While the initial cost might seem steep, keep in mind the long-term savings and the value of preserved food. It’s an investment in self-sufficiency and food storage security. You can read my full cost analysis of the Harvest Right freeze dryer here.
The size of the freeze dryer you decide to buy is where cost analysis comes in handy. Different sizes of freeze dryers have different payback periods, and their costs and variable operating expenses vary.
The update left our freeze dryer unusable, and we couldn’t roll back to the old version. Talk about frustration.
We’ve presented quite a lot of information, but as always: if you have any questions let us know and we would be happy to help. We found the Harvest Right Home Pro Medium Freeze Dryer to be the best option given its value, effectiveness, capacity, profile, and durability.
Water and air are the enemies of food storage. You have seen this truth in action if you have ever watched the fruit in a fruit bowl shrivel and blacken over time. Both freeze drying and dehydration seek to remove water from food in order to ensure its long term viability.
Has stainless steel chamber approximately 800mm diameter x 915mm straight side. Chamber is lagged and clad. Has electric heater, cyclone and pipework. Unit is mounted on mobile frame. Includes stainless steel Niro centrifugal air operated atomiser.
Plus, that one-year full warranty and limited extended coverage on essential parts give us extra peace of mind.
So, the answer depends on what you are trying to do. My opinion is that dehydrators are better for snacks- like jerky and dried fruit, whereas freeze-dryers are better for pretty much any long-term food storage. Both are pretty good at making candy as well.
Note: Warranty does not cover the logistical costs of repair, such as the fees needed to send products to Harvest Right or have technical supp ort conduct an on-sitio inspection. Likewise, misuse or neglect are not covered by the warranty.
Freeze dryers need to run a vacuum and get very, very cold in order to preserve the food. It uses a lot of energy to do this and can take a long time to freeze-dry a batch of food.
A few have used marketing tactics to increase listed ‘capacity’ by including stackable drying racks that fit inside of the tray to take advantage of Buy online vertical space without additional trays.
For us, the advantages such as preserving surplus garden produce and taking our emergency food stores to a whole new level, vastly outweigh any inconveniences.
Dehydrated foods by comparison, usually take quite a while before they have absorbed enough water to be palatable. Sometimes 15 or 20 minutes. Even then they never taste quite right.
Consider also the unit's noise level, control interface sophistication, and available preset programs for different food categories. Premium models often include customizable cycles and remote monitoring capabilities that allow you to track the drying process via smartphone applications.