Appliances Harvest Right Medium Home Freeze Dryer – Stainless Steel

When we say Home Freeze Dryer, we truly mean home. It provides the  convenience, simplicity, and electrical power requirements of other major kitchen appliances. Harvest Right has built the only Home Freeze Dryer that is truly a home appliance. It is easy to use, small in size, and has a large capacity. The smart technology allows one to simultaneously place various types of food in the chamber, press start, and walk away. By itself, the freeze dryer calculates the necessary dry time and automatically monitors the freeze dry process to completion. This makes it easy to use, as well as convenient — saving you time, money, and energy. 

• Patented technology preserves the taste, nutrition, and texture of nearly any food for up to 25 years. Perfect for freeze drying fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, meals, desserts, and more. 
• Easy to use. Just press start and the freeze dryer will beep when finished.
• Freeze dry 7-10 pounds of fresh food per batch. That amount of food will typically fill 1.5 to 2.5 gallons (1.5 to 2.5 #10 cans). It is not uncommon for customers to freeze dry 1,500 lbs. of fresh food in just 1 year.

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What’s Included

• Medium Freeze Dryer
• Premier Vacuum Pump (Oil-Free Pump upgrade available)
• Vacuum Pump Oil
• Oil Filter
• Set of 4 Trays
• Mylar Starter Kit – 12” Impulse Sealer, 50 Half-gallon Mylar Bags, & 50 300cc Oxygen Absorbers

Details

Premier Pump

Technical Specifications

Oil Changes – Premier Pump rarely needs to have the oil changed or filtered. The pump has a gas ballast feature that makes it so water does not stay in the oil. Because of this, the oil in the pump will be pristine and clear, even after 30 or more batches. You simply won’t need to change the oil until you have run 20 or more batches. 

Oil Free Pump

Upgrade to an Oil Free Pump – no more filtering oil!

Oil free vacuum pump can be used with any size Harvest Right freeze dryer. They are quiet, fast, and easy to use. The Harvest Right Oil Free Vacuum Pumps do not require oil changes, and come with the necessary parts to connect to your current freeze dryer.

The oil free pump does not come standard with a new freeze dryer order. If you choose to upgrade to the oil free pump when purchasing your freeze dryer, we offer a discount off of regular retail (please see freeze dryer page for pricing). Current customers with an older model freeze dryer will need an adapter for the oil free vacuum pump.

Technical Specifications

CFM: 7
Voltage: Standard 115V. 60Hz
Plug: US 110V
Intake Port: 3/4 JIC flare
Dimensions: 19 in. high x 10 in. deep x 10 in. wide
Weight: 42lbs

FAQ

How do freeze dryers work?
The entire process is automatic.
1. Raw or cooked foods are placed in freeze dryer, and frozen to between -30 degrees and -50 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Once frozen, freeze dryer creates a vacuum in the food chamber.
3. As the food is gradually warmed, water turns to vapor and evaporates out of food (sublimation).
4. Once dry, freeze dryer notifies user that the process is complete by sounding an audible beep.
5. Freeze-dried food can then be removed from freeze dryer and placed in vacuum-sealed containers that are moisture and oxygen proof (preferably a Mylar pouch or a can) to ensure freshness until opened.
6. When water is added to the food, it regains its original fresh flavor, aroma, texture, and appearance!

Which freeze dryer size is best for me?
This depends on your needs. Medium Freeze Dryers have a per-batch capacity of about 2 gallons (7 to 10 lbs. of fresh food). In a year, one can easily freeze dry 200 batches (400 gallons or 1500 lbs. of food). Capacity of each batch for Large Freeze Dryers is about 3.5 gallons (12 to 16 lbs. of fresh food). In a year, that can easily freeze dry 200 batches (700 gallons or 2500 lbs. of food).

What type of food can be freeze dried?
Almost anything! All kinds of fruits, vegetables and meats taste wonderful when freeze dried. That includes foods like tomatoes, apples, bananas, strawberries, peaches, green beans, peppers, onions, potatoes, spinach, shrimp, pork, beef, turkey and even ice cream. Meals that include meats may also be easily freeze dried. Foods like lasagna, rice dishes, cheese macaroni, chili, beef stew, chicken a la king, casseroles, shrimp, lobster, pulled pork, pasta sauces or scrambled eggs are perfect for this process. You’ll find it a delight to experiment with different foods and meals in your freeze dryer. A great way to start is by picking meals that are already favorites in your home.

Can different foods be freeze dried together?
Yes – for most cases, however foods with potent smells and varying moisture content should not be mixed. For instance, strong-scented foods (e.g., garlic, onions) should not be mixed with low-odor foods (e.g., apples, bananas). Similarly, high-moisture content foods (e.g., pineapples) should not be mixed with low-moisture content foods (e.g., blueberries).

How long does it take to freeze dry each batch?
It typically takes between 20 to 40 hours to complete the process. Food type and quantity will affect the freeze-dry cycle. Things like meat, peas and corn dry quickly, while squash and watermelon can take longer. The thickness of the food slices will affect the cycle time too. Most importantly, your machine senses when the food is ready (alerting you with a beep) so you don’t have to guess when to stop the freeze-dry cycle.

Is it okay to freeze food prior to placing in the freeze dryer?
Yes! It is a great idea to put frozen products into your freeze dryer. Your machine will accept pre-frozen foods and cool them even further, to around -40 degrees F.

What components make up a freeze dryer?
The freeze dryer unit itself as well as a high-quality vacuum pump that sits outside the freeze dryer.

What maintenance is required for a freeze dryer?
The freeze dryer itself requires little to no maintenance. However, all freeze dryers come with a high-quality vacuum pump, which requires some maintenance, mainly adding and draining oil. The vacuum pump comes equipped with an initial supply of oil. There are 3 cups of oil in a vacuum pump that need to be changed regularly to keep a freeze dryer running efficiently. This is a simple process and requires little effort. Each freeze dryer also includes a stand-alone oil filter. The filter cleans the oil and allows you to keep reusing your oil as if it were new. Using filtered oil in each batch is a great way to save money and be more eco-friendly, while also helping your vacuum pump perform as efficiently as possible.

How much power do freeze dryers use? What will it cost to run?
Our medium freeze dryers use a standard 110-volt outlet. At peak, the freeze dryer draws about 16 amps, but on average about 9 to 11 amps (990-1210 watts) of power per hour. A dedicated 20-amp circuit is recommended. Your freeze dryer will cost an estimated $1.25-$2.80 a day, depending on power costs in your area.
Our large freeze dryer requires a 110-volt (NEMA 5-20) outlet. At peak, the large freeze dryer draws about 16 amps, but on the average about 10 amps (1500 watts) of power per hour. A dedicated 20-amp circuit is required. Your freeze dryer will cost an estimated $2.00-$3.00 a day, depending on power costs in your area.

Which oxygen absorber should I use with Mylar bags?
Great question. It depends on the size of your Mylar bag, and the contents inside of it. We covered this topic in one of our previous blog posts as the answer can get quite extensive. We recommend you check it out here.