We have some really great 'techy' type guys here who are, as they have been exploring the FD mechanics and sharing that in their posts, writing what is turning out to be a 'troubleshooting manual' for us less capable folks.
Maintenance Simply filter and replace the oil every 20–25 cycles. (The oil can be filtered and reused one time.); this is a straightforward task that takes only a couple of minutes.
I thought an easier way to see what was happening would be to make a time lapse video of an entire freeze drying cycle. As I was about to prepare some apples for freeze drying yesterday, I thought it would be a good time to do that -- so out came the GoPro.
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.
6. Warranties and Support: Look for models that come with warranties and reliable customer support options.
Odds are the problem is the vacuum hose or its end connections, the drain valve, or the door gasket. Based upon my experience I'd double check the fittings while installed on the FDer.
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.
The freeze dried food can be used for everyday eating, camping and of course, long term storage. I freeze dry as much as I can while times are good, I won’t plan to freeze dry if I go off-grid or don’t have electricity.
Made with a stainless steel exterior and includes a stainless steel drying chamber and purge valve for easy maintenance.
I personally have a medium Harvest Right Freeze Dryer and website love it. I actually wish I had gotten the large! But for our family of 4 (almost 5), it’s a perfect fit, we have it running constantly and fill bins full of homemade freeze dried food.
The right drier for the job, regardless if it is for mass industrial use or small batch pharmaceutical ones, can dramatically increase productivity, minimize waste, and save money in the long run. In this article, the process and techniques of freeze drying, the necessary features when picking a freeze dryer, the use of it in pharmaceuticals and food, and the future of the industry are discussed.
The only way I know to filter the water vapor out would be a cold trap. They usually use liquid nitrogen or dry ice to keep the temperature low enough that all the water condenses out. Obviously you would need a supply of the liquid nitrogen or dry ice that would probably not be cost effective for most of us. The other option to get that cold would be to use a cryocooler and build a cold trap around it. It could be done, but would be pretty expensive. I've been watching some electronics on ebay that have cryocoolers in them, but the cheapest I've seen is around $600. Still not a cheap option, but you wouldn't need dry ice or liquid nitrogen to feed it.
The next way to save money is to watch Harvest Right's website for seasonal sales and promotions. Sometimes, patience pays off in the form of significant discounts.
Dehydrating simply removes the moisture by using heat to evaporate the moisture to dry it. Freeze drying retains more nutrition than dehydrating in general.