Truth be told, there isn’t much of a difference in terms of interface, but the Pharmaceutical models do offer a bit more customization in terms of settings. The Home Pro models however get the job done just as well and have bigger capacity for the money.

The entire process is automated using highly intelligent built-in sensors that know exactly when the food is properly freeze dried. Just press start and the freeze dryer will beep when finished.

Here’s a link to their available Harvest Right freeze dryer trays, just as further proof that they do resell Harvest Right equipment.

I'm brainstorming ideas on what to do with it. Gourmet astronaut ice cream? Crispy cheesecake? Some weird variant on beef jerky?

I'm brainstorming ideas on what to do with it. Gourmet astronaut ice cream? Crispy cheesecake? Some weird variant on beef jerky?

Crispness is a hallmark of a good pickled vegetable. That crispness comes from the vegetable’s conterraneo pectin.

Freezing is a simple, quick way to preserve foods. Fruits freeze well and retain their distinct fruit flavor. Texture is usually softened somewhat by freezing, but serving partially frozen fruit with ice crystals will compensate for texture changes.

Because the freezing is fast, relatively few cell walls are ruptured which means it can be rehydrated with much less loss of quality.

14 Posted December 16, 2015 (edited) On 7/31/2015 at 11:12 PM, TonyC said: Somehow this post got posted twice so I'll edit the second one with some more useful information. I remember reading somewhere in this thread where somebody was asking how long you run the freeze cycle with pre-frozen food. I have my chest freezer set to -12F, and I usually let the freeze dryer cool for an hour before I put the frozen food in. After I load the food in I wait Buy Freeze Dryer online Canada another half hour to start the drying process. I've had a lot of cycles that the total time between pulling one batch out and starting the drying cycle on the next is around 2 hours. I'm running mine in a cold garage, so it cools down pretty quickly. If you have yours in a warm room it would probably take a little longer.

Freezing a given number of meals means that you’ll only need to pop them in the microwave to defrost, once you’re ready to eat them. On top of that, they won’t go bad for months on end.

"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

Dehydrators take the water off the surface first, then water eqilibrates with the surface, more water is drawn off the surface. You are left with a shrunken item, with some residual water. Makes gorgeous leather.

Options: consumer choices for this appliance are currently limited. There are few companies making “home” freeze dryers, laboratory freeze dryers are built for scientific sampling so may not work as well for food, and the small commercial “pilot study” freeze dryers tend to be larger than those marketed for home use.

Not all of us are technical experts (the 'not' category includes me) but I hope someone who can help you will come along soon.