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Are you ready to take your home food preservation to the next level?

Imagine being able to craft meals, snacks, and ingredients that are shelf-stable and stay fresh for up to 25 years, all at the touch of a button. 

With your own freeze dryer, you can do just that!

Freeze drying is a revolutionary preservation method that preserves the food’s flavor, texture, and nutritional value. You can freeze-dry almost anything from fruits and vegetables to meats and dairy products, and it will taste just as good as it did when it was fresh. Freeze-dried foods have a shelf life of up to 25 years.

Preparation for freeze-drying food is quick and easy since you can freeze dry raw foods, cooked foods or frozen foods. You’ll just place the food on the freeze-dryer tray and put it in your new freeze-dryer. When the batch cycle is done you just put the freeze-dried food into mylar bags and store it.

Not only that, but freeze-dried food is also lightweight and compact, making it easy to store and transport. Freeze-dried foods take up a lot less space than frozen and canned foods. No more bulky freezers or canning jars! Freeze dryers are the way to go for space-saving food preservation.

When you’re ready to use your freeze-dried food there are many simple options. You can throw an ingredient straight into a meal you are cooking, such as milk, eggs, vegetables, meats, etc. Many freeze-dried foods can be consumed without rehydration- such as fruit and veggies. Rehydrating food is effortless. Whole freeze-dried meals can be prepared by just adding water and left to sit for a few minutes, then it’s ready to eat.

So whether you’re looking to prepare long-term food storage for an emergency, save money on groceries, or simply enjoy the convenience of having delicious, healthy ingredients or full meals on hand at all times, a freeze dryer is the perfect investment for you.  Explore our list of top products today and start enjoying the benefits of freeze-drying!

Check out our list of Freeze Dryer Accessories to make your freeze drying process more streamlined and efficient.

What Are the Best Freeze Dryers?

Freeze-drying was originally developed during World War II to preserve medical supplies and food rations and has developed into a staple of the food and pharmaceutical industries.

In recent years, home freeze dryers have become increasingly popular, making this once-exclusive process accessible to anyone. These machines combine innovation and convenience, allowing individuals to freeze-dry their favorite ingredients with precision, preserving flavors, nutrients, and textures.

Freeze-drying employs a process called sublimation, which means that water is removed from the food without passing through the liquid phase. This is done by freezing the food to a very low temperature (-40 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit) and then creating a vacuum. The frozen water in the food then transitions directly from solid ice to vapor, bypassing the liquid phase. This vapor is then extracted, leaving behind perfectly preserved food with its original flavor, color, and 97% of its nutrients intact.

As technology continues to evolve, home freeze-drying has transformed from a novelty into a practical tool, offering a new dimension to the way we approach food preservation.

You will only get out of your freezer dryer machine what you put into it. You need a plan to make this a worthwhile investment. That does not mean you have to vow to run the batches 24/7, 365. You can freeze-dry vegetables from your own garden, you can stock up on sales at big box stores, or you can simply make an extra serving of dinners and freeze-dry the additional portions.

Harvest Right freeze dryers have been leading the industry for years. They offer a variety of options to fit the needs of different users, from small and affordable to large and versatile models.

Here are some of the innovations that Harvest Right has made in their Home Pro Freeze Dryer line:

• Increased batch size: Each model now comes with an additional tray, which increases the capacity- as much as 33%

• Candy mode setting: An easy one-touch setting to freeze dry candies

• Updated firmware: This makes the machines easier to use and more efficient.

• Faster batch time: The drying time has been reduced by up to 25%, which saves energy.

• Aerospace grade components: These components are more durable and efficient than traditional components.

• Solid state relays: These relays are more energy-efficient than traditional relays.

• Customer Support:  A team of highly-trained experts can provide technical support for your harvest right freeze dryer, either over the phone or in person. They have a team of 6,000 technicians who can be dispatched to your location if needed.

1. Harvest Right Medium Home Pro Freeze Dryer

The Medium Home Pro Freeze Dryer is a great option for those who want a balance of size and features. It can process 10 to 15 pounds of food per batch, and it comes with everything you need to get started, including a vacuum pump, stainless steel trays, mylar storage bags, oxygen absorbers, and an impulse sealer. This machine makes freeze-drying quick and effortless.

Key Features

• Capacity  Has five trays with a total tray space of 675 square inches. It can process 10 to 15 pounds of food per batch. This means it can handle up to 3,000 pounds of fresh food per year. 

• Dimensions 29 inches in height, 19 inches in width, and 25 inches in depth

• Weight  119 pounds

• Color Available in Black, Satin White, or Stainless Steel

• Power 110-volt outlet. 

• Maintenance Replace vacuum pump oil every 20 to 30 batches, and clean freeze dryer as needed. 

• Warranty Three-year limited warranty.

Pricing

2. Harvest Right Small Home Pro Freeze Dyer

The Small Home Freeze Dryer is the most compact and affordable option from Harvest Right. It’s a great choice for newcomers to freeze-drying or for those who only need to freeze-dry small batches of food. This harvest right freeze dryer is ideal for people on a budget or who have limited space.

Key Features

• Capacity Has four trays with a total tray space of 434 square inches. It can process 6 to 10 pounds of food per batch. This means it can handle up to 1,800 pounds of fresh food per year. 

• Dimensions 26.8inches in height, 17.4 inches in width, and 21.5 inches in depth

• Weight  91 pounds, with the entire kit weighing 172 pounds

• Color Available in Black or Stainless Steel

• Power 110-volt outlet. 

• Maintenance Replace vacuum pump oil every 20 to 30 batches, Clean freeze dryer as needed. 

• Warranty Three-year limited warranty.

Pricing

3. Harvest Right Large Home Pro Freeze Dryer

The Large Home Pro Freeze Dryer is the most powerful and versatile model from Harvest Right. It can process 18 to 27 pounds of food per batch, making it a good choice for large families or those who want to freeze-dry a lot of food at once.

Key Features

• Capacity Has six trays with a total tray space of 1,107 square inches. It can process 18 to 27 pounds of food per batch. This means it can handle up to 5,000 pounds of fresh food per year. 

• Dimensions  31.3  inches in height, 21.3 inches in width, and 27.5 inches in depth

• Weight  143 pounds, the entire kit weighs 243 pounds

• Color Available in Black, Satin White, and Stainless Steel

• Power 110 volt (NEMA 5-20) outlet. A dedicated 20 amp circuit is required 

• Maintenance Replace vacuum pump oil every 20 to 30 batches, and clean freeze dryer as needed. 

• Warranty Three-year limited warranty.

Pricing

4. Harvest Right Scientific Pro Freezer

The Scientific Freeze Dryer is designed for laboratories, but it can also be used at home. It offers a wider range of features and settings than the other Harvest Right models, including control of the rate of freeze and the temperature of the final freeze as well as control of the shelf temperature during the dry cycle.

This machine is not a great choice for the average user because it is significantly more expensive and is a little more complicated to use. It is a great choice for users who want more control over the freeze-drying process. It offers some of the same options that would normally be found in a commercial laboratory machine in a compact model that would be convenient for home use. With this machine, you would not only be able to make freeze-dried foods but you can more easily begin freeze-drying herbal medicines.

Key Features

• Capacity 5 stainless steel trays accommodate up to 2 – 4 gallons of material per batch.

• Dimensions  30 inches in height, 25 inches in width, and 20 inches in depth

• Weight  Harvest Right doesn’t disclose the unit weight.

• Color Stainless Steel or Powder Coated Aluminum

• Power Voltage 115 VAC AMPS 15 A

Pricing

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 What to Consider When Choosing Your Freeze Dryer

When selecting a freeze dryer, there are several factors to keep in mind before making your investment. These machines can be quite costly, often more expensive than a standard refrigerator or freezer. However, for anyone who wants to efficiently freeze dry food, they are a necessary tool. To help you choose the best freeze dryer for your needs, consider the following features: capacity, size and weight, noise level, installation requirements, and energy use. 

Capacity

The capacity of a freeze dryer refers to how much food it can process at once. When it comes to freeze-dryer capacity, it’s important to understand the different ways it’s measured.

• Fresh food capacity is the amount of fresh food that can fit on the trays in the freeze dryer. This is the most common way to measure capacity, and it’s the number that you’ll see most often when shopping for a freeze dryer.

• Freeze-dried capacity is the amount of freeze-dried food that can be produced from the fresh food capacity. This is a less common way to measure capacity, but it can be helpful if you’re trying to figure out how much food you can store in a given amount of space.

• Annual capacity is the amount of food that can be processed in a year. This is a useful measurement for gardeners and other people who freeze-dry a lot of food.

The amount of food that can be processed in a freeze dryer depends on a few factors, including the size of the freeze dryer, the number of trays, and the thickness of the food. Generally speaking, a larger freeze dryer can process more food at once. 

Size and Weight 

Freeze dryers are no lightweights. Even a small freeze dryer weighs 91 lbs, so you’ll want to keep it in a place where you don’t have to move it much. If you want to be able to move it around, put it on a cart. The medium and large sizes weigh 119 lbs and 143 lbs, respectively.

I don’t think the weight should be the deciding factor but you should be aware of the size of what you’re buying. If you’re using it a lot, you might want to set it up in a permanent place.

 It is essential to consider whether your countertops or tables can accommodate the size and weight of your preferred freeze dryer. Additionally, think about other storage possibilities and whether there is a suitable space to designate for the freeze dryer. 

Noise 

Noise can be a significant factor to consider when purchasing your own freeze dryer. The typical batch time for freeze-drying is around 20 to 40 hours.

 The vacuum pump in this machine can be a bit loud, operating at approximately 62 to 67 decibels. For comparison, many vacuum cleaners produce around 70 decibels. 

We originally put our large freeze dryer in the kitchen because the manual said it’s best to operate it in temperatures below 75°F. We had planned to put it in the garage, but it would have been too hot there.

The noise from the vacuum pump was a bit annoying at first, but we got used to it. After a year or so, we moved the machine to a closed room off the kitchen. This reduced the noise so much that we barely notice it now.

The vacuum pump starts up during the vacuum freezing stage. It removes any non-condensable gases from the system, creating a low-pressure environment that is necessary for sublimation. The vacuum pump doesn’t run the whole time, but in most freeze dryers, it runs for a significant portion of the time. So, it can be quite loud. If you place the freeze dryer in a living room or kitchen, where people are constantly moving around, the noise can be very disruptive.

A better place to put a freeze dryer is in a closed room off the kitchen or garage. This will help to muffle the noise and make it less noticeable.

If you don’t have a separate room, you can try placing the freeze dryer against a wall or in a corner. This will help to block the noise and make it less noticeable.

You can also try using a soundproofing curtain or barrier to help reduce the noise.

Installation 

Home freeze dryers often come with all the necessary components, including the freeze-drying machine, a vacuum pump, trays for food, and materials for food storage. This is an advantage of purchasing a home freeze dryer, as commercial options may lack some of these crucial elements. 

Installing a freeze dryer typically requires two people due to its weight, starting at around 60 pounds. 

Freeze dryers need multi-levels they can be placed on a counter or tabletop to allow for proper drainage. They cannot be stored on the floor. You’ll need a lower level for the drain hose and drum. This is because the water that is removed from the food during the freeze-drying process needs to go somewhere. The drainage tube will carry the water to the drum, where it will be collected.

If you don’t have a lower level for the drain hose and drum, the water will collect on the bottom of the freeze dryer. This can cause damage to the freeze dryer and make it difficult to clean.

Like most appliances, freeze dryers generate heat, so it is important to leave sufficient space for ventilation. 

Energy Use

Smaller freeze dryers can be plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet, while larger models may require a 110-volt (NEMA 5-20) outlet and their own dedicated 20-amp circuit.

Freeze dryers are energy-intensive appliances. They use a lot of electricity to power the vacuum pump and the refrigeration unit. The exact amount of energy used will vary depending on the size of the freeze-dryer and the type of food being freeze-dried. However, in general, you can expect most freeze dryers will use about 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity per hour of operation. In comparison, a refrigerator uses, between 1 to 2 kilowatts each day.

You can reduce the energy use of your freeze dryer by using it efficiently. For example,  I try to fill the trays as much as possible to minimize wasted space. And when possible, I  also pre-freeze the food to cut down on the time of the batch.

Maintenance

Maintaining your freeze dryer is paramount to ensuring its longevity and optimal performance. By dedicating time to routine maintenance and cleaning, you not only safeguard your investment but also ensure the consistent quality of the freeze-dried products.

Regular cleaning is crucial; after each cycle, it’s essential to wipe down the interior chamber and trays to prevent any build-up that can interfere with the drying process.

The vacuum pump, the heart of your freeze dryer, requires particular attention. Regularly checking and filtering the oil ensures the pump operates efficiently. Old or contaminated oil can compromise the vacuum’s effectiveness, leading to longer drying times or incomplete drying. The Scientific Freeze Dryer comes with an oil-free pump, but you can upgrade to the oil-free option with any of Harvest Rights Home Pro machines.

The vacuum pump is diligently working to create the essential low-pressure environment that facilitates the sublimation process. Yet, like all hard-working machinery, it’s susceptible to wear and tear. Over extended use, the vacuum pump can become the freeze dryer’s Achilles’ heel, often being the first component that may require maintenance or replacement. Regular upkeep can extend its life, but long-term users should be prepared and cognizant of its vulnerability, possibly budgeting for a future replacement or servicing to ensure uninterrupted freeze-drying operations.

How Can a Home Freeze Dryer Benefit You

A home freeze dryer can be a game changer in food preservation.

 It can help you:

• Preserve food for long-term storage. Freeze-dried food can last for up to 25 years, so it’s a great way to store food for emergencies or for times when fresh food is not available.

• Make your own snacks and meals. Freeze drying can be used to preserve fruits, vegetables, meats, and other foods. This means that you can make your own healthy and delicious snacks and meals at home.

• Save money on food. Freeze-drying can be a cost-effective way to preserve food. If you buy food in bulk and freeze-dry it, you can save money on your grocery bill.

• Have access to fresh food year-round. If you live in a climate where fresh food is not available year-round, a freeze dryer can help you have access to fresh food all year long.

• Be more self-sufficient. A freeze dryer can help you be more self-sufficient by allowing you to grow, harvest, and preserve your own food.

• Meal Prep. Freeze-dried food is easy to store and rehydrate, making it a convenient option for meal prep and snacking.

• Reduce food waste. Freeze-drying can help you reduce food waste by allowing you to preserve food that would otherwise go bad.

Buyers Guide: How We Conducted Our Research 

We looked at a variety of products and compared their prices, features, and drawbacks. We also considered the level of support and refund policy offered.

Ultimately, we decided that the best product for our needs was the one that offered the best combination of price, features, and support.

Here are some specific examples of how we considered each factor:

• Pricing: We looked at the price of each product and compared it to the features it offered. We also considered the cost of shipping and handling.

• Features: We looked at the features that were most important to us, such as the size, capacity, ease of use, energy consumption, and noise level of the product.

• Support or refund: We looked at the company’s support policy, such as whether they offered a community forum or a phone number for customer service. We also considered the company’s refund policy.

• Negatives: We considered any drawbacks that each product had, such as the lack of a warranty or the difficulty of cleaning it.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to preserve food, save money, and be more self-sufficient, a freeze-dryer is a great option. The upfront cost may be high, but the long-term savings can be significant.

The advantages of having a freeze dryer are what attract many shoppers initially. However, freeze dryers are expensive appliances. 

Freeze dryers are a worthwhile investment for people who want to preserve food for long-term storage, save money on food, or have access to fresh food year-round. While they can be expensive upfront, the cost can be offset over time by the savings you’ll realize on food. 

Freeze-dried food can last for up to 25 years, so it’s a great way to store food for emergencies or for times when fresh food is not available. It can also be more economical than other methods of food preservation, such as canning or freezing. 

Freeze-dried food is easy to store and rehydrate, making it a convenient option for meal prep and snacking. Given that many pre-packaged freeze-dried foods are also costly, freeze-drying your own foods may save you money overall.

The best freeze dryer for you will depend on your needs and your budget. If you’re looking for a balance of size and features, the medium freeze dryer is a good option. If you’re on a budget or only need to freeze-dry small batches of food, a small freeze-dryer is a good choice. And if you want the most powerful and versatile model, a large freeze dryer is the way to go.

I would recommend getting the largest freeze dryer you can afford. It will save you time and money in the long run and make the process more efficient.

I thought the best freeze dryer would be a small freeze dryer when I first started. I thought it was the right budget for me and my family of four. But I quickly realized that it wasn’t big enough.

I was lucky that my parents had a large freeze-dryer. They told me that I should get the largest size I could afford. They let me use theirs to understand the capacity and output.

I was so excited to make my first batch on my own. I bought bulk apples, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas from a big box store. I started with the apples and berries and only used two and a half trays, so it would be equivalent to the size of a small machine. I quickly realized how small this was and how much more work and time it would take.

I had to run at least two batches to complete all of the fruit I purchased. That meant that I had to prepare the fruit two times, clean the freeze dryer and trays two times, and check to see if I needed to filter and clean the vacuum pump. It also took me close to five days to finish all the fruit.

I did not realize that just completing the fruit would take so many batches.  This meant that my original plan of being able to freeze dry fruit and vegetables and milk and eggs each week would not work with the capacity a small machine could offer. 

After this experience, I realized that a larger freeze dryer is the better choice, and it has worked great for me. 

Ultimately which freeze dryer is the best freeze dryer for you is based on your needs, your budget, and the space you have available for the machine as well as the freeze-dried foods.

No matter which model you choose, you can be sure that you’ll be able to get started freeze-drying foods and get all the benefits of home food preservation.