love this video I was just thinking that I need to get a dehydrator! I loved your input and fair assessment of the machines! Thank you!

[@womanoftheozarks]

This is exactly what I have been pondering, which to get on limited income. I have some old, as in 30yrs. that are failing and need to freshen up, as I do lots of herbs along with veggies and berries. Thank you so very much for your time in sharing your experiences and knowledge. I only just discovered you today and and can't stop watching. I used to live in Bellville Tx 30yrs. ago and moved to n.w. arkansas. It's a paradise in these mountains. Thanks again.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Best of luck! I think the Nesco FD75A is a good machine in the under $75 that works well - or the Cosori round machine. Good quality machines that will last. The Presto Dehydro is also good also. I just really recommend the temperature adjustment instead of going with a one-temp when possible. Also, be sure to check those thrift stores when you can!

[@janhyde9620]

Hi Candace. I live in Dallas and purchased a cabin in the foothills of the Ozarks in northwest Arkansas. I would have to agree with you stating it’s paradise living in the mountains! I spend as much time as possible at my cabin and love it! It’s on 5 1/4 acres. I am a retired nurse and love being surrounded by nature.

[@riosolid7737]

I got a Casori and 9 tray excalibur dehydrator I'm a vegan and now am in to raw foods I have sweets drying and savory drying at the same time I like them both

[@Sandrashideaway]

I have a non digital Excalibur-I've had it for about 10yrs but haven't used it the past couple years. Pulled it out this morning, washed the trays, watching all your dehydrating videos, & gonna get back into it. 😃

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Yay!!!

[@debsalerno1915]

I had ordered the Excalibur on Amazon but after your review, I decided to cancel it and order the Cosori. I like the glass door, like that it is quieter, and like that it is smaller. Thanks for your input !!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@vikibanaszak4881]

I am so happy to hear your reviews. I just purchased the Cosori and just went by the reviews on Amazon. It is really hard to go on Amazon reviews because you are never quite sure if they got a bad one or if they just don't know what they are doing when they leave a bad review. Most of the reviews were good and there were thousands of them so on a wing and a prayer I just got it the other day. It has been wiped down and a dry run. I just need to figure out the temp and timer thing. It definately runs quiet. I was doing the dry run and forgot I put it on. Several hours later I went to the kitchen and realized it was still going. I grabbed some apples and oranges and such for my first run.I hope to start it tonight if I can get off my bum.

[@Eric-gi9kg]

I was seriously considering the excalibur..Until Now I still have my 1st dehydrator, Ranco, it works but it takes FOREVER.

[@dellabeet]

I had a round one, can't remember the brand, and just never enough luck with it to justify the work it required. I bought the Cosori from Amazon Treasure Truck Feb, 2020 and absolutely love it. I especially love it now that I've found your site and get all kinds of great advice and information from it! It's very quiet and efficient and small enough to tuck out of the way. The stainless is super easy to keep clean but I do use silicon mats or parchment often on the trays. As a side note, first experience with dehydrating was a 18"Wx24"Tx24"D (huge) wood box with lightbulbs, a fan and screens as shelves. Homemade and worked so well!

[@annaleedaughterofyhwh7767]

@Della Timmermann What is the “Treasure Truck?” Please and thank you 🙏

[@dellabeet]

@@annaleedaughterofyhwh7767 it used to be an actual truck with super deals from Amazon in limited locations. I'm in Chicagoland so it's a large market. But now they ship same as any purchase from Amazon. In the Amazon search window type treasure truck and you can sign up for notifications of special sales.

[@NAllen-hr2fx]

Thank you for this video. I ended up with the Cosori. Although I almost did not get it because it was made in China, I am new to this and the thought of the expense in buying the Excalibur to just let it sit was not sitting well with me. Aside from where manufactured, I do love the Cosori. I love to powder stuff. Amazing to see the end result from what it started. You had mentioned the loss in tray real estate when using the screen trays, so I followed your advise (I think it was you) and made myself liners for the trays using cheese cloth and that works great. Thank you.

[@nanmarieyauger1826]

Thank you so much for your honest evaluation. I personally love my Nesco with a blower. I have used it for several years and am happy with the finished product. The main disadvantage is that the trays need to be switched around for even drying. I don't like that I have to unplug machine to do this. I still am happy with results.

[@cocogomez2278]

Which model Nesco do you have?

[@froginprogress8510]

I have a 9-tray Excalibur with the twist dial on the top. It is in almost constant use from about mid-July until November, usually. I wish it weren't so loud, but it works well and does a great job of drying whatever I put in it.

[@boblucas323]

Thank you sooo very much for your reviews. I have a very old Harvest Made stackable and am in the market for a new machine. This review and the prior reveal of the Cosori have pretty much sold me on the machine. It seems to be the the best mix of features, performance, and price. I am a fairly recent subscriber to your site and am really enjoying your input and content. Well back to pinching pennies so I can get the new machine!!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad to help

[@cynforrest]

Love your thorough review. Appreciate how you broke down all the pro/cons. Perfect! I bought the Casori. Thanks for the link. Convenient. I’m an absolute beginner. Will watch a few more of your vids before turning it on! Probably a bag of frozen mixed veggies. Thanks again. Love your Channel!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful! Happy dehydrating!

[@sharmeebradbury3263]

Absolutely love this video Darcy, extremely informative and I’m seriously thinking of purchasing the Cosori dehydrator..

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful!

[@scottstephenson9597]

I have a Magic Mill 7 tray looks like the Cosori.

[@aliciaokiegal]

This was just what I needed! I just placed an order through your link...I chose the Cosori. Looking forward to prepping with this. Thanks!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@dauntiekay2768]

Glad to see this video as I have been thinking about a dehydrator and was having problems deciding so now, I will be checking these out. Great video and you have demonstrated these machines very well.

[@rebeccawhite3210]

Excellent review, thank you! I'm a beginner at dehydrating, so this was very helpful.

[@rebeccadees2300]

I've had my Nesco for a few years and my American Harvester for almost 20 years . I primarily used them to make jerky.

[@dinafoss3398]

I have a Nesco, and I got it on sale 3 yrs ago. I have since added trays to it. I do notice better results rotating the trays and longer time dehydrating compared to others. I don't mind these little things, and feel like I am still in the learning phase.

[@effeojnedib7208]

Thanks for the comparision ! I'm getting ready to order my first one this week.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

What machine did you end up settling on?

[@effeojnedib7208]

@@ThePurposefulPantry Cosori. 600 watt, 6 tray, 110 v service. It is square much like the one you had on the video.

[@pneumaoflove114]

This video is a blessing Thank you Newbie here but CREATING the life I choose is priority You're officially my dehydrating Mentor

[@jillmadigan9841]

I have a Nesco that I used a couple times, unenthusiastically, and finally got the large Excalibur without the hoo-ha electronics. I'm just getting started so that I can be ready to dehydrate veg and fruits fron this season's community garden. I am now comforted to know that I made the right choice for me and I'll donate the Nesco to the food pantry to share. Thank you for explaining your experience-based criteria so well!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Or keep the Nesco to do onions/garlic outside ;) That's what mine is for.

[@TaraSimmons]

Yay!! Thank you so much for making this video. Taking notes 📝 😊

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

You're so welcome!

[@MikkiandAngel]

I bought a Magic Mill 600 Watt, seven stainless steel mesh trays, non-stick sheet (fruit roll up/leathers) it’s medium size and a good fit for me I just got it about two weeks ago and haven’t used it as of yet. I’m working on my organic veggie, berries garden when there all in the grow beds then it’s canning and food dehydration time. Love your very important videos and thank you for all you do for so many. God Bless The Magic Mill is very similar in the corsori dehydrator,

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

That is awesome!

[@fredherbert2739]

Can you give us an update on the magic Mill? Looking to purchase but Amazon reviews are confusing.

[@susanlizottealbert3825]

My Nurtichef has metal racks but a very cheap metal used for the racks. After use for a year, the racks have bowed. Still works wonderful and quiet and small enough to fit under my kitchen cabinets. Replaced my round Ronco which worked but took so much more time and effort to dry foods completely. Also had no heat settings like my Nutrichef.

[@tamaraacton4748]

I bought a 9 tray Samson dehydrator off of Amazon, looks a lot like the Cosori. Very quiet and very affordable. I love it.

[@donnavance8908]

I have a Nesco 1000 watt Gardenmaster and love it. My Gardenmaster has the fan on the bottom and can hold up to 30 trays in which I rotate at the halfway tier halfway through their drying cycle. This can be bought on Amazon for about $135.00 and comes with 8 trays, 8 screens and 8 fruit roll up sheets. The trays are 15.5", so you can dehydrate a lot at one time and I've used up to 26 trays with no issues. It has adjustable temperatures of 95°F - 160°F. I've done all kinds of veggies and fruits, raw eggs for powder, and vegetable sauces into "fruit rollups" to be reconstituted when needed. I vacuum pack everything and then seal inside of mylar bags to keep the light from it and then store in barrels and tubs.

[@marygallagher3428]

To me the Zucchini dried in the Excalibur looked slightly more shriveled and dry than did that dried in the Cosori - but it was very close. Great video Darcy :-)

[@timbuktupond]

Thanks for all your information, I am learning so much from your videos and website. After much research, I just purchased a Consori. I also bought the magnet you are selling that shows the drying times/ temps.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Wonderful! I hope you love using it!

[@tracyp.5521]

I love my Cosori! I wanted a stainless steel model for an affordable price, so I went with the Cosori. I have had it for about a year, and I am very happy with it. I do agree though that the trays get very sticky and can be hard to clean. I have to wash them by hand because they are too big to fit into my dishwasher.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Thanks for sharing!

[@CapreDiem86]

Use mesh mats for dehydrators

[@rexpepper2513]

i got a CHEAP stackable had it 2 days now and hate it. i need a excalibur. i used to make jerky on my smoker but i have moved in to a apartment and cannot have one. you helped me decide that excalibur is the way to go!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful for you!

[@EastlakeRasta7]

Thank you I really appreciate the review on the dehydrators I wasn't sure which one to buy, but now I know which one I'll buy.

[@KraXed112]

Thank you so much, I just scored a brand new cosori for $70 from the offer up app

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Great job!

[@tonyareynolds922]

one thing not mentioned about the excalibur is the material used. from my research, prior to purchasing the cosori. i found that not all the plastic used in the excalibur is PBA free! i was shocked to have read this! therefore was my reasoning to purchase the cosori stainless steel.

[@Wendy_144]

What is not PBA free?

[@jjwideawake.9397]

I love my Cosori and Iike my nesco. The nesco is many yrs old, never used until I found it in a family barn in the box.. They have not changed much at all. I find the nesco does leafy drying the best. I just keep changing the trays around.

[@ravenmoon1165]

I chose the cosori a couple of years ago because of price, see through door, digital, and it’s so quiet!!! It works great!

[@debrastone3536]

Thank you for this video it is amazing. I will probably get the Cosori because I do not need to dry a massive amount with just the two of us. I am so happy I found your channel!!!!😍

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jillburkett6876]

I got a Nesco FD-75pr just yesterday. I got it with my American Express rewards, so I got it free, if I had paid for it it would have been 79.99. I’ve never dehydrated anything before, but right now I’ve got 4 trays with bananas and one with bell peppers. It’s in my laundry room and I’m surprised by how quite it is.

[@PolishAndPoly]

I didn't even know that Cosori existed, I truly want to cry right now because I'm truly trying to change my lifestyle around, and the excalibur would be around $300 for me with discounts included and I literally gasped and almost cried when I saw how cheap the Cosori is in comparison to excalibur. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Truly, thank you. Edit: And the Cosori is 1 tray more than the 5 tray Excalibur model. Wooooooow.

[@valeriemacrae8441]

Thank you thank you I couldn’t decide and had no idea where to start. Thank you

[@akbauer2525]

Definitely use a protective glove. Fortunately my son was home and took me to the emergency room so I still have my fingertip. Seven months after this vid the Excalibur is $295. Don't know what the others are. I wish I'd bought it over a year ago.

[@Dotalina33]

I cut my thumb really deep using our new mandolin. Hubby was going so slow so as I grabbed the potato he hollered it’s on thick cut!!! We ended up laughing about my impatience …so lesson learned!

[@PrettyAliceNight]

I want to buy my first dehydrator and this video was very helpful, thanks so much! What is amazon warehouse?

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

It's the section of their website where 2nds and refurbs and overstocks are available to purchase that may be less expensive.

[@PrettyAliceNight]

@@ThePurposefulPantry ok cool, thanks! I’ve never seen that as an option on Amazon before.

[@mssixty3426]

I greatly appreciate your clear, concise, succinct, delivery of detailed and pertinent information. Thank you!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

You're very welcome!

[@sharongunther9727]

I used my first time dehydrator yesterday...the Casori, I love it. Stainless steel better, for me, I avoid plastic in all things. I purchased silicone mats and cut to exact size, and dehydrated Rampicante Zucchini zoodles (look it up!), that I spiralized into spaghetti, zoodles for Keto low carb! 8 hours at 115! crispy and ready for some great jars! Happy happy happy!

[@tumblingtangles]

Hello! Thank you for mentioning that safety tip (using the cutting glove). I see so many videos where people are just using bare hands to cut with a mandolin and it's terrifying. I get so worried the person is going to hurt themselves. Love the video!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

Glad it was helpful!

[@barbaracarlson1331]

Thank you! I like how quiet my Cosori is. So far it is doing what I hoped it would do.

[@ericaharris9015]

I will be looking for a dehydrator when we get back from vacation in the middle of May. Thank you so much for all that you do!!

[@jgonzalez101]

Thank you for making this presentation on these dehydrators. It definitely helped me, because I am in the market to buy one. When I came across this presentation it really caught my attention. I'm so glad that I stopped and listened to it all the way through.

[@ZaneDouglas1]

I bought a Nesco American Harvest in 1994 to prepare for an Appalachian Thru Hike, and have been using it every year since and dry lots of fruit from my homestead's orchard every year. It's getting a bit long in the tooth, but it's just about 30-years old now. I'd say that was a great investment for a product that has had amazing longevity and durability.

[@ritamccartt-kordon283]

I ran up on this at the perfect time! I was torn between exactly these 3 dehydrators! Seriously, I have all 3 in my cart on Amazon! I've been scouring the internet and KZbin about them. Thank you for this video! By the way, I subscribed! GOD bless

[@shilohsheridan5933]

I love my Cosori!! And it’s beautiful with the glass door

[@jebster9706]

I have been using the Nesco for over 15 yrs and it has served me well. After I burned out my first one after12 yrs, I of course, bought the same replacement. (Their customer service was AWESOME!!!) It has been reliable and consistent for me. They also have great accessories and seasonings for jerky. With some fruits, I will flip the slices after a few hours to help with drying. I have used it for a ton of beef and venison jerky, veggies, herbs, and lots of different fruits. I admit I have never tried the others. I really am happy with the Nesco. BTW, I am NOT affiliated with Nesco in anyway, just a very happy customer. Edit: I should have added, you have a great channel and this was a very well done test. Kudos!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

That's fine no one is saying Nesco is bad. Use what you love.

[@sweaterdoll]

This is really helpful. I almost got a Magic Mill and was not thrilled with the reviews. Cosori has better reviews and is about the same price at the MM I was looking at. We were given a free vintage American Harvest dehydrator (the old kind, NOT the Nesco) which is the same size as an Excalibur, but when I tried it out, I found one area that was still wet on every tray while everything else was bone dry. I have no idea what that was about, but decided I didn't want to have to fiddle around and rotate until it was all dry. So off to purchase the Cosori. I do plan on dehydrating a lot this year, but over the spring and summer so it's not all at once and it's just for the two of us. Thank you so much for your review and honest opinion.

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

you're welcome!