LEM built its name on meat processing gear, not kitchen appliances, and it shows the moment you open the box on the BigBite 10-Tray. This isn’t a dehydrator that happens to handle jerky well — it’s a jerky-first machine that also dries fruit and vegetables competently. If you’re a hunter or processing meat regularly, that distinction matters more than it sounds.
Pros
- All stainless steel housing and trays — built for repeated meat processing
- Wide 95–176°F range, hot enough for fast jerky drying
- Digital control with 2-degree precision adjustments
- Magnetic sliding door locks at any height for easy tray checks
- Rear-mounted fan with horizontal airflow for even drying
Cons
- Food sticks to the fine metal grid more than it would on plastic mesh trays
- Runs longer than smaller units simply due to internal volume
- Some sharp edges on the housing base — worth handling carefully when moving it
In This Article
Key Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drying Space | 10 sq. ft. across 10 trays (11.97" x 11.97" each) |
| Tray Material | Stainless steel, ¼" grid holes |
| Temperature Range | 95–176°F, adjustable in 2° increments |
| Power | 800W, rear-mounted fan |
| Timer | Digital, 30 minutes to 24 hours |
| Housing | Stainless steel with glass swinging door |
Drying Performance
The ¼-inch grid holes on these trays are noticeably finer than what you’ll find on most plastic mesh trays, which means less falling through for small cuts of jerky or chopped items — a real advantage if stick jerky is your main output. The rear-mounted fan and horizontal airflow vents keep drying reasonably even across all 10 trays without needing rotation, in line with what I’d expect from a unit built specifically around processing volume.
Where it loses a step to Excalibur’s horizontal-airflow design (covered in my Excalibur 10-Tray review) is total internal volume: because the chamber is larger, LEM’s unit takes longer to come up to temperature and finish a full batch. Budget the extra hour or two into your timing, particularly for meat.
Food sticks to the fine metal grid more than plastic mesh. LEM sells trimmed parchment sheets specifically for these trays, which solves most of the cleanup frustration — see my sheets guide for how parchment compares to other liner options.
Build Quality
Stainless steel throughout, with a glass swinging door and a magnetic locking mechanism that lets you check trays at any height without losing much heat. It’s a genuinely well-thought-out detail for anyone checking jerky doneness tray by tray rather than opening the whole unit. The one real complaint on build quality is some sharp edges around the housing base, worth being careful with when moving or storing the unit.
BigBite vs. MightyBite
LEM sells two 10-tray dehydrators, and it’s easy to grab the wrong one. The BigBite reviewed here is the stainless steel flagship. The MightyBite is a lower-cost polypropylene and ABS plastic version with a slightly larger 12 sq. ft. of drying space but the durability tradeoffs of any plastic-bodied unit — see my stainless steel upgrade guide for that comparison generally. If you’re processing meat weekly, the extra cost of the BigBite pays off; for occasional use, the MightyBite covers the same ground for less.
Who This Is For
- Good fit: hunters and home meat processors running frequent jerky batches, anyone who wants stainless steel durability without Excalibur’s price tag.
- Not a fit: anyone prioritizing fastest possible drying time over capacity, or looking for the most even airflow at full 10-tray load — Excalibur’s horizontal Parallex design edges it out there.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re processing meat regularly, yes — stainless steel holds up far better to frequent hot marinade contact than plastic. For occasional use, the MightyBite’s lower price makes more sense.
More than it would on plastic mesh trays, particularly with sticky marinades. LEM sells trimmed parchment sheets for these trays specifically, which largely solves the issue.
Excalibur’s horizontal Parallex airflow dries slightly more evenly and quickly at full load. LEM’s BigBite is priced lower and built around meat processing specifically, with finer tray grids suited to smaller jerky cuts.
Bottom Line
The LEM BigBite 10-Tray is a purpose-built processing tool more than a general kitchen appliance, and it’s priced accordingly below Excalibur’s comparable model. If jerky and meat processing are your primary use case, the fine tray grid and stainless durability make it a strong pick. For more general-purpose drying across fruit, vegetables, and meat in equal measure, Excalibur’s airflow design still has the edge.
