Want to support the channel? Buy me a coffee :-) www.buymeacoffee.com/DanZm First 500 lbs data spreadsheet link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ieekdk5aH_2OWLUealeOLurU9_zl03BfFEg_qhAgcaA/edit?usp=sharing Batch worksheet link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13DCB2hXo9_ZYrhIUicLk2IrEaQGszwbaJTcEH8wJxk4/edit?usp=sharing
Our HEB has ‘baby florets’ ( broccoli) I use it bc it is beautiful small broccoli florets. Perfect for any kind of cooking. And not that much more expensive than the cut & chopped broccoli. Not sure that you have an HEB, they are mostly in Texas. But you could look at your fav store!
WOW your broccoli took a long time. I always stuff my trays and then add 2 extra hours mostly because too busy to put it all away-LOL All broccoli Florets are not created equally-YIKES they were HUGE pieces, it turned out ok we let them thaw just a tad and cut them to the sizes we wanted instead of the chopped bits & pieces you some times get with the "cut broccoli". Will keep you posted on how long our batch of broccoli takes...TY great videos
The last time we did frozen broccoli we also got bags of the giant broccoli trees, that's why we tried this chopped stuff. I was hoping for something in between the two. The newer machines are faster than ours. I think they say the newer ones are supposed to be something like 25% faster.
When I started, somewhere I heard I needed some 5 gallon food grade buckets to store in. After the first run I realized the buckets wouldn’t go far and started buying different dark totes, now I have a variety of shapes and sizes but now use the same you do, but from Fleet Farm. Cardboard seems far too risky, so much time and money could be out the window quickly due to flood or mice.
I bought my freeze dryer from Fleet Farm. They are closing them out so they're $200 less than anywhere else. With the recent bump in FD popularity I'd love knowing why they'll stop selling them. But for storage, I've been told that cardboard boxes are no match to the mice. I'm currently using apple boxes I get from Festival Foods, but before Autumn when the mice come indoors I will stop by Hy-Vee to see if they give away 5 gallon buckets. With as much freeze drying as I do this is getting to be an expensive hobby, and a buying a hundred bins, oh goodness...
@@NorthDakotaSuperstar buckets don’t hold many bags though, I pick up a bin or two at a time, I always check for sales when I get to Fleet Farm, sometimes they’ll be 10% or 20% off. Costco is probably cheaper if you have one, they don’t exist where I live but the world seems to agree everything is cheaper there. Even Fleet Farm is about 40 minutes from me, haven’t see Freeze Dryers at mine, interesting you got a good deal though.
My wire melted too. Easy fix. Take pics when you send in the request for a replacement to Harvest Right. Take pics before you detach old wire for reference when you put in new wire. But easy.
@@SchoolReports I have a Medium 3.5 yrs old. Wire melted about 6 months ago. This was also during Summer and a sand storm. So I'm not sure if that effected it happening. 🤔
@@j.l.dawson1290 🤣And that's why we don't let ours play in the sand! Mine is a 2017 medium and I believe the wires fried during winter 4 or 5 years ago.
I often freeze dry huge batches so I enjoy it when you push the limits! I can get 48 ounces of milk per tray, and I'm currently doing mashed red potatoes which are 3 lbs., 11oz per tray. Thinking this will be a 50-60 hour batch, not pre-frozen.
Great video! How does the broccoli rehydrate? Can it be used as a cooked vegetable or is it too mushy? I'd like to add it to the pantry, but if it is only really good for soups I will but whatever is the cheapest, rather than the nicer florets. Thank you for all the time you spend to save your audience from making mistakes and inspiring us to do more. Have you found a work around for me to make donations yet? You are very deserving.
Thanks! I almost didn't want to reply to your broccoli questions and also have to admit that I'd forgot about the mail box. (It's back on the top of the desk pile) 🤣 I believe the rehydrated freeze dried broccoli we've done has ended up pretty much the same as any frozen broccoli. (Because it was frozen broccoli:) I was disappointed with the quality of the chopped stuff I got for this batch. I wouldn't buy this it again; I would cut my own or find a better quality of frozen. This batch *_is_* probably only good for soup or other casserole dishes. Better broccoli turns out better. Rehydrating Bird's Eye Garlic Chicken With Pasta - ruclips.net/video/enBnJgHURfY/видео.htmlsi=XTxnYYz-tjL4Wh03 Rehydrating a Test Sample - ruclips.net/video/_ZpHYb0GDxw/видео.htmlsi=pwvUaDv3Ivg2phFR
@@SchoolReports You are a fun (and funny) guy! Thanks for the video links. They were both new to me and inspiring. Others have said broccoli turns to mush, but they aren't very scientific in their approach of rehydrating, so I wondered what your outcome would be. Did you have a preference between the precooked and the cooked after freeze drying? I will definitely start adding broccoli to our pantry. So many foods to process through a medium sized dryer! I sometimes wish I had 2 mediums, but then it comes time to package it all and then I am thankful I only have one. Writing on mylar bags is a task I don't look forward to. 🤣 Can't seem to decide on using labels, so handwriting it will be. I wonder if the adhesive will degrade the bag. Running wires between the floor joists and hanging mylar bags from cafe curtain clips is working very well! Using a cup hook to support the center of the wire also keeps it from drooping and it's easy to lift the wire over it to redistribute the bags. We have never had a mouse in our house in 31 years so I think this is a great solution for us.
@@buckonono7996 Part of the reason I stopped watching freeze drying videos and started making my own was because I was being told that some of the things I _had already_ done wouldn't work. I was told that pickles wouldn't rehydrate - they will - I have a video. "They" said carrots won't rehydrate, they will - I have a video. A lot of people said that anything with _any amount_ of fat can't be freeze dried - of course it can. So many myths, so little time. Probably the number one thing I see is that people just don't seem to be willing to give the food the time it takes to properly rehydrate. Some broccoli will come out poorly if it's poor quality broccoli to start with. (I don't have great hopes for the broccoli in this video - I just wrote myself a note to test a bag of it) Give some a test and see what you think. I don't know, but I think I would go with blanched, but not cooked before freeze drying. That being said, the broccoli in the Birdseye meal was cooked before freeze drying and came out great. We have freeze dried the Birdseye meal with broccoli both before and after cooking and I don't think there was a big difference. I think it would depend a lot on how you think you will ultimately use it - cook or just add boiling water. I love having a label printer (I have a video:) after hand writing on the bag for 6 years. I can easily put so much more information on the bags. With the knowledge that the (ones I'm using) labels _could_ fail (according to some commenters), I can always refer back to my work sheets to know what's in every bag. I'm not worried about the adhesive with these type of bags. The mice issue is brought up sometimes by people in the comments. Like you, I'm not overly concerned. If I ever suspect a mouse issue I'll go to Shawn Woods channel at ShawnWoodsMousetrapMonday 🤣
If you want to send me anything, send it to: Hyde 1224 NE Walnut ST #164 Roseburg, Or 97470 Send stuff... I love getting stuff! (who doesn't ;) But seriously, nothing is required and I thank you for all the comments, it does help get the videos suggested more.
It can be very normal in high humidity places. We almost never have enough humidity for this to happen to us.😀 This is also why I added the insulation around the seal and added the clear disc to the door opening.
True, but with proper mitigation in the environment you can do a good job of preventing rodents from getting into the home in the first place. Storage containers can be a big expense. Money that some people might rather spend on more food to freeze dry. We each have our own requirements for what we need out of freeze drying and storage as well as our own risk tolerances.
@@ThirteenKidsLater yes, agree, as long as those new to long term storage considerations have accurate information to base those decisions on. I would not want someone who decided to use cardboard in order to "invest" in more food, to then find out at a critical time later that their choice of cardboard over even a used hard sided container meant their food storage had been compromised and was now not safe to eat. It only takes one determined pest to breach even the best in environmental deterrents.
Want to support the channel? Buy me a coffee :-) www.buymeacoffee.com/DanZm
First 500 lbs data spreadsheet link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ieekdk5aH_2OWLUealeOLurU9_zl03BfFEg_qhAgcaA/edit?usp=sharing
Batch worksheet link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13DCB2hXo9_ZYrhIUicLk2IrEaQGszwbaJTcEH8wJxk4/edit?usp=sharing
"I can EXPLAIN it to you, but I can not UNDERSTAND for you!" 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I wore this shirt a lot when I was teaching. (Did the email make it to you?)
@@SchoolReports that's where it needs to be worn. Haaa.
just found it. Merci. Will reply later, sir.
Our HEB has ‘baby florets’ ( broccoli) I use it bc it is beautiful small broccoli florets. Perfect for any kind of cooking. And not that much more expensive than the cut & chopped broccoli. Not sure that you have an HEB, they are mostly in Texas. But you could look at your fav store!
That would be great. I was disappointed with the quality of the chopped stuff I got.
BTW - THANK YOU SO MUCH for your thoroughness in showing how you go about FDing. EVERY SINGLE STEP. I appreciate it as I have no idea what I am doing.
Thanks for watching!
That is a LOT of food in a batch. Well done.
Those storage containers are also great for keeping pests out of your food. 😉
WOW your broccoli took a long time. I always stuff my trays and then add 2 extra hours mostly because too busy to put it all away-LOL
All broccoli Florets are not created equally-YIKES they were HUGE pieces, it turned out ok we let them thaw just a tad and cut them to the sizes we wanted instead of the chopped bits & pieces you some times get with the "cut broccoli". Will keep you posted on how long our batch of broccoli takes...TY great videos
The last time we did frozen broccoli we also got bags of the giant broccoli trees, that's why we tried this chopped stuff. I was hoping for something in between the two.
The newer machines are faster than ours. I think they say the newer ones are supposed to be something like 25% faster.
When I started, somewhere I heard I needed some 5 gallon food grade buckets to store in. After the first run I realized the buckets wouldn’t go far and started buying different dark totes, now I have a variety of shapes and sizes but now use the same you do, but from Fleet Farm. Cardboard seems far too risky, so much time and money could be out the window quickly due to flood or mice.
We've been pretty happy with the totes.
I bought my freeze dryer from Fleet Farm. They are closing them out so they're $200 less than anywhere else. With the recent bump in FD popularity I'd love knowing why they'll stop selling them. But for storage, I've been told that cardboard boxes are no match to the mice. I'm currently using apple boxes I get from Festival Foods, but before Autumn when the mice come indoors I will stop by Hy-Vee to see if they give away 5 gallon buckets. With as much freeze drying as I do this is getting to be an expensive hobby, and a buying a hundred bins, oh goodness...
@@NorthDakotaSuperstar buckets don’t hold many bags though, I pick up a bin or two at a time, I always check for sales when I get to Fleet Farm, sometimes they’ll be 10% or 20% off. Costco is probably cheaper if you have one, they don’t exist where I live but the world seems to agree everything is cheaper there. Even Fleet Farm is about 40 minutes from me, haven’t see Freeze Dryers at mine, interesting you got a good deal though.
@@NorthDakotaSuperstar if you have a mice problem put dryer sheets around the area and change them out once a month- total game changer
My wire melted too. Easy fix. Take pics when you send in the request for a replacement to Harvest Right. Take pics before you detach old wire for reference when you put in new wire. But easy.
Which model/year do you have?
@@SchoolReports I have a Medium 3.5 yrs old. Wire melted about 6 months ago. This was also during Summer and a sand storm. So I'm not sure if that effected it happening. 🤔
@@j.l.dawson1290 🤣And that's why we don't let ours play in the sand!
Mine is a 2017 medium and I believe the wires fried during winter 4 or 5 years ago.
I often freeze dry huge batches so I enjoy it when you push the limits! I can get 48 ounces of milk per tray, and I'm currently doing mashed red potatoes which are 3 lbs., 11oz per tray. Thinking this will be a 50-60 hour batch, not pre-frozen.
🙂 Our mashed potatoes were batch 529, June 18. (I'm 3 batches behind on editing🙁)
Great video! How does the broccoli rehydrate? Can it be used as a cooked vegetable or is it too mushy? I'd like to add it to the pantry, but if it is only really good for soups I will but whatever is the cheapest, rather than the nicer florets. Thank you for all the time you spend to save your audience from making mistakes and inspiring us to do more. Have you found a work around for me to make donations yet? You are very deserving.
Thanks!
I almost didn't want to reply to your broccoli questions and also have to admit that I'd forgot about the mail box. (It's back on the top of the desk pile) 🤣
I believe the rehydrated freeze dried broccoli we've done has ended up pretty much the same as any frozen broccoli. (Because it was frozen broccoli:)
I was disappointed with the quality of the chopped stuff I got for this batch. I wouldn't buy this it again; I would cut my own or find a better quality of frozen. This batch *_is_* probably only good for soup or other casserole dishes.
Better broccoli turns out better.
Rehydrating Bird's Eye Garlic Chicken With Pasta - ruclips.net/video/enBnJgHURfY/видео.htmlsi=XTxnYYz-tjL4Wh03
Rehydrating a Test Sample - ruclips.net/video/_ZpHYb0GDxw/видео.htmlsi=pwvUaDv3Ivg2phFR
@@SchoolReports You are a fun (and funny) guy! Thanks for the video links. They were both new to me and inspiring. Others have said broccoli turns to mush, but they aren't very scientific in their approach of rehydrating, so I wondered what your outcome would be. Did you have a preference between the precooked and the cooked after freeze drying? I will definitely start adding broccoli to our pantry. So many foods to process through a medium sized dryer! I sometimes wish I had 2 mediums, but then it comes time to package it all and then I am thankful I only have one. Writing on mylar bags is a task I don't look forward to. 🤣 Can't seem to decide on using labels, so handwriting it will be. I wonder if the adhesive will degrade the bag. Running wires between the floor joists and hanging mylar bags from cafe curtain clips is working very well! Using a cup hook to support the center of the wire also keeps it from drooping and it's easy to lift the wire over it to redistribute the bags. We have never had a mouse in our house in 31 years so I think this is a great solution for us.
@@buckonono7996 Part of the reason I stopped watching freeze drying videos and started making my own was because I was being told that some of the things I _had already_ done wouldn't work. I was told that pickles wouldn't rehydrate - they will - I have a video. "They" said carrots won't rehydrate, they will - I have a video. A lot of people said that anything with _any amount_ of fat can't be freeze dried - of course it can. So many myths, so little time. Probably the number one thing I see is that people just don't seem to be willing to give the food the time it takes to properly rehydrate.
Some broccoli will come out poorly if it's poor quality broccoli to start with. (I don't have great hopes for the broccoli in this video - I just wrote myself a note to test a bag of it) Give some a test and see what you think.
I don't know, but I think I would go with blanched, but not cooked before freeze drying. That being said, the broccoli in the Birdseye meal was cooked before freeze drying and came out great. We have freeze dried the Birdseye meal with broccoli both before and after cooking and I don't think there was a big difference. I think it would depend a lot on how you think you will ultimately use it - cook or just add boiling water.
I love having a label printer (I have a video:) after hand writing on the bag for 6 years. I can easily put so much more information on the bags. With the knowledge that the (ones I'm using) labels _could_ fail (according to some commenters), I can always refer back to my work sheets to know what's in every bag. I'm not worried about the adhesive with these type of bags.
The mice issue is brought up sometimes by people in the comments. Like you, I'm not overly concerned. If I ever suspect a mouse issue I'll go to Shawn Woods channel at ShawnWoodsMousetrapMonday 🤣
@@SchoolReports This is why you are not just another guy on the internet! ❤
If you want to send me anything, send it to:
Hyde
1224 NE Walnut ST #164
Roseburg, Or 97470
Send stuff... I love getting stuff! (who doesn't ;) But seriously, nothing is required and I thank you for all the comments, it does help get the videos suggested more.
I am on my third batch of FD goodness. There is HUGE amount of condensation on the door in the freezer vacuum stage 7+ hours in. Is this NORMAL? 😱🥶😨
It can be very normal in high humidity places. We almost never have enough humidity for this to happen to us.😀
This is also why I added the insulation around the seal and added the clear disc to the door opening.
Where did you get you totes?
Oops, I forgot to mention where. Costco.
Cardboard and mylar will not protect against rodents.
True, but with proper mitigation in the environment you can do a good job of preventing rodents from getting into the home in the first place. Storage containers can be a big expense. Money that some people might rather spend on more food to freeze dry. We each have our own requirements for what we need out of freeze drying and storage as well as our own risk tolerances.
@@ThirteenKidsLater yes, agree, as long as those new to long term storage considerations have accurate information to base those decisions on. I would not want someone who decided to use cardboard in order to "invest" in more food, to then find out at a critical time later that their choice of cardboard over even a used hard sided container meant their food storage had been compromised and was now not safe to eat. It only takes one determined pest to breach even the best in environmental deterrents.
😀❤️🐸 ;-)