A Different Kind of MCS

[DavidNorcross]

I sure hope I am putting this thread on the right channel. Huskee please move if I have messed up.

We preserve alot of food around here. Meat, eggs, vegetables, etc, we are always freezing, canning or dehydrating. For years I have had my eye on a freeze dryer and finally decided to pull the trigger. They are pricey but no different then a high end cooker and it will hopefully provide great returns.

I know this may not be for some, but I wanted to share with everyone. Should be here in a week or so!

[Jerod Broussard]

Wow. Must work well. Freeze drying is about as "cool" as it gets.

[Oak Smoke]

Please keep us informed as you learn to use it. I’ve read about them but never tasted anything that had been freeze dried in one.

[DavidNorcross]

Like everything else there will be a learning curve for sure.

[realdocBBQ]

Eggs??? HUH?

[DavidNorcross]

Yes! The need to be scrambled, but they will last for years if stored properly.

[realdocBBQ]

"they will last" and "they will be good" are very different statements... at least per MY evaluation. lol I dunno, man, I'll take your word for it!

[DavidNorcross]

Ha...thats ok. No worries. It is a sublimation process that takes the food -40f and then warms it back up. Removes all the water. All you gotta do is put the water back and it restores it to its original state.

[STEbbq]

Wow. I have never heard of these things. I have to look it up.

[UncleSpike]

My boss has had one for about four years.
It runs 24 hrs a day. He uses it for absolutely everything. Soup, fruit, herbs, the list goes on...

[DavidNorcross]

Thats the plan!

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

There's a pretty large market for freeze dried goods on FB marketplace, might be able to pay for itself!

[STEbbq]

I have read about these things now. I would love to see what you use it to do. I would never have even thought about something like this before.

[HawkerXP]

Didn't they use one of these things on Walt Disney?


Freeze Drying: How It Works, Benefits, and How-to

[STEbbq]

No, that was Frozen.

(Ba-da-bump)

[Huskee]

I assume this is a personal sized version of what they use to make MREs? If so, very cool. Modern MREs are typically pretty darn excellent, and being able to make your own shelf-stable food for emergencies and such is very wise.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Huskee they don't need water (unless you want to activate the heating element). Typically an entree, desert, and snacks as well as some crappy condiments other than the tobasco that's so old that sometimes i'ts almost clear. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meal,_Ready-to-Eat

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Huskee I'll mail you one if you want to try it. PM me. They are delightfully horrid (seriously worth a try)

[tstalafuse]

Not politically correct, but back in the 80's we always called them Meals Rejected by Ethiopians for a reason. I always seem to get some tuna BS. I hate tuna.

[rodkeary]

I’ve heard the term “freeze dried” but never gave the process a second thought. Now I know.

Thanks

[Sid P]

That’s interesting, David. Will you be freeze drying coffee? I hear it lasts forever.

[DavidNorcross]

I have read a little about it Sid, but do not know enough yet to say really.

[randy.56]

Not to familiar with these machines, had to look them up. Have had freeze dried food. So what's the benefit over just vacuum packed frozen food? I have had brisket 3 years old taste the same as when I put it in the freezer. Seems like unnecessary work/time?

[DavidNorcross]

As mentioned we raise and preserve a lot of food. Frozen food will last but not as long. We will be able to freeze dry beans, carrots, eggs, celery, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, chicken, beef, etc and store it dry for years if that is what we choose. There really is no work just load it in the freeze dryer and let the machine do the work.

[randy.56]

Thanks David

[UncleSpike]

You also don’t have to worry about a power outage that lasts a long time.

[STEbbq]

Oh, so does this mean you won’t freeze food in the freezer or will the freezer have a more narrower and dedicated job now? Or you defrost it and use it as storage for freeze dried stuff?

[DavidNorcross]

You are right. Will surely continue to freeze food but it will be more of a narrowed approach for sure. There are also some things that do not freeze dry well (short list) and they will need to be frozen as well.

[surfdog]

Jerod Broussard