Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

[CS1983]

I've been kicking around the idea of a Harvest Right freezer dryer for over a year. Probably a medium and the oil-free pump. It ain't exactly a cheap buy.

The freedom of freeze drying one's own food, and a variety of things to boot, seems like a really good prepping value add assuming they actually do it.

Additionally, the ability to do snacks and things not normally available on the commercial market would boost morale and trading potential.

I think the biggest thing is stuff like raw eggs, cooked and/or raw meat, etc.

It would seem that over time, with enough use, it would "pay" for itself. The energy consumption is negligible (roughly $3 a session).

Wondering if anyone has one and what their thoughts are?

[hollohas]

I don't have one, but am saving up for one. Wanted one for years I love the idea of freeze drying at home.

[theGinsue]

I don't have one, but am saving up for one. Wanted one for years I love the idea of freeze drying at home.

This is me too.

Been looking at the Harvest Right website on and of or just over 2 years. It's definitely going to be a hard sell to get the Mrs. onboard though so I've held off - for now.

[crays]

This is me too.

Been looking at the Harvest Right website on and of or just over 2 years. It's definitely going to be a hard sell to get the Mrs. onboard though so I've held off - for now.

This is exactly where I'm at... She was pretty much on board (with an eyeroll) until she saw the cost.

[DFBrews]

Hard no. Personal opinion of course. I trust mountain house more than myself making 10 year shelf stable food vs me hoodratting It in my garage
If it gets to the point i need freeze dried food on a day to day basis then there won?t be electricity to replenish my stores so the machine would Be almost impossible to use.
Even if my hens are dead so no fresh eggs and The garden failed 3 years in a row due to lack of water plague or hail So no fresh veggies anything I scraped together I would still prioritize canning food over freeze drying. Texture taste etc has a large impact on emotional health

I can buy a lot of non perishables for 3k

[CS1983]

My intention wouldn't be the use it during a moment of need, but to hedge against that need and use it before. A lot of things we currently own will be useless in the future, but that doesn't make them useless now. So I would argue your syllogism is flawed.

Freeze dried food retains more nutrients and a lot of stuff reconstitutes to its pre-dried texture, or close enough.

As for trusting Mountain House, their stuff is fine (though over salted and not really meant for long term consumption, and way overpriced for what you get), but the effort isn't just about prepping in the end of the world/social collapse sense. It can also allow hedging against price rises. For example, if one finds a bunch of ground beef or steak, etc., on sale and at a great price they could FD it and it will be stable for years and years without needing to use a freezer to keep it. And it's unlikely one will be able to make that purchase at that price in 5 years.

Yeah, one can buy a lot of beans and rice for 3k. But back to your point about morale and emotional health...

[CS1983]

I didn't realize this, but apparently they can be used for vacuum sealing canning jars that have dry goods.

He demonstrates at the end of this video on freeze drying rice:

start at 10:46 for just the vacuum sealing, but the whole video is interesting.



Would be interesting to make some chicken/rice and FD it and seal in jars using this method. Reconstitute and voila.

[TheGrey]

That was pretty cool!

I'm always on the lookout for new ways of preserving food.

Oh, and in case you don't have a food saver mason jar vacuum sealer lid, you can vacuum seal dry goods using a container made from PVC piping, sealer, and end caps. Use a brake bleeder, and you don't even have to use a food saver!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkGH21AopVQ

As far as the Freeze dryer, I think it's a great investment. Even if you don't grow everything to freeze dry, there are usually a good number of sales throughout the year. Eggs go on sale in springtime, around $4 per 5 dozen. I'd love to know how rhubarb does in the freeze-dryer! And freeze-dried strawberries? YUM.

[CS1983]

That was pretty cool!

I'm always on the lookout for new ways of preserving food.

Oh, and in case you don't have a food saver mason jar vacuum sealer lid, you can vacuum seal dry goods using a container made from PVC piping, sealer, and end caps. Use a brake bleeder, and you don't even have to use a food saver!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkGH21AopVQ

As far as the Freeze dryer, I think it's a great investment. Even if you don't grow everything to freeze dry, there are usually a good number of sales throughout the year. Eggs go on sale in springtime, around $4 per 5 dozen. I'd love to know how rhubarb does in the freeze-dryer! And freeze-dried strawberries? YUM.

My wife is very much in the camp of "this feels like extra work." Yeah, babe, it is. But it's not as extra as extra+future.

[DFBrews]

My reply Came off as dickish.

I have never really liked the freeze dried food.

May have stemmed from having to live off mountain house type meals lotsa mres and Bulk made ham and cheese sandwich’s during fire season and that tainted my views.


The bottom dropped out of the cbd market last year and they use freeze driers for product extraction. keep an eye on Craigslist and fb marketplace you might be able to scoop one up cheap