A three-year limited warranty for repairs due to faulty workmanship or material for their freeze dryers, and vacuum pumps.
Most freeze dryers have a powder-coated steel exterior with a food-grade stainless steel vacuum chamber. A few brands or options have aluminum and stainless exteriors.
Anyone who has spent time mountaineering or hunting knows the benefits of freeze dried food. To most everyone else though, the extent of their freeze dried experience doesn’t go much beyond instant coffee. So, let’s look at some of those benefits.
Choosing between an oil-free pump and a premier oil pump for our Harvest Right freeze dryer was a tough decision at the time. But with the benefit of hindsight and having operated both, we would absolutely choose the premier oil pump if we had a do-over.
We’ve had a few hiccups (a USB board here, a screen there) but calling them has always had the issue resolved quickly.
While there are many places to get a freeze-dryer, you are likely to have some issues with it. If you’re a first-time buyer, you want something reliable. Don’t think that saving a few hundred makes it a good deal. Here's why certain platforms might not be the best choice:
As you can see, the capacity more or less doubles with each model but the cost does not. The larger models use more energy to process the larger batches of food as well, so don’t neglect energy costs when you compare these as that impacts efficiency as we discussed earlier.
On your Mylar bags, don’t cheap out. You can’t afford cheap for other than items more info that you intend to be stored for only a short time. Too, though I have an impulse sealer, I find a cheap hair straightener works better.
Whether your electrical wiring is up to the job – The larger freeze dryers consume quite a bit of electricity and require a 220 volt plug. If you have an older house or live in an old apartment building it may not have one. Also, freeze dryers can draw as much as 16 or 17 amps at their peak consumption.
If you want, you can purchase an oil free pump that will negate the need for any maintenance other than cleaning.
Besides the food and the freeze dryer itself, there are plenty of accessories to consider when you get a freeze dryer. Some basics that you’ll need include:
Our selection of home freeze dryer systems offers reliable performance and user-friendly operation for both beginners and experienced food preservation enthusiasts.
Most freeze dryers increase their capacity with tray count and deeper drums. The front of freeze dryers in various sizes can appear to be similar when, in fact, there are large capacity differences. Tray size can illustrate this best:
We’ve got a great stash of organic, spray-free food we can trust because, let’s face it, even “organic” from the store isn’t always what it seems.