I bought a Harvest Right. Within 1 year, multiple breakdowns and a trip back to Utah now for the second time. It is 15 months old and they tell me they know what is wrong but do not have the part needed to fix it and no ETA. I am not the only person having difficulties. The freight man who picked the machine up told me that he has had to return quite a number of them. My crops now have to be canned, dehydrated or conventionally frozen and who knows when I will get this machine back. Channels who will advertise for them get a freebie but this was a huge financial commitment for me and all I have is frustration to show for it and a monthly bill on the loan I took out to buy it. I love the process- it's fantastic and I have asked them to take a part out of one of their existing units, or send me one that runs but that is not their "policy". The freezing part of mine that does not work has a 3 year warranty and mine is 15 months old. I guess I wouldn't be as miffed if they had fixed it right the 1st time when it was 9 months old.
I’m so sorry you are going through such a hassle. I had done a lot of research before buying a StayFresh freeze dryer. I think it has been worth the little extra cost. Ours has been amazing and it has excellent quality fittings and components. Customer service has also been excellent.
@@fishnlady I do love freeze drying and once I get this one paid for, have looked at the Stay Fresh and it does look like more thought was put into the build-out. I do have my Harvest Rt back- with 90 days to see if they got it fixed this time. I went to the BBB before I got any action.
@@KatMa664 Both times the shipping was picked up so I do not know the cost. I live in Maine so it was not cheap I am sure. After this last repair, the machine has so far been running great so my fingers are crossed because they told me I had 90 days warranty on their most recent repair. They did not charge me shipping because it was a comeback on their previous attempt to fix it. They had the unit 3 months each visit- that's 6 months without use and I did not consider my warranty "clock" ticking...they did. I thought that was excessive and then went to the BBB- which is when I finally got it repaired and returned- but not until I did that. I am not a Karen and was super sweet up until that time- . :)
We have a medium size unit and LOVE it! We get about a dozen eggs a day and freez drying them has become the go to solution. One problem we did have with the machine was the drain valve failed and we had to replace it. The one that comes installed is cheap and flimsy but its ok, when it inevitably fails Harvest Right will sell you a much better one for 50 bucks. 😒 Considering how much they cost youd think they'd just install the good one to begin with.
This was so Fun!! Coffee with the girls & learning a Lot❤ I can’t wait for my copy of Carolyn’s book gets here. And to find time to do her Master Freeze Dry class sitting in my iPad 😃 Than You Both!!!
When I do blueberries, I freeze them on a freeze dryer tray, then I use my meat tenderizer, the one with the 48 sharp needles, to pierce the berries, then put them into the freeze dryer.
When I freeze dry yogurt mixed with homemade jam, I use silicone candy molds to make them the size of about Jr. Mints and pre freeze them. Then I pop them out of the mold while frozen, then back on to the tray, then to the freeze dryer. Now bite sized and shelf stable in a Mason jar.
Thank you for sharing all your information & ideas. This was very helpful!❤
3 месяца назад+1
This is a great video to watch. I already ordered the book. I’ve had my freeze dry for about two years and still experimenting with it. When my grandkids come over they love the freeze dried bananas and go through an entire jar. Several years ago we had a full freezer and the power went out, I lost a lot of food. I like the shelf stability. I would say it’s a bit of a learning curve but we are enjoying it. Thank you ladies and I follow both of you on RUclips.
I’m impressed with all the things you did in that book. It is a great resource. You even did a lot of sea food. MFP have asked me to do a freeze drier class and I will definitely have this book available for people to reference
I always enjoy your content bit THIS was a FANTASTIC INTERVIEW!! Mrs Bowtie and I have been on the edge of getting one of these for years. After seeing this, you may have just pushed us over the edge.
My two favorite PNW homesteaders. Great video, I appreciate you both so much for all you share with your followers. God Bless you both. Carolyn, I love your mug, where can they be found?
So nice to see you both together! I like both your RUclips channels. I don't have $2500. for a freeze dryer but if I ever get it I will sure watch videos like this before I buy one.
For vacuum sealing we prefer to vacuum seal in glass jars (including recycled jars) using vacuum chamber jar sealer available on etsy using a minimum of 3 cfm vacuum pump pulling at least 22 inches of Hg. The purpose of vacuum sealing is to evacuate gasses (including oxygen and water vapor). Vacuum sealing for a longer vacuum cycle removes residial gasses and reduces the need for oxygen absorber packet.
Once you’ve opened a mason jar and removed part of the contents, can you continue using the original oxygen absorber? Or do you need to put a new one in the jar when re-vacuum ceiling it?
Try remove the seed from tomato slices, then freeze dry them. That way you do not have to worry about the seeds and those can still be used or given to birds or chickens Great as tomato chips, powdered, or on a burger.
Stay fresh has an option of 4 or 7 tray rack. So you can get both and swap them out. Would your book be applicable to any freeze dryer or is it only the dryer times and the adjustments that are made with the harvest freeze dryer?
Can you tell us how you lost half your eggs that first time? What did you do wrong? So that we don’t make that mistake too. Were they just not dried enough? Or not stored properly?
I’ve seen people do raw eggs with cooked food now if that smell can get all over the freeze dryer when you’re doing onions and garlic why can’t the bacteria from the supplemented egg get on your cooked food? Also, how do you thoroughly clean your freeze dryer after doing something raw like meat or egg? I know you can wipe down the stainless steel trays and the inside of your freeze dryer but what about things likethe wires and in my case the thermostat that’s attached to my stay fresh freeze dryer. How do you make sure those are bacteria free?
I haven't used my Harvest Right for a few months because of busyness and I have found a little oil by the pump on the tabletop, is that normal or have I broken it by letting it sit?... I am wondering if this has happened to anyone else?
I can’t seem to get the savory chicken smell out of my FD. I first cleaned the shelves & the drum with my Thieves cleaner then 3-1 isopropyl alcohol and it doesn’t seem to be working. I’m doing a bread run to see if that will work!!!
I have seen people take their food out of the freeze dryer and find a spot that is not completely cooked and put it into the dehydrator to dry it out the rest of the way? Is this a safe practice?
I got the book but all the items say to pre-freeze them before putting them in the freeze dryer. I currently don't have ANY freezer space(but will soon). Can I just run them without pre-freezing?
Is your new book? Illustrated with color photographs. I am interested in pre-ordering Carolyn’s freeze-drying book. What’s important to me in any book such as this are color photographs. How many color photographs are in this book. Cheers and good luck with your new book.
I subscribe to you both. I got mine about the same time you all got yours. I had to pay for mine. 😒 Researched freeze drying when the lady we were buying goat milk did freeze drying. My wife had Lewy Body Dementia loved sweets. I did it to make her FD fruit. I only wish I had got one sooner before she passed.
Let’s say you used a mason jar and you found that it had lost its seal. You don’t know how long it was sitting there like that. The food is still crispy. Do you just seal it again? Or is it ruined? Is it dangerous to go ahead and eat it?
I want a freeze dryer so bad but alas, I am only one person haha. I can't yet justify the price. But once my garden starts giving me more...... we'll see. Glad to know this info for "one day".
Though I just listened to the last part about convenience meals and that is a very enticing idea because I often don't want to eat a whole recipes worth of a food in a week and that does keep me from making certain things.
I purchased my Freeze dryer a couple years ago. It has resulted in zero garden waste, as well as zero leftover waste. It truly was an investment, but has already paid for itself!!
I bought a Harvest Right. Within 1 year, multiple breakdowns and a trip back to Utah now for the second time. It is 15 months old and they tell me they know what is wrong but do not have the part needed to fix it and no ETA. I am not the only person having difficulties. The freight man who picked the machine up told me that he has had to return quite a number of them. My crops now have to be canned, dehydrated or conventionally frozen and who knows when I will get this machine back. Channels who will advertise for them get a freebie but this was a huge financial commitment for me and all I have is frustration to show for it and a monthly bill on the loan I took out to buy it. I love the process- it's fantastic and I have asked them to take a part out of one of their existing units, or send me one that runs but that is not their "policy". The freezing part of mine that does not work has a 3 year warranty and mine is 15 months old. I guess I wouldn't be as miffed if they had fixed it right the 1st time when it was 9 months old.
I’m so sorry you are going through such a hassle. I had done a lot of research before buying a StayFresh freeze dryer. I think it has been worth the little extra cost. Ours has been amazing and it has excellent quality fittings and components. Customer service has also been excellent.
@@fishnlady I do love freeze drying and once I get this one paid for, have looked at the Stay Fresh and it does look like more thought was put into the build-out. I do have my Harvest Rt back- with 90 days to see if they got it fixed this time. I went to the BBB before I got any action.
What do you do in order to send it back? Do you have to pay for that shipping? How much does that cost?
@@KatMa664 Both times the shipping was picked up so I do not know the cost. I live in Maine so it was not cheap I am sure. After this last repair, the machine has so far been running great so my fingers are crossed because they told me I had 90 days warranty on their most recent repair. They did not charge me shipping because it was a comeback on their previous attempt to fix it. They had the unit 3 months each visit- that's 6 months without use and I did not consider my warranty "clock" ticking...they did. I thought that was excessive and then went to the BBB- which is when I finally got it repaired and returned- but not until I did that. I am not a Karen and was super sweet up until that time- . :)
We have a medium size unit and LOVE it! We get about a dozen eggs a day and freez drying them has become the go to solution.
One problem we did have with the machine was the drain valve failed and we had to replace it.
The one that comes installed is cheap and flimsy but its ok, when it inevitably fails Harvest Right will sell you a much better one for 50 bucks. 😒
Considering how much they cost youd think they'd just install the good one to begin with.
I love watching both your channels. See you together is the best.
Great chat thanks ladies. PreOrdered yesterday.
This was so Fun!! Coffee with the girls & learning a Lot❤ I can’t wait for my copy of Carolyn’s book gets here. And to find time to do her Master Freeze Dry class sitting in my iPad 😃 Than You Both!!!
When I do blueberries, I freeze them on a freeze dryer tray, then I use my meat tenderizer, the one with the 48 sharp needles, to pierce the berries, then put them into the freeze dryer.
When I freeze dry yogurt mixed with homemade jam, I use silicone candy molds to make them the size of about Jr. Mints and pre freeze them. Then I pop them out of the mold while frozen, then back on to the tray, then to the freeze dryer. Now bite sized and shelf stable in a Mason jar.
Thank you for sharing all your information & ideas. This was very helpful!❤
This is a great video to watch. I already ordered the book. I’ve had my freeze dry for about two years and still experimenting with it. When my grandkids come over they love the freeze dried bananas and go through an entire jar. Several years ago we had a full freezer and the power went out, I lost a lot of food. I like the shelf stability. I would say it’s a bit of a learning curve but we are enjoying it. Thank you ladies and I follow both of you on RUclips.
We just blanched the corn and freeze dried and use it for everything. Including snaking. A real candy corn. So good.
I’m impressed with all the things you did in that book. It is a great resource. You even did a lot of sea food. MFP have asked me to do a freeze drier class and I will definitely have this book available for people to reference
I always enjoy your content bit THIS was a FANTASTIC INTERVIEW!! Mrs Bowtie and I have been on the edge of getting one of these for years. After seeing this, you may have just pushed us over the edge.
My two favorite PNW homesteaders. Great video, I appreciate you both so much for all you share with your followers.
God Bless you both.
Carolyn, I love your mug, where can they be found?
Thank you for this broadcast it was very enlightening and fun and educational all in one ❤
So nice to see you both together! I like both your RUclips channels. I don't have $2500. for a freeze dryer but if I ever get it I will sure watch videos like this before I buy one.
Harvest Right has an interest free layaway program. Check out their website!
I just got a small one from Costco for $1600! Still expensive but so much cheaper than normal prices
@@letsstartahomesteadI just bought a small at Costco also. Haven't used it yet but am excited to. What do you think of it so far?
This is a great video. All your videos are lovely, but I'm especially glad I clicked on this one.
I love my book! I use it every day!
Just got my freeze dryer and the book…so excited
My two favs!!
We use our perfect sized freeze dried sliced tomatoes straight from the jar on BLT sandwiches. Yum 😋
Thanks for sharing!
Great chat!
I preordered the book!
For vacuum sealing we prefer to vacuum seal in glass jars (including recycled jars) using vacuum chamber jar sealer available on etsy using a minimum of 3 cfm vacuum pump pulling at least 22 inches of Hg. The purpose of vacuum sealing is to evacuate gasses (including oxygen and water vapor). Vacuum sealing for a longer vacuum cycle removes residial gasses and reduces the need for oxygen absorber packet.
Once you’ve opened a mason jar and removed part of the contents, can you continue using the original oxygen absorber? Or do you need to put a new one in the jar when re-vacuum ceiling it?
My grand kids love the freeze dried apples as well as the dehydrated ones
Try remove the seed from tomato slices, then freeze dry them. That way you do not have to worry about the seeds and those can still be used or given to birds or chickens
Great as tomato chips, powdered, or on a burger.
Stay fresh has an option of 4 or 7 tray rack. So you can get both and swap them out. Would your book be applicable to any freeze dryer or is it only the dryer times and the adjustments that are made with the harvest freeze dryer?
So glad I’m not the only one who has struggled to freeze dry successfully
Can you tell us how you lost half your eggs that first time? What did you do wrong? So that we don’t make that mistake too. Were they just not dried enough? Or not stored properly?
I’ve seen people do raw eggs with cooked food now if that smell can get all over the freeze dryer when you’re doing onions and garlic why can’t the bacteria from the supplemented egg get on your cooked food? Also, how do you thoroughly clean your freeze dryer after doing something raw like meat or egg? I know you can wipe down the stainless steel trays and the inside of your freeze dryer but what about things likethe wires and in my case the thermostat that’s attached to my stay fresh freeze dryer. How do you make sure those are bacteria free?
7 steps @ 16 min
1. Prepare your food
2. Determine pre-treatment
3. Pre-freeze
4. Freeze Dry - know custom settings
5. Test food to ensure done
6. Storage
7. Rehydration
I haven't used my Harvest Right for a few months because of busyness and I have found a little oil by the pump on the tabletop, is that normal or have I broken it by letting it sit?... I am wondering if this has happened to anyone else?
@@crissengels8930 probably just the screw wasn't completely tightened, it shouldn't break just by sitting
@@MelissaKNorris
I've experienced this as well and that was the problem.
The filter will leak a oily condensation over time, it's normal.
Have you noticed that blanched vegetables stay a much brighter color than those freeze dried raw/fresh?
I can’t seem to get the savory chicken smell out of my FD. I first cleaned the shelves & the drum with my Thieves cleaner then 3-1 isopropyl alcohol and it doesn’t seem to be working. I’m doing a bread run to see if that will work!!!
Will it be available at Amazon in Canada
When rehydrating the green beans that were blanched do you use hot or cold water?
Cold if they're still raw, hot if fully cooked
I have seen people take their food out of the freeze dryer and find a spot that is not completely cooked and put it into the dehydrator to dry it out the rest of the way? Is this a safe practice?
I got the book but all the items say to pre-freeze them before putting them in the freeze dryer. I currently don't have ANY freezer space(but will soon). Can I just run them without pre-freezing?
It states it's optional to pre-freeze. You don't have to.
How do you rehydrate the lasagna?
Is your new book? Illustrated with color photographs. I am interested in pre-ordering Carolyn’s freeze-drying book. What’s important to me in any book such as this are color photographs. How many color photographs are in this book. Cheers and good luck with your new book.
They are full color photos
I subscribe to you both. I got mine about the same time you all got yours. I had to pay for mine. 😒 Researched freeze drying when the lady we were buying goat milk did freeze drying. My wife had Lewy Body Dementia loved sweets. I did it to make her FD fruit. I only wish I had got one sooner before she passed.
@@HebronGrandpa so sorry for your loss
Let’s say you used a mason jar and you found that it had lost its seal. You don’t know how long it was sitting there like that. The food is still crispy. Do you just seal it again? Or is it ruined? Is it dangerous to go ahead and eat it?
Make bruschetta topping and freestyle that it is delicious
We were always having a loss with my produce, so my husband bought me a freeze drier.
I want a freeze dryer so bad but alas, I am only one person haha. I can't yet justify the price. But once my garden starts giving me more...... we'll see. Glad to know this info for "one day".
Though I just listened to the last part about convenience meals and that is a very enticing idea because I often don't want to eat a whole recipes worth of a food in a week and that does keep me from making certain things.
I purchased my Freeze dryer a couple years ago. It has resulted in zero garden waste, as well as zero leftover waste. It truly was an investment, but has already paid for itself!!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
How do you package lasagna?
If they're not cut into sizes that fit into wide mouth jars, then mylar bags