Freeze drying the harvest

[Sammster]

I don't have large gardens, like many of you do. We're in the burbs. Which kind of makes freeze drying ideal. Not many of my veggies produce enough at any given time to warrant canning (yet - I'm working on that), but you can always fill a freeze dryer tray! My freeze dryer has 4 trays, so I can fill it will several different veggies or herbs or meals or leftovers, at the same time. I currently have carrots, green and wax beans, cherry and small, sliced tomatoes going. All from the garden. Next I'll put in watermelon, sliced strawberries and more carrots. I just fill the trays and stack them in the deep freeze until I have 4 that are ready to process

 

[Acre4Me]

I don't have large gardens, like many of you do. We're in the burbs.

Ah, but don’t let the ‘burbs stop you! Check out @BReeder! posts. He’s in Chicago suburbs and has quite the garden, plus greenhouse.

Nice haul for the freeze dryer

 

[BReeder!]

Ah, but don’t let the ‘burbs stop you! Check out @BReeder! posts. He’s in Chicago suburbs and has quite the garden, plus greenhouse.

Nice haul for the freeze dryer

@Sammster Our neighbors have deemed us "urban farmers". We are on a 1/3 acre suburban lot with a backyard measuring roughly 85'x 85' - I'm not a fan of the fact that I'm forced to have such a large front lawn, but it is what it is. In that backyard I put a garden fence 24' from the back fence nearly all the way across the yard side to side. Our shed is at the far right end and doubles as chicken coop and run (teeser: new shed nearly finished. pics to come soon). Anyway, that allows us a garden that measure a total of 24' x ~65'. We have an 8'x10' greenhouse, a fountain and sitting area, 9 large raised beds (6-4x8,1-3x8 and 2-2x10) and two 10x~24 spaces for in ground planting. I'll get pics later - it's a bit weedy right now I'll admit.

 

[saysfaa]

My friends bought a small Harvest Right freeze dryer a year or so ago. It make a typical vacuum pump sound - quieter than they expected. They are delighted with it.

 

[Sammster]

I just went to Harvest Right's website. They're on sale, $300 off. $2900 for the medium one, on sale.

It's a bit of an up-front investment, for sure. Boy, I tell ya, though ~ I have lots of eggs in storage. And you'll stop wasting leftovers.
There are certain foods that are best not freeze dried. Fatty, oily, very high-sugar foods are not recommended. This is where those freeze-drying communities are so helpful.

 

[saysfaa]

For the Harvest Right brand -

It takes 20 to 40 hours to freeze dry a batch (it will indicate when it is done) depending on what kind of food it is.

The smallest one holds 6 to 10 pounds on 434 sq inches of tray space.

The largest one holds 40 to 50 pounds on 2251 sq inches of tray space.

 

[Sammster]

@Sammster, what kind of freeze dryer did you buy? I keep thinking I want one, then thinking I don't need it. Then wanting one again.

One thing I really wonder about... how loud is it when it runs?

I have a Harvest Right. I went with the medium with the premium oil pump. It's a bit loud, but I'm used to it. It puts off some heat. Runs best in a cool area. A dry basement would be ideal. Unfortunately, I don't have a basement, so... kitchen it is! If you do get one (or want to learn more about them), check out the YouTube channel "Retired at 40". It's all about freeze drying. Same man also has community sites on Facebook and MeWe. Lots of helpful tips and advice

 

[Sammster]

I dry/can/freeze a fair amount of food. How long would it take to freeze dry, say, apple slices or green beans?

I'm wondering if I'd be sorry if I bought a smaller unit to save money. Or a larger, more expensive unit, and didn't need the capacity.

For those foods, expect about 24 - 30 hours. Room temperatures can affect the length of drying times. The machine does not indicate when the food is done. You check it after its cycle, and determine if more time is needed

 

[Sally PB]

@Sammster, what kind of freeze dryer did you buy? I keep thinking I want one, then thinking I don't need it. Then wanting one again.

One thing I really wonder about... how loud is it when it runs?

 

[Sally PB]

I dry/can/freeze a fair amount of food. How long would it take to freeze dry, say, apple slices or green beans?

I'm wondering if I'd be sorry if I bought a smaller unit to save money. Or a larger, more expensive unit, and didn't need the capacity.