Magic Mill vs Excalibur Dehydrators (Stainless Steel Models)

Magic Mill Pro dehydrator with stainless steel trays

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If you are on the market for a good dehydrator with stainless steel trays and have already done some research, you have most likely heard of Excalibur, a California-based company that has been manufacturing food dehydrators since 1973. You may also have heard of the Magic Mill Pro, a BPA-free dehydrator with a compact design and a surprisingly wide array of features. In fact, in terms of features, the Magic Mill Pro can be compared to some of the best Excalibur dehydrators out there.

In this review, we take an in-depth look at how the Magic Mill dehydrator fares against Excalibur's stainless steel models in terms of size and various key features. At the bottom of this page you will also find a handy Magic Mill Pro vs Excalibur comparison chart which allows you view these and other features side by side.

Tray Shape

No big difference between Magic Mill Pro and Excalibur

Magic Mill Pro has rectangular trays, while the Excalibur model has square trays. Dehydrators with rectangular or square trays make efficient use of space, which is a big advantage if countertop and/or storage space is at a premium in your kitchen. They are also a must if you plan to use your dehydrator to dry long pieces or strips of food. The stackable dehydrators with round trays, by contrast, come with trays that have a hole in the middle, so not all of the space is usable. The round shape is also not practical if you want to be able to dry a lot of long pieces of food.

Capacity

Excalibur trays provide more drying space

The trays for almost all of Excalibur's non-commercial stainless steel models measure 15 x 15 inches, which means each tray provides about 225 square inches of drying space. The Magic Mill Pro trays, by contrast, measure 13" x 12"and provide only 156 square inches of drying space. Therefore, when deciding whether you should buy the Magic Mill Pro dehydrator or one of Excalibur's stainless steel models, it is better to compare the available drying space (capacity) rather than the number of trays.

Position of the Fan

Both have rear-mounted fans

Both the Magic Mill Pro dehydrator and Excalibur's stainless steel models have rear-mounted fans, which means the fan blows hot air horizontally and dehydrates food on all trays evenly, so you won't have to rotate the trays. An additional benefit is that since the dehydrator's fan is located at the back, you won't have to worry about drippings from fruits, vegetables and meats soiling the fan.

Adjustable Thermostat

The Magic Mill Pro offers a slightly wider temperature range than most Excalibur models

Temperature control is a key factor in getting successful results with any food dehydrator. Using too little heat may result in fermented or spoiled food, while too much heat can destroy health-promoting enzymes and nutrients in raw foods. Both the Magic Mill Pro and Excalibur dehydrators come with an adjustable thermostat, but the Magic Mill Pro dehydrator offers a slightly wider temperature range (95°F to 158°F) than most Excalibur models (Excalibur EXC10EL is an exception—this heavy-duty dehydrator allows you to set the temperature anywhere between 95°F and 165°F).

Built-In Timer

The Excalibur timer has a longer maximum setting

Although Excalibur also has some models that do not come with a built-in timer, all of its non-commercial stainless steel models have a built-in timer with a maximum setting of 26 or 99 hours, depending on the model. Also the Magic Mill Pro dehydrator has a timer, but it can only be programmed for up to 19.5 hours.

Comparison Chart

Magic Mill Pro Dehydrator vs Excalibur's 5- and 9-Tray Stainless Steel Models

Still not sure whether you should go for the Magic Mill Pro or one of Excalibur's stainless steel models? With the following chart, you can easily compare the Magic Mill Pro and Excalibur's 5-tray and 9-tray stainless steel models side by side. Please note, though, that dehydrator manufacturers can change product specifications without notice, and there is no guarantee that the information below is still up-to-date. Therefore, before purchasing any dehydrator, please contact the manufacturer/seller for the latest information.