Which Size Freeze Dryer Is Right For You? Guide to Choosing the Right Size Freeze Dryer

[@elainecurtis3649]

I"ve had my medium for almost 2 years, don't use it everyday, but I believe I've gotten my money's worth. had 2 issues, one was the power cord I received was wrong, but did'nt take overly long to get the correct one. 2nd one was a software issue, fixed pretty quick, once I figured out what I was doing wrong, lol. I don't do candy, don't change temps, just let the machine do its thing. I treat my machine like another way to preserve food. I also can, and dehydrate, so this is just another tool. I love my machine and do not regret my purchase.

[@live.life.simple.]

great to hear that you just let the machine do its thing. Way to many folks trying to reinvent the wheel in my opinion. It's designed to be easy to use.

[@daniellejean624]

I’ll be using once or twice a month. Do you recommend a small?

[@adsrentals]

As a solo, bought a small and never looked back. I acquired another one a year later, I keep them in the kitchen and rotate them. Turn around times are great with the small since I do small batches it doesn't take me a long time to fill it. I have the oil-less pumps because I didn't want the vapor venting or dealing with oil changes. I put them each on a roll around foot peddle lift cart from Harbor Freight, dryer and pump fit perfect on the cart. Also, I use them to pre-freeze by using the manual setting in the test screen, I get things to minus 20 quickly. The parchment paper and tray dividers are great, I've been waiting for the stackable lids for small to be produced.

[@codyzimmerman2582]

I was under the impression you still need to vent with oil less?

[@amyking3236]

I purchased my small harvest right freeze dryer this October (2023). I had to make room for it, ordered a stainless steel cart, and some other supplies so I didn't get it hooked up until beginning of December. It has been running every since. I have freeze dried about 20 dozen eggs, chili, tons of pressure canned tomatoes into powder, pork roast and potatoes. I'm cleaning out the freezer to freeze dry most of my meat. I chose a small because of every reason you listed. I am living in my travel trailer. I'm limited on space, amperage/ power requirements. I am very happy with my small. Thank you for your review. A coworker is interested in getting one in the future. I will direct her to your channel and this episode. Thanks again.

[@robingirven4570]

Purchased my medium a year ago. I’ve been loving it. Just finished caramelized onions and celery. There are only 2 of us but I have 4 grands and their Mom next door who love fruit. Thank you Brian!!

[@olgapietri4062]

Just purchased my first FD . I am a little bit scare but that is why I am here , to learn .I got the medium.

[@live.life.simple.]

Congrats! There are many resources to learn. I wrote a book called "The Freeze Drying Handbook" that you can find on Amazon or at www.freezedryingsupplies.com You may also want to consider joining our Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/retiredat40livelifesimple/

[@Mstos90]

Wish I had seen this two months ago. I bought a large and it’s just a little big for 2 of us! Thanks for the videos. I’ve watched for over a year before I bought one. Very informative.

[@live.life.simple.]

Well buying too big is better than the alternative! Happy Freeze Drying!

[@spayne9496]

Thank you for explaining all the different sizes. I ordered a medium and was wondering the size. Have a blessed day!

[@emmanuelletumulak2487]

Your freeze dried videos are incredibly enjoyable! I've been daydreaming about owning a freeze dryer myself, but it's just not in the cards financially 😅 Nonetheless, watching you experiment with it brings me a sense of contentment and joy. Keep up the awesome work! 😊😊

[@flatcat101]

Exactly what I needed to learn, thank you. I subbed, looking forward to learning more.

[@fazz4444]

Did you ever fo a video comparing Harvest Right with Alpine and Stay Fresh. I would live to see that. Just joined your channel and loving what i see so far.

[@bmack03]

Yes! That is how I found this video. Looking for reviews on all brands as so many are having issues with HR but I want the XL as my first FDer.

[@valeriebeverly4158]

Thank you. This is the most educational, simply stated video I have seen. Also, grabbing the book.

[@homesteading60]

How many cups of food does a large tray hold? I noticed on your bananas video...sliced thicker and on end rather than flat...you recommended 9 hours of freezing and 7 of drying - or something close to that. My large machine is running 4 trays loaded about the way yours looked - 72 bananas for the load - and the freezing took about 20 hours and the drying stage is 26 hours in with probably another 10 hours or so to go. Have I done something wrong? Are our machines different? I'm a little confused by the huge difference in times... Thanks! Love your videos and information. I just bought a moisture meter and the meat tenderizer. Great tips.

[@sillyme50]

Which pump would you recommend? I'm looking to buy a large, and can't decide which pump to go with. Thank you.

[@paulettagyurik2644]

Thank you Love the video Is HR planing for more upgrades in the coming year 2024

[@americanhottopics7373]

Extremely helpful. Thank you!!

[@live.life.simple.]

Glad to help!

[@blueraven2345]

Awesome, thank you.

[@grahamw824]

I have a little side business where I make and sell salts/seasonings and make specialty gourmet type candy. Would the small one be good for making freeze dried candy on a small scale (until I'm able to afford a place with more space and when I have a bigger budget?)

[@lindamedero6347]

Have to clean off the coils inside the freeze dryer on the left side (facing the machine). Can I just unscrew the back and then the side panel will come off so I can use a soft brush? I tried using a velocity dryer to blow the dust off from the outside, but that wasn't sufficient

[@wannabe181]

Have you seen the square aluminum insert that TKOR uses when they freeze dry different kind of cooked eggs? I really want to know how to get that!!!!

[@TheRealBatCave]

What weight of food can u do in ur XL, or willing to put in the XL or at least pounds per tray? Getting conflicting weights from different sources including harvest right I have the 7 tray and they r telling me 35 pounds is to much in thier opinion for the 7 tray XL

[@AliciaRyann]

XL. I’ve owned 3 L since 2016 lol. I won’t give up my girls (workhorses). But if I can’t get screen replacements etc and stuff comes up.

[@carolinamountainliving7501]

What’s the best source for just buying freeze dried meat? Happy to pay a premium but don’t want to be ripped off either.

[@Laurie-lh9hj]

Do you have to load all trays to cycle the machine? Can you mix trays in one cycle?

[@sowandtare]

Loving my Large!

[@ChristineOak]

Do you feel like the bigger ones dry less evenly than the smaller ones? I keep seeing a lot of issues with large and xlarge not working evenly.

[@CROWNandPEARLS]

I have learned a lot from your videos and what to buy my first equipment, Do you recommend the oil free pump? do you think it is a good investment? Thanks.

[@live.life.simple.]

I don't like the oil free pump. It's loud, expensive and requires a full rebuild by HR at 3000 hours.

[@miltg6322]

@@live.life.simple. What do you do with the used oil? Do you dispose of it somehow? (Great video btw.)

[@deepnineforty5646]

I can get an older version medium for under 2 k or the new one for 2900 ish. What would you recommend?

[@live.life.simple.]

Newer models have an additional tray and most updated software. I have heard there are some other features that the new ones will be able to upgrade to soon.

[@rachelwright9213]

How much electricity does they each use ?

[@live.life.simple.]

Depends alot on your areas electrical costs. Average is $2-3 per run

[@JimmY-jf3rw]

Debating from large to xl. Will the xl unit use same energy as large if only drying let’s say 10lbs batches ?

[@glamrhinestones9283]

same. which one did you get?

[@MartyLewandowski]

I have a question, my wife and I work full time, so if we start a freeze dryer cycle, and say it gets done in the middle of the day when we are both at work. Is our food ruined? Do we have to empty the dryer as soon as its done? I've searched on Harvest Rights website but I cant find the answer.

[@adsrentals]

Use the extra dry time to keep it running, I keep mine on 12 hours, you can always stop it when it's convenient for you. I work full time and put in a batch after dinner and let it run all night, look at time remaining in the morning to figure the end time. I think the extra time defaults to 2 hours.

[@MartyLewandowski]

Awesome thank you!@@adsrentals

[@live.life.simple.]

Most people set their extra dry time to 24 hours so it's never an issue on completion time. If you didn't, the food is just held in a holding pattern at a cold temp so it does not get ruined.

[@andrewadams6431]

The prices is what is stopping me from getting one, I am on SSI. 😢

[@CptWacko]

Other question: What is the freeze dry time difference between the models? Do small ones do the freeze drying faster, thus they have a lower OpEx than the XL ones?.Thanks!

[@amyking3236]

The time depends on what you are freeze drying and the moisture content. The XL has way more food and moisture so more time to freeze dry. I have a small and so far the pureed tomato, raw whipped eggs take about 24-30 hours. Chili took about 36 hours. It also depends on humidity and ambient temperature. There's really no definitive answer. There are many variables.

[@mantzbrinkman4780]

If you are using the same pump on all sizes, the smaller is fastest. I don't know how to precisely answer your question. There are lots of parts to a cycle. Generally, freezing drying is the longest part of the cycle, followed by the freezing part of the cycle (it can be shortened by several hours by pre-freezing in the deep freeze), followed by the defrost cycle (usually about two hours) followed by the letting it cool down a bit (highly variable from zero to as long as it takes to hit room temperature), followed by the pre-freeze cycle. So, the longest cycle is the freeze drying part of the cycle and size greatly affects that as the pump remains the same and that is instrumental in moving from freezing to vacuum freezing. Your question is a good one and it would take someone with different sized machines to run them through the paces with the same product and keep track of the time associated with the different parts of the process from start to finish. Me, I have two mediums operating with Premier Pumps and I have not regretted the choice of my set-up.

[@jamesyoung159]

I have a medium HR with 4 trays. Can you replace the trays with a 5 tray option you mention or will it be a whole new unit?

[@live.life.simple.]

As far as I know, HR sells the rack unit separately. I need to do the same for my XL, as I purchased one of the first ones that were 6 trays instead of 7

[@valajeanweishahn2907]

I upgraded my 4 tray unit to the 5 tray and love it.

[@4zooflorida]

None, because they are a bit beyond my budget.

[@jasonweeks7079]

Ok great. Thanks for letting us know. Get back to us when things change, we will be waiting for you.

[@michaellindauer538]

You should purchase the one you can afford. Simple

[@ChristineOak]

Do you feel like the bigger ones dry less evenly than the smaller ones? I keep seeing a lot of issues with large and xlarge not working evenly.

[@live.life.simple.]

I would imagine that many people are overloading the larger trays and getting that result. I learned that when using the XL. The trays are so large and the quantity of food is much larger, it's easier to slop it on there instead of making even properly loaded trays. That was my experience, maybe others have had a different one.