Which is better for making beef jerky?

Both work. The Excalibur's 165°F top end, timer and two-phase drying give more control over long jerky runs. The NESCO handles jerky fine at 160°F and comes with three spice packets, but you time it yourself.

Is the Excalibur worth the extra money?

Only if you dry often and in volume. At $379.99 versus $38.50, the Excalibur costs about ten times more. You pay for 16 sq ft of space, stainless steel and a timer, which matter for big harvests and not for occasional snacks.

The Excalibur's stainless steel housing and trays resist wear better than the NESCO's plastic. The NESCO is a simple, long-selling design, but plastic trays and housing age faster with heavy use.

Can I dry large batches in the NESCO?

Yes, up to 12 trays, but each tray holds only 0.8 sq ft. The Excalibur's 10 trays give 16 sq ft total, far more per load.

Does either need tray rotation?

No. The NESCO uses Converga-Flow from a top fan and the Excalibur uses horizontal Parallex airflow. Both are designed to dry evenly without rotating trays.

Which is easier to store?

The NESCO. It weighs 9 lbs and measures 12 x 14 x 14 in. The Excalibur weighs 32 lbs and is about 20.7 in deep.

NESCO FD-75A Snackmaster Pro vs Excalibur Performance Series Food Dehydrator

Buy the NESCO Snackmaster Pro if you want an inexpensive, proven dehydrator for jerky, fruit and snacks. Buy the Excalibur Performance Series if you dry in volume, want stainless steel trays and a timer, and can spend about ten times as much. As of November 4, 2026, the NESCO's best new price is $38.50 at eBay and the Excalibur's is $379.99 at Amazon.

Today the NESCO FD-75A Snackmaster Pro costs $341.49 less at its best price.

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