How to Freeze Dry Food for Long-Term Storage

Ingredients

• Raw or Cooked Food (Any food you wish to preserve (fruits, vegetables, meats, or prepared meals))
• Oxygen Absorbers (Used for long-term storage in jars or bags)

Steps

1. 1

   Load your raw or cooked food onto the freeze dryer trays and place them into the machine's chamber.

2. 2

   Close the chamber door securely and push the start button to begin the freezing cycle.

3. 3

   Allow the machine to freeze the food inside the chamber until it reaches approximately -30°F (-34°C).

4. 4

   Once the freezing cycle is complete, the vacuum pump will automatically kick on to create a vacuum environment inside the chamber.

5. 5

   The trays will slowly warm, causing the frozen water in the food to turn directly into vapor and evaporate via sublimation. This process removes about 98% of the water content.

6. 6

   Monitor the process as ice forms on the inside walls of the freeze dryer; the cycle is complete when the food is entirely dry (this can take 32 to 36 hours depending on water content).

7. 7

   Remove the food from the machine and immediately place it into glass jars or Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers to prevent moisture and oxygen from reaching the food.

8. 8

   Seal the containers and store them in a cool, dark place. If using glass jars, ensure they are kept out of the light to prevent food degradation.

Notes

Freeze-dried food stored correctly away from oxygen, moisture, and light can last up to 25 years on the shelf. This method retains about 97% of the original nutritional value.

Nutrition per serving

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• freeze drying
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• harvest right