Author Topic: Finally Got My Freeze-Dryer (Read 13311 times)

ShannonB · « **Reply #30 on:** May 01, 2012, 04:57:37 PM »

NAG - have you thought about freeze drying for other preppers or maybe a small local floristto help augment the cost and overhead?

FloridaHillbilly · « **Reply #31 on:** May 15, 2012, 07:12:32 AM »

Do you take custom orders? We have the food shipped to you, you ship the end product to us?

I am a techie-type, and this thing has me seriously jealous! I'm already trying to talk my wife into one

db

jeff_prep · « **Reply #32 on:** November 18, 2012, 03:01:12 PM »

Quote from: NotAGrasshopper on January 26, 2012, 11:52:30 PM

Finally, after almost two months my freeze dryer arrived. I bought it on a used equipment auction site. I couldn't resist putting something in it as soon as it arrived - here are some pictures. This batch isn't for storage - it's just to see how various foods react to being freeze-dried in this particular machine. I'm going to have to play around with it until I come up with optimal processing times for each type of food.

Hi, I wondered how this has been going for you. I was considering doing the same. Do you like this Northstar unit?
Anything you don't like about it?
You mentioned canning w/ LDS. I read something that said you have to go with a member to LDS to use their
cannery these days. Is that true as far as you know?

thanks for any info....

Jeff

CanningDiva · « **Reply #33 on:** November 30, 2012, 01:27:13 PM »

I am still in hot pursuit of a freeze dryer machine... I am learning a lot about the various types of machines but am having a heck of a time locating one in my price range! I did however want to share what I have learned in case others may be able to benefit from the info I've gathered.

I spoke with a representative of Freeze Dry Company out of Wisconsin. He has several models and specifically designed models geared for food freeze drying - the models are not listed on their website however... A typical food freeze dryer - which will freeze dry 4 to 5 pounds of food in 24 hours - ranges in price from $15,000 to $27,000. Yeah - not even near my ball park price range. So... I am calling around for used models. I am finding that the majority of the used models are for the floral or taxidermy industry - which will work, however it can take up to a week to freeze dry the food; which is not in my budget electricity wise...we pay a high price for electric...because we "use too much". Cap - n- Trade baby...Ugh - I digress.

Freezedrying.com has several used models and I am just waiting to hear back regarding price... Wish me luck!

rikkrack · « **Reply #34 on:** November 30, 2012, 03:14:20 PM »

GreeneAcres · « **Reply #35 on:** January 16, 2013, 07:11:21 PM »

NAG,

In an earlier post you mentioned selling this unit once you completed freeze drying for your crew. Is that still an option? If so, what kind of a time frame? Keep us posted, I'm sure you won't have any problem selling it here.

Erigorn · « **Reply #36 on:** January 17, 2013, 12:31:33 AM »

Yes when you are done selling it won't be a problem on here.

Also thanks all those who posted that florists and taxitermists may have them as well. Good to know and possibly look into.

chezart · « **Reply #37 on:** January 18, 2013, 12:01:56 PM »

I have one too, but no manual. Would you copy yours and share? I would be happy to pay for the copy. Thank you very much!

The mad Vaper · « **Reply #38 on:** January 30, 2013, 01:35:27 AM »

Quote from: NotAGrasshopper on January 26, 2012, 11:52:30 PM

Finally, after almost two months my freeze dryer arrived. I bought it on a used equipment auction site. I couldn't resist putting something in it as soon as it arrived - here are some pictures. This batch isn't for storage - it's just to see how various foods react to being freeze-dried in this particular machine. I'm going to have to play around with it until I come up with optimal processing times for each type of food.

My plan is to freeze-dry stuff in bulk and then seal in #10 cans from the LDS cannery (w/ O² absorbers).

"Specimen" (food) chamber on top. This is cooled to about 0 degrees. Condensation chamber on bottom. This is cooled to -45 degrees. Water sublimates from food and condenses in the lower chamber as ice. The ice is removed periodically by a defrost cycle.

Pre-cooked fajita seasoned chicken strips, pre-cooked boneless chicken breasts and pre-cooked burger patties. All of these are just grocery store items from the freezer section.

Food loaded. Chicken, burgers, broccoli, green beans, corn and ice cream sandwiches (of course). I don't have the rack assembly installed yet. I'll have five racks after I do that.

After freeze-drying overnight.

Ice cream sandwich blowout. These weren't frozen solid enough before I turned on the vacuum. The lesson is one I should have remembered: You need air in the freeze dryer to properly freeze the food. Without air there can be no convection, which is the most efficient way to move heat away from the food. The food has to be totally, completely rock-hard frozen before turning on the vacuum.

I pulled an ice cream sandwich out and they are nearly done. They taste just like the Mountain House version and are crunchy and dry. The other food isn't nearly done. I expect it to take at least a week.

I'll update after this batch is done.

Can you share the auction where you bought this? I would love to find one like it. Thanks.

Erigorn · « **Reply #39 on:** January 30, 2013, 01:13:10 PM »

Quote from: NotAGrasshopper on February 07, 2012, 08:45:14 PM

@nelson96: I bought mine on a site called bidonequipment.com. Search the site for "northstar". Most of the other freeze dryers are too expensive or are for laboratory use.

Here is the answer to your question. None currently listed as of 1/30/2013 noon MST.

LibertyBelle · « **Reply #40 on:** January 30, 2013, 02:02:03 PM »

NotAGrasshopper · « **Reply #41 on:** February 08, 2013, 11:40:38 PM »

Quote from: chezart on January 18, 2013, 12:01:56 PM

I have one too, but no manual. Would you copy yours and share? I would be happy to pay for the copy. Thank you very much!

Yes. Sorry for the delay. PM me a mailing address and I'll copy the manual and send to you. I would scan it but since I went to Windows 7 a few years ago my scanner doesn't work (no drivers that work).

Mine is a 2452' by the way. Others will be similar but not identical. I yours is also a NorthStar BE CAREFUL if mucking around in the electrical panel. ~~Shi~~ stuff is energized in there when it's not supposed to be. I think the guys that build these things were also in charge of space shuttle o-rings and 787 batteries.

Vulcan · « **Reply #42 on:** February 12, 2013, 03:22:33 PM »

scherjds · « **Reply #43 on:** March 08, 2013, 07:40:20 AM »

Quote from: NotAGrasshopper on February 01, 2012, 09:31:10 PM

Okay, a couple more pics. First, the chicken breasts. These weighed on average 4 ounces each (six in a 24 oz. bag). After freeze drying three weigh a total of 3.5 ounces (!) with zero shrinkage or deformation:

I'm calling everything in the first test batch successful except the peaches, which never got cold enough to dry properly.

Next batch is 8 ounces each of cheddar and mozzarella cheese and 16 ounces of low fat cottage cheese. Based on the timing of the last items, I expect these to take about 3 days for the shredded cheeses and 4 days for the cottage cheese. We'll see. You can see here how much extra capacity is available in the machine. I'm starting to lean toward having six or seven levels instead of five. Especially in the middle (widest) section, each extra level will be nearly 10 square feet of additional drying space and won't add appreciably to the total drying time.

While we're here, let's do some math... Mountain House cottage cheese in the #10 can consists of 20 1/2-Cup servings. My 16 ounce container of cottage cheese claims four 1/2-Cup servings. So that makes the MH can equivalent to 5 pounds of cottage cheese (remember there is no shrinkage so the cups/serving is the same).

Nitro-Pak (fine establishment) sells the MH cottage cheese for $65.39. Sam's, plus a can, lid and O2 absorber (<$1.25 total) will run less than ten bucks for the same amount of cheese (bottom cheese in the pic). MH is "just" $2.67 per serving. Mine will be 46 cents.

attaboygirl · « **Reply #44 on:** March 08, 2013, 11:01:00 AM »

Have you thought about drying bridal bouquets and such too cut your costs?

LizardGurl · « **Reply #45 on:** March 16, 2013, 06:34:09 PM »

Quote from: NotAGrasshopper on January 27, 2012, 10:10:48 AM

It takes so long to do a batch that I wanted to know how well various things work. Might as well try a variety now. My next batch will probably be 100% chicken breasts or 100% diced chicken.

I'm also going to try scrambled eggs, meatballs, cooked shrimp, all types of vegetables...

I work for a company that sells air dried and freeze dried foods to the wholesale market. I don't work on the production side, so I don't know all the nuances for different products.

I think you'll get more consistent results if you load it up with one thing at a time, all the same size. You are right about the need for things to be frozen very hard before starting.

Julie

NoahsArk · « **Reply #46 on:** March 23, 2013, 04:55:46 AM »

@mxitman I am in NorCal.. You are on my side of the US..Do you really think that you can build one of these machines? What do you think it would cost? I am REALLY interested...Thanks!!! :-)

TexasGal · « **Reply #47 on:** March 26, 2013, 07:56:17 PM »

mxitman · « **Reply #48 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:45:30 AM »

Yeah I could definitely make one, I was thinking that maybe making one and renting it out might be more suitable for someone or even prepper type groups. I figured a smaller 120V model might be best for most people rather than trying to wire it in to 240V, but of course both models could easily be made.

I figured the cost around $1800-$2500 to build from scratch, and that's just the cost of the materials not the labor, shipping and the R&D needed to get it dialed in.

I just don't have the time or space right now to play around with building one, were looking to move next year where I will have a regular shop space to make this sort of thing.Right now I'm watching the kids and trying to run a small business from home...I have barely enough time for that.

But I will keep it on the list of to do projects and hopefully next year I can report back on a working model. I bet if you owned one of these and and a #10 canner you could rent it out as a set for $250 a weekend or $500 a week and really make some money.

Rick

doublehelix · « **Reply #49 on:** March 30, 2013, 01:22:12 PM »

Completely jealous.

I've been looking for a functional one of these for a while.

SuperPrep · « **Reply #50 on:** April 07, 2013, 10:23:46 PM »

This machine looks pretty awesome! I am new to these boards, but am a bit of a prepper myself. I am curious, have you tried to freeze-dry any pasta dishes? Surprisingly, a friend of man has started a business that manufactures freeze dry machines for in-home use. I tried some simple things that he had freeze dried with a machine in his home (strawberries, bananas, pineapple, plums) and it tasted awesome! I'm wondering if there is a way to make smoothies with freeze dried fruits/vegetables (they are the only way my kids will eat healthy). I think the machines cost between $5000-$7000. I"m saving up right now to buy one. I asked him if it would be ok to put his email on here and he said that it would would be fine. It is matt.neville2@gmail.com. I'll try and take of picture of one so that you can see it. It looks sweet!

Renman · « **Reply #51 on:** April 08, 2013, 11:19:50 AM »

Quote from: NotAGrasshopper on February 08, 2013, 11:40:38 PM

Yes. Sorry for the delay. PM me a mailing address and I'll copy the manual and send to you. I would scan it but since I went to Windows 7 a few years ago my scanner doesn't work (no drivers that work).

Mine is a 2452' by the way. Others will be similar but not identical. I yours is also a NorthStar BE CAREFUL if mucking around in the electrical panel. ~~Shi~~ stuff is energized in there when it's not supposed to be. I think the guys that build these things were also in charge of space shuttle o-rings and 787 batteries.

New to the forum and of course awed by all the knowledge available. I too would be interested in a manual if you have one you could share. More than willing to pay for postage and or copying. Thanks.

Cliff

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Author Topic: Finally Got My Freeze-Dryer (Read 13311 times)