A three-year limited warranty for repairs due to faulty workmanship or material for their freeze dryers, and vacuum pumps. 

How much space you have for the dryer and food storage – As we discussed briefly above, you may have to get creative when it comes to where you put your freeze dryer.

Just a few years ago freeze dryers were only available commercially. As of 2025, there are now several brands and models of home freeze-dryers to consider.

Check the warranty. A freeze dryer machine contains of a lot of specialized parts that can wear out over time. Check to see what technical support the manufacturer offers, as well as how expensive replacements parts are and whether they’re covered by warranty before making an investment.  

Freeze drying removes all but 2% of the water in food through a two-stage process that begins with flash freezing (1). If you think a dehydrator would be a better option for you, check out our article on best dehydrators.

How do I rehydrate freeze-dried food? Most freeze-dried foods can be rehydrated by adding water. The amount and time needed vary depending on the food type.

A freeze dryer can help reduce this waste, since virtually anything can be freeze dried. Including your unfinished pork chop and that half eaten apple. If you like you can create whole meals and freeze dry them for future consumption.

Freeze dried food is lighter than dehydrated or canned food – Dehydrated food retains about 20% of its water. As opposed to freeze dried food that is about 2% water. Canned food retains all of its moisture, and you also have the weight of the can to content with.

A home freeze dryer from Harvest Right allows you to preserve the food your family loves to eat. Freeze drying locks in both flavor and nutrition and can last for years, making freeze-dried food even better than fresh! A home freeze dryer is perfect for any lifestyle.

If you want, you can purchase an oil free pump that will negate the need for any maintenance other than cleaning.

You can adjust this to get a cost estimate for your batches based on what your own per kWh electricity cost is.

Whether you’re a homesteader preparing for winter, a small business owner looking to create more product offerings, or simply someone who values the convenience of long-term food storage, freeze-drying offers amazing benefits. 

I enjoy digging into the details, like finding the break even point for pounds of food needed to process for the investment- or learning more about how they work by taking the freeze dryers apart.

Once frozen, the food is then exposed to a vacuum, which pulls nearly all of the moisture from it by way of more info sublimation (2), which transforms the ice directly into vapor, bypassing the liquid stage. By removing all but a tiny percentage of the water in a food item its lifespan is transformed from a few days to two or even three decades.