There are 3 ports on the chamber that I made slits in the plastic to get around and taped them up once around them. Do not tape to the insulation. Tape only to the vapor barrier plastic. It doesn't take long, just be careful. After the plastic is in place and secure around the chamber I sealed the plastic to the back of the front and back panels using the packing tape. All the way around the front and back of the chamber to completely seal the chamber from outside air and humidity.

It's so much easier to stay on a low carb diet when you have things to nibble on. I've been drying meatballs (cut them in half first), and they make a fantastic savory snack. I'll post to the Tried and True thread when I get a chance.

Freeze dried milk Most dairy products freeze dry quite well. I love freeze drying milk. I measure the milk, pour it on the trays, and process it. Then I package either in a canning jar or a mylar bag, depending on how soon I will be using it.

When isolated, the pump seems to behave well. Short of putting a meter on the pump, my impression is that it is operating properly. I'm considering investing in a good meter to verify that it is reaching a good ultimate vacuum.

Nor is it affordable for all of our extended family to eat gluten-free for the holiday meals. This challenge has been easily remedied with my freeze dryer.

A freeze dryer can be used to preserve entire meals, making it easy to build up a supply of emergency food or just have meals on hand that can quickly be re-hydrated and eaten.

14 Posted December 16, 2015 On 7/31/2015 at 11:12 PM, TonyC said: Here is my first pass on a Vapor Trap... it is an old whole house water filter that I modified. It failed to reduce the moisture in the oil... I'm in the process of modifying it to catch and suspend the moisture in the container long enough for desiccant beads to absorb the water. The air flow comes into the inlet, down the central pipe to the bottom of the screen and filters up through the beads and out the top. I know this was like forever ago, but I thought I would respond anyway. I haven't been on much in a while, I only run my freeze dryer in the winter. So I think you'll find it's a lot harder to remove water vapor from a vacuum than just using desiccant, as the vacuum will just pull the water out of the desiccant.

The easiest way to reconstitute food is with water or broth. I like to weigh my trays before processing them. Then I write the weight and the name of the food on a piece of masking tape and put it on the front of the tray.

And therein lies the cons to buying a freeze dryer. It takes time to make them cost effective. Depending on humidity in your area, a single run can take up to two days to complete.

“Astronaut” ice cream is a fun treat to make and is so easy. Just scoop ice cream onto the trays and freeze before processing.

It appears that the ice build up inside the chamber sublimates as well as the ice in the food. Eliminate the ice and the process is faster, and less water ends up in your oil.

If you have a high volume lab, it’s usually a good idea to have more than one to be safe. Freeze drying ice water hash is the #1 way to dry it because it increases your production speed, enhances its color, retains more delicate terpenes, and sharply limits microbial activity.

5. Noise Concerns: If noise levels Buy Now become excessive during operation, ensure that all components are securely attached and functioning properly; consider placing the unit in a less frequented area if necessary.

And therein lies the best piece of advice I can offer on this topic: Keep your freeze dryer running. Downtime is wasted time. Some items take a while. Others are quick. But keeping the freeze dryer going almost non-stop is the key to getting the bang for the buck.