Not only does it spread the cost, but it can also increase the amount and variety of the preserved food you store away. Additionally, a group purchase can also lead to purchasing bulk quantities of food to freeze dry.
Vic says: 2 years ago Going on a second year with the freeze dryer. Considering getting another one. It really takes commitment, but it is very rewarding. The freezer is good also, but it needs constant source of electricity, and the storage is limited to the size of the freezer.
If you don’t have the time or money, or if you believe the food crisis will hit hard very soon, then it makes more sense to buy freeze-dried food instead.
Drying things out played a roll as well as the added insulation. We had 3.5 weeks of constant rain here in central NC with humidity over 95% and temps near 95F in the beginning and tapering down to 80F by the end of the rain. The condensation on the front panel around the seal had water running down the front of the Freeze Dryer constantly during the entire cycle, not just the freeze cycle. I initially went into the FDer to simply stop the humdity from reaching the outer chamber shell and freezing.
Reinstalled the vacuum hose and capped far end of hose to do a hose test. (same results as pump alone)
It's awesome! I don't have a freeze dryer yet but am planning to place an order tomorrow. I am super curious how Kerry's scroll pump is holding up... more info eliminating the oil from the equation would make this whole thing SO much easier.
Granted, most of that time is the freeze dryer doing all the work, but the process is not without effort. Once the food is ready it must be put into appropriate containers with oxygen absorbers and sealed properly so they can last.
.. Hence the vapor barrier. But once I opened it up I figured I may as well insulate the bare ports as well, and insure that the water was diverted away from the electrics of the system. Once I sealed up the insides I noticed that the condensation on the front panel increased dramatically as the air was trapped between the plastic vapor barrier and the back of the front panel. That was when the drip rail was installed on the front of the unit.
The evaporator coils that touch the surface of the stainless steel vacuum chamber reach about -42 F. With food in the chamber and because the location of the thermister is on the middle shelf of the four shelves, the temperature it records is going to range from -25 to -30 F in the nove hour default freeze time. This temperature is very adequate for freeze drying the food.
Lastly, don’t forget about finding a used freeze dryer on craigstlist.org or other similar classified-based websites. There are plenty of used and well-kept freeze dryers out there that you can get for half the price.
Harvest Right’s large Pharmaceutical is the solventless’s industry standard freeze dryer for a reason: they’re affordable, can dry a lot of hash in 24 hours, and are easy to set up. We sell more of them than just about anyone else in the industry to hash makers everywhere.
Affiliate marketers: We’re reader-supported. When you purchase as a result of hyperlinks on our web page, we may perhaps get paid an affiliate commission
I love that the small freeze dryer can be placed on a kitchen counter. Having it in the kitchen makes it convenient and always ready to start the freeze-drying process.
Is it as cheap as buying at the store? Pelo. But properly freeze-dried and stored meats can last ten years or more without refrigeration. The freeze-drying process can be challenging, but those who have the time and patience should consider doing it.