Freeze Dried Onions

[@MM-oc3sb]

I absolutely LOVE my KA dicer attachment for my stand mixer. It is so fast and quite easy to clean. It is expensive retail but i got a great deal on a used one. Also, save those skins and ends - they make amazing additions to broth - they give it a deep golden brown color.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Great tip!

[@usha777]

Love your food storage set up, wish I have the room to do one that size.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Thanks usha777, might be time to convert that spare bedroom. :)

[@cyndidame1721]

I liked the chopper also. When I did my onions I did some as slices but really liked the chopped best of all. Great video.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Thanks Cyndi

[@omahanb1]

I have that same vacuum pump I've never seen a video about changing oil properly but I found the best way to clean the oil and I'm willing to share. I purchased a couple extra quarts of oil so when I drain it into a clear plastic bottle I put in fresh oil the first time then I let the used oil sit undisturbed in the plastic bottle for a couple weeks The clean oil rises to the top and a scum forms on the bottom. I pour that oil into the Brita filter stopping short of the scum. That way all I'm filtering is the clean oil and so far I haven't had to replace the filter. I collect the dregs in a bottle and trash it when its about half full. I use a square shaped tea bottle so I can see the clear separation as the oil flows over the dregs mostly water and food particles. After that I just use the filtered oil and top up the oil as needed. I'm doing 60 eggs today and tomorrow onions.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

D SC, I use a similar filtering technique myself. Thanks for tips!

[@lauragrandgenett]

Thanks for doing those different ways of FD onions. Did you find any particular one the best for different things?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

I like the bigger chunks and the "chopper" method best. Thanks!

[@guritno2012]

I pay close attention to the wiring (I assume it is the power cord for the Chopper power supply)

[@HomesteadEngineering]

I see that now that you mention it. lol

[@JT-2012]

Love the video, David. Onions and Bell peppers are a staple in our home. 🧅 We don't have a freeze dryer so I dehydrate them. Yours are definitely prettier. 😄 I almost bought one of those choppers. After seeing them in action, I'm getting one. 👍 Have a great week.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Hello JT, Freeze dried bell peppers have a lot of flavor for sure. I like just having them straight up. I don't know if I can recommend that KitchenAid just yet but the chopper is definitely worth it. Thanks!

[@JT-2012]

@@HomesteadEngineering After seeing all the pieces to wash, I don't want that KitchenAid. 😄 It also takes up a lot more storage space that the small chopper.

[@tulipsmoran5197]

The new 13 cup KitchenAid dicing kit cuts perfect sized cubes that dry well in the Freeze Dryer. Do you insert oxygen absorbers in the pint jars that you process? I store just about everything in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers mainly because we have humidity here and oxygen absorbers in glass jars create a small account of condensation. My concern is that the condensation potentially could impact longevity. Your thoughts?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Tulips, I normally use quart jars and I do add an oxygen absorber. I think the better way is to use mylar bags like you say and only use jars for shorter term. I have had a few jars pop there lids and go bad over time (maybe 2% and usually a re-used lid). Thanks!

[@GradeBmoviefan]

Good job!

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Thanks!

[@DisabledandPrepping]

Oh my dream item would be to get a freeze dryer. Being a single person I quit off and have a lot of leftovers so end up having to eat the same meal several times in a row sometimes. Be able to freeze dry it and have it for another time maybe awesome. Plus I often get a lot of food from food pantries and things seeing I live on a fixed income. I actually think a freeze dryer would be extremely useful for somebody that is on a fixed income. Right now the only option I have is to try to dehydrate anything that I can to go as far as I can.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Hello D&P, unfortunately it seams that in many cases it takes money to save money. That is true of so many things in prepping and in general life. People of lesser means almost always pay more for food, power, transportation, housing and I could go on and on.

[@DisabledandPrepping]

@The Pervy Prepper I can order freeze dried food off of Amazon with my EBT card but I don't have enough to be buying a ton of it or even a bucket of it at a time. Have been ordering a few number 10 cans every time I get my EBT payment because right now they're giving us more than they used to but I know they're eventually going to take it away and I think it's this month or next month so I've been trying to do that which is the best I can do for a long term food storage. It would be really nice if we could find a way to get a freestyre it would help me in my financial situation so much more if I could freeze drive food for later. Often when I get food from the food banks I have to either use it up right away or dehydrated. Sometimes things don't get dehydrated fast enough Cause I'm waiting on something else to get done in the dehydrator. And then unfortunately I aint of having to throw it out because sometimes it's just not the freshest when you get it from a food bank or a pantry.

[@DisabledandPrepping]

@The Pervy Prepper Yes it would be really nice to have a place where I can go and get food freeze dried. It would save them a lot of trouble too in the long run because I'm sure they have stuff that they've ended up throwing away. The freeze dryer they could just freeze giant and still give it away it wouldn't it rot.

[@MaN-pw1bn]

This might help you - Harvest right has a payment system that you can pay as much/little as you can until it's paid for - a layaway program that is definitely worth it for those on a tight budget.

[@DisabledandPrepping]

@@MaN-pw1bn Oh wow I didn't know that do you know if the machine has a lot of upkeep and does it take a lot of power?

[@SouthernHomemaker2023]

keep it up! prep on

[@HomesteadEngineering]

We definitely should be prepared for hard times that are coming BUT keep in mind that a new day is also right around the corner. Important to put some time into preparing for the new dawn. Great and exciting things are ahead for a new generation of folks ready to meet the challenge of the future. :)

[@KalanchoeMonarch]

Alaska prep recommend you 💕

[@HomesteadEngineering]

AP is the best! Welcome aboard. :)

[@jesus.maryandjoseph8880]

How many pounds of onions? Did you pre-freeze them in your freezer? How long did the cycle take? Thanks.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

JMJ, I don't recall the weight but I am sure that I froze them in the freezer prior to running them in the Freeze Dryer and I don't think it was a particularly long cycle (I think about 24hrs). Thanks!

[@Sabrina1998]

Should we blanch them before freezing?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Hello Sabrina, I did not and I don't think that is necessary. Thanks!

[@Sabrina1998]

@@HomesteadEngineering thank you 🙏🏻

[@johndoe-uf9pu]

are there any smells left over in the machine?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

The entire room smells like onions for days. But it goes away and I don't think it would effect the next run if cleaned properly. Thanks!

[@richardbrown5318]

What is the process to jar them ?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

I take them out and immediately put them in jars with oxygen absorbers then vacuum seal them. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKOVo5dtpaufh7c

[@richardbrown5318]

@@HomesteadEngineering Thank you for your time and knowledge, I appreciate you very much, also what type of vaccum sealing machine is that you have interested in trying this system out.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

@@richardbrown5318 Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJTaoKZnrs55qtk link in the description Thanks!

[@tulipsmoran5197]

You posted a comment that you run your freeze dryer off solar. Up until this point I ran the freeze dryer on the main and calculated about $1.56-$2.00 per batch so it wasn't a big deal, but with energy costs now increasing and potential rolling blackouts, I want to try using the freeze dryer with off grid solar. I have an off grid 12 panel array/10,000Wh max Battery bank that I can draw at under 50% to sustain a 4,100Wh consumption with 4000W continuous/9000W surge inverter. I run my freezers and refrigerator on it. I've never tried the Freeze Dryer. I have a Medium freeze dryer with Premier Pump. If you don't mind sharing, let me know the stats on your system. How many W/A does the freeze dryer draw? Have you noted the continuous/surge required? What is the size of your system and inverter that you use? Are you grid tied or off grid? Harvest Right wouldn't give me that info.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

I have two start to finish videos on my solar power. One for the roof mounted and one for the ground mount. Roof: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opSqm6J-iJulpKc Ground: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGimoHZ_YpV8pbs I also have a pretty detailed video on running my freeze dryer off solar here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3KlaZ6hmZlgr9U I use a transfer switch to do it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIa5ZHSYqpmKfLM Note: if you have a FLA battery bank I would not run it down 50%. See this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZO9dqmca5ecbtE Check the playlist for more videos you might find useful. Thanks!

[@muhammadakhtar1501]

Who is the manufacturer of this freeze Dry Machine? Do we have to freeze first for all products or we can directly dry them in the machine?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Harvest Right Freeze Dryer: affiliates.harvestright.com/954.html You don't have to freeze anything before putting directly in the machine but it does speed up the process to pre-freeze it.

[@dangoras9152]

Nice we may have to get one of them after we do our other array... Keep it up brother

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Hey Dan, the freeze dryer is really paying off. I am slowly building up a supply but I have also improved my diet by eating a LOT more fruits. In addition, I don't think I have thrown out any strawberries, banana's, apples or pears since I bought it.

[@jerryanderson9502]

David did you seal the jars or just put the lids on the jars

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Jerry, I always vacuum seal the jars. Note: I have had a few pop their lids after a few days. Not sure why yet. One popped its lid after one day and I resealed with a new lid and it is fine now.

[@jerryanderson9502]

@@HomesteadEngineering I tried vacuum sealing some fresh garlic and the bags blew up after a few days so I think the garlic was off gassing in the vacuum bags. Might be something about vegetables

[@TacklingTheGiants]

What all do you have in jars so far(that you've freeze dried)?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

So far I have: 1. Onions 2. Bell peppers 3. Banana's 4. Apples 5. Pears 6. Pineapple 7. Hash Brown potatoes 8. Sliced potatoes 9, Sweet potatoes 10. Tomatoes 11. Strawberries 12. Carrots 13. Eggs

[@TacklingTheGiants]

@@HomesteadEngineering you should make some powdered milk, sour cream, cream cheese and shredded cheese!

[@tulipsmoran5197]

@@HomesteadEngineering Try yogurt, herbs, condiments like BBQ sauce/mustard/ketchup, pickles (dill slices are an incredible snack). I also freeze baby kale/baby spinach in zip lock gallon bags, crush when frozen and freeze dry. Then I powder them in my Vitamix. 1 Tblspn of powder is equivalent to 3 servings of greens super packed nutrition. A great way to maintain vitamin/minerals in SHTF conditions. I mix a Tblspn in morning smoothie - apple, protein powder, grapes and the green powder sometimes some ground oatmeal. It's a super charged nutritious drink that actually is a meal. I also freeze dry vegetable seeds for longevity. After testing I had super germination rates. It's a great way to preserve seeds. I have filled trays with 2% milk, freeze them then pop in freeze dryer. I break up the slab and powder in the Vitamix. Incredible tasting milk. Not like chemical or dehydrated milk. I also freeze dry cheese - the 2lb bags from Walmart. Freeze in trays overnight and then freeze dry. Reconstituting is super simple, e.g. toss a few over chili, potatoes, broccoli, pizza, I scramble up some freeze dried eggs and sprinkle the cheese over or inside for omlet, or stirred into warm butter macaroni or just about anything you put cheese on. I've also frozen quite a bit of meat - frozen meatballs, cubed raw chicken or pieces of rotisserie chicken, ham slices/ham steak cubes. If I cook it I generally try to freeze dry it.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

@@tulipsmoran5197 Sounds good, Thanks!

[@pamelamercer1124]

Why do you freeze them first?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Hello Pamela, The 1st thing a Freeze Dryer will do is freeze the food. So I pre-freeze it for several reasons: 1. Reduce the work on the expensive freeze dryer. BTW: I also never use defrost 2. I run my freezer off my solar power, so its free 3. I can add stuff to the freezer as needed and then run a batch when I have enough to fill the freeze dryer. This seams subtle but this is what allows us to not waste food. Thanks!

[@pamelamercer1124]

@@HomesteadEngineering ok, I was wondering if I missed something regarding how well the food comes out. I did know that it saves time and money. I don't use defrost either. I let nature do it's thing. 😊

[@hootowlholler3760]

Excellent! I bet they smelled good. So are you going to freeze dry everything from the garden this year?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Hello Hoot, the house still smells like onions! My garden did not do all that well this year. I did get a lot of potatoes, maybe 700lbs or more. I am working on getting them all out of the ground and processed. French fries (freezer), hash browns (freezer) and mostly chopped and canned. Come on down and bring your potato peeler!

[@elisabethschmidt8065]

24hrs correct?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Yes

[@nardsbalanggai5571]

Send address where to buy the machine

[@HomesteadEngineering]

affiliates.harvestright.com/954.html

[@dannydenham8141]

Cheap plastic chopper 👍 Got one like it.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Yep, sometimes simple and cheap steels the show. :)

[@sumerbc7409]

So during a emergency we need to hit the prepper's houses, ok got it. 1st rule of prepping, don't tell everybody what you got

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Its protected

[@jeremiahsmith7924]

Wow, he's putting barely any on those trays... I load mine all the way up, especially when it's something like onions that are diced up like that and have a crap ton of surface area. I dice tomatoes the same way and they freeze dry easily no matter how high they are piled

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Its been a while but I think your right and you could probably load it up a bit more. I kind of go by how much water ends up coming out. You don't want too much ice building up for a given run.