Do you have any vacuum gauges at all to test the pump? ( Though I doubt that is the problem based upon your tests )
Investing in a freeze dryer is not just about saving money; it's about gaining the skills and resources to become more self-reliant and prepared for whatever life throws your way. So, invest in your self-reliance journey – your future self will thank you!
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One of the reasons I like the small freeze dryer is the size. At the same time, my large freeze dryer takes up space equivalent to a clothes dryer—the small one doesn't.
And once you have resolved your issue I hope you will stay around and talk to us all about what you have been drying in your machine, etc.
22F, achieved by dividing 9 hours by 110F (the difference in food temps). We both know that the FDer doesn't do linear as the temps fall faster early on and slowly peak to max low temps, but the food freeze time might be a tad more linear than the FDer as food is denser and must be frozen throughout.
Is it as cheap as buying at the store? No. But properly freeze-dried and stored meats can last ten years or more without refrigeration. The freeze-drying process can be challenging, but those who have the time and patience should consider doing it.
What I presume was happening was that condensation was building up on the cooling coils between the insulation and the chamber and freezing. When I finally turned the FDer off it took 3 days for the ice buildup to melt and slowly soak through the insulation Shop Now and drip onto the counter.
I freeze dry right now so I can have as much preserved food as possible. For me, it’s a lot cheaper in the long run, even with the initial investment and run time.
A funny lesson I learned is that we pelo longer freeze-dry many fruits or vegetables. I know this goes against what most preppers say but I’ve come to a different conclusion. We did tons of fruits and vegetables at first but considering the time it takes we found that we are better served by spending that precious freeze drying usage on more expensive items like meats, eggs, and complete meals.
Remove all ice every 8 hours of drying time. It is amazing how much faster the drying time drops doing this. A side benefit is water vapor does not contaminate the oil as fast. I've gotten up to 20 cycle per oil change by carefully monitoring the oil and water.
So the bottom line is this: If you can afford the money, space, and time to spend on freeze-drying your own food and you believe the need for the food is many months or years away, then eventually the Harvest Right freeze dryer will pay for itself.
Control of the amount of time a material is held at the ultimate freeze temperature before the drying cycle is started.
Making food in your own freeze dryer is less expensive than purchasing it commercially. You can purchase food in bulk and freeze dry it for later. With the current high food prices (which could more info easily continue to skyrocket), it’s nice to buy in bulk or on clearance to save money.