Introduction On Freeze Drying – Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Thinking about getting a freeze dryer? This is a simple Introduction on freeze drying using a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer.

Food preservation has come a long way! We now have the ability to freeze dry our food right in our own homes.

I have had my eye on a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer for some time now. We finally were able to pull the trigger and we now have our own freeze drying machine!

We have run a few batches now and honestly, it is so easy to use!

Receiving your Freeze Dryer

So you ordered your machine? Yay! After waiting for it to be shipped, it’s now the day for it to be delivered. Now, our freeze dryer was delivered on a large FedEx box truck. You want to make sure your driveway is accessible to a larger truck. If not, you may need to pick it up at the furthest point that a large box truck can go in delivering to your home.

Luckily, ours worked out fine and we even live down a gravel road!

Upon delivery, make sure you check for and damages to the outside. Take pictures if you see anything.

We had a slight dent in our box, but it did not go all the way through. While the driver is still there, you want to then remove the box and you need check the machine itself. It’s pretty rare for it to arrive damaged, but you definitely want to make sure! You NEVER want to sign for the delivery if it is.

When they deliver your machine, they will bring it to your address, but not into your garage. IF you would like them to bring it into your garage for you, be sure to call FedEx ahead of time. Also keep in mind it will be an additional charge.

How to setup a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Once we brought our freeze dryer inside, It was very easy to setup! You should get a setup manual that will walk you through the setup.

Setup Tips:

• Make sure it is on a flat, study surface. We put ours first on the floor next to a mini fridge. We then moved it to a higher surface since you need to be able to drain it when it defrosts. A lot of folks like to get a utility cart to put theirs on.
• If you got an oil pump like me, use a funnel to pour the oil in (we made a huge mess). Pour your oil slowly and wait until the oil stops moving in the little window. We ended up using almost a whole bottle, but we poured too fast and had to drain some out. It should just barely be above the middle line.
• Do not skip the bread run. It helps do your test run and to also get the “new car smell” out. We sprayed ours with equal parts water and vinegar to help

How long does freeze dried food last?

How long freeze dried food lasts depends on how you end up storing it. When properly freeze dried, food will last in Mylar bags (with no window) with an oxygen absorber for up to 25 years!

For foods you plan to use in your short-term storage, feel free to use an airtight container. This is perfect for snacks or things you will use throughout the week

Foods for freeze drying

For us, the best freeze dried food so far includes:

• freeze dried tomatoes
• freeze dried lemons
• freeze dried limes
• freeze dried kiwi
• freeze dried strawberries

Foods we still need to try:

• freeze dried bone broth
• freeze dried bananas
• freeze dried garlic
• freeze dried raspberries
• freeze dried watermelon
• freeze dried herbs
• freeze dried rice
• freeze dried dragon fruit
• freeze dried baby food
• freeze dried pickles

Do you have a freeze dryer? Are you looking to buy one? If you have been thinking about it, what other questions do you have before making the jump?!

I will be updating this article as we continue to experiment, get more familiar with our Harvest Right Freeze Dryer, and get questions on using it!

Also, follow us along on instagram as we experiment with our freeze dryer! We have a whole highlight on it!