Are Harvest Right Freeze Dryers Worth the Price?

For long-term food storage, nothing beats freeze-dried foods. Fortunately, there's a better way to both preserve food and enjoy it! With a Harvest Right freeze dryer, you can freeze-dry hundreds of pounds of food every year with an easy-to-use touchscreen display, highlighting the Harvest Right freeze dryer value.

Okay, but can't I just buy freeze-dried foods at the store? Is it really worth it to buy a home freeze dryer and mylar starter kit? Let's find out. Assuming your system lasts a lifetime, let's compare the costs of shipping and buying premade freeze-dried foods with a DIY emergency food preservation supply!

Advanced Freeze Drying Technology

The technology behind freeze drying is both fascinating and effective. These devices are equipped with a premier industrial vacuum pump which is critical in achieving the low pressure necessary for the freeze-drying process. This process ensures that water is removed from frozen food through sublimation, which turns ice directly into vapor without going through a liquid phase, which preserves the structure and nutritional content of the food.

Nutritional Advantages of Freeze-Dried Foods

Freeze drying is the best method for preserving the nutrition of foods compared to other preservation techniques. When you freeze dry food, you're removing most of the water content from frozen foods without harming their structure or nutritional value. It ensures that vegetables, meats, and prepared meals retain their original flavor, vitamins, and minerals.

The delicate process of preserving food via freeze drying means that antioxidants and vitamins are maintained at levels similar to their fresh counterparts. Freeze Drying beats the nutritional retention found in canning or dehydrating. As a result, freeze-dried foods not only provide long shelf life but also offer health benefits that are crucial for maintaining a balanced diet, especially in situations where fresh food isn't an option. This makes freeze drying a great choice for anyone looking to preserve high-quality, nutritious meals at home.

Cost-Effectiveness of Home Freeze Drying

Breaking down the Harvest Right freeze dryer value involves a detailed cost comparison between purchasing store-bought freeze-dried foods and operating a home freeze dryer. When you invest in a large freeze dryer, the initial costs are offset by the substantial savings over a lifetime of use.

The stainless steel trays in these dryers have a large tray space and can handle significant amounts of food, reducing the price per batch dramatically when compared to the high prices of pre-packaged freeze-dried products.

The maintenance of these machines involves vacuum pump oil changes. However, opting for an oil-free pump eliminates the need to replace oil, which makes the Harvest Right Home Freeze Dryer a lot more convenient to run and reduces expenses significantly.

Cost of Prepared Freeze Dried Foods

If you want the same amount of freeze-dried foods that a home freeze-dryer can offer, how much would you need to spend? Keep in mind, that the freeze-drying company will have to spend just as much on thousands of pounds of fresh food per move as you will.

Because freeze-drying fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are the most popular

With 312 gallons of fresh food every year in 50 year's time, the total cost could be as high as $75,000 to over $100,000. It costs $15 to buy a 10-oz pack of freeze-dried cheese and $5 per oz (at best) for one package of low-quality freeze-dried fruit and berries.

While virtually nobody would spend this much on a large unit of freeze-dried food, you may want ingredients for baking, meals, gift-giving, and more. Let's see how much you could save on this much food with your own freeze dryer.

Harvest Right Freeze Dryers Cost Breakdown

Keep in mind, that we're talking about a lifetime of use, so don't think these numbers are too outrageous. These costs will be slowly shared throughout your whole shelf life. Here's how much you will spend on freeze-drying your food!

A lifetime of Food

Yes, we are assuming that your home freeze dryer will last for a lifetime. With proper care, they will. So, depending on the different foods you use regularly, let's see how much you will spend with daily use.

If you're buying high-quality food and freeze-drying 312 gallons of food each year, with a healthy mix of dairy products and fresh fruits, you would spend around $25,000 on food over 50 years. Of course, that's not a small number, but it is substantially less than buying freeze-dried meat, fruits, and dairy products separately.

Also, if you keep your foods stored in an airtight container, they won't spoil any time soon, offsetting these costs. You'll only spend on what you eat!

Maintenance Costs

Oil changes are the only cost other than the negligible amount of soap and hot water you'll use to wash your stainless steel trays or other cleaning products you will use.

So, if you change the oil and oil filter every month, that's about $120 every year. Over the course of 50 years, that's a grand total of $6000 on maintenance. However, if you buy your oil in bulk and replace oil often, you'll save at least 50%, totaling around $3,000.

The Harvest Right models also offer oil-free options. These advanced pumps provide huge cost savings by getting rid of the need for regular oil changes that traditional vacuum pumps need. The lack of oil cuts down maintenance costs and minimizes the risk of contamination, making these freeze dryers a great investment for anyone who's serious about upholding the highest quality in food preservation.

After-Sale Support and Warranty

Every Harvest Right freeze dryer comes backed by a robust 1-year limited warranty, ensuring that customers can trust in the durability and reliability of their investment. This warranty not only covers repairs and potential defects but also provides peace of mind, knowing any issues will be addressed. Additionally, Harvest Right and Wild Oak Trail's commitment to excellence extends to their customer service and tech support teams. These professionals are ready and available to help you with setup, troubleshooting, and tips on getting the most out of your freeze dryer.

Electricity Consumption

We can't forget that a freeze-dry cycle lasts for a full day, so your energy consumption is an important factor. You'll need a 110-volt outlet (11-amp circuit), and the freeze dryer should run at around 1000W per hour. Over the course of 50 years at $0.10 per kWh, you would spend around $880 per year on electricity.

Other Factors to Consider

Yes, freeze dryers can save you money in the long run with frequent use, but what about enjoyment & convenience?

With a Harvest Right freeze dryer, you'll have constant access to freeze-dried foods that you made. This same access means your food will retain its original flavor and have the nutritional value that you want. If you buy freeze-dried food at the store, they may come with unwanted additives, they may not taste how you want, and you won't have the satisfaction of making it yourself.

Also, it's easy to use with Harvest Right's smart technology. Put in your recommended size and amount of food (7-10 pounds), press start, and wait for the full cycle and necessary dry time and enjoy!

Freeze Dry Your Own Food Today

A home freeze dryer is a great way to preserve fresh food from your garden, stock up an emergency food supply, and have home made meals and snacks ready and waiting whenever you want them! You can set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy foods with the right size freeze dryer, and you can have peace of mind that each batch of your food is of the highest quality.

Stay up to date with our latest product news, and buy a Harvest Right freeze dryer today with free shipping and a price match guarantee!