This article explores the various aspects of purchasing a freeze dryer machine, including its benefits, types available, and considerations before making a purchase.
Finding used freeze dryers isn't easy. That's because most people who get them consider them a long-term investment. As such, they hold on to them for years. However, a used freeze dryer or two sometimes makes its way onto the market.
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.
Modular and versatile freeze-drying systems are also in high demand and this is changing the landscape of the market. Certain companies need equipment that can handle different sizes and types of products. This is being done by pharma machinery manufacturers who provide these industries with better scalable models.
When my son goes to college in a few months, we will send him with many freeze dried meals and continue to mail them to him as needed. Most colleges don’t have safe gluten-free options, and while in an ideal world my son would be able to cook all his own food, I know that’s not practical or likely. Freeze dried meals on hand are an easy way to keep from being cross contaminated at the cafeteria!
I want my son to have great meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas, just as the rest of us do. And it’s not feasible for me to cook the entire meal for a huge crowd.
The longevity of freeze dried food depends on the what the food is and how it is stored. When stored in a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber, many foods can last up to 25 years. If stored in a glass mason jar with an oxygen absorber and a vacuum sealed lid, website food can last about 5 years.
After buying our freeze dryer I was naturally curious as to how it "knew" when something was done, since batch times varied so much depending on what was being processed. Watching the cycle times didn't seem to tell me anything at first -- especially without a thermometer to tell me what was happening inside -- until I finally caught on that applying heat to the frozen food affected the vacuum, which provided the measure of how dry the food had become.
In any case, maybe it will help some newbie HR Freeze Dryer owners to answer some of the questions I once had.
Out of caution, I have only ever taken mylar bags in a checked bag and I’ve never had a problem. I know of people who have taken them in carry-on bags as well without issues.
Posted January 21, 2016 (edited) On 12/1/2015 at 0:16 PM, Jenipher said: Tony, if you see this, I more info went ahead and purchased the catch can. Do you think it's okay to just purchase a reducer to go from the size of the exhaust to the size of the hose that came with the can? Hopefully I said that in a way that makes sense! As well, does it matter which port is used as "in" and which as "out"? Thanks so much, Jen Hi Jen, Sorry to be gone so long. I did exactly as you proposed. I purchased a brass reducer and pushed the blue hose over it.
You can freeze dry soy and almond milk as well as most non-dairy yogurt, sour cream, and cream cheese substitutes. This has been especially helpful in avoiding food waste, as my son is the only one who uses the non-dairy substitutes, and he rarely is able to finish them before they go bad. I just throw them in the freeze dryer for him to eat later.
The next way to save money is to watch Harvest Right's website for seasonal sales and promotions. Sometimes, patience pays off in the form of significant discounts.
This electrical dryer is successful and reliable, and it offers extras you received’t locate in other equipment, like a lengthier guarantee along with a cycle which can minimize lingering pet hair. However, People bonuses come with a steeper cost tag.