| 1. Small Freeze Dryer | 2. Medium Freeze Dryer | 3. Large Freeze Dryer |
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If you want to keep your food good for longer periods, then one of the devices that you should consider purchasing is the best freeze dryer. These gears would help you to draw out the extra moisture from the food, which would allow you to keep more quantities of the item in smaller spaces. And due to the reduced moisture level, it would additionally help to keep the food from going bad fast.
These are great for preserving a wide variety of items, such as compounds, pharmaceutical products, oil, herbs, and food. Here are some of the top models so you can decide which is the right option as per your requirements.
Top 7 Best Freeze Dryers 2022
1. Harvest Right Small Home Freeze Dryer
This is one of the smallest options that you can get from Harvest Right and the Small batch model allows you to insert around 4 to 7 pounds for every batch. That means in a single year you would be able to remove some 840 pounds of moisture from fresh foods, which is equivalent to 195 gallons.
The dimensions of this model are 16.5 x 18.5 x 25 inches with three trays that are 7.75 x 14 x 0.75 inches each, and the entire thing weighs 61 pounds.
The small home freeze dryer uses an oil pump, which is detachable and weighs 35 pounds, can sit outside of the machine. However, if you want to purchase an oil-free pump, there is an option too, but it would drastically increase the final cost.
Pros
- Maintenance is extremely easy
- 50 mylar bags are included in the initial purchase
Cons
- Additional high cost for the oil-free pump
2. Harvest Right Medium Pharmaceutical Grade Freeze Dryer
If you are searching for a much more efficient and higher grade freeze drying machine, then the Pharmaceutical grade model from Harvest Right is ideal. This model contains seven trays that are 7.5 x 18 x 0.75 inches in size for each and it has built-in artificial intelligence, which manages the entire process.
Every material has an ideal pressure and temperature that should be maintained to preserve the potency and freshness of them, and the Pharmaceutical grade freeze dryer from Harvest Right does that effortlessly, thanks to its efficient AI technology.
There are 6.5 feet of space on the trays and the machine is 18 x 21.25 x 28.5 inches in dimension. It is perfect to be placed on a cart, table, or countertop. It weighs around 133 pounds and requires an outlet that supports at least 110 volts.
Pros
- Each pump has a minimum of 25 microns or better CFM performance
- Capacity for 4 liters of ice
- Limited warranty for 3 years
Cons
- Extra costs for oil-free or premier pumps
- No mylar bags included
3. Harvest Right’s Large Home Freeze Dryer
In case you are looking for the best freeze dryer that you can easily use at home, then Harvest Right’s large home freeze dryer will be a good option for you. It comes in small, medium, and large sizes with the largest having a 12 to 16-pound batch capacity while the smallest has a 4 to 7-pound capacity.
It also comes in 4 different colors, including stainless steel, satin white, black, and aqua, if you want something fun or that matches your home decor.
The dimensions of this model are 18 x 21.25 x 28.5 inches while the 4 trays are sized 7.5 x 18 x 0.75 inches each. It weighs 112 pounds and the maintenance for this machine is limited, which means you don’t need to take additional care for it.
Pros
- Very easy maintenance
- Multiple colors that fit most kitchen design schemes
- 50 mylar bags are included
Cons
- Changing the pump type to oil-free or premium would coast you significantly extra
- Heavy
4. Harvest Right Home Freeze Dryer
Depending on what size you are searching for, the 12 to 16-pound batch model that comes from Harvest Right can be the one for you. This one also comes in 3 sizes so you can purchase the one that fits your needs.
It allows you to freeze around 2,500 pounds of fresh food every year with an average of 12 to 16 pounds for a batch. During an entire year, you can dry a little more or less 546 gallons that you can easily store and use whenever you need to.
The pump can be detached and it stays outside of the machine with an oil type included, but you can upgrade to the oil-free or premier one if you want.
Pros
- 5 trays are included
- Barely any maintenance is required
Cons
- Heavier than other models
- Can’t be shipped to any PO box address due to its weight
5. Harvest Right 5 Tray Pharmaceutical Freeze Dryer
For those who want to make ice and store it, the 5 tray pharmaceutical-grade home freeze dryer from Harvest Right is the model to check out. The smallest model comes with 5 trays that are 7.75 x 14 x 0.75 inches in size each and the largest one has 8 trays that are of the same size as well.
Each of the trays has a capacity of 3.75 square feet, which can fit nearly any type of food you want to have dried.
This model is 16.5 x 18.5 x 25 inches and it can be put on a table, cart, or even a countertop easily. It can also hold around 3 liters of ice in the smallest model, while the larger one can hold almost 6 liters.
Pros
- Comes in 3 different sizes
- Ability to change the pump type
Cons
- Weighs more than most other models
6. Harvest Right Oil-Free Scientific Freeze Dryer
The Oil-free scientific-grade freeze dryer by Harvest Right is one of their more expensive models and it comes in medium and large size options. The medium one has 4 trays with the capacity of around 1 to 2 gallons for every batch and it can hold sublimated ice of 4 liters.
It also can have a few preferences input, which means you don’t have to change the settings each and every single time you are using it.
There are 4 large trays that you can use and you can choose from 10 thermal treatments and around 12 steps for drying. If you want to know exactly what is going on or if you want to select the speed the machine is working at, then you should consider buying this high-end option.
Pros
- Ability to set and save preference
- Can change the current speed
- The system records and maintains a real-time log
Cons
- No option to use anything other than the oil-free pump
- Much more expensive than the other models
7. Harvest Right’s 8 Tray Pharmaceutical Freeze Dryer
There are so many pharmaceutical models that you can purchase for your home, including the Harvest Right’s 8 tray capacity model. This can be used for a wide variety of purposes and the large model has 8 trays while the medium has 7 and the smallest model can hold 5 trays with different space capacities for each size.
These all can be used with the premium, oil-free, and oil-based pumps based on your needs and requirements.
The trays for these models are 9 x 20.5 x 0.75 inches each and the biggest model has a capacity of 6 liters when it comes to holding ice. The entire machine is 20.25 x 23.75 x 30.75 inches in size and it can easily be placed on a countertop, table, or even a cart if you want to move it around easier as It weighs a huge 161 pounds. The machine efficiently works to preserve the potency and freshness of anything you put inside it.
Pros
- More affordable than other high-end models
- A larger amount of available space than basic models
Cons
- Heavier than a few other models
Factors To Look For When Buying The Best Freeze Dryer
When you are searching for the best freeze dryer, there are going to be numerous factors that you would want to consider. Here are a few of the top ones to know about so you can consider them to help make your decision.
1. Brand
There are a few brands that are popular in this market and if you are looking for a reputed one, then research is the way to go. You should ensure that you are thinking about the customer service of each brand and how others are saying about them as well.
2. Price
Another factor that you need to look at is the price and how much you can afford. You want to look at all of the models that would fit within the price range that you have chosen after comparing the features. The more you do this, the more you are going to end up getting the worth for your money.
3. Capacity
You would also need to think about and look for the right capacity level. The first thing that you need to do is consider what your goal is going to be or what capacity your business requires you to store.
Once you have determined this, then you can start to see what models have the capacity that you need since there are larger ones with higher capacities for pharmaceutical needs.
4. Trays
If you want to have more trays that you can use in the machine, which means more capacity, then make sure to choose the right model. Some freeze dryers have a few more trays than the others, but if this is not something that you are worried about, then it should not matter.
However, for those who want a higher number of trays to get the work done faster, then make sure to find the appropriate one.
5. Settings
There are also models where you can pre-set the settings, which means that you do not need to change them every time. If you are going to be doing the same thing over and over or if you want to speed the entire process up, then consider this factor as well.
Some models have the basic settings where you just have to turn it on and let it go while others have a huge array of settings you can play with.
6. Maintenance
The maintenance of these machines is also going to be important, so ensure that you are taking the same into account. The majority of these machines don’t have much for you to do when it comes to maintenance and they are very simple.
However, if you don’t know what you are doing, then finding a model that requires the bare essentials when it comes to maintenance is the right way to go.
7. Pump Type
The type of pump that is included with the machine is also a major factor. The main type of pump that comes with these models is the oil-based ones, but there is also an option to upgrade to the premium or even the oil-free one. You should think about which one you want and if you are willing to spend more to upgrade it.
8. Recommendations
Another thing that you are going to want to look at is what others are saying about the models. The more research you are doing, the more you can be sure that you are choosing the right option for your money. So go ahead and check those recommendations out as well.
These are just some of the factors that one should consider when they want to buy the right freeze drying machine, therefore make sure that you don’t skip any of them.
Top Reasons To Buy The Best Freeze Dryer
If you are not sure of what the reasons are to buy the best freeze dryer, here are some of the top reasons why you would want to purchase one of these devices:
- Higher quality of food
- No preservatives would be included
- Best value if you have a large family that would require large amounts of storage
- A great option to ensure that you have what you need without worrying about what is in the food
- Simple to use and easy to get the food prepared
- Large pieces and the ability to cut them as you wish
These are just a few of the numerous logical factors to be aware of when it comes to taking the final decision.
FAQs on Freeze Dryers
1. What Are The Reasons I Might Need To Have A Supply Of Food Ready?
You never know what is going to happen to you or your family, which is why having the food prepared is great for an emergency. When an emergency occurs, then this is going to be a staple and blessing for your family and there are many times when you can use these.
Some of the ideal times when you would want to utilize your storage include hurricanes, financial distress, war, pandemics, and much more. If you have this ready and available, then you can have some peace of mind that your family will have no lack of food to stay alive until the crisis is over.
2. What Is This Machine?
This machine lets you freeze-dry various types of ingredients, which is the ideal method when it comes to food preservation. This is even better than dehydrating or canning and these machines are used for plenty of reasons, including preserving produce from the garden or stocking up for emergencies.
They can also be used to make meals that are easy to prepare, save any leftovers, and even create healthy snacks.
3. How Much Can I Prepare Every Year?
The amount that you can ideally save or store every year would depend on the capacity of the machine that you are choosing. It also depends on the number of batches that you are running through the machine every week.
If you are doing around 4 batches weekly and if you take around 2 weeks off, then you are going to be able to save 400 cans of food each year on average.
4. Is This A Cost-Effective Way To Create Food Storage?
Depending on the size of your family and the quality of the ready-to-purchase items like meals, vegetables, meats, and fruit, it can cost you a lot. If you are not going for the basic dehydrated noodles and some basic food, then it can cost you around $35 per can and can go even higher.
This is going to be multiplied if you have a large family. The machine can produce around 400 cans every year; hence, If you are doing this at home, then you can save around $14,000 alone based on the cost of the food and you can save more if you were to grow the produce yourself.
5. How Hard Is The Process To Get The Food Into The Machine?
You might think that this process is complicated, but it isn’t really. You simply need to cut the food up into the shapes and sizes that you want, place them on the trays, and push the start button. The majority of these units are easy to use and would let you know when they are done and after that, you can put them in the Mylar bags.
6. How Long Can The Food Be Stored?
If you are using the right machine and if you are adding the oxygen absorber as required, then the food that you are putting inside could last for around 25 years. However, you should make sure that you are turning your stock around so that you are using the food that was stored first rather than the most recent items.
7. Can We Use Pharmaceutical Ones At Home?
There are so many options that you would be able to choose from, and you might want to get one of the pharmaceutical models. However, these tend to be complicated and very expensive, which means unless you have the money to spend, you may not want to go this route. These can be used for a home that requires a larger capacity and if you want to have the programmed settings.
These are often used in larger pharmaceutical companies and they require more electricity and special plugs. Make sure everything is compliant if you are considering using one of these in your home.
8. Will These Machines Go Down In Price Anytime Soon?
These are the latest technology and one would hope that they would go down in price after newer models are brought into the market. However, they are still very pricey and nobody can guarantee that the price is going to go down. But they will save you money down the road if you are looking to create food storage or if you have a large family.
9. How Can Food Be Stored?
There are a few ways that you can store the food that you are putting into these machines and it would depend on what you have available. If you don’t have access to cans and the means to fully close them, then you can easily use mylar bags.
For those who have access to the cans, then the larger the better. Using cans makes it much easier to store them on shelves and you can write the dates on them as well. Think about which option is going to be the right method for you.
10. Why Is This A Good Idea For Larger Families?
Depending on the number of people in your family purchasing the food that is already prepared, it can be expensive. However, if you are willing to do the work and can purchase the food items, then this could be made easier. For larger families, you are going to need more storage and this is going to be the most price-effective way to store a large amount of food. You can do this whenever you have time.
11. What Features Should I Be Looking For?
There are numerous features that are part of the machine that you should be checking out. Not only do you need to consider the number of trays that are included, but also the size of the entire machine.
You should also look at the capacity that you can fill it with and what they say about the weekly capacity would be. The higher-end ones also have settings that you can choose, but you don’t need them if you want to keep everything simple and quick.
12. What Maintenance Is Required For These Machines?
You would also need to be aware of the maintenance that would be required. This is something that you must always look at; however, these don’t require a lot of work or effort.
All you are going to have to do is to remove the filter, take out the old oil, and then add in some more before replacing the filter. This would take you around 2 minutes to complete, especially after you have done it a few times.
13. What Are The Pump Options That I Should Consider?
When you are doing your research one major factor to always look at is the type of pump that is included. There are going to be a few basic options that would be something you can look at and more often than not the basic oil is going to be supplied. However, if you have the money or if you need a different one, then you can pay the additional cost for the premium or even the oil-free pumps.
Wrapping It Up
There is a lot to know when it comes to the best freeze dryer and how to choose the right one. You want to ensure that you know what to look for when you are considering buying one of these high-tech machines for your home.
Not only should you be looking at the type of them, but also the capacity of the machine and how much food you can store easily if you run it a few times a week. The storage options as well as how many trays and the capacity can also help you to make the choice much easier.
It might not be an easy decision, but the more you are aware of its amazing benefits, the quicker the decision is going to be. Of course, you should get one only if you have the requirements. These machines are very easy to use and they can be run by anyone, so why not save yourself money and time by doing it yourself?
