Using a Vacuum Chamber for freeze dried food

Vacuum packing freeze dried food with a vacuum chamber

[@kayemoore]

Been on the fence for months and you convinced me! Thanks for all you share with us!!

[@bobjaynes6821]

Great find, Phil - much appreciated!! 👏 👏 👏

[@Bev437Sqn]

I have put this on my Christmas & Birthday wish list. Thanks for another great video. Our freeze dryer will be opened Christmas morning. Not so patiently waiting and admiring the crate in the garage here in BC Canada

[@Philat4800feet]

fun for 2023

[@Uncle_Buzz]

Super cool! Thanks for all the time you take to show good info, Phil! Cheers.

[@Philat4800feet]

Thanks for watching

[@kimberlyshada9716]

WOW! What a game changer! Thank you for sharing. You are so knowledgeable & thorough in your presentations. I Appreciate that.

[@Philat4800feet]

I was surprised how "cheap" they were.

[@kimberlyshada9716]

@@Philat4800feet yes, I was too. Thanks again. 😊

[@richardfuller2326]

About a year ago, I bought a vacuum chamber from Amazon. I paid about $135.00 and it included a vacuum pump as well. Works extremely good. We love it! If you want to see how much air is left after vacuum process, just vacuum an empty jar, then open it upside down under water. The air left at the top is how much air didn't get vacuumed out. Using this vacuum chamber will not have any air left behind if done right.

[@eviebays]

awesome, I did this very same thing about a year ago. it makes it so easy to use your jarred food. I set my psi, at 20 inch, that is pretty tight for the jar lids. much better vacuum then a vacuum sealer, I have never had one come loose. One thing, if you don't have another pump, one of the cheapest, smaller, pumps works great, very small and and space saving. one of the things I would like to add to my set up. is another divider, with a small hose to vacuum bags. that way I could control the amount of air I pull out, and not crush some things. I love your video's. Evie

[@Philat4800feet]

Kind words

[@maracorley8762]

Awesome!! Thanks for the review!

[@dan-phokathedewman4696]

THANKS FOR THE TIPS.

[@sherryrogers7693]

I bought mine and it is great!

[@nadinepetersen6321]

Thanks for the new idea. I have a chamber vacuum sealer and it is a game changer. Just checked through my stored food bags which were sealed using your FD method and found I had to repackage a few to get all the air out. Some Mylar bags had little punctures. 🤔

[@Philat4800feet]

I have found some foods get really sharp and hard and will puncture the bag.

[@jeffrichards2011]

Thanks Phil!

[@lcdc59]

Thanks for another eye opener!!

[@Philat4800feet]

My pleasure

[@MispelledOnPurpose]

Thank you for sharing this! I was wanting a smaller vacuum chamber for reusing nonstandard glass jars. Instead I'm going to get one like this so that I can better package mylar bags also. I have the hardest time finding o2 absorbers that really work like they're supposed to and I order them from different places hoping to have better luck.

[@Philat4800feet]

I found the best OA at Discount Mylar and LDS Distribution Services

[@davidarnold7665]

@@Philat4800feet There are other videos that do Scientific tests of OA capabilities, and the LDS Distribution services use a specific manufacturer that out tests the others.

[@PierceWellnessCenter]

Thanks so much for posting this (and all videos) I just finished getting a set up just like yours. The pump smoked profusely so I ordered a Demister from Harvest Right for $35 which is working well at removing the oil mist. Whole setup for under $200 and can vacuum multiple bags at once. Many blessings and thanks Phil! ❤

[@Philat4800feet]

Good to hear. I love this set up.

[@kellyvcraig]

The mist from a cheaper pump, with no de-mister, bothered me, so I put a C-Pap hose over the output and noted the mist carried out the end of the hose fine. It wouldn't be hard to put a Y on the end of the CPAP hose and set up so a computer fan pushed air in the Y, in the direction of the exhaust port. That would allow me to run an even longer hose and exhaust it outside, because the air from the fan would put a mild vacuum on the mist port.

[@PierceWellnessCenter]

@@kellyvcraig I tried using a usb computer fan and within a minute it ignited the oil mist causing an explosion that broke the exhaust filter and the fan into pieces. Please be careful of sparks around the oil mist!! I can only imagine if the room were full of mist what might happen.

[@Philat4800feet]

@@kellyvcraig Good ideas

[@JennJennPA]

What about a piece of charcoal filter from a three strage type air filter? (The stand up ractane ones with a prefilter, hepa filter and charcoal post filter) to allow the air to oass through but reduce the mist?

[@vickiebonano2092]

Wish I would have seen this before I bought a vacuum sealer by Avid Armor. Which is also awesome for marinating meats.

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

Thanks, as always, for the hint. The fittings on my Harvest Right are JIC (37º) and used in a lot of US hydraulics. Most HVAC systems use SAE (45º) fittings. I have replaced my poor quality HR vacuum line with an off the shelf hydraulic line to get better fittings and crimps.

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

It might be worth while to know that 1 in of mercury is equal to 25.4 Torr or 25400 mTorr like used in the FD process.

[@BowWowPewPewCQ]

One last thing... My HR pump is BSPT ( as are most things made in China) not NPT. They are close but the thread shape is different. If doing this make sure to tape well.

[@Raceydog]

You should have affiliate links for all of these tested accessories, tools and such. I’d much rather buy the items you’ve given your opinion on knowing you got something from it too. I don’t think anyone that follows you would think it’s a bad idea.

[@Philat4800feet]

I was a little resistant at first due to constant supply change problems.

[@rdbentonoldhomestead1691]

I know more then one person including myself that is having trouble with the oil free pump. We had an oil pump to start and then purchased an oil free pump. I will rebuild it one time and then it’s a boat anchor. The oil pump still works fine.

[@Philat4800feet]

OIl-free pumps only work in worlds with unicorns and magic jelly bean fields.

[@clockwatcher9309]

For those small cut corners, you could seal them easier with a cheap flat iron made for hair. It’s what I have used for years.

[@Philat4800feet]

Yup

[@angelinar.612]

1) You can sandwich the mylar bag between two small thick aluminum square baking pans TIED SNUGLY with velcro! 2) Then place in vacuum pot. 3) WALA! Smooth sides! NO SHARP CRINKS WRINKLES

[@Philat4800feet]

Good idea

[@michaellimery1707]

Hi! there Mr Phil you have the most awesome videos on food preservation, I specially like the one on "are the so call Mylar bags, really Mylar" Wow! great video. Thank you for taking of your time y to do all this testing and making the videos. On this video (Using a Vacuum chamber for freeze dried food) you mention you have a video on "ASTM Puncher test" could you provide a link to this video? Thank you once again for all the work you do to help the prepare community.

[@Philat4800feet]

Hoping to post 12/13/22

[@dingotopruc9642]

I use half gallon jars to keep my latex paint left overs for future touch ups, good forever. I also tried it for left over tile grout powder, perfect for future touch ups or repair and guaranteed color match. If you keep paint in a metal can it will rust and become useless within six months.

[@Philat4800feet]

Good ideas. Need to try.

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Super Useful Info. Thanks for the video. I see that this method works well with Jars too. Are there other advantages of this method over standard vacuum sealers like "foodsaver" or similar from Avid Armor?

[@Philat4800feet]

You can use any bag.

[@debrasonner5970]

How to you keep the bags from sucking oxygen back in once you open the chamber? You did not show how you reseal to keep the bags from sucking in air whilst waiting to be resealed. I am new to freeze drying less than a month and I can tell you I so appreciate the knowledge you pass on. Thank you so much.

[@Philat4800feet]

The area around the vent hole is flat. The vacuum inside is sucking the two side together. This seals the two sides until it can be heat sealed.

[@eviebays]

Oh my, I forgot to mention, you can also vacuum, other jars, even the gallon pickle jars, as long as the jars are not to old and the rubber seal is still good. Its, a tad harder to get open, I use a spoon. to lift up on the lid, just to release some pressure. works great, and can reuse them over and over. Evie

[@Philat4800feet]

Good to know

[@RightOnTarget1]

Phil, I have a similar setup and have done testing with it using red beans. I found that several of my vacuum packed bags failed over time, not due to being punctured by the food, but at the corners of wrinkles in the bags. Some bags may be better, but it puts a lot of stress on the bags. I decided to not vacuum pack as a result.

[@Philat4800feet]

Sorry to hear that. Good luck.

[@jdsbees3257]

Have you tried vacuum packing without cutting the vent hole? I’ve found that if I put my bags in the vacuum chamber, zipped shut and top side up, pull a vacuum of about -25, then allow it to sit a few minutes, the pressure created inside the bags by the vacuum outside them, forces the air to leak through the ziplock seal. When I open the valve to equalize pressure, the bags deflate, and the contents are sealed tight. It allows more time to heat seal, without having to worry about air being reintroduced through a vent hole.

[@Philat4800feet]

I have not tried vacuum sealing without a vent hole. Some kind of vent is needed whether it's a vent hole or leaky zip seal. No vent could cause the bag to explode.

[@T4nkcommander]

So several years ago I ordered a dehydrator and vacuum sealer with the intention to preserve food. We were still renting, so we were holding off on a freeze dryer. Well, I never ended up using the dehydrator before I got my FD, and consequently my vacuum sealer was never opened either. Thought it got lost in the move, but my wife informed me she thought she saw it....turned out it was literally touching my HR impulse sealer, I just never bothered to read the packaging xD

[@Philat4800feet]

Good for you

[@user-vl6uk6hf9b]

Hi Phil- I enjoy your videos and remember one tip you gave about checking for dryness during the extra dry time cycle. It involved turning off the pump, opening the valve, checking for dryness and then either taking the food out, or turning the pump back on to continue. Which video was this? I've been doing this successfully, but someone questioned me and I can't find the right video to tell them to watch. The person asking me wondered if it damaged the pump. Thanks,

[@Philat4800feet]

Try This: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXbKnH1smtqUpZI

[@waynespringer501]

JVR industries sells the same canister "accessory" to go with their vac 100 chamber vacuum sealers

[@sinclairpages]

I have one and it works great.

[@coldfinger459sub0]

Another thing you do when you’re doing your vacuum before sealing Vacuum, then fill the bag with argon gas. It’s an inert, gas, displaces, oxygen, and preserves organic matter. Repeat this process two or three times it’s really quick And you get your oxygen content in your bag down to the parts per million .

[@Philat4800feet]

Why do I get the feeling you're a welder.

[@coldfinger459sub0]

@@Philat4800feet lol 😂 Actually, HVAC technician But argon is used in science in research to preserve organic materials . They even used it in the attempt to try to lengthen and preserve the declaration of independence in that lead sarcophagus with the glass plate on top . The case is filled with argon. and it’s not that much more expensive than nitrogen .

[@proudcanadian7299]

Hi Phil! I'm curious about Nitrogen injection because I've found that vacuum sealing can damage bags (as you well know) but also I find that some foods (fruit in particular but candy also) will turn into a giant ball if vacuum sealed. So I'm thinking about possible ways to vacuum and then inject N2 into the bags. Thoughts?

[@Philat4800feet]

Most snack foods are package with nitrogen. You would need to figure out a sealing method without having the nitrogen leak out and the air in. Sounds interesting.

[@kellyvcraig]

I bought a 5 gallon chamber for woodwork about a year back. I'm using a Harbor Freight pump on it. On a whim, I applied a vacuum to it and left it for two weeks. At the end of two weeks, it was still at or near 30". Impressive seal. Instead of the stock configuration, like yours, I blocked the right, put a T on the left and used couple valves there to allow me to start the pump with no pressure on it, even when the chamber was still under vacuum. ANYWAY, thanks for the video. I'll have to test drive it, because I also use both vacuum sealing and absorbers to get as much air out as possible.

[@Philat4800feet]

I was impressed on how simple it was. Don't know how this works with stain and wood work.

[@jeanfeick4879]

Over 70yr. and need some help: I love your videos and thanks so very much. 1. Is there a way to contact you other than a "comment"? 2. Is a 2-step pump better than a 1- step? 3. How to keep food particles from sucking into the pump - or not an issue?

[@Philat4800feet]

1. 2. A two step, or two stage, will give you better vacuum. 3. Not completely, however, if you put your hose in an upward loop, it will help. There are inline vacuum filters available.

[@guillermotorrejonc9084]

Lista con materiales, precios y proveedores.

[@miscemail2901]

Just be sure to leave enough expansion space in the pot. I've had a bag pop when the vent hole got bent over and blocked so it couldn't release the air.

[@Philat4800feet]

Agreed.

[@vicj8197]

I had a question based on your video "Freeze Dried Skittles in Eight Minutes" where you used the oven to warm the skittles and then used only the vacuum test mode of the freeze dryer. Since the only usage was to create a vacuum, would it be possible to use a device like this? Is it possible to use this for the vacuum pressure to pull apart the skittle after warming in the oven? Such a process would be significantly cheaper than buying a full blown freeze dryer just to make "Freeze Dried Skittles".

[@Philat4800feet]

I updated my skittle procedure. Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpfdq3V4isqhipY You could use a chamber, but a chamber with heat would be better.

[@seek3n]

I've been testing out to use vacuum chamber to cook food too! Hahah. Have you notice wierd things with food? I tried to make my own gelatin powder from bone broth. But I think it destoried the gelatin amino chain. (Not sticky) anymore.

[@Philat4800feet]

Haven't tried Bone Broth, but I know a deep vacuum and freezing can affect protein bonds.

[@RoyLappe]

Hey Phil. Your videos are awesome. Just purchased me a vacuum chamber and can't get it to seal jars for some reason. Put it together as the instructions said. Any ideas?

[@Philat4800feet]

I had to play around with the tightness of the rings. For me they needed to be "snug".

[@RoyLappe]

@@Philat4800feet Thank you, Sir, will try that. Even thought about getting different seals instead of the plastic ones that came with them.

[@tammyk6708]

This is awesome. Costco has a chamber for 600$ and it was a little too much for me.

[@alaskalady747]

I use that one at costco to retort can in retort bags instead of jars for canning. I love my machine.

[@tonycampbell7175]

what size of oxygen absorbers do you us can you reuse them? .is there a way to turn off the factory extra time off ? I Fell asleep before i got getting my raspberries out and they seemed over done I have a new harvest right. I have learned so much from you thank you

[@Philat4800feet]

I use one gallon bags, so I use a 300cc OA. I also vacuum pack my bags Go to custom settings and enter 0:00 for extra time. Be careful, you may have ice in some of your food. If you keep your temp around 125-130 you won't over cook your food.

[@bobthecreator106]

Do you absolutely have to use a vaccume chamber after dry freezing? I saw other videos where they don’t use this machine.

[@Philat4800feet]

No. You can just bag or use a jar with an oxygen absorber. Vacuum packing is an additional measure to remove oxygen.

[@jeffarh]

Phil how long after releasing the vacuum do have to seal the bag?

[@Philat4800feet]

If the inner area is clear of "food dust", several minutes. The vacuum helps pull both sides closed from inside.

[@davorinrusevljan6440]

Ok I must be particularly dense, but why the air does not get back into the bag after you open the chamber and before you seal them?

[@Philat4800feet]

It's pretty neat...the vacuum is sucking the two side together so hard it makes its own seal. It's important to leave a clear space near the vent hole.

[@RonLane2542]

Phil, just found your channel- question about the mylar bags- how do you seal them inside the vacuum sealer?

[@Philat4800feet]

The two sides of the bags are sucked together long enough to take the bag to an impulse sealer and seal the corner.

[@RonLane2542]

@@Philat4800feet I have a Chamber Sealer with an impuls sealer inside - will I be able to use this for my freeze dried food? I am brand new to the Freeze Dried community - have the XL Freeze Dryer on the way - All the help is greatly appreciated!

[@Philat4800feet]

@@RonLane2542 If you follow my instructions, using a vent hole and folding the flap over, any method of vacuum should work. Play around with it. Just don't vacuum seal fruit- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJmxYopsnc99laM

[@RonLane2542]

Watched! Thank you.

[@kayecramond3263]

Awesome. Living legion 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Philat4800feet]

Yeah!!

[@tammyk6708]

Does that lid fit on a 5 gallon bucket? I would like to seal up wheat berries, flour and such.

[@Philat4800feet]

13.25" OD. Gasket 1.50" wide

[@slocoast5]

I want one for freeze drying. Will this work If i first put food in mylar bags and regular food freezer. Once frozen put under vacuum to actually work to freeze dry under vacuum instead of buying harvest $3-4k food freeze dryer. 😅willing to try unless not possible Thanks.

[@Philat4800feet]

You need to add heat to force the solid frozen ice to "melt" and change directly to vapor (sublimation). Then you need to remove the vapor somehow since the vapor will decrease your vacuum.

[@Thisisit120]

So can you put glass jars in there? And how big of a jar a gallon a half gallon or what?

[@Philat4800feet]

Glass jars work well. I have used quart jars. Don't have any 1/2 gallon jars.

[@kygunrunner]

I have the avid armor usv32. Game changer. Can adjust vac pressure, vacs and double seals bags. Even the thickest mylar bags. Also vacs jars up to 1 quart size inside chamber, no hose or attachments needed.

[@Philat4800feet]

What's the cost????

[@kygunrunner]

@@Philat4800feet they are currently $569 delivered. Free shipping. I bought my mom 1 on black Friday for around $530 delivered. I have had mine since July and couldn't be happier. They work best with 1/2 gallon bags or smaller. You can do gallon but depends on size orientation of bags.. also I recommend not using zip lock bags. Unless there is a good amount of bag above the zipper, because it can interfere with the sealing. Some zipper bags work good, some don't. You can also adjust heat seal temp to use with standard vac seal bags, that don't require as much heat to seal.. I buy the regular bags from avid armor at a very reasonable price and use them for freezer, or fridge items. You get like 250 bags, depending on size from around $15-$30. I have had zero issues with anything I have purchased from them. I don't get a dime for promoting them, im just an honest end user. Plug and play. Put the bag in machine hit the button, and in 25-50 seconds bag is vac sealed and done.

[@Philat4800feet]

@@kygunrunner Thanks for responding

[@duanesmallwood4177]

So I don't have an extra pump, so can I tee off from my freeze dryer and pump system

[@Philat4800feet]

Yes, if you have room for everything. Some chambers come with pumps

[@dan-phokathedewman4696]

Can you store those bags without Refrigeration?

[@Philat4800feet]

Yes, although they should remain in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.

[@Chatty_Kathy]

Will a 1/2 gallon Ball Jar fit in that one?

[@Philat4800feet]

I don't have that size, but I can fit 4-2 liter bottles of soda inside.

[@odalaigh]

Could you get a Y adapter for the pump you are using for your fd?

[@ArtFlowersBeeze8815]

Im sure you could, but will it void your warranty on your Harvest Right machine pump? I read somewhere in the manual, modifications to the pump or machine def voids it. I dont think a Y on the tubing would damage anything. If anything its another point of vacuum error.

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

After working with my vacuum pumps and hoses I think you would have problems with a Y. I could be wrong. Maybe put a Y valve like there is on the top of this chamber so it could be closed on one side or the other? It is a good idea!!

[@Philat4800feet]

I believe so, you would need to valve the Y, and have room for the vacuum chamber. There would be a negatable drop in vacuum for the freeze dryer. Good thoughts

[@JennJennPA]

So the vacuum chamber will vacuum seal AND freeze dry all in one shot in a matter of seconds to minutes?!

[@Philat4800feet]

The vacuum chamber, in the video, will only suck out the air out of a jar or bag. The jars are self-sealing. The bags needs to be sealed across the corner. Vacuum chambers will not freeze dry. However, the chamber of a freeze dryer, will freeze dry and evacuate air but not as easy as a vacuum chamber as seen in the video.

[@lazlong999]

Since the vacuum chamber is effectively removing all the oxygen, is an oxygen absorber still required with this method?

[@Philat4800feet]

At a cost of 19 cents, or so, it's a cheap insurance policy.

[@drewbentley5001]

Does this not introduce more oxygen in the bags when they inflated like that?

[@Philat4800feet]

The bags only inflates due to the vent hole size. When the vacuum is released it will suck most of the air out of the bag.

[@drewbentley5001]

@@Philat4800feet So wouldn't it be better to add the oxygen absorber immediately before vacuum sealing? I am thinking that the OA MIGHT be saturated already, then you are reintroducing Oxygen. I realize ideally you do it immediately after freeze drying. Also, is there anything wrong with adding a desiccant and an AO? THANKS and appreciate all your content

[@Philat4800feet]

@@drewbentley5001 The time I package my food, add the OA, seal, and vacuum pack is about 10 minutes.

[@lazlong999]

@@Philat4800feet If the vacuum chamber is efficient and the oxygen removal is preserved until sealing, is an oxygen absorber even required with this method?

[@royalsquishy7058]

Works better with mason jars in the vacuum chamber

[@Philat4800feet]

I guess I'm just a bag guy.

[@royalsquishy7058]

@@Philat4800feet if you think that's crazy you should see what I just discovered, I figured out how to use mason jars to stabilize wood and stone with tung oil

[@royalsquishy7058]

@@Philat4800feet the bag has a hole in it you can never get a true vacuum, but a jar can . Maybe try a bag inside the jar ? Who knows it might work better then both

[@Philat4800feet]

Not really looking for a vacuum, just want to remove the air from the bag. The downside is the crushing force of the bag that you don't get with a jar.

[@josephgendreau828]

What wrong with just using a good old vacuum sealer??? curious? my vacuum sealer i use mylar bags in it as well

[@Philat4800feet]

No problems with vacuum sealers. I haven't tried one. Can you use jars and bags and how many at once?

[@josephgendreau828]

@Phil at 4800 feet yes i do jars and bags with mine. Its an older one but works great. You can olny do one bag or 1 jar at a time and the vacuum only takes like 15 seconds.

[@echopapa243]

Avid Armor.....turn key solution...done right every time, Done! Why reinvent the wheel?

[@Philat4800feet]

I've heard of this a lot. I checked out the web. Pricing all over the place. $200 to $1100.