Freeze Dryer vs Dehydrator: Differences, Pros & Cons

[@dianafurney5820]

I'd love a freeze dryer but way out of my budget. I love watching your videos.

[@Jlmajors8]

I really wish I could afford a freeze dryer I would use it every day. Thank you for your videos and time. Very much great information.

[@LisaB_at_Pine_Ridge]

Oh bless you for doing a video on this - so appreciate you❤!

[@foodprepguide]

My pleasure! ❤️

[@tonette6592]

I would love to freeze-dry precooked meat and leftovers, and freeze-dry my homemade soups and broths. However, there is no way I can afford or worry about a freeze-dryer, and I am in love with dehydrators! I successfully dehydrated eggs and harder cheeses, ( you have to change cloths or paper towels under the cheese several times). Mostly sharp cheddar, parmesan, colby, gouda, and provolone. (Soft cheeses melt too much.) I would also like to put away more dairy products; it is a real pain to dehydrate sour cream and I gave up. Your onions look like they were dehydrated at too-high of a temperature,(I have done that). I was just totally pleased with how well my dehydrated cabbage, bell peppers and zucchini cooked in soups.

[@foodprepguide]

I did sharp cheddar once in the dehydrator (using the paper towel) method and it was virtually tasteless when done! But I wonder if maybe it was a low-quality cheese to start with. 🤷‍♀️ Yep, I definitely went too high on these onions. Forgot to lower the temperature after running a load of ground venison. 🤦‍♀️

[@tonette6592]

As I said, it happens, and yes, different brands of cheese makes a big difference.I have to stop myself from pigging out on it fresh or dried. @@foodprepguide

[@foodprepguide]

LOL I hear ya!

[@thickwristmcfist3399]

Great video with LOTS of information! Always love your presentations! Bravo! Cant wait for the next one! Feels good to be back!

[@foodprepguide]

You have been gone a while, haven't you? LOL Thank you for the kind encouragement, as always. 🙂

[@crystalallen4031]

Such good info!!!!! Thank you!

[@foodprepguide]

Glad it was helpful!

[@silviag1547]

Thank you so much!! You just put everything into perspective for me .

[@foodprepguide]

I'm so glad! ❤️

[@terrydraheim4769]

Love your channel, it’s very informative. Thank you

[@foodprepguide]

Thank you & welcome to the channel! ❤️

[@BusDriverShirley]

I’m 70 so I don’t feel I will get enough out of a freeze dryer with price and my age. I have been dehydrating for over 50 years

[@LisaB_at_Pine_Ridge]

I got my FD primarily for eggs and milk (dairy cow and goat milk). Really want to upgrade my dehydrator.

[@cherylb.9766]

Thank you

[@bradlafferty]

Thank you for your assessment. I like how you make these videos based on facts gained from usage experiences instead of emotional narrative. Respect.

[@zergyzerg5581]

this was so helpful !! thank you so much.

[@foodprepguide]

I’m so glad! You’re welcome. 😊

[@dianafurney5820]

I would love to see how to make beef or other jerky

[@foodprepguide]

I'll make note of that & see what we can do!

[@ciscolypse]

Thank you! This was very informative and useful!

[@foodprepguide]

I’m so glad!

[@lillypatience]

When you talked about your freeze dried foods absorbing moisture in sealed jars, are these jars where the lid was still sucked in or loose? I haven’t had any issues so far. I use my food saver attachment and chamber vac to vacuum seal the jars. I split the cost of my FD with my brother two years ago. He got the short end of the stick since it’s at my house and he hasn’t used it at all 😂.

[@foodprepguide]

I had an instance of both. I can understand the food in the unsealed jar softening but the sealed one? The only thing it could be is that food wasn’t 100% dry when I put it in the jar, but it passed my “tests” at the time or so it seemed. 🤷‍♀️ Lol!

[@Thisisit120]

I so appreciate this video. Could you please do one on freeze drying Meat. Preferably cooked & raw.😊 And I would love to see more Freezedryer videos.❤ by the way I’m a New subscriber.

[@foodprepguide]

Welcome to the channel! ❤️I'll add your requests to our video idea list, and we'll see what we can do in the future!

[@JudyHillhouse]

Just a question...for the freeze dried foods...do you fill and vacuum seal the jars as soon as the freeze dryer process is complete?

[@foodprepguide]

As soon as you know the food is thoroughly dry and actually done, yes. For instance, there have been times the freeze dryer was done but, upon further inspection, the food was not. If I take food out of the FD & can see that it is thoroughly dry and done, then I do package & seal immediately. Hope that helps! :)

[@naomidassay5016]

Truly helpful information Thank you SO MUCH!

[@foodprepguide]

Glad it was helpful! ❤️

[@myaazizan9280]

Question, does the dehydrator works for candies and such? Like freeze dried candies . Does it work in the dehydrator also?

[@foodprepguide]

No, candy doesn’t dry well in a regular dehydrator. Marshmallows do though! 🙂

[@shawnswain5813]

Would adding moisture absorbers work?

[@foodprepguide]

Removing the oxygen is usually sufficient, but you certainly can use a moisture absorber. foodprepguide.com/oxygen-absorbers-vs-silica-gel/

[@lindabuice1756]

I would love to have one but I’m 76 and can’t justify spending that much money. Don’t feel like I would get my money out of it.

[@cherylb.9766]

How do you determine that your FD foods are finished drying?

[@foodprepguide]

I put it on 12 hours of "extra" dry time no matter what I'm doing. So once the FD "thinks" it's done, it runs for another 12 hours. I've only had 2 times when the product wasn't done with the added 12 hours. In that case, I noticed cold spots. With very clean and very dry hands, I touch parts of the food. If any of it feels cold to the touch, it's not done & needs to dry longer. There are far more scientific ways to check-involving thermal measuring tools-and/or weighing the product until it no longer decreases in weight ... but extra extra dry time & looking for cold spots seems to work fine for me.

[@joabohorquez5228]

Move to minute 6:55 to get to the point :)

[@CynthiaElliott-b3m]

the electrical bill sure goes up when you use a freeze dryer

[@foodprepguide]

Ours seems to average about $3-$4 per run. Definitely an increase but not horrendous, but we only run a handful of batches each month. What do you average?