Homemade Ham TV Dinner Freeze Dried Ep391

[@thecreeksidehomestead3329]

John, on the Sweet Potatoes 🍠, how about if you ground it up into a powder after freeze drying.😉

[@tughill1172]

AWESOME John. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheFreezeDryGuy]

Interesting stuff John. Thank you for taking the time to share. 🤔As much as I love to freeze dry, this idea of yours has given me thought to go a different route with such good left overs. There are actually foil 3 reservoir trays that are 7"x9" with card lids I found on Temu that can be placed 2 on each HR tray for freezing and freeze drying (and be re-useable if desired) but can also just be left frozen and eventually reheated like the old fashioned tv dinners we grew up on. I am also thinking about you mashing your sweet potatoes. Younger expectant parents may want to plan in advance and puree some foods into freeze dried baby food. I have read about the idea of some mothers even freeze drying their own breast milk to have on hand for the next child just in case. (well marked of course)

[@lcdc59]

Thanks for all the info John!!!

[@JohnInBibs]

You're welcome!

[@dennispatison1547]

I have freeze dried ice cream carmel topping. Have to add a lot of water. So make your sweet potatoes all most watery. That should work.

[@carole6779]

For the sweet potatoes... maybe try putting some pourable brown sugar (doesn't clump) and mini marshmallows into their own little bag. Then mix that into the "plain" version of sweet potatoes after they rehydrate. Walmart sometimes carries a product called "Jet-Puffed Bits" which are teeny tiny vanilla marshmallows. Another thought is using a couple of small honey packets to substitute for the brown sugar. You solved the Macaroni Challenge. I know you'll find a way to resolve the Sweet Potato Conundrum. 😄👍

[@JohnInBibs]

Thank you I like the idea of the mini miniature marshmallows. I looked on amazon and they do sell brown sugar in the single serve packets so I am pretty sure that is the solution!

[@JoanWakefield]

After watching your video shipwreck stew and cornbread, i got busy and cooked a big pot of pinto beans and made cornbread in a small muffin pan, that's in the freeze dryer now. After New Year, i freeze dried the leftover pososole and nacho cheese, both are great.

[@JohnInBibs]

That's a great idea for using up leftovers!

[@JoanWakefield]

Maybe you could have crunched the sweet potatoes before you added the water.

[@carole6779]

Also, I love the different packaging options you come up with. So creative! 👏☺ I checked and those TV dinner trays are definitely too tall for the 5-tray medium Harvest Right (my new baby, woo hoo!). Amazon says 1.6 inches tall and there's only about 1.5 inches of clearance with the 5-tray HR model. But as somebody else already mentioned, people could pre-freeze in small portions then pop those into the TV dinner trays for storage after they've been freeze-dried. Where there's a will, there's a way and those trays are a great idea. Thanks again for all the inspiration! 🍱😋

[@JohnInBibs]

Thank you for the good info!

[@Lettuce-and-Tomatoes]

Maybe, you can freeze dry three trays at a time and put them in the 1, 3 and 5 slots? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@carole6779]

@@Lettuce-and-Tomatoes Unfortunately, the rack unit is not adjustable. You can't easily remove a shelf. Also, the warming components would probably get messed up in the process. But it's a nice idea, if it were possible.

[@carole6779]

@@Lettuce-and-Tomatoes Sadly, the rack unit is not adjustable. You can't easily remove a shelf and doing so would probably mess up the heating components as well. But it's a nice idea, if it were possible. 😊

[@cheryltidd7274]

🎉Happy New Year, John🎉 Here's to another year of great videos🥂

[@JohnInBibs]

Cheers! I am so glad you enjoy the videos!

[@dwayneneitzel4684]

What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@JohnInBibs]

Thanks for watching, I'm glad you like it!

[@PhyllisKindelin-e7u]

Thanks! I’m old and don’t know much about Facebook but I did manage Betty’s Group so I’ll keep on!

[@JohnInBibs]

I think her group was the first one I joined, I am still a member but don't post much

[@SuperFoamguy]

If sweet potatoes don't work out, you can add desert😊

[@clintwhite7369]

Great video John. I like to mix 1/2 russet and 1/2 sweet potatoes and make those into a “mash”. Gives you best of both worlds in my opinion.

[@JohnInBibs]

Thanks, I am always looking for new ideas!

[@dianemyers250]

I like that idea!

[@historyteacher4402]

LOL!! I was thinking when you were loading the corn that you were being skimpy. I like sweet potatoes without all the sugar/marshmallows. I wonder if you could mash them and use a maple flavoring rather than brown sugar. That would give you some flavor. Thanks a million for sharing with us!! I can’t wait to see your Easter dinner. 😋

[@JohnInBibs]

I am glad you like the video and thanks for the good idea!

[@cheekysaver]

John, I would try some deep scoring into the sweet potato mash... put it in the tray and then cut it into half inch cubes in the tray. The water might have a better chance to get in then. I would try a sample first... I don't have a freeze dryer.... so really it is a shot in the dark.

[@JohnInBibs]

Thanks for the suggestion, it makes sense!

[@misterp158]

Puree and then freeze dry the SP separate then grind or powder them. They rehydrate instant. I have done a bunch of SP pie filling. Good video. Looks good, what time is dinner? Thanks for Sharing. Happy New Year.

[@PhyllisKindelin-e7u]

Great video! I received your two books today and I’m so please with them!

[@JohnInBibs]

I hope you enjoy them!

[@stephaniemartin8779]

Hi John! Concerning your sweet potatoes....have you thought about adding some cool whip? It works for the pumpkin!!

[@Dulcy-Doll2736]

Everything looks delicious! Maybe you could include a tiny packet of brown sugar and marshmallows in the tray, and when you are rehydrating, add them to the sweet potatoes and mix.

[@JohnInBibs]

That's a great idea, thanks for the suggestion!

[@PhyllisKindelin-e7u]

I am! I’m still trying to find out if sliced pickled beets can be FD. Do know?

[@JohnInBibs]

I have never tried it but people in the facebook groups say they come out great

[@dianemyers250]

I have done sliced pickled beets many times….they are great!

[@MisterEMystery]

There’s this Tuber that puts out a video every day (slots video, he’s a self-made millionaire) and I watch him every day. But ya know what? I see your video right next to his in the feed… and I WATCH YOU FIRST! Great meal, too bad the sweet potatoes continue to give you trouble. As for ideas.. how about you freeze dry them and put them in a sandwich ziplock, and crush them into a powder with a rolling pin like you’ve done with graham crackers. I don’t know if that would work or not, just spit-balling. Leave the powder in the bag, it won’t give much if any protection but if it’s powdered, it’ll keep it all together while finishing the process of putting in Mylar. Then when rehydrating pour out the powdered sweet potato into the tray and hopefully it works. Good luck!

[@JohnInBibs]

Sounds like a great idea and about the only practical way to do it. I think I could get away by reducing the meals to 7 per load and using a half tray for the potatoes. I also (since recording) thought about just making the plain mashed sweet potatoes then including a brown sugar packet in with my salt and pepper, then I could add the sugar as I rehydrate. Thanks for the idea

[@kayemoore]

Would a FLAT brown sugar disc or packet like your salt and pepper of brown sugar, become a glaze quickly if on top of separate plain mashed sweet potatoes, still all in the same tv dinner pouch. Wondering… You’re so awesome!

[@usm.6915]

That looks delicious! :-)

[@JohnInBibs]

Thanks! It was pretty yummy!

[@usm.6915]

Experiment time: John, what about using SWERVE brown alternative instead of real, yummy brown sugar?

[@jodyvansleeuwen5123]

If you have the 5 tray that won't fit the meal trays, you could pre freeze everything in the meal trays, pop them out to freeze dry, then they would fit right back in for storage.

[@JohnInBibs]

I've never thought of doing that, great idea!

[@sinclairpages]

Perhaps if you had broken up the sweet-potatoes after freeze drying, they would reconstitute better. More of a powdered sweet-potatoes.

[@Diana-km3zf]

I was thinking the same. Add parchment paper so you can lift it out and powder first.

[@jeffmckinnie7943]

John maybe you could do some videos based on specific groups needs like hikers, then campers, then... People that do short term Freeze Drying.

[@reneebeam426]

Do you use the tang or tea powder as it cones, or do you freeze dry it to remove any trace of moisture? I have been making homemade (iced) pumpkin chai latte and freeze drying and putting in the 1 cup mylar bags. I haven't yet made any of your full meals in 1 bag with all the parts, like this one. A good way to do it.

[@JohnInBibs]

Thanks for watching, I just put the powder in the bag without freeze drying it. It wouldn't hurt to FD it but space is so limited on my loads. I do feel safe the way I package it because it is sealed in an air tight bag to isolate it from any of the other food contents.

[@reneebeam426]

@JohnInBibs thanks! It's so humid here in the summer. I would probably need to bag up the whole jar as soon as opened, but that should be easy. Thanks! And thanks for another great video. I don't have any ideas for your sweet potatoes, I normally just do mine mashed.

[@keithloucks7369]

Great ideas and concept

[@KatMa664]

What if you just put the brown sugar on the side and mixed it in after you rehydrated the sweet potatoes?

[@myrandabrown]

First time seeing your face in a video. You’re cleaner cut than I imagined.

[@JohnInBibs]

Thanks (I think) lol

[@keithloucks7369]

Why would not put the O2 absorber in the food container with the food?

[@JohnInBibs]

Thanks for the question. I do not like to expose my O2 absorber to the atmosphere for too long. The lids can be very difficult to get onto the trays. You could put the absorber in the tray before putting the lid on but for me it takes too much time. The lids are not air tight so in my opinion they work just as well sealed outside the tray and inside the shrink wrap.

[@myrandabrown]

Mashed sweet potatoes possibly.

[@dwayneneitzel4684]

Where do you get the salt and pepper packets?

[@JohnInBibs]

I get them from Amazon, If you check out my affiliate link I have them listed

[@dwayneneitzel4684]

@@JohnInBibs I will look for them on my next Amazon order. Thank you.

[@amandaaskew7606]

I am just as disappointed in the sweet potatoes as you! I harvested nearly 300 lbs of sweet potatoes this year. I would love to put some of the candied ones up. There are lots of good ideas here. I hope you keep trying! I love the TV dinner ideas!

[@JohnInBibs]

I appreciate your support and hope to find a good solution!

[@historyteacher4402]

Wow!!! Great harvest!!

[@amandaaskew7606]

@historyteacher4402 thank you! If only everything would have been that productive, lol. I joke that my Christmas presents looked like commodity boxes this year! They had my home canned goods, soaps (I am a soap maker), homegrown onions, and sweet potatoes in them, lol.

[@janetquinn7988]

Maybe it’s the marshmallows that is the issue with sweet potatoes.

[@JohnInBibs]

Could be but I am pretty sure it is the brown sugar, It dries rock hard.

[@47retta]

That's an extremely high carb meal! I hope you don't have diabetes!

[@Lettuce-and-Tomatoes]

This seems like an awful lot of work and expense to store these meals. Are you taking them on a camping trip? If not, why not just vacuum seal them and freeze them? You could freeze them on reusable metal trays and reheat them in your oven. I watched all of the way to the end even though I’m not sure I’d ever do that. Cool video!!!

[@JohnInBibs]

I look back to South Carolina and the hurricane. After a week of no power I am sure most peoples food that was in the freezer was destroyed. In a grid down situation it would be nice to have a full meal that only needed water to reconstitute. Even in a bad situation without the ability to heat water (I have a solar oven that would work) the meal could be eaten cold. Just a thought.