For those considering getting the XL, they sell only the 7 tray and you can’t do the stacking trick of strawberries he suggested or with any other food. There is not a lot of space between the heating pads and trays. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have went with the large. It still works great but have to be careful on the height of the food because either it won’t fit into the rack or touch the heating pads. So those in the candy business might want to consider that if your product expands on purpose or accidentally.
How do you double and triple check to make sure they are done? Also I saw someone online say that you shouldn't use an oxygen absorber or they will clump together and maybe get ruined. Is that true?
Weigh when cycle is done. If you don't feel they are completely dry add extra time. At the end of that cycle, weigh again. If there is no difference in weight they are complete. If not, add more time, and repeat until no difference.
Wow, that XL tray is HUGE.... Thanks for the video. So, I just noticed that the Manual says you void the warranty if you Bypass the "freeze" cycle. So, if you pre-freeze, does the freeze dry timer automatically reduce freezing time so we don't void our warranty?
I always soak my berries in water with about 1/2 vinegar for about 15 minutes. Then drain them and rinse well. They don’t taste like vinegar at all and it gets rid of all the junk. Your berries will last longer too!
I have the large unit and just love it. Just had a slice of Lemon, lime and orange for snack. Did a bunch of beets too, they are amazing!! I have a batch going right now of beets, bread and butter pickles and parmesan zucchini chips.
I like to blend mine up then use smallest seaparators. I get little snacks or can crush when done to add it to yogurt, cakes etc. But, my freeze dryer broke yet again!!! It broke soon after purchase then broke again 12/23 and is still broken. I'm going to get rid of it! Grrrr
I'm one week into owning a HR medium. Question about ice in the chamber. How far back does it normally build up. I have ice building up only the first 6-8 inches the rest of the chamber isn't icy at all.
Great tip on using a slicer blade on a food processor to speed up the slicing process. 16+ pounds of strawberries, depending upon how many XL trays one's freeze dryer is equipped with, is *A LOT* of berries to have to process by hand with a knife and cutting board, or by pushing against the blade of a mandoline.
I do strawberries every year... my parents live in Florida and get them for free! They hand slice them into quarters, freeze them on cookie sheets then bag them together. They stay in the deep freeze until we want to run them. Yes, being quartered they do take a bit longer but make for better snacking (IMO).
I have five trays of strawberry chunks in the freeze drier at the moment. Next up … five trays of avocado and then more strawberries to round out the week
I have a medium size and have done 5 runs of candy so far. I know that’s not a true freeze dry run. The other day I did ice cream sandwiches and cheesecake bites. I’d like to do some fruits next for my real freeze dry run.
You realize that there're different kinds of strawberies? Just like pineapple white with pinkish blush, there're red with white insides (which are harder), and red fleshed ones that are mainly best for processing.
i have been drying a bunch of different stuff lately and when i get to the machine to empty and fill the trays are always very cold? is this a problem or am i just not getting to them sooner . any help appreciated. i sure dont want to be packaging food that is going to spoil
Trays should be warm, coldness indicates there's still water (try running dry check one or two times after assumed end of the drying process, you will know if it's finished or not).
@@kuroimushi9421 I figured they were cold because the machine was done for hours before I could empty it. It was still running but I was not home to empty it.
weigh the trays when the cycle is done, add time and weigh again. If the weight is different, keep repeating the process until you have the same weight twice
Cheaper than buying organic frozen that's for sure. Cheapest I found for frozen organic is 2.64 a bag, 10oz. Need to spend 105 dollars for 25lbs. VS fresh at 1lb for 2 dollars spending only 50 dollars. Soooo fresh is always going to be cheaper then organic frozen prepackaged.
@@printingwithpeek4897I have 200 strawberry plants. They’re everbearing. I was still picking berries in October last year. Cannot remember the last time I bought berries.
@@paw9568 You're not buying the things in the right place. I buy three pound bags of organic frozen strawberries blueberries mangoes and cherries at costco. $10 for the blueberries. You just need to work on getting better sources.
@@printingwithpeek4897 You don't even understand something but you're criticizing it. Shows how little you know. Hey if you want to eat fresh non organic berries with pesticides go ahead. That's what Brian was talking about. Washing off. All the gunk that people sprayed on the berries. Unfortunately you can't wash pesticides off because it gets to the plant. I guess have fun with contaminated berries.
@@live.life.simple.Thank you for your videos, I have learned so much and am very confident in using my freeze dryer because of your instructions. I look forward to your future videos, even if they are available every other week.