Epic FAIL In My Freeze Dryer! I Should Have Known 😆

[@StephanieMcCamon]

Oh my gosh thank you for this. Ive been wanting to do this for decades, but i never knew what to use. And no not really offendid by the November decore, i just dont celebrate hollidays. Its not for me, but you do you. 😊❤

[@dbcrn859]

The cider actually works well. Run the back of a butter knife along the edges to cut through the crust. Place the tray in a large plastic bag. Reach in and roll up the silicon liner and it will crumble and drop off the silicon.

[@TheBaldeagle001]

Could you use a rolling pin to break it up so get the apple cider out. You are going to use it as a crumbled powder anyway. Seen in another video where he used a rolling pin to break up coffee with cream and sugar in it to make his own instant coffee for hiking and camping, just add hot water. Don't have a freeze dryer yet, but I was wondering if that would work. Also, I don't remember the type of freeze dryer he had, but it was red.

[@usbpphillips]

I dont use a liner when doing liquids so i can use a spatula or board scraper to get up anything that sticks. I also lay a piece of parchment paper over anything that will puff up and get on the heaters, like orange juice will. It still dries, and puffs up but doesnt stick.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@usbpphillips ahhh I’ll try that next time!! Smart!

[@beth5050same]

I was told today wax paper but I think you must be right. I would think the wax on the paper would melt

[@martinmyers1113]

Your videos always teach me something about freeze drying I didn't know. I always feel inspired to freeze dry more stuff!!!! Don't go changin'...Thank You

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@martinmyers1113 I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my videos - thanks for watching!!

[@virginiabirkett4980]

Something that smells Wonderful is Orange peels Cinnamon sticks Cloves Water in pot on low heat simmer. Lasts for a while. I've done this for years and since I love oranges its great. 😊

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@virginiabirkett4980 that sounds fantastic!

[@melodymartin4503]

Thank you for showing why not to freeze dry high sugar liquids! Great gift idea!!

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@melodymartin4503 glad it’s helpful! 😄

[@hostesstwinky]

Nice Christmas display! Great video. I really appreciate that you show your "fails". Perhaps you might consider a playlist of all of them. Thank you for all of your efforts.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@hostesstwinky good idea I’ll have to compile and make a playlist - I always learn from seeing the fails too.

[@lynettedavella3247]

What mylar candy bags do you use? Are they gusseted?

[@chelseycarrillo8824]

High sugar items just need to be diluted when freeze drying. For stubborn / sticky items get a metal bench scraper. Everything just pops right off the trays and it helps scoop them into the bags as well. Dollar tree sells them. Also it’s a simmer pot not a drink, you can omit the cider, esprit he drink mix. It’s just adding sugar. You already have the spices for the aroma.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@chelseycarrillo8824 awesome tips thank you for sharing 😄😄 super helpful

[@lynettedavella3247]

What label maker do you use for your stickers? Is it a thermal printer?

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@lynettedavella3247 amzn.to/3AKlBry This is the one I have it’s a thermal printer

[@brucelarson4283]

Half water, half cider!👍👍

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@brucelarson4283 I’ll try that!!

[@lynettedavella3247]

When you're bagging your candy, do you add a silica packet or oxygen absorber? If not, how long are they fine on the shelf?

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@lynettedavella3247 no I don’t add anything - they will last up to 6 months usually in heat sealed Mylar bags.

[@lolitabonita08]

TIP...high sugar liquids such the apple cider, orange juice (fake one), katchup, etc...mix water on the juice like 1 water to 5 parts of ingredient...mix well and then freeze dry. U need to play a little since all ingredients have different sugar content...but adding water is a good way to have a perfect end result...and water will go away during the process living you what the real thing at the end.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@lolitabonita08 thanks for the advice!! I’ll definitely do that next time

[@JaniceCrowell]

Fun video. I just subscribed. I how to visit Alaska some time.

[@reneebeam426]

But don't forget to count the extra gas and time driving to multiple stores if you weren't already going there. The fruits look so pretty. I think a star anise or 2 would also be pretty. I also love the fd apples.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@reneebeam426 oooo star anise would be great in there!!

[@SasssyPie]

Oh! The apple slices are beautiful!

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@SasssyPie they turned out so pretty and delicious haha I need to make more

[@kimpatton6564]

Great idea!

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@kimpatton6564 thanks!

[@Bam-ma]

Nice, sledding run. My grandkids would love it!

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@Bam-ma I bet!! They sure love playing in the snow ❄️

[@CarolineDAvella]

What mylar bags do you use for candy? Are they gusseted? Thanks for all the fun videos I enjoy the variety and seeing the Alaskan wilderness :-)

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@CarolineDAvella of course! So I use gusseted bags for candy that puffs up big like caramels and jolly ranchers, smaller candy like skittles, high chew, nerds clusters, I do non gusset bags. I will give you the links to the ones I like below Non gusset: amzn.to/40LyPir Gusset: amzn.to/40HFHxt

[@CarolineDAvella]

​@@DIYfreezedrythank you

[@AnneMorrison-s6g]

Ncringed at your cranberry lol…..i actually freeze them first then dehydrate them….never tried fd yet. I dehydrate from three to for days depending on humidity since I live in PNW , they are dry when they easily crush between fingers like styrofoam…I then put in nutibullet and powder….i make tea with hot water and teaspoon or two of cranberry powder…delish, sometimes I have kidney issues, I will use that as well instant pain relief.

[@dianawatson28]

I bet if you dilute the apple cider with 4 to 5 parts water it would work out. Good luck if you want to try that sometime.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@dianawatson28 that’s a good idea! I’ll need to try it

[@Ozarkscreation]

Hello- where did you find the stainless table your freeze dryer is on. Can you link it?

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@Ozarkscreation I wish I had a link - I bought mine from Facebook marketplace, I have seen them at Costco in the past but not recently….

[@kathygarner419]

Get some packets of instant cider to use in your mixture. They probably have it in your grocery store in the section where they sell small envelopes of hot cocoa packets. I agree with the commenter usbpphillips about using parchment to cover liquids that may puff up and get on the heaters. Take a table knife and go around the edges of your cider pan and then insert a thin metal spatula under the mat to remove the hardened cider and the mat. I would do it over a large kitchen towel or a table cloth you don't care about. Flex your mat and the mixture should come apart. Then you can take your solids and grind them into a powder in your vitamix.

[@judyblaise1639]

I’m so sorry it didn’t work out like you wanted because it would have been so nice to have. You could have added water to the cider to “thin” it out and it would not have freeze dried up to your next shelf. I think you can chunk up the FD cider with an egg flipper or a knife even if you don’t use for potpourri you can drink it. I love your Alaska! So pretty!

[@mistymathews6438]

My 1st batch of apples turned out with marshmallow texture and my blueberry,s failed as well.

[@carebear8146]

Thanks for "failing" so we all know how to do this perfectly. The advent calendar is fun too😗

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@carebear8146 thx for watching 🥰

[@lindalevrio3319]

Did you add the cider powder to the jar? I didnt see you use it or package tied to the jar

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@lindalevrio3319 I poured the powder from the packet into the jar with the other ingredients

[@lindalevrio3319]

@DIYfreezedry thank you

[@corinnemaldonado439]

Can you post the recipe please?

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@corinnemaldonado439 • 1½ cups fresh cranberries • 1 large orange, sliced • 1 red apple, halved • 3 whole cinnamon sticks • 2 tablespoons whole cloves • 2 sprigs rosemary • 1 cup apple cider • 3 cups water, or enough to fill pot Here ya go! I’ll add it to the video description too

[@Willow_and_Sage]

My simmer pots are super basic I guess haha I only do vanilla and cinnamon and let it simmer.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@Willow_and_Sage that sounds amazing too 😄

[@michelleschank1095]

Why couldn't you powder up the cider as best as possible and add to jars? (Newbie here and still learning)

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@michelleschank1095 it felt very tacky and hard to even remove from the tray, I don’t think it would have powdered much. It was more like a crusty syrup crunchy texture….

[@mikeallen1928]

For whole cranberries: Parboil them for 30-45 seconds in a pan of boiling water. Immediately drain them and place them in a bowl filled woth water and ice. Drain. Check to see if they have opened up. Put them and the tray, freeze, then run them in the freeze dryer. Voilà! You still have whole cranberries.

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@mikeallen1928 oh sweet!!! Great to know!

[@ChristinaContreras-x6b]

Maybe you could’ve done the cider and ice cube trays and then just put like one cube in each one

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@ChristinaContreras-x6b that’s a good idea!

[@nbbalance]

Buy some empty tea bags and fill them with the powdered cider.

[@melodyreeder9762]

Try adding water to the cider

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@melodyreeder9762 good idea to dilute it I’ll have to try that

[@Zeets1000]

I thought stuff was not supposed to overlap. Everything I have read says single layer. Does that not matter at all or just some things or non-pre-frozen things?

[@DIYfreezedry]

It didn't make a difference here! I was a bit worried it would all stick together but it didn't, so it worked fine!

[@dogmama6070]

I am a Diet Dr. Pepper addict. Just wondering where did you get your sweatshirt? Love your videos.

[@PennieSchiermeyer]

Your box #2 actually looks like one of those tea steepers, I seen doug and Stacy from off grid with doug and Stacy use one for their mullein tea, pretty neat! Maybe you have a second use for this tool!?

[@darleneg.1894]

That was my thought too. Mine is on a little chain instead of a 'handle'. But I love the powdered sugar idea!

[@lynnallison510]

I don't use cider in my simmer pot. Just water with everything.

[@nathancrocker6066]

I am not sure why are you making Christmas smelling stuff. I thought you were getting ready for your big school sale. It okay I am enjoying your adventure in exploring this. Thanks for the videos.

[@heleneggleston6731]

I am having problems with my FD. It wont achieve the vacuum mode mode. Has anyone else had this problem if so what did you do????

[@jenk001]

A whole clove or two might be nice

[@MisterEMystery]

I didn’t know what a simmer pot was and still am not sure. You don’t eat the food? I did stop the video to enjoy the orange slices. I have some ideas with the apple cider below. Don’t the apples have a core/seeds? Well, I suppose if you’re not consuming the food… The sled/jump was impressive, sorry it melted, but I’m also glad to see it didn’t go all the way down to the street (even if there’s not a lot of traffic)! Well done on the thumbnail, I had no idea what the fail was about based on the photo (good clickbait). Thank you for bringing us into Fred Meyer, I would have been clueless what it was if you had just mentioned the name. Just like if I said Cub, Lunds/Byerlys or even the supplier SuperValu, those with a Krogers, Albertsons or Vons (or is that last one just a Las Vegas chain?) would know these are all grocery stores, as grocery stores are mostly regional. The cider: while not portioning it out, the green dividers may come in handy pre-freezing, helping to remove it easier when done. If not consuming any of it, how about diluting the cider with more water? Covering the frozen cider with a paper towel or layer of parchment might help stop the mess. The jars do look much better than a Mylar bag; more presentable. Good job with your packing! I’m surprised William-Sonoma doesn’t tell you what’s in each box. #2 looked like a tea steeper though I could be wrong. Put fresh dry leaves in, and steep in hot water. It looked like there might be multiple uses for these things!

[@oneofakind6313]

the deer just eat the seeds out of our pumpkins in garden to deworm themselves..

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@oneofakind6313 oh wow! How cool. Moose haven’t come to eat ours yet 😒

[@shirleysolomon8085]

Can you share the recipe

[@DIYfreezedry]

@@shirleysolomon8085 • 1½ cups fresh cranberries • 1 large orange, sliced • 1 red apple, halved • 3 whole cinnamon sticks • 2 tablespoons whole cloves • 2 sprigs rosemary • 1 cup apple cider • 3 cups water, or enough to fill pot I’ll add this to my video description too 😁

[@JesusSavedMe-Alizabeth4truth]

I did apple juice and it turned out a disaster. You know what else turns out like a disaster, pomegranate juice from Costco . It turns out just like the apple juice I learned it has something to do with the sugar so I tried home made apple juice that was a disaster too so I won’t do it anymore

[@jaydubw6033]

Can’t you just make your freeze dried cider into powder!