It IS well worth it. I have had mine for a year and a half, and it's paid for itself in the camping and survival food I have prepared. I make scrambled eggs and bacon bits for camping for less than 20 cents vs. $4 if you buy Mountain Home. And we don't even own a freezer any more.

if you are using ball jars, you don't nee oxy absorbers you can vacuum seal using the freeze dryer. That way you are only dependant on the seal, not the seal and the packet. Here's the video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nLCIjLOSvtyvfGQ.html

I would love to hear how you are going running your freeze dryer off grid. I want to get one, but two things are stopping me - the fact it costs about the same as a used car to buy and if it will run my batteries down too much trying to run it on solar. I don't want to ruin my batteries or have to stop a run halfway through because I am running out of power. Any information on your off grid set up you are using to run it would be helpful.

Thanks so much, Hope you found them useful!

So how has the last four months been?

Smart thinking Lovepeacejoy!

Which solar battery are you running? I’m looking at a Bluetti AC300 with 4 batteries has a max capacity of 12kwatts. Wondering if I can run a cycle off that system.

My freeze dryer has more than paid for itself in a year and a half, and I don't even own a freezer any more. I prepare all our emergency and camping foods in the FD. I also use dehydrators. There is a place for both.

Thanks for your comment Tom. I did this fruit video using the new software and prefrozen items. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gt-ZjMyY39ytlX0.html

I am building a solar dehydrator for off-grid, too, but dehydrated food lasts a brief time. Freeze dried food lasts 20-30 years. Also most dehydrated food doesn't rehydrate back to the original state. You can't make a grape out of a raisin. Jerky doesn't turn into a steak. Dried apples can't pass for fresh apples. Much of the freeze dried food, when rehydrated, can't be told from the original. I use mine to make emergency food and camping food and food for my celiac grandson. It's awesome! I also have 2 electric dehydrators for different tasks. One is for far outdoors for peppers, onions, and garlic.

Any time

meat does very well as long as it is not very fatty. If you ever have any questions or concerns before buying or after, feel free to reach out.

Totally understand and can relate... we have been keto for nearly a year now, and I just started saving everything I can for a small or medium harvest right... THANK GOODNESS there's a company only 125 miles from my home here in oregon, that sells them... just travel to visit with the sister in law, and don't have to pay any shipping! WOOHOOHOO!!! WIN, WIN!!!

Just got ares first thing we put in it was sour cream because were on keto and use a lot of it tried freezing it but it separates when it thaws I tried some tonight when it came out added a little water whisked it with a fork nice creamy and delicious

That is an older version medium. This video is an old one

It just so happens i have a video on that as well. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/it5nqa-Czq-xc4U.html

I disagree. Have you priced freeze dried food? It will depend on your situation. It's not for everybody. Have you measured to see what years of running a deep freeze costs?

Yes but if you are using the numbers that you are saving by using your own grown goods then you have a savings. I would agree otherwise. I do buy freeze-dried and it is not cheap. Very true.

Reading your responses it really seems like it is a toss up as to if it is a cost saver. I had been considering one, but this throws it in doubt especially since I am moving towards off grid power. I think what defines if makes sense is, where you are getting a majority of your food supply. If you are growing it yourself and only occasionally are processing store bought items it would seem more viable than if you where just further processing store bought foods. I think of canning the same way. Yes, I can buy a can of peas or jelly much cheaper than I can process one, but I like my stuff better and know exactly what went into it. Furthermore, if the grocery store goes away for whatever reason, I can still carry on as I have the tools and skills to do it.

The person above has not done the math correctly. Also, think of this. If you store something in a deep freeze for 5, 10, 20 years, how much would it cost in comparison to a freeze dry cycle? You pay up front, but reap many benefits later on. You also have little to no waste of food (no freezer burn, no power outage loss of deep freeze contents, etc.) You also only need to rehydrate what you need at the time. That is just 1 of the many many positives. I also like to know what is in my food and where it came from. Try figuring that out on a commercial freeze dried product. To me that is priceless.

Don’t forget cost 2500 and with warranty 3000 van tons buckets freeze dryied.

Absolutely. Thanks for your input.

It does pull more when it first starts up. I had a current meter on the pump that was only 15 Amps and it never pulled more than that. I do have the old JB pump though.

You probably would want a 20 amp if available.

Every dollar counts. Thanks for your comment.

GET equal billing from your utility company--My Gas & Elect. never vary more than a few $$$/month and with a shop behind my house that is heated and cooled and uses some high amp motors my bill would bounce from 80-450/month

AMEN! I use mine to prepare survival food and food for taking camping. It's pennies on the dollar. Mine has well paid for itself in about a year and a half. I did buy a good vacuum sealer. Ziploc bags don't keep a vacuum. We don't do anything for hurricane warnings except top off the gas in the car. I don't even own a freezer any more. That is a huge savings of electricity.

I don't think you need a dedicated circuit. My freeze dryer is in my basement on a 15 amp with other things on the circuit as well.

that's reassuring to hear...thank you!

This is not a dehydrator, this is a freeze dryer. It pulls 100% of the moisture out of the food. A dehydrator only gets some of it.

The metal trays do come with and mine also included the sealer and bags. The meat that comes out of the harvest right is excellent. It reconstitutes well! I get lots of beef and pork from relatives who are farmers and we always have leftovers. The harvest right has been a great way to keep it from going to waste.

Richard D Keep in mind that eggs are not only a great source of protein, but the protein in eggs is considered the "gold standard" because of how well your body uses it.

a set of trays comes with the machine but you can buy extras.

While you are thinking of the cost to run a batch of food in a FD, consider what it costs to run a freezer for the length of time the food will be good. The Freeze-dried food will last 20-30 years and not spoil if electricity goes off. Plus, you will lose everything in a freerzer if power is off for a long time (months or years). So freeze drying it is a one-time cost, whereas keeping food frozen in a freezer can be longterm.

If the door is sealed, you will see a suction ring all the way around from the rubber seal meeting up with the door. It looks like a sucker fish on the side of an aquarium.

I prefreeze almost everything

If you need to make an extension cord, make it as short as possible and use 10/3 wire. My large FD uses the 5-20R plug/outlet so you will need to use those. Just make the cord yourself as you will have a hard time finding one that is the right length etc. I have the Kill-o-watt meter but it is not 5-20R compliant. I will see if they offer one. Good luck.

Thanks for your comment. Price per pound would vary for what type of food you are drying as cycle times vary dramatically, even doing the same types of foods. My dryer is the medium size, which i think is the best value out of the 3.

I know it depends on what your drying, I'm just wondering if the 5 tray adds 25% more food than the 4 tray machine, does it take 25% longer to dry? cost 25% more to operate? Or are the cycle times the same for each machine (if all machines were drying the same food, just different amounts) I know you don't have this info, was just a passing thought, I did request that info from Harvest Right after watching your vides.

You make a great point. If HR gets back to you, please share the info with us and maybe someone with a larger machine can chime in as well.

After receiving a response email and calling and talking to Harvest Right and some extensive math, here is the conclusion. Cost per batch is 23% lower with the medium machine but the large machine gives you about 25% more product. So using an average price per batch based on power consumption to dry the same type of product (60 trays worth) the small machine would cost $30.00 for 20 batches, the medium machine would cost $28.88 for 15 batches and the large machine would cost $28.80 for 12 batches . So total cost to use the medium or large machines is pretty much the same, it comes down to how much you do and how fast you want to do it it.

GREAT INFO! Thanks for sharing

Agreed. Just making the comparison for energy consumption. A freezer or fridge is an appliance everyone has.

Good points. I live over 20 miles from the nearest food market but have a ton of farmers within arms reach. Abundance in the fall and starvation in the winter. Have three Freezers that are only as good as the power company's ability to keep power on and since I have plenty of storage space Freeze Dried is my go to. I tried some of the Companies that sell survival food and it's quite tasty and when the cyber attacks take out the power grid this source just might be your salvation--Never Forget WATER---You can live for weeks w/o food only days w/o water.

A 20 amp meter would have to be hardwired somehow. The killawatt is for 15 amp (small and medium size fd'ers)

The first cycle is to freeze dry the food to below minus 30 F. Then it holds that temperature while it sucks the moisture out of the food.

Join my facebook group and post your question. There are some people in the community that go sell at tradeshows and events. facebook.com/groups/retiredat40livelifesimple

Never thought of Kendal corn I will have to give it a try. That is for your comment!

I constantly experiment. Better to start with frozen corn or fresh corn than canned. Canned has too much liquid. My next project will be freeze drying seeds for long term storage, in their packets and separately. That has to be what was done to those long-term packages of seeds you can buy.

I too have multiple dehydrators and a freeze dryer and do a ton of canning also. You are right all of these options have their place. I love dehydrating and powdering things. I also have a vacuum sealer that seals bags and jars of dehydrated goods. Keep up the good work.

@@Lewisusa11 The vacuum sealer is a must.

@@Lewisusa11 I use one dehydrator for onions, peppers, and garlic only --- outdoors at the end of my long orange extension cord. If the neighbors come out and sniff the air with a puzzled look, I go out and sniff the air with a puzzled look, too! 😆

I have a video being released today going over how much noise the new pumps put out follow this link kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m6pjipSlv9jJhaM.html

I’m wondering this…. Did you find anything out?

@@armestofamily7618 Not yet, but it has to be doable!

@@armestofamily7618 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j6dya86cyZqRqac.html

@@MaN-pw1bn Have you managed to figure this out. I am super interested to know if i can run it on solar, inverter etc. Would appreciate it!

@@tristinsolomon04 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j6dya86cyZqRqac.html

There are 3 cycles. You can set the 1st and 3rd. The middle cycles is determined by the freeze dryer and varies.

It will consume a little more but you wont likely notice it on your bill.

@@jerrysmith372 cool! thanks! Ya I figured I'd just get it for the convenience.

@@jonathangomez1172 Yep - that's why I bought it. I hated dealing with the oil pump. Mine did have a fail in the first 8 months of use, but HR rebuilt it under warrantee and even covered the shipping. That was 18 months ago with no issues since. I run my large dryer almost 24/7, so my pump gets a work out.

The $3.49 was based on the 47 hour cycle. That is a higher than average cycle time.

I purchased the medium size.

$4 on the old units, now it's about $2-3 with the new software

Harvestright.com (Mine is the Medium size)

Absolutely Mike. Run a deep freeze for 25 years and add up the cost! It would be very expensive!

Thanks for your great info. It's very helpful to have lots of peoples usage costs.

Do u have an email account? I'd like to ask a few things. Thanks.

Hey Tim, I would prefer not to give out my personal email. What kinds of questions did you have?

Not a question, but we have a site we are building for people like us. and I would love for you to be on the forums. I think there is alot of things people would like to ask and be able to search for answers. KZfaq is not a good medium for that.

I can't find a way to send you a private message.

HAHA. No, our house is pretty efficient. Funny how Al Gore promotes being "green" isn't it?

I spent over 20 years travelling the world for various Oil DRILLING Contractors and have a huge prejudice for Petroleum and I believe any reasoning person can see that the World is Petroleum Driven, including the Freeze Dry equipment your tube is reviewing. I'm also a huge fan of Nuclear since I was one of Hyman Rickovers Students. Alternative energy sources are fine and one day they will become economically viable along with algae fuel instead of Corn Ethanol.(I love my Pork and I like them Corn Fed). In my 80 years I have seen 90% of all the technological advances in man kinds existence and I have witnessed more Phony Science get silently swept under the carpet for fear of killing the entire EPA, whose initial objective was Clean Air & Water, which they have had some degree of success even while pushing the narrative that fracking was causing methane in drinking water from a 35 ft. well? When you rely on the general Publics ignorance about water & oil & fracking to Kill something that has been going on since the turn of the last century seems a bit out of bounds in my opinion. To the point of a very "efficient" home. I built one in Friendwood TX. in the 70's I was using variable speed technology for my A/C before people knew what SEER was and the Vent skinning of my house and Roof caused a 25 degree delta "T" when the outside temp was 98 with 90+% RH. The problem was I subjected my family to Sick House Syndrome before Legionnaires disease was discovered. My current home is well ventilated to prevent that mistake again and using reverse air flow for efficient use of Nat.gas(methane) and electricity (0.11cents /KWH) Contrary to the "Scientists" who forecast we would have mass starvation by the year 2000 if we didn't do something about the world population reaching 2 Billion souls. Another Myth busted after 40 years of scare mongering. I have finally reached the point in my life that I can honestly say--I was born a Narcissist Liberal ( Me, Me, Me !) and somewhere about graduation from HS I figured out my parents were not as stupid as I first imagined and by age 30-35 I was the smartest SOB on the planet ( Just ask Me) Then a few years short of my 80th year I finally came to understand Man is on the cusp of great discoveries ( you ain't seen nothing yet!) BUT -we still know 1/10 of 1% of practically NOTHING. We may be Smart but we have barely scraped the surface of being Intelligent! I enjoyed your analysis of the Harvest Right and the oilless Vacuum pump is new to me. I spent the last 20 years owning my own HVAC business and have a shop full of Robinaire & JB vacuum pumps. I'm going to inquire about the refrigerant used in the HR, since more and more are on the outlawed list. don't get me started on that farce.

Emphasis on "ONE OF his properties". Not to mention the private jet and limo he uses to travel between them.

All very fuel efficient i am sure :)

Carl Smith I think you might really enjoy this. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iJt7orx7m5ramnU.html

Yes entire process. The new freeze dryers are 20-30% more effecient than when i made this video

I think it is a matter of time before there is competition. Competition = lower prices. Right now there is not anyone even on the same planet as far as price so there is no incentive for Harvestright to cut their price.

Who said cut price? This is a social media platform. My point is everything is data-mined and this is owned by Google which admits it. If there is positive data and enough comments such as "I have to get one..." Prices go up. The tiny home movement is losing it's hold as a way to beat home taxes (on wheels) due to the increased numbers of people doing it and not all but much data was gathered right here. Rules are changing because the government views the movement as a tax loss and they have strongly suggested recuperation efforts to county and city governments. How long yo can have a tiny home (mobile) on a property or public street. States are increasing in numbers where if a tiny home is parked on anyones property exceeding a time limit they are thereby taxed as a home and the land owner suffers the tax. We need to rethink our communications. Let me give another example. All operating systems now have to be designed with loophole accessible for national security to access all personal computers and a built in method of listening and viewing. Windows 10, readily admitted for awhile, every keystroke is recorded and if the user is off-line, when they access the net that info is immediately absorbed by Microsoft, Google and subcontractors. As a hobby, I write. If I wrote something worthy of publishing and a deal was struck, it could already be claimed in rights under some insane internet clauses the government says ar so complex they don't know where to start in an attempt to ensure privacy restrictions. There has actually been cases of writers ripped off via their own computer. The old way was a typewriter, non accessible to others and you mailed yourself a copy of the manuscript and kept it sales. The postmark served as proof of when written and was known as the poor mans copyright. That ability, won many suits against unsavory publishers in the past. Now there are other tricks up their sleeves. My brother has been privately servicing big banks (systems) for years. I once asked about us going cashless and two years before it started he said you'd b able to walk in a store and the inventory loads to your cell and you check yourself out. He won't comment on cashless and has refused to answer any such questions related and or political. Basically he thinks Bill Gates is a god and I no longer have anything to do with my sister or brother in-law who have some pretty sick ideas of how the world should be run. No big deal, I'm no sellout for the U.N., a one world government or bringing America down in any way shape or form. Trump, love him or hate him, he's the most real President since Rockefeller got Jimmy Carter to initiate actions that would advance a one world government and for financial gain to countries to play, they get our jobs. Housing took a dive, unemployment climbed, a recession resulted and Canda shipped in lumber while American loggers and mill workers lost their homes not to mention jobs. I've been keeping an eye on this crap for over 30 years and it mazed me how still ... people are so damn dumb as to think it's a left vs right issue when the sellouts are in both parties and why things were able to advance faster with George Jr., as President and almost raced forward with Obama. China, has a software system designed by none other than Google. It's used in a way Google, wants to here. If you speak or go to anything or associate with anyone in opposition to the coming dictatorial government your credit rating goes down and how far determines your communication use accessibility. It's also used to publicly humiliate people in favor of whatever the politics are and a person becomes and outcast. Check out Glen Beck on youtube. Time to go ... @@live.life.simple.

1348 / 14.6 = 92 volts. I don't think your house is 92 volts. US electrical should be 114 volt to 126. I was wrong to say 110 volt. So 1348 should be 11.3 amps at 120 volts.

The $3.49 is the total cost to run the machine at $0.12 per kW-hr for the entire cycle, beginning to end.

@@richardgray8593 Then why on earth are people so damned upset over this?! Have they never priced retail freeze dried food? That’s a bargain beyond bargains! Not to mention the fact that freeze dry is far more nutrient dense than dehydrated.

@@highlandmary33 Why? The same reason that if you were on a street corner giving away $100 bills, some people would be mad at you if you couldn't break the $100 down into smaller bills. Keep in mind that he was doing this test on a extra-long run, so the average cycle would be less than $3.49

@@richardgray8593 That’s just it. It’s cheap as all get out to run these machines. I can’t understand why some are freaking out... am convinced that “Idiocracy” was a predictive documentary of America’s future, not a comedic movie. Lawdy, flash freeze first and it’s less! Could pay this off in no time by charging others to FD their food for them.

@@highlandmary33 If you garden, it's a no-brainer.

My freeze drier is the medium

Wow! That's a lot for power. Probably about 3 or 4 times more than the national average. I supposed it makes you much more strategic about what you are freeze drying.

I guess some folks use their efforts to save money or prepare, some use their efforts to watch tv or play video games. I know which one i do.

That's good to know. There is so many folks who think $2.50 per cycle is so expensive. If you look at what electricity is saved vs. how much is spent, it far outweighs the cost.

@@live.life.simple. I'm a little late to the party, just now studying this process, but it seems to me that a FD would be an additional monthly cost if the freezer would still be running. Especially, when I'm reading, the best way to reduce the FD process time, is to pre freeze the food first? Unless I'm missing something.

Yep 47 hours. That is on the high side of freeze times.

I did not expect that :)

Wish I could it costs to much and dont pay off we heard

Technically yes, green energy (solar & wind) would help/be free but only after the break even point has been met re purchase/installation costs. Ideally, you would want to set up your system so you could $sell$ extra power back to the electric company, this way your energy costs would actually be 100% free PLUS you would be making a small profit(!) Technically, you also have to factor in maintenance costs, since your solar/wind storage batteries will need replacing apprx every 5yrs, while your solar panels and/or the generator inside your wind turbine, will need replacing every 15-20yrs (OR SOONER) depending on the quality and/or warranty of the equipment purchased (o:

That's true for dehydrating foods but not for freeze drying that lasts 25 years and has a totally different texture. I have both a freeze dryer and 2 dehydrators. I use each for different applications. I use one small dehydrator far out in the back yard for dehydrating onions, peppers, and garlic. I use a 10-tray for dehydrating foods inside. And I use the freeze dryer for preparing foods that I want to last for years or rehydrate to their original state (not all does). You can't tell the difference between some freeze dried foods that have been rehydrated and the original foods. I'm building a couple of solar dehydrators for use off grid. They all have their place.

I have more than made my freeze dryer pay off in 1 1/2 years by freeze drying foods for camping and survival foods. WELL worth it. I bought a 5-tray for just under $3,000 and have been busy with it. It costs me less than 20 cents to FD 3 scrambled eggs with bacon bits for camping. Compare that with the same FD camping foods you buy ($4). I have a grandson with Celiac disease and prepare GF food for him and can save it as well as make snacks and camping food for him. We are always prepared for hurricanes and power failures or just too tired to cook tonight.

Kathy Young, I'd be interested in knowing what/how you use the two appliances differently. I have a good dehydrator (an Excalibur) but would like to know why you feel it's a good idea to freeze-dry vs dehydrate.

More the size of a dishwasher and you can make up the cost quickly.

Only the large dryer is the size of a "Small" dishwasher - the other dryers have a smaller foot print. I use a large dryer. The large dryer will process more food than the small and medium dryer.....combined.

I assume you are referring to the most energy using appliance? 47% is alot! It sounds like you might want to look into a new w/h

pre-freeze your food. it cut 1/3 time off your cycle.

I agree. I buy big bags of frozen fruit cheaper than fresh and they take less time to freeze in the FD.

Mewe is free and always has been. You can upgrade to a better account but it's not necessary. I run the group and still use the basic free account

Freeze dried will last at least 20 years.

The self life of the food depends on how it is packaged and stored. If you store it good quality mylar bags with O2 absorbers, you will have an extremely long shelf life.

Thanks for the tip Shawn!

Did this tip help with your energy bill?

The fuel cost would eat you up. Big power can always supply for less.

Just wear brown pants and no one will notice 😬

Without a doubt, if you use it to its full potential, it's saves you money. Food costs, will go up, electricity will go up, prepackaged FD food will go up (everything will go up). Meanwhile, you have freeze dried food from 20 years ago that has not cost anything to keep cold. You did not have to pay the current cost of food and it's the kind of food that YOU chose to freeze.

HAHA too late for that

That was great ... thanks for the laugh Jason.