Freeze Drying Your First 500 lbs of Food - Cleaning - Between Batch 25 and Batch 26
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- Doing a quick cleaning of the Harvest Right after freeze drying Costco rotisserie chicken and before freeze drying frozen broccoli. (6-12-2022)
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First 500 lbs data spreadsheet link: docs.google.co...
Batch worksheet link: docs.google.co...
This list is about getting started on a 500 lb mixed pantry of freeze dried foods in 100 days.
(This may be a bit optimistic and perhaps it'll only be 400 lbs)
Goal of about 85 lbs per category. (100 lbs per category if we don't do the Meals/Dishes)
1) Meats:
2) Vegetables:
3) Fruits:
4) Dairy:
5) Grain / Starch:
6) Meals / Dishes:
A Harvest Right is not inexpensive. If you have wanted one but feel they're out of reach for you, you might consider sharing a freeze dryer.
Freeze dried food will stay fresh for many years and be ready and waiting when you need it.
We do videos showing how we are using our Harvest Right Freeze Dryer to freeze dry food for long term storage. (We have the medium size machine that we got in August of 2017) We talk about how to load and unload the freeze dryer, how to know if the food is dry, is it better to freeze dry raw food or cooked food, and do a few taste tests. Freeze dried food is also great for prepping or just for camping and snacking!
AFFILIATES & REFERRALS
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If you are thinking of buying a freeze dryer, please consider supporting us by purchasing through our link. It helps us and costs you nothing! affiliates.har...
We have the medium freeze dryer with the original vacuum pump.
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Amazon affiliate links to some of the things we have been using; it helps us and costs you nothing.
• Escali Primo Kitchen Scale amzn.to/3r8VqRe
• Etekcity Kitchen Scale11lb/5kg amzn.to/3K3ajhY
• Power meter amzn.to/3s4RVOr
• The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: amzn.to/33NTPtt
• This is the scoop I "adjusted" (see video) for bagging amzn.to/3pdTB4J
• Silicone Square Cake Pan - Set of 2 amzn.to/2YvAp6L
• Teflon Tape for Impulse Sealers amzn.to/3pt2nMd
• Dial Thermometer -40 to 160 F 1-Inch amzn.to/3pvAfIm
• Parchment paper - We usually get our at Costco, but they also have it on Amazon amzn.to/3owy5qC or amzn.to/3Cw1WXL
• Corrugated Plastic Sheets we use in our freezer amzn.to/2YqAM2A
• Drill Bit 5/32" x 10" Extra Length amzn.to/3tEOvRx
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We are participants in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For the 7 x 7 pans try the Dollar Store, that's where we got ours. (They were labeled 8 x 8 because they measure the top)
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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 clean mine as you do yours. I follow whatever you do! I’m confident that you are correct. Very confident!!
I had been using vinegar and water to rinse the tubing and to wipe down the inside. I ran the machine almost daily from Jan. to Mar. Not so much since April because we are so busy at work. I went to load a batch the other day and was horrified when I went to close the drain valve. I noticed a discoloration on the exterior and interior tube. OMG! How long has it been like this and the thought of contaminated batches made me want to cry. It took several days and a lot of cursing but I managed to get the interior tube cleaned/sanitized with BLEACH water and replaced the exterior tube. I will never use vinegar again and I will step up my cleaning routine. Thanks for your videos!
Yikes! Sorry to hear that.
I didn't think there was such an aversion to using bleach. Who knew. Thanks for showing us this important task that needs to be done.
I didn't know until the first time I posted a video showing me using some!🤣
Edit: To be fair, in the owners manual it does say to not use bleach. But, its worked for many decades in commercial kitchens.
So glad I saw this as I’m approaching batch 25. Thanks so much for these videos. I know bleach is supposed to be a poison, but, I think it’s one of those things that needs to be done to make sure we are safe. And as long as you rinse thoroughly, you should be fine. I saw the note from a lady who was cleaning with vinegar!!! How she was horrified with the look of her hose, I guess mold!
Remember - "The dose makes the poison!" 🤣 Too much of anything can be bad.
I get some grief from some people for using bleach, but I'll stick with the method recommended by the FDA and used by most commercial kitchens for many, many decades and is something I already have on hand. A weak solution of bleach. www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/listeria-listeriosis "...sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water"
I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, I'm just trying to show what I do and why, and show resources when I can.
Having been a homebrewer for a while, I have brewing sanitizers which work great with no risk of damaging stainless. One is iodophor, an iodine solution, the other is StarSan, an acidic solution. Acidic sanitizers work better on some microbes than basic ones (like bleach), and there is no risk to damage the chromium oxide layer on the stainless that keeps it... uh... stainless. You don't have to rinse starsan or iodophor.
I don't have Star San or iodophor but I've heard good things about Star San and may have used it once, many years ago, when making root beer with the kids, for a school project. The fact that it's so widely used in brewing and cheese making says great thing about it. (if you were running an organic production line it would still have to be rinsed to meet the definitions of organic, which doesn't mean much to me because I don't think that "Organic" is a real thing)
EPA seems to classify both of them as sanitizers as opposed to a disinfectant. I don't know if it makes a difference for this use, but I don't have it and I do have bleach.
From the EPA site -
Sanitizing kills bacteria on surfaces using chemicals. It is not intended to kill viruses.
VS
Disinfecting kills viruses and bacteria on surfaces using chemicals.
I'll stick with the method recommended by the FDA and used by most commercial kitchens for many, many decades and is something I already have on hand. A weak solution of bleach. www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/listeria-listeriosis "...sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water"
I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, I'm just trying to show what I do and why, and show resources when I can.
@@SchoolReports I've used bleach water many times with no issue. The time I did have issue was probably a combination of bleach on the stainless, and me nicking the stainless with non-stainless. Once a grain of iron gets in a cut with bleach to help out, rust just takes off. So, I try not to do that anymore. Teflon scrubbers have a pretty 0% chance of damaging the chromium layer, so I'm not worried.
Another question, what is the silver on your front seal? I'm looking on your list of videos (prolific!) for it but didn't see anything.
EDIT: never mind, I found it using the very cryptic search word 'seal.' 🙃
@@redwhiteandbluebonnets8180 You've cracked my video encryption search code! 🤣
What's worse than other people not finding a video, is when I know I've made a video that includes some idea or technique, and I can't find it either.
@@SchoolReports Well maybe this will tickle your pickle; A while back, oh, maybe a year or so ago, I saw some FD video where this dude was - get this - pre-freezing things like stews, soups, other liquids, in these little pans, then taking them out and weighing them, and even had this nifty 3d printed divider because his medium HR trays would hold exactly 2.5 of his prefreeze pans worth of stuff. It was gold! You should think about doing something like this! ;)
I looked and looked for those videos the past few months, my search-fu was weak. Came to your channel because of a 'how I defrost my FD' video and bada bing, bada boom.
It's better to be lucky than good. Now, if I could just find pre-freeze pans for my large trays....
@@redwhiteandbluebonnets8180 That's great! I know that guys videos and I think his older ones may have looked okay, but were sometimes a bit light on information. He should have talked more to tell what was going on.
I've had viewers say they have been searching for and watching freeze dry videos for 2+ years and RUclips had never shown them even 1 of my videos. Now I must go sacrifice something to the RUclips gods. 😁
This pan fits the large freeze dryer trays - Mainstays Non-stick 9" X 9" X 2" Square Cake Pan UPC 7286725066 (They are a bit harder to get the food out because they are not as flexible as the cheap ones I use)
And these dividers fit the pans - www.thingiverse.com/thing:4976081
Unlike the medium pan/ tray combo, the large needs 2 dividers to make the block into 3rds. (Two and 1/3 pans per tray)
You sold me, I will get some bleach, haven’t been feeling confident with the vinegar. Leaving the freeze dryer off for a couple weeks cause of life, but plan to reclean with bleach when I get started again. Thanks for all the good tips, even if some call one bad. 😁
Well, I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, I'm just trying to show what I do and why, and show resources when I can. However, did you read the comment that viewer Isela Smith posted?
@@SchoolReports yes, I did. Made me feel better about my issues, I’m not alone. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
Thanks. And thanks for not putting knowledge in quotes! 🤣 Right or wrong, just sharing how I'm doing it.
@SchoolReports I saw a video where the person suggested you take off the seal periodically and rinse with water to remove the particulates then replace. I have been doing this to ensure a clean seal since the dryer is in my garage and particulate matter is abundant. I have completed approximately 20 batches to date and have washed the seal maybe 4 times and have have no issues with the seal. I will post if I have seal problems.
Thanks!
Interesting. I've yet to find anything in our seal, but I keep checking. Ours is in a very low dust area. And, that's why it's important to tailor the cleaning to the specific machine, how it's being used, and location of it's use.
If I had taken mine off every 5 batches I'd be past 105 times now.
Oh I must order an extra seal , Thanks for sharing .
Or at least as soon as there is any signs of wear or even minor damage.
@@SchoolReports Yes !
I love your videos!! Can you please tell me about the plastic you placed on the bottom?? Where did you buy it and what material did you use?! Thanks!!
The little strips along the bottom sides of the rack? It's corrugated plastic like the kind on the top and bottom of the rack. It does a good job of keeping some of the ice from hitting the heated shelves.
The newer machines, like my sister's new 2022 machine, don't seem to need them; the ice is much more evenly distributed in the chamber than in my older machine and doesn't seem to get as thick at the bottom middle and hit the shelves as much.
We got ours in 10 packs (17in x 13in) from Amazon because we needed a bunch of them for our freezer. (We use them for stacking the 7 x 7 prefreeze pans in the freezer.) We just cut off a couple strips for the ice shields.
You can also get single sheets of it at places like The Home Depot or Office Depot and probably lots of other places.
@@SchoolReports awesome!! Thanks!
👍👍👍👍👍
I'm curious if you have ever tried Star San for sanitizing and what your thoughts are?
I know very little about Star San. (I think I used it once when we made root beer for a homeschool class) Seeing how it seems to be widely used in the brewing and cheese make cleaning, it must work.
EPA seems to classify it as a sanitizer as opposed to a disinfectant. I don't know if it makes a difference for this use, but I don't have it and I do have bleach.
From the EPA site -
Sanitizing kills bacteria on surfaces using chemicals. It is not intended to kill viruses.
VS
Disinfecting kills viruses and bacteria on surfaces using chemicals.
I am highly allergic to bleach. Any other suggestions?
Some people say the best is Star San, which is used extensively in beer brewing and cheese making, so I assume it must work. Others go with a high percentage alcohol.
Not related to cleaning but do you have a dedicated 20amp breaker and outlet?
We don't exactly have ours on a dedicated circuit, but it is on a circuit that doesn't have much else on it. I recorded the power meter a bit on batch 28 of the series, cottage cheese, and it showed the highest power usage was about 1514 watts. The sustained top power usage was less than 1300 watts. (2017 medium machine) The max is less than a hair dryer!
(I'll show the power meter in the batch 28 video)
@@SchoolReports thanks I am starting to get through your videos now. Don't have a machine yet just ordered one.
@@robertveronda4225 Thanks for watching. Which size machine are you getting?
@@SchoolReports the large I have a large family
@@robertveronda4225 When we got our freeze dryer, the large one was still new and required a special outlet, so we went with the medium.
I don't know the power usage for the current large machine. Maybe someone out there has a large machine and a power meter and could let us know. (Ask the audience:) Or I could phone a friend.
😀❤️🐸
Nothing worthwhile to add? Scroll on by.
@@juliemaring6048 🥰
@@juliemaring6048 Thanks! All interactions help feed the RUclips algorithm and helps make the YT gods smile on the channel.
I find it funny that these posts offer translation to English, so what language are you posting in? 🤔😂
@@eileenniehaus5368 Emoji-eese 😀 ❤️