In any case, maybe it will help some newbie HR Freeze Dryer owners to answer some of the questions I once had.

Congratulations! You are now the owner of a new freeze-dryer; or you are ready to make the purchase! While the freeze dryer itself is a major investment in food preservation equipment, you will want to make certain you are prepared with a few other items

If you don’t have the time or money, or if you believe the food crisis will hit hard very soon, then it makes more sense to buy freeze-dried food instead.

Know what your personal preferences are to determine the efficacy of owning a home freeze-dryer. Trying out some commercially freeze-dried food might help in this quest.

Granted, most of that time is the freeze dryer doing all the work, but the process is not without effort. Once the food is ready it must be put into appropriate containers with oxygen absorbers and sealed properly so they can last.

It's so much easier to stay on a low carb diet when you have things to nibble on. I've been drying meatballs (cut them in half first), and they make a fantastic savory snack. I'll post to the Tried and True thread when I get a chance.

Full One-Year Warranty only includes the U.S. continental 48 states Warranty Period: For one year from original ship date. Included: Premier oil vacuum pump and oil-free vacuum pumps. Harvest Right will be responsible for: Repair or, at our option, replace any part of this freeze dryer and/or vacuum pump which proves to be defective in workmanship or material. Consumer will be responsible for: Costs of service calls. Consumer may also be responsible for replacement parts caused by consumer misuse and neglect of product. See Normal Responsibilities of the Consumer below. Limited 3-year warranty Warranty Period: For the second and third year from the original ship date. Harvest Right will be responsible for: Repair or, at our option, replace any part of the sealed refrigeration system (compressor, condenser, evaporator, tubing) which fails because of defective workmanship or material. Consumer will be responsible for: Diagnostic charges for determining defects, and any costs for transportation and delivery of the appliance required because of service. Limited Warranty (Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Puerto Rico) Time periods listed above. Included: Premier oil vacuum pump and oil-free vacuum pumps. All provisions of this limited warranty are the same as listed above except that service will be provided by the customer or a qualified local service provider that is approved by Harvest Right. The consumer will be responsible for the cost of transportation of the product to the repair shop or the travel cost of the technician to the consumer’s location. In the event a consumer is required to ship the product directly to Harvest Right for repair, the consumer is eligible for a shipping credit in an amount determined by Harvest Right at the time of shipping. Limited International Warranty (includes all countries not described Buy Now above) Warranty Period: For one year from original ship date. Included: Premier oil vacuum pump and oil-free vacuum pumps. Harvest Right will provide: Support through telephone and e-mail only. At our option, all parts deemed necessary will be provided by Harvest Right. Consumer will be responsible for: Costs of local service and cost of parts for consumer misuse and neglect of product. Costs for transportation and delivery of all parts, for any reason, from Harvest Right to Consumer. Normal Responsibilities of the Consumer: This warranty applies only to freeze dryers used in clean environments and when operated in accordance with Harvest Right instructions. The consumer is responsible for the following items: 1. Proper use of the appliance in accordance with the instructions provided with the product.

Some special food items cannot be prepared with regular appliances – especially if you need them prepared at a high volume. This is where specialized cooking equipment are helpful.

Oil Mist Filter: Both pumps come with an oil mist filter. However, the Premier Pump’s oil mist filter allows for no oil spray at all and it will last much longer.

Karla Abreu says: 2 years ago I just think pressure canning is the easiest way to preserve food and know it is totally sterile. And it is relatively easy

If this sounds too familiar, it’s likely that you’re wasting a great deal of money on eating out in your refusal to attend to your broken fridge.

A walk-in freezer isn’t an appliance that you would find in a domestic kitchen! But, they’re very common in restaurants.

The key is to freeze as fast as possible then dry as slow as possible. The freezing stiffens the cells so that when it is dried, it still maintains it's shape and texture.

I've run the system in countless tests including over filling the pump and running the pump without a load (both result in lots of oil spitting out the exhaust port of the pump). I've drained the catch can twice, once with over 5 oz of oil in it, but have not collected any oil downstream in the jar so the system is performing well.