Cycle Time, Cost, and Advanced Storage Options
At 7:14 in
How much does it cost to freeze dry food at home?
What happens here
The hosts explain that a typical freeze-drying cycle takes about 24 hours and costs approximately $1.75 to $2.00 in electricity, depending on current rates. This process transforms perishable food into a shelf-stable state that will not rot for 25 years. Beyond freeze-drying, the machine can also vacuum seal Mason jars. This is achieved by placing jars with moderately snug lids onto a special rack inside the chamber. The vacuum process creates an airtight seal on the jars, extending the shelf life of the contents. It's important to note that this process seals the jars but does not sterilize them like pressure canning. For maximum shelf life of freeze-dried foods in Mylar bags, combining them with oxygen absorber packets is recommended, as both moisture and oxygen contribute to spoilage.
Goal: Understand the time and cost involved in freeze-drying and advanced storage methods like Mason jar sealing and Mylar bags.
Tools and materials
- Impulse Sealer FS-300 Unspecified — Sealing Mylar bags
- Jar Sealing Rack Prep4Life — Holding Mason jars inside the freeze dryer chamber for sealing
- Mason Jar Lids Ball — Sealing the jars
- Mason Jars Ball — Storing freeze-dried food
- Mylar Bags Unspecified — Long-term storage of freeze-dried foods
- Oxygen Absorber Packets Unspecified — Removing oxygen from Mylar bags to extend shelf life
- Prep4Life Freeze Dryer Prep4Life — Processing and sealing jars