I sent Harvest Right a note with a picture and they immediately shipped me a new display. Great Service again from the support team there! I think water had dripped down the front and the back of the unit and onto the display card shorting it out.
It's awesome! I don't have a freeze dryer yet but am planning to place an order tomorrow. I am super curious how Kerry's scroll pump is holding up... eliminating the oil from the equation would make this whole thing SO much easier.
We have to face one hard fact when shopping for home freeze dryers. That fact is, unlike many other purchases, freeze dryers aren't cheap. However, unlike many other purchases, a freeze dryer can provide a lifetime of cost savings that ultimately pay for itself.
For ground meats, it’s a good idea to cook and then drain off as much grease as possible. I like to rinse ground meat before putting it in my machine to get rid of even more fat.
Now that you understand the conditions, you can better understand what happened when we finally turned off our FDer after an extended use in these conditions.
Upon turning off the pump (no isolation valve on the pump - standard setup), the chamber pressure get more info rose quite rapidly going to 2000 mTorr and continuing up in a couple of minutes or so.
They can last for decades, with regular maintenance of course. It’s like any other major appliance, it has running parts and will need to be maintained or repaired as needed.
The pros and cons are easy to understand. In fact, there really is only one pro and it’s a huge one. YOU control the food you’re storing away for yourself and your family. Those who are willing to spend the time and money to freeze dry their own food should do so as long as they’re going to be committed.
1. Capacity Needs: Assess how much food you plan to freeze dry at once. Smaller models are suitable for individual use, while larger models are better for families Shop Now or community storage.
adding insulation on the 3 ports on the chamber (One time thing - the drain and vacuum ports are very easy to get to)
7. Energy Efficiency: Evaluate the energy consumption of different models since this will affect your electricity bills over time.
Shortly after getting the freeze dryer, Lance's wife began shipping over boxes of dehydrated food. We get the food, rehydrate it, and make some incredible meals. My favorite was the pizza Lance would whip up!
Regular maintenance includes cleaning the vacuum pump and ensuring proper drainage after each use; refer to the manufacturer's guidelines for specific maintenance tips.
Dehydrating simply removes the moisture by using heat to evaporate the moisture to dry it. Freeze drying retains more nutrition than dehydrating in general.