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.

To get the most out of a freeze dryer, users often turn to specialized accessories that can enhance the equipment's performance and versatility.

At the heart of any freeze-drying operation are the trays and shelves that hold the items being processed. These accessories come in various sizes and materials, each suited to different types of products and freeze dryer models.

The capacity of the freeze dryer isn’t necessarily how much you can fit inside, but also includes how long it takes to freeze-dry a batch. The vacuum pump, condenser, and compressor strength can all make a difference since they reduce process time rather than increase vacuum chamber size.

Freeze drying removes all but 2% of the water in food through a two-stage process that begins with flash freezing (1). If you think a dehydrator would be a better option for you, check out our article on best dehydrators.

We’re always looking for new and better equipment, so if you have a freeze dryer that you swear by let us know in the comments. We review most of our roundups annually, so we can always try to coordinate testing one before the next roundup and see if it makes the cut and beats out our top picks.

For businesses looking to expand their operations, we've partnered with providers that specialized financing options designed for growth:

That’s the decibel equivalent of a running dishwasher compared to a running refrigerator. The oil change frequency also increased from 5 batches to 20 batches, making the already minimal maintenance even easier.

We were looking for a reliable way to extend the shelf life of our garden produce and eggs, without compromising quality. A freeze drying machine not only preserves flavor and nutrients but also greatly extends shelf life – by up to 25 years!

Removing the moisture from your food is only one step in assuring it will be there for you months, years or even decades down the line.

You can speed this payback period up even more buy saving on food costs, one of the largest delays to the break-even point. Getting your veggies and fruits from gardens and your meat from hunting would drastically lower the costs, as we used average shelf prices for food in our analysis.

Even though we have experienced a few issues with our Harvest Right freeze dryer, customer support quickly got us back on track each time.

Trimleaf offers free shipping copyright-wide! We cover all duties & fees if your freeze dryer ships direct from the USA factory, this means no surprise costs or hidden fees, which can put off any excited customer. 

Your customer service went above more info and beyond their duties to help. Their efforts and courtesy were extraordinary and deserve a big pat on the back. I tell everyone about your wonderful freeze dryers and fantastic service. Blessings to you all.