More excited for next season!

Figneer said:
@ktrain first time hearing about it so I googled it to see, now I know what you and others are talking about šŸ˜€, question after the food go through the process, would you be able to take out and store it in cans/ jars, boxes like pershble food for a long time? Would a humid environment make it go spoiled? This machine maybe excellent to prepare and stock food to use during disasters or cr
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Ideally, they get vacuum sealed or sealed in mylar bags for long term storage. Even jars. If not, the food will reabsorb moisture form the air.... like when salt cakes or synthetic fert gets all moist when left unsealed. It's exactly how food it preserved for astronauts, or trips to the top of K2
 
Figneer said:
@ktrain first time hearing about it so I googled it to see, now I know what you and others are talking about šŸ˜€, question after the food go through the process, would you be able to take out and store it in cans/ jars, boxes like pershble food for a long time? Would a humid environment make it go spoiled? This machine maybe excellent to prepare and stock food to use during disasters or crises
Click to expand...
It will absorb moisture from the air over time.
This stuff is meant to be stored sealed until you use it.
It will be okay for some time in a closed jar or container.
But in a regular in home environment, there shouldn't be enough moisture in the air to matter.
I am still learning, but yes, storing food for crisis situations is the key!
Most of this food can be sealed and stored for 20+ yrs.
 
Another issue I an seeing....The acrylic door is not sealing all the way around.
It is sealed on the hinge side but not on the handle side.
Which causes the rubber seal the ice up in that area.
I read that you may have to adjust the bolts on the door to prevent this...it makes the freeze time go very slowly.
The vacuum process has started this time, so I will make adjustments after this whole batch is done.
 
ktrain said:
Another issue I an seeing....The acrylic door is not sealing all the way around.
It is sealed on the hinge side but not on the handle side.
Which causes the rubber seal the ice up in that area.
I read that you may have to adjust the bolts on the door to prevent this...it makes the freeze time go very slowly.
The vacuum process has started this time, so I will make adjustments after this whole batch is done.
Click to expand...

Shall we start a freeze drying forum to help others deal with this sort of thing? šŸ˜¬
 
ktrain said:
It will absorb moisture from the air over time.
This stuff is meant to be stored sealed until you use it.
It will be okay for some time in a closed jar or container.
But in a regular in home environment, there shouldn't be enough moisture in the air to matter.
I am still learning, but yes, storing food for crisis situations is the key!
Most of this food can be sealed and stored for 20+ yrs.
Click to expand...
At this time of year this week on Friday go to the grocery store and pick up a few turkeys cheap that didnā€™t sell for thanksgiving cook and freeze dry them. So what if a hurricane blows through and Knoxā€™s out power for a couple of weeks. Look at it this way if the Israelites could eat nothing but mana while wandering the desert for forty years having Turkey for 2 weeks should be a cake walk. You will be glad you had it and were prepared.
 
Figgerlickinggood said:
At this time of year this week on Friday go to the grocery store and pick up a few turkeys cheap that didnā€™t sell for thanksgiving cook and freeze dry them. So what if a hurricane blows through and Knoxā€™s out power for a couple of weeks. Look at it this way if the Israelites could eat nothing but mana while wandering the desert for forty years having Turkey for 2 weeks should be a cake walk. You will be glad you had it and were prepared.
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Our plan is after this round, we will start it up with left overs, only we are skipping the turkey and making ham.
Just not fans of turkey anymore.
Spiral cut ham is the way to go...all the cool kids are doing it. lol ;):LOL:
 
I got a small one on Craigslist for $400 last year. They are really cool.

It really helps the garden harvest stretch out. Most fruits work incredibly well. I did a couple batches of figs last year and they were a lot better than store bought. The texture is a bit weird but the flavor was still good. I actually like to pull some out and leave in a zip lock (not air/moisture tight) and they get a bit of squish back instead of the Styrofoam crunch.

I had mine at work for a bit so all manner of candy and sweets were run through it. Skittles, rolo, jolly ranchers, gummies (they have to have enough moisture out they don't really do anything), nerd gummies are all amazing. I like to wait until good ice cream goes on sale, then just cut the whole carton into 1/2-3/4" slices and do them up. Really amazing! Trader Joe's spicy honey turns into magic flakes. Home made garlic powder is ridiculously good (cut the cloves up small before drying).

I've never actually tried doing real food/meals though as I'm not yet building a survival stash. I think things like chili would be great, but seeing the videos of people doing various meats seems like it's kind of a "well if you need to store this 20 years its the best option" but the results didn't look great.

I would look into adding a diesel fuel filter/water separator and a fuel pump to filter and circulate the oil. It basically removes the need to change the oil every few batches. I can dig up what I bought from Amazon and send you a couple of pictures. Then you just put a splitter and plug into the vacuum pump port and it just circulates the oil the entire time the pump runs.
 
hambones said:
I got a small one on Craigslist for $400 last year. They are really cool.

It really helps the garden harvest stretch out. Most fruits work incredibly well. I did a couple batches of figs last year and they were a lot better than store bought. The texture is a bit weird but the flavor was still good. I actually like to pull some out and leave in a zip lock (not air/moisture tight) and they get a bit of squish back instead of the Styrofoam crunch.

I had mine at work for a bit so all manner of candy and sweets were run through it. Skittles, rolo, jolly ranchers, gummies (they have to have enough moisture out they don't really do anything), nerd gummies are all amazing. I like to wait until good ice cream goes on sale, then just cut the whole carton into 1/2-3/4" slices and do them up. Really amazing! Trader Joe's spicy honey turns into magic flakes. Home made garlic powder is ridiculously good (cut the cloves up small before drying).

I've never actually tried doing real food/meals though as I'm not yet building a survival stash. I think things like chili would be great, but seeing the videos of people doing various meats seems like it's kind of a "well if you need to store this 20 years its the best option" but the results didn't look great.

I would look into adding a diesel fuel filter/water separator and a fuel pump to filter and circulate the oil. It basically removes the need to change the oil every few batches. I can dig up what I bought from Amazon and send you a couple of pictures. Then you just put a splitter and plug into the vacuum pump port and it just circulates the oil the entire time the pump runs.
Click to expand...
Awesome man, I have not yet scratched the surface of what can be done with this thing.
I have so many eggs we usually give them away.
But I am going to make a supply and put it in storage.
Going to try some milk as well....you know these are some of the first things to run out in the store when there is a scare.
So that will be 2 main things I do.
Last night I went out and bought my chili ingredients, I will be starting that in the slow cooker this morning.
So I will be freeze drying some this week.
Not sure how it will do though...You have to make sure you remove as much fat as possible.
We will see!
I did purchase another bottle of oil...but I also have the filter that came with it.
But if there is something you can do in line, that's pretty sweet.
I'd like to see pics of what you did.
 
Wow, read the post what a great investment, itā€™s almost getting me sucked into it. Canā€™t wait to see the freeze dried figs. Yumm!!
 
Just seeing this post too....this has been on my list for a long time, my wish list. I see them on Marketplace all the time but I'm afraid to pay that much for somehing used. Having to wait until we move, with all of my other home preserving things, I have no more space. My freezer is full of blackberries and raspberries for picking for the past few years, and I just said to my son yesterday I need to get the freezer more empty so I have more space to put things LOL. So I'll be watching how you like it, as I'm going to buy one when we find a place.
 
Smokymist said:
Just seeing this post too....this has been on my list for a long time, my wish list. I see them on Marketplace all the time but I'm afraid to pay that much for somehing used. Having to wait until we move, with all of my other home preserving things, I have no more space. My freezer is full of blackberries and raspberries for picking for the past few years, and I just said to my son yesterday I need to get the freezer more empty so I have more space to put things LOL. So I'll be watching how you like it, as I'm going to buy one when we find a place.
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Well that reminds me, I meant to throw some blue berries in there and forgot.
But I have to watch some videos to see how they do first.
I'm having fun with it so far. :)
 
ktrain said:
Another issue I an seeing....The acrylic door is not sealing all the way around.
It is sealed on the hinge side but not on the handle side.
Which causes the rubber seal the ice up in that area.
I read that you may have to adjust the bolts on the door to prevent this...it makes the freeze time go very slowly.
The vacuum process has started this time, so I will make adjustments after this whole batch is done.
Click to expand...
@ktrain I don't know how your machine is built but most likely the door has an o ring that help seal it very tight, often time you need to grease it to ensure tight seal and that will make the vacuum portion go faster , thatā€™s common on environmental chambers and auto claves, etc.
 
Figneer said:
@ktrain I don't know how your machine is built but most likely the door has an o ring that help seal it very tight, often time you need to grease it to ensure tight seal and that will make the vacuum portion go faster , thatā€™s common on environmental chambers and auto claves, etc.
Click to expand...
Yes Sir I agree, Harvest Right recommends only to clean with cold water and micro fiber (lint free) cloth.
The chamber and seal are not to have any cleaners or soaps inside or on the acrylic door.
Once this load of items are done, I will attempt to adjust the door hinge.
 
TorontoJoe said:
Ok! I was showing this to my kid. He reminded me of when I took him to a fair this summer where they had a vendor selling freeze dried candy. And it wasnā€™t cheap. He said, ā€œsomeone could pay for the machine from selling candyā€ :idea: (heā€™s 12).

Heā€™s also wondering if he can get some freeze dried Skittles :D
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One smart kid you got there.
 
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