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Food · Guide

Harvest Right freeze dryer: sizes, prices, and my experience

What I have learned from running a Harvest Right home freeze dryer since 2016, with the three sizes, prices, batch capacities, what comes in the box, and what it costs to run.

Quick facts

Price
$1,595 small, $2,295 medium, $3,095 and up large
Batch size
4 to 7 lbs (small) up to 12 to 16 lbs (large) of fresh food
Shelf life
25 years or more when packaged and stored properly
Power
Standard 110-volt outlet, about $1 to $2.80 a day
Owned since
2016, pump upgraded in 2023

I bought my Harvest Right freeze dryer in 2016 and it has been worth every penny. After years of continual use it still works exactly like it should. The only change I made was scrapping the original pump in 2023 for the premier industrial pump, which now comes standard. If you want long-term food storage made from food your family already eats, this is the machine.

See the Harvest Right freeze dryersSmall, medium, and large, from $1,595

What a freeze dryer does

A freeze dryer freezes food, then pulls the water out as vapor under vacuum. Primary drying (sublimation) turns the ice straight to gas, and secondary drying (desorption) removes what is left. With the moisture gone, bacteria, mold, and yeast cannot grow, so the food stores at room temperature with no refrigeration.

The food keeps most of its nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, along with its color, shape, flavor, and texture. It rehydrates more fully than dehydrated food. Properly packaged and stored, it can last 25 years or more.

Why it earns a place in a preparedness plan

Before I bought mine I hesitated over the steep price and whether the equipment would last. It has. My only complaint about my aging model was the pump, and pump technology has improved massively since.

Food you already eatPreserve everyday groceries, leftovers, garden harvests, and full meals instead of relying only on prepackaged emergency meals. You control the ingredients and the recipes.
Real savingsRetail freeze-dried meals often run around $10 or more each. Home batches cost far less, and you can buy in bulk and preserve sale items before they spoil.
Less wasteFall garden harvests and leftovers go into storage instead of the trash, and the pantry gets easier to rotate.
Anything goes inMeat, dairy, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and complete meals all freeze dry well.
Pet foodFreeze dry your own pet food so you know exactly what is in it, and spend less than you would on store-bought.
AutomaticThe machine runs the cycle for you. It is easy to set up and easy to use.

It is a better investment than a cheap dehydrator. It also covers more than emergencies: job loss, inflation, camping and backpacking food, and special diets.

Which size to buy

A small or medium unit suits most homes. If you have a lot of food to preserve, get the large. On a tight budget, get the small.

SizePricePer batchPer yearDimensionsWeight
Small Freeze Dryer$1,5954 to 7 lbs fresh, 1 to 1.5 gal freeze driedUp to 840 lbs fresh, 195 gal freeze dried16.5" W x 18.5" D x 25" H61 lbs
Medium Freeze Dryer$2,2957 to 10 lbs fresh, 1.5 to 2.5 gal freeze driedUp to 1,450 lbs fresh, 312 gal freeze dried18" W x 21.25" D x 28.5" H112 lbs
Large Freeze Dryer$3,095 and up12 to 16 lbs fresh, 2 to 3.5 gal freeze driedUp to 2,500 lbs fresh, 546 gal freeze dried20.25" W x 23.75" D x 30.75" H112 lbs

What comes with every size

  • Freeze dryer
  • Premier vacuum pump
  • Vacuum pump oil
  • Oil filter
  • Stainless steel trays
  • Impulse sealer
  • Mylar bags
  • Oxygen absorbers
  • Guide to freeze drying

Home, pharmaceutical, and commercial models

Harvest Right is a Utah company with excellent customer service and, relatively speaking, affordable machines. It sells three lines:

  • Home Freeze Dryer: for family food, garden harvests, emergency storage, camping meals, special diets, and pet food.
  • Pharmaceutical Freeze Dryer: for herbs, plants, and delicate extracts that heat would damage. The trays are shorter, so it fits more of them.
  • Commercial Freeze Dryer: for preserving business food stock or selling freeze-dried food.

Restaurants, university labs, growers, pet food makers, herbal producers, and candy and snack businesses all run these same machines.

Running cost

The freeze dryer plugs into a standard 110-volt outlet. Depending on where you live, expect about $1 to $2.80 a day in electricity while it runs.

Check current Harvest Right pricesEvery size ships with the premier pump, trays, sealer, Mylar bags, and oxygen absorbers

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

Is a harvest right freeze dryer worth it

For me, yes. I bought mine in 2016 and it has been worth every penny. After years of continual use it still works like it should. The only change I made was upgrading to the premier industrial pump in 2023, which now comes standard.

How much does a harvest right freeze dryer cost

The small Harvest Right freeze dryer is $1,595, the medium is $2,295, and the large starts at $3,095. Every size includes the premier vacuum pump, pump oil, oil filter, stainless trays, an impulse sealer, Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and a guide.

How long does home freeze dried food last

Properly packaged and stored, home freeze-dried food can last up to 25 years while keeping most of its flavor, texture, and nutrition. Removing the moisture stops bacteria, mold, and yeast, so the food needs no refrigeration.

How much electricity does a freeze dryer use

A Harvest Right freeze dryer runs on a standard 110-volt outlet. Depending on where you live, it costs roughly $1 to $2.80 a day in electricity while it is running.

What size harvest right freeze dryer should I buy

A small or medium suits most homes. The small handles 4 to 7 pounds of fresh food per batch, the medium 7 to 10 pounds, and the large 12 to 16 pounds. Buy the large if you have a lot of food to preserve, the small on a tight budget.

What comes with a harvest right freeze dryer

Each size ships with the freeze dryer, a premier vacuum pump, vacuum pump oil, an oil filter, stainless steel trays, an impulse sealer, Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and a guide to freeze drying.

Keep going

Read nextMylar bags: which foods gain the most shelf life (ranked)Ranks foods in five tiers by how much Mylar and oxygen absorbers help, with moisture limits, bag thickness, absorber sizing and sealing.Food · Guide

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