I would prefer those fittings to have internal Este rings and knurled thread on ports (similar to R134a vacuum gauge sets) that do not require high torque compression fittings. Finger tight and you are good to go. You spot a leak, change the O ring and you're back in business.
We preserve our favorite foods, which means I know my family will eat them when it’s time to break them out, whether that’s for a camp out, family vacation, or the apocalypse.
Granted, most of that time is the freeze dryer doing all the work, but the process is not without effort. Once the food is ready it must be put into appropriate containers with oxygen absorbers and sealed properly so they can last.
Modular and versatile freeze-drying systems are also in high demand and this is changing the landscape of the market. Certain companies need equipment that can handle different sizes and types of products. This is being done by pharma machinery manufacturers who provide these industries with better scalable models.
Another option that can work well is teaming up with like-minded friends or family members to purchase a freeze dryer together.
Of course the bags were frozen right in to the mass of berries so it was quite a painful struggle to get the mess to the point where I could hack off slices of the berries to put on the trays.
You can count on me sticking around to talk about the food side of things! My wife looked at me a little oddly when I got the freeze dryer, but now she's a fan too. I'm discovering things that it can do that I hadn't expected, such as making low carb snacks.
The one "gotcha" I encountered in making this is that a Scientific Pro Freeze Dryer Canada typical car oil filter attaches with a 3/4x16tpi threaded pipe. I could find pelo such pipe anywhere. My solution was to use instead a 3/4x16tpi bolt, and then drill a hole through it.
A bit of background on me - I used to work in a sold state fabrication lab (university research lab) and had a lot of hands-on work with ultra-high vacuum equipment. The pumping we do for freeze drying was what was required to just start
Reinstalled the vacuum hose and capped far end of hose to do a hose test. (same results as pump alone)
- Nutritional Preservation: This method retains about 97% of the original nutrients in food, making it superior to other preservation methods like canning or Know More dehydrating.
5 Posted September 16, 2015 Thanks dsheidt. I was afraid that the AN8 fittings I could find might not be long enough to provide the space needed so that the oil could flow over the top of the filter, especially given my "disk" method of holding up the can.
Purchasing a freeze dryer can be an excellent investment for those interested in food preservation, emergency preparedness, or simply enjoying homemade snacks that last longer without losing their quality.
How often should I change the oil? You can filter the oil using the included oil filter to remove impurities, but it’s best to change the oil every 20-25 batches or when it appears cloudy.