Freeze Dryers and Freeze Dried Food (Part 1)

[Chocolot]

Thanks, Kerry. Yes, I am.

 

Looking forward to getting my FD'er complete with starter cream cheese treat, Matt.

 

Not to worry though, Chocolat. I will send the 'bonus' back to you if I am so lucky as to receive it (after I sneak a little taste).

No need:) I'll take more down tomorrow. Enjoy it!

[Kerry Beal]

This mornings unloading.  

 

 

Jello for Alleguede, grapes and mushrooms.  I declare the grapes a failure.  I poked a little whole in each with a paring knife thinking that would be suitable for the moisture to sublimate out from - but I think the little holes got plugged by the sugar.  

 

 

The last of the kale and some of the strawberries I moved over cause they were a little thick.  

 

 

Yogurt and vanilla beans that had given their all to extract and are now going to be ground up for bark.  

 

 

Watermelon, strawberries and raspberries.  The raspberries are also for Alleguede as the last ones he had have taken on water.  Perhaps I should get that powder back and run it through Freeze Girl for him and see if that rehabilitates it?

[Deryn]

It is possible the cream cheese will still be found. I was just talking to someone at HarvestRight who may know where it is!

[Harvest Right]

Haha. The missing cream cheese is found! I declare it a Harvest Right miracle! Many thanks to Deryn for helping us find Chocolot's cream cheese.

[Scott@HarvestRight]

This mornings unloading.  

 

IMG_1718.jpg

 

Jello for Alleguede, grapes and mushrooms.  I declare the grapes a failure.  I poked a little whole in each with a paring knife thinking that would be suitable for the moisture to sublimate out from - but I think the little holes got plugged by the sugar.  

 

IMG_1719.jpg

 

The last of the kale and some of the strawberries I moved over cause they were a little thick.  

 

IMG_1720.jpg

 

Yogurt and vanilla beans that had given their all to extract and are now going to be ground up for bark.  

 

IMG_1721.jpg

 

Watermelon, strawberries and raspberries.  The raspberries are also for Alleguede as the last ones he had have taken on water.  Perhaps I should get that powder back and run it through Freeze Girl for him and see if that rehabilitates it?

 

 

Try cutting the grapes in half next time.  They are one of my very favorite freeze dried items! 

[Kerry Beal]

Try cutting the grapes in half next time.  They are one of my very favorite freeze dried items! 

Got some huge grapes today - we'll see how they work cut in half.  

[Chocolot]

 

The now famous package of cream cheese. It was indeed a HR Miracle, thanks to Deryn and Matt!

 

I took down 3 more boxes of cream cheese, but someone else will benefit from those. The small critters on the package are very interesting. Matt FD'd Black Forest Gummie Bears. They are really good. They are gelatin based. I had him do some cinnamon bears which are corn starch based. Those were a fail--just tasted like really old, stale ones. The Gummies are very light and airy. The fruit flavor really comes through. Thanks to HR, Deryn and Matt.

[Kerry Beal]

Got to get some gummies!

 

Have an order for 100 packages of bark - so decided that FD ice cream bark would go over well.  Neopolitan again (chosen so I can eat a bit of it the regular way!).  

 

 

Meyer lemons, limes and ginger that was well beyond it's best by date.  

 

 

Wine sauerkraut - a success.  Pickled artichoke bottoms - a failure.  Binned them.  

 

 

Rice, peas, ground meat and onions.  One of hubbies favourite meals.  We'll see if it's a success rehydrated.  

 

[Minotbob]

I've been really enjoying everyones experiences here. so I'll add my 2 cents worth to the FD sliced grapes. Here is a youtube video that may make it easier.

 

Thanks for all your information.

 

Bob

[dbinokc]

Kerry,

I will be interested in how the rice/peas/meat works. Just curious, do you use any seasonings/spices with that mix?

I am not much of an expert when it comes to seasoning things well.

[Deryn]

What exactly was wrong with the artichoke bottoms, Kerry? Were they too oily and/or thick and didn't dry completely or don't you think they would rehydrate well? Or did you just hope they would taste good dried but they didn't?

Congratulations on the 100 bark package order. Perhaps the FD ice cream bark will become your 'signature' item!

[Kerry Beal]

Kerry,

I will be interested in how the rice/peas/meat works. Just curious, do you use any seasonings/spices with that mix?

I am not much of an expert when it comes to seasoning things well.

Lots of salt and pepper and onion powder from Penzeys.

[Kerry Beal]

What exactly was wrong with the artichoke bottoms, Kerry? Were they too oily and/or thick and didn't dry completely or don't you think they would rehydrate well? Or did you just hope they would taste good dried but they didn't?Congratulations on the 100 bark package order. Perhaps the FD ice cream bark will become your 'signature' item!

They were discs of cardboard that left little threads of fibre in your mouth - didn't rehydrate into anything like what they started as.

[Kerry Beal]

Started another batch yesterday - have gotten into the habit of 12 hours of drying time and find that it usually means everything is done.  However I must have had a brain fart yesterday - and this morning when I got up I could hear the unit beeping in the basement.

 

 

Cheese - appears to be done.  

 

 

Milk and gummy spiders - I didn't realize I'd need to allow for gummy expansion!  

 

 

Grapes and some random baked stuff I picked up from the bargain bin just to try it.  

 

 

Some mint and melissa from the garden and 4 small containers of raspberries.

 

So decided to put the few things that weren't dry back in.  The door seal needed resetting because it had flattened.  Questioned myself as to whether I had closed the valve but decided I must have.  Got text from hubby asking where the vacuum oil was and where is instructions for the vacuum pump could be found!  Hope there isn't too big a mess to clean up when I get home.

 

 

[Deryn]

I love how those gummy spiders look! Bet those would be a hit with kids. I will need to find some - more fun than bears.

Hope there was no mess to clean up after all.

[Kerry Beal]

Got a love a hubby who cleans it up for you!

[dbinokc]

Kerry,

I have had the same problem with needing to reseat the seal on mine after a stop. Fortunately I was there or the machine would have been sucking air and blowing oil all day. All the more reason HR should update their firmware to automatically turn off the vacuum pump if it can't get below 1000 milliTor in a certain amount of time. Anymore I keep my vacuum pump turned off and turn it on manually to be sure a vacuum is getting pulled.

How did you like the freeze dried raspberries. I did a 4 pound frozen bag from Sams, but they were too strong and bitter for my tastes.

How does the freeze dried milk reconstitute compared to fresh.

 

Edited November 10, 2014 by dbinokc (log)

[Deryn]

He's a keeper, Kerry!

Meant to say too that the grapes look much better this time, cut in half. Were they more edible?

[Anna N]

I am hoping for mine and Kerry Beal's sake that the milk is a success. I don't buy milk so if Kerry is coming over for a cup of tea I must remind her to bring her own milk with her! How embarrassing is that? Freeze dried milk would solve the problem wondrously.

[Kerry Beal]

Kerry,

I have had the same problem with needing to reseat the seal on mine after a stop. Fortunately I was there or the machine would have been sucking air and blowing oil all day. All the more reason HR should update their firmware to automatically turn off the vacuum pump if it can't get below 1000 milliTor in a certain amount of time. Anymore I keep my vacuum pump turned off and turn it on manually to be sure a vacuum is getting pulled.

How did you like the freeze dried raspberries. I did a 4 pound frozen bag from Sams, but they were too strong and bitter for my tastes.

How does the freeze dried milk reconstitute compared to fresh.

 

Interesting thing - I did reseat the seal - and was satisfied it was OK, but suspect it might have been frozen still and shifted before the vacuum came back on.  I think the mistake was turning it off at all.  I should have just flipped the switch back on and reset so I could remove stuff when I got home later.  

 

The freeze tried raspberries are very strong - that's what I'm after though for adding to ganaches.  

 

Milk is back for a second run - it was still damp - so will let you know when it's properly dried.  

[Kerry Beal]

He's a keeper, Kerry!

Meant to say too that the grapes look much better this time, cut in half. Were they more edible?

The condensation softened them - so they were like fresh raisins!

[Shelby]

Ooooh Deryn!  Looking forward to seeing what you create in there

[Kerry Beal]

 

The cream cheese from the last run wasn't dry so I ran it again today.  

 

 

A couple of boxes of mini ice cream sandwiches.  

 

 

Brie, cheese curd and jarlsberg.  

 

 

Second run on 35% cream and some aloe that was sitting around!  Not quite sure what use freeze dried aloe has however.  

[Deryn]

Oh oh oh .. cheese curds! Can't get those where I live in NS. Guess that is another item for me to pick up as I go through Ontario. Wonder if, revived, they will still be fresh enough to squeak. Or whether one should just try to make a nouvelle cuisine poutine with powdered freeze-dried curds (and FD potatoes? and/or FD gravy?). Ah the possibilities. Thanks, Kerry!

Edited November 20, 2014 by Deryn (log)

[Kerry Beal]

Oh oh oh .. cheese curds! Can't get those where I live in NS. Guess that is another item for me to pick up as I go through Ontario. Wonder if, revived, they will still be fresh enough to squeak. Or whether one should just try to make a nouvelle cuisine poutine with powdered freeze-dried curds (and FD potatoes? and/or FD gravy?). Ah the possibilities. Thanks, Kerry!

Eaten FD'd they kinda squeak.