We also referenced owner’s manuals to build our freeze dryer calculator and to compare model specifications, maintenance requirements, warranties, and more.
We’ve found that a sturdy bench made of food-grade stainless steel works well, especially with its lower shelf for our trays and storage equipment.
Harvest Right lets you freeze dry your own food at home to be used on your next hike, backpacking adventure, hunting trip, or camp out. It is lightweight, has less salt, and tastes better than anything else that will fit in your backpack.
The Harvest Right Small can fit on a counter whereas the XL will need a dedicated spot. They also all come with external vacuum pumps that will need to be accounted for when you position the freeze-dryer.
Besides the process of freeze-drying the food, you’ll also need to safely package and store it when you are done. Here is what you’ll need to make sure you are getting that huge 25-year shelf-life:
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Some freeze dryer models will come with all of these included (even the impulse sealer) as a way to help you get started.
Purchasing Em excesso freeze dryer trays has helped us to overcome this bottleneck to some degree. We can process large batches of produce in one go (while it is fresh and the kitchen is a mess) and put 12 trays worth of food in the deep freeze.
We were looking for a reliable way to extend the shelf life of our garden produce and eggs, without compromising quality. A freeze drying machine not only preserves flavor and nutrients but also greatly extends shelf life – by up to 25 years!
Freeze drying maintains nearly all of the nutritional value of fresh food. Other methods of preservation, such as canning and dehydrating, use high temperatures that destroy much of the food value.
Every owners manual has at least a few pages dedicated to the machine operation, and it’s worth the time to go through them. I often skip over instructions myself, but there is so much going on with these machines that it is worth the small time investment to familiarize yourself in the manual.
Whether you’re a homesteader preparing for winter, a small business owner looking to create more product offerings, or simply someone who values the convenience of long-term food storage, freeze-drying offers amazing benefits.
I enjoy digging into the details, like finding the break even point for pounds of food needed to process for the investment- or Shop Now learning more about how they work by taking the freeze dryers apart.
Vacuum pumps are crucial because they create the low-pressure environment necessary for sublimation to occur in freeze-drying. They help remove air and moisture from the chamber, allowing for efficient and effective preservation of materials.