Freeze Drying in a regular freezer: Hello stagers, I just read a interesting article on how to freeze dry foods in a regular freezer. It involves putting the foods to be dried on a...

Commander Bell Loc: Lafayette Indiana

Hello stagers,
I just read a interesting article on how to freeze dry foods in a regular freezer.
It involves putting the foods to be dried on a plate and place in the freezer at lowest possible temperature for about a week or so. Then place the frozen items in vacuum sealed bags and continue to keep them frozen.
I was wondering if any of you have tried this method before.
It sounds like a cheaper option to a freeze drying machine but possible less sanitary.
Your experience and opinions are most welcome.
Commander Bell out

Bob Browning Loc: Cascade, Wisconsin

Commander Bell wrote:

Hello stagers, br I just read a interesting articl... (show quote)

We don't change the temperature setting but we do put peas and green beans on a cookie sheet freeze them for 7-10 days then vacuum seal them. When thawed they are wrinkled but taste fresh. Rehydration helps. Put them in warm water to thaw and most of the wrinkles disappear. I don't know that we are doing it correctly, but it works for us. We do raspberry the same way.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

Bob Browning wrote:

We don't change the temperature setting but we do put peas and green beans on a cookie sheet freeze them for 7-10 days then vacuum seal them. When thawed they are wrinkled but taste fresh. Rehydration helps. Put them in warm water to thaw and most of the wrinkles disappear. I don't know that we are doing it correctly, but it works for us. We do raspberry the same way.

We do some veggies in the same manner but just overnight to freeze them solid. We put them in vacuum bags then. It keeps them from sticking together and are almost as good as fresh when we take them out.

Mudbugger Loc: North Central Indiana, just north of Kokomo.

That method will NOT freeze dry. Freeze drying involves sublimation, deep freezing (ours has seen -50 degrees) and deep vacuum (our last run hit 146 Mttor, maybe lower, I don't watch constantly) and takes a long time.
Your method would still have lots of moisture in it and would have to be maintained in the freezer, the same as the deer and pork that we vacuum pack and freeze.
Feel free to try it, but as a test, do so, then in a couple of days on the counter, open the package up. I'm pretty sure that you will find it soaking wet.

Mud

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

Mudbugger wrote:

That method will NOT freeze dry. Freeze drying inv... (show quote)

Your absolutely right, Mud. A customer of mine has a freeze dryer and the stuff she does is pretty kewl. It's amazing how things like eggs will become powder!!

J in Cleveland Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Doug Lemmon wrote:

Your absolutely right, Mud. A customer of mine has a freeze dryer and the stuff she does is pretty kewl. It's amazing how things like eggs will become powder!!

They take a $1 bag of skittles freeze dry them and sell it for $8 around here. Those machines can be a gold mine!

Mudbugger Loc: North Central Indiana, just north of Kokomo.

Doug
We bought one on Christmas Eve, long story but the store ALMOST made us buy it. Display model, HR Large, 80% off! We took a $3000 machine home for $600 plus sales tax!!
Haven't been going at it like we're killing snakes, want to have the process down pat, before garden harvest season.
Lost a week due to operator (ME) induced, vacuum error, but got it figured out.
Simple ,but complicated, steep learning curve, we ARE persevering though.

Mud

Doug Lemmon wrote:

Your absolutely right, Mud. A customer of mine has a freeze dryer and the stuff she does is pretty kewl. It's amazing how things like eggs will become powder!!

Mudbugger Loc: North Central Indiana, just north of Kokomo.

J,
A lot of people are doing candy, some folks buy one with that as their sole goal. I didn't even know that it was a "thing".
In some areas the market is open, some areas the market is saturated.
It takes a LOT of time, patience and investment, but in the right markets, it can be a real money maker.

Mud

J in Cleveland wrote:

They take a $1 bag of skittles freeze dry them and sell it for $8 around here. Those machines can be a gold mine!

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Commander Bell wrote:

Hello stagers, br I just read a interesting articl... (show quote)

If you have to keep it in the freezer, why dry it out.?

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Doug Lemmon wrote:

We do some veggies in the same manner but just overnight to freeze them solid. We put them in vacuum bags then. It keeps them from sticking together and are almost as good as fresh when we take them out.

I've never tried it. I just snap beans and freeze. Clean before cooking. I freeze corn still on the cob I just rap in newspaper and put in paper bag

Jeremy Loc: America

Whitey wrote:

I've never tried it. I just snap beans and freeze. Clean before cooking. I freeze corn still on the cob I just rap in newspaper and put in paper bag

Added newsprint ink for flavor?

Jeremy Loc: America

Seems crazy to freeze dry candy? It’s already pretty dry and keeps anyway.

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Jeremy wrote:

Added newsprint ink for flavor?

Green teeth

J in Cleveland Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Jeremy wrote:

Seems crazy to freeze dry candy? It’s already pretty dry and keeps anyway.

Makes it puff up. Changes the texture makes it airy. A novelty but the kids are into it.

Jeremy Loc: America

J in Cleveland wrote:

Makes it puff up. Changes the texture makes it airy. A novelty but the kids are into it.

I see. Sounds interesting. So they are sweet but crunchy like Kettle Chips. I like Truffle Oil flavor.