Freeze Drying 101

Want to learn more about the best way to preserve your food? Freeze Drying preserves your food for up to 25 years while maintaining its flavour and nutrition. 

What is Freeze Drying?

Freeze dryers utilize extremely cold temperatures (-40° F) and a vacuum to remove 99% of the moisture out of the food. This allows food to become shelf-stable for 20-25 years.

Why Freeze Dry?

Freeze drying is the best way to preserve food while maintaining its flavour and nutrition.

Whether you grow your own food, like to stock up your pantry or buy in bulk, freeze drying cuts food waste and saves you money.

Freeze dried food can be rehydrated and enjoyed at any time, just add water (hot water for cooked food and cold water for raw food).

Common Questions

How does freeze drying work?

Freeze drying works by removing 98% of the moisture in food. Food is quickly frozen and a vacuum is created within the machine. This allows the water to change directly from ice to vapor, a process called sublimation. These vapors are then sucked up and the food is dried. Because freeze drying does not heat the food, it is able to retain the texture and nutritional value of the food.

Freeze drying vs canning or dehydrating

Freeze dried foor retains 97% of its nutritional value vs canned (60-80%) or dehyrdrated (60-75%).

Freeze drying helps retain nutrients and phytochemicals, and it extends the shelf life of food. Freeze-dried foods can maintain their original flavor, texture, and nutrition when rehydrated.

Freeze drying is straightforward. Once your machine is set up. Simply arrange your food on the trays (try to stay below the edges), place in the machine, close the door, press start and let your Harvest Right do all the work for you!

What can I freeze dry?

You truly can freeze-dry almost anything. All kinds of fruits, vegetables and meats taste wonderful when freeze dried.

That includes things like tomatoes, apples, bananas, strawberries, peaches, green beans, peppers, onions, potatoes, spinach, shrimp, pork, beef, turkey and even ice cream.

Freeze dry pre-made meals or entire harvests!

Candy is another popular choice.

The only no-gos are items like butter, oils, nuts and nut butters, due to the way oil reacts during the freeze drying process.

Why choose Harvest Right?

Highest Quality. New components, patented software, and upgraded electronics enhance reliability. Plus, all new machines come with a 3 year warranty from Harvest Right.

Which size machine should I get?

  • Small Freeze Dryer (standard 110 outlet): 7-8 pounds of food and comes with four trays.
  • Medium Freeze Dryer (standard 110 outlet): This is the most popular size and is great it will freeze dry about 12 pounds of food per batch and comes with five trays.
  • Large Freeze Dryer (dedicated 20-amp circuit required, NEMA 5-20 outlet): 16-20 pounds of food per batch and comes with six trays.
  • Extra Large Freeze Dryer (dedicated 20-amp circuit required, NEMA 5-20 outlet): 35 pounds of food per batch and comes with seven trays that are larger than the other trays.

(Every time you size-up to the next machine, the capacity is roughly doubled)

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