How does dehydrating work?

A food dehydrator uses a heat source and air flow to reduce the water content of foods. Removing moisture from food restrains various bacteria from growing and spoiling food. Dehydrators preserve and extend the shelf life of various foods.

What optional extra's are available?

Paraflex re-usable nonstick sheets are available to buy as an optional extra. These are used when you are drying runny or marinated foods, such as flax crackers, roll ups (leathers), marinated veg or meat biltong etc. (The trays come standard with a mesh sheet on top called the polyscreen sheet. The Paraflex sheet, if used, is placed on top of the mesh sheet.)
There are 2 types of Paraflex sheets. The paraflex premium is teflon coated and the paraflex ultra is silicone and thicker.
They are available individually or in pack sizes which work out a little cheaper.

What is the difference between the 4926 and 4948 9 tray models?

The size is exactly the same
The timer range is different where the one can be set for up to 26 hours and the other for up to 48 hours.
The unit we refer to as the 26 hour timer unit is the original Excalibur design that uses knobs and dials to set the timer and temperature
The unit we refer to as the 48 hour timer unit is a newer Excalibur design that uses a digital control panel to set the timer and temperature
The unit we refer to as the 48 hour timer unit has an added feature of 2 time zone, 2 temperature control which means you can set the timer to dry at temperature x for x amount of hours and then automatically change to temperature y for the next y amount of hours.

How do I rehydrate dehydrated fruits and vegetables?

Properly dried foods rehydrate well. They return practically to their original size, form and appearance.

An electric steamer is one of the most efficient and successful means of rehydrating foods. The food is placed into the rice bowl, and covered with a liquid.
Soaking: place the pieces in a shallow pan, cover with the liquid, and allow 1 to 2 hours for the rehydration process to occur. If rehydrating overnight, place the pan in the refrigerator.
Boiling water: to reconstitute vegetables, place 1 cup of dried vegetables into 1 cup boiling water. Soak for 5 to 20 minutes. Prepare according to your recipe. To reconstitute fruits, place 1 cup of water and 1 cup dried fruit into a pan and simmer until tender.
Cooking: for vegetable side dishes, fruit toppings or compotes, use 1 part liquid to 1 part dried food. For foods used in soufflés, pies and quick breads, add 2 parts of liquid to 3 parts dried food. When cooking fruits, place the min to a saucepan with boiling water, turn heat to low and simmer 1 to 15 minutes or until tender

How do I store dehydrated food?

Containers for dried foods should be safe from moisture and insects. Glass jars with tightly fitted lids, plastic zip-lock and vacuum/heat-sealable bags are recommended storage containers. Food-safe metal cans, such as coffee cans or cookie tins, may be used to store individual bags for extra protection.

Your dried foods should be stored in a cool, dark and dry area. The ideal temperature for food storage is 50º - 60ºF/10º - 16ºC. Storing foods in this manner further protects the flavors and colors of your dried products from fading.