I've been interested in freeze drying for a long time. I'm VERY interested in your research and reasons for going with stay fresh over harvest right. Loved the video and thank you.
When it came to choosing a freeze dryer, I spent a lot of time researching different brands and reading countless reviews. I finally landed on StayFresh for a few key reasons. Firstly, the customer service reviews for StayFresh were consistently positive, which was a big deal for me. I wanted to know that if I had any issues or questions, I’d be supported. Plus, the price was competitive, and the features they offered were exactly what I needed. I also looked into Harvest Right, but I found a lot of negative reviews about their customer service. It seemed they were even offering people $100 in items for positive reviews, which felt a bit sketchy to me. I wanted to go with a brand that felt more trustworthy. Blue All Pine is another option that's getting some buzz, but it's still pretty new to the market. There just wasn’t enough information or a long enough track record for me to feel confident in spending that kind of money on a newer product. What really sealed the deal for me with StayFresh was the extras they included - 50 Mylar bags, a sealer, a blower, and a brush to keep the machine clean. And let me tell you, when they said they’d deliver on time, they weren’t kidding. My freeze dryer actually arrived a week and a half early, which was a fantastic surprise. So, all in all, StayFresh stood out to me as the best option, balancing great customer service, competitive pricing, and solid features.
Just an fyi… Stay Fresh is only 2 years old. And yes, they have problems. All of them do. HarvestRight has been around for 10 years this year. Everything that StayFresh is modeled after, is modeled after HarvestRight with the exception of the ball valve. Tim ( Toungu) the owner of Stay Fresh, actually bought a HarvestRight and tore it down to model his after it. Even Stay Fresh’s trays are modeled after the original HarvestRight Trays. 🙋🏻♀️ - 9 years verified multiple Freeze dryer owner
I think many inventions come from an original idea- including recipes! Harvest Right has worked for many, and while they have been bigger, it was the frequent complaints about the customer service that started to steer me in a different direction. Stay Fresh also included a candy mode (which Harvest Right then added as an update) and I liked the built in thermometer feature also. Blue Alpine seems like it might be worth exploring for someone considering a purchase, and was just coming out when I purchased.
@@DryItCanIt , , HarvestRight brought candy mode out in June of 2022. STayFresh came out in July if 2922 and did not have a Candy Mode until November of 2022. The thermometer probe only can measure the piece of food that it’s inserted into. It’s a gimmick. BTW, HarvestRight had a CEO which used to call customers as well. In the first 2 years. Just like Stay fresh and Blue Alpine. HarvestRight can’t really do that any more with. Over a million units sold in the last 10 years. Yes, I’m a 9 year HarvestRight multiple unit owner. 2014 to 2023 and years in between. Please make sure that you have your facts strait when presenting them.
@@kimmididwhat I'm glad your unit is working well for you, because as we both know, they are an investment. I am simply sharing my experience and preferences. Thanks for the update on dates of introduction! :-)
@@kimmididwhat Harvest Right does get a good number of complaints related to customer service now. As of of today, there are 21 pages of complaints (over the last 3 years) about everything from temperature control problems to vacuum seal issues and how poor the communication is with Harvest Right. To me, candy mode is gimmicky. I think everyone has facts that they cling to when making decisions that are best for them.
I think you might be able to accelerate your rehydration time by placing the mixture in one of those chamber vacuum sealers or a side sealer with a vacuum container attachment accessory. It will rapidly suck the water into all those tiny pores in the freeze dried product rather than waiting for capillary action to do that work.
So I’ve always heard you could not do dairy and the freeze dryer. But so far I have seen people do sour cream, cottage cheese, and even half-and-half and all seems to work out well.
Milk. raw scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream, and half and half have all worked well for me. Whipping cream was a failure, and of course butter is not going to work. Each is amazing! I especially like the cottage cheese. I have done shredded cheddar also, though rehydrating that is a bit trickier.
I purchased from a supplier who I found online, but know that they fit the Harvest Right machine. I cut each off to fit my Stay Fresh machine. The result works fine, just in the end all the squares are not the same size- not a big seal for me! Here is the link: www.freezedryingsupplies.com/products/freeze-dryer-tray-dividers
I have Blue Alpine, i got mine in June '24, at the beginning I would text them at least once a week becomes i had no idea what I was doing. They answered me within a couple of hrs. I have found the Blue Alpine is fast than HR to complete a cycle. There are 3 other UA-camr that have a HR that i watch for basic information. I wish I could find a good book that gives the actually setting although i know it would be just a suggestion because of the difference in elevation and humidity.
Elevation is not an issue with freeze driers, though humidity and temp in your home will make things vary. This is my go to book I use: linktw.in/dJdznM Though it is written about the HR, it totally is comprehensive and covres, dairy, fruits, veggies and meat. Great adaptable log sheets and recipes as well. HIGHLY recommend this one!
Not a single problem with my Harvest Right! And it runs almost constantly! ❤
I’m glad yours is working well for you because as we both know, it is quite an investment.
Fascinating process. Thank you!
I've been interested in freeze drying for a long time. I'm VERY interested in your research and reasons for going with stay fresh over harvest right. Loved the video and thank you.
When it came to choosing a freeze dryer, I spent a lot of time researching different brands and reading countless reviews. I finally landed on StayFresh for a few key reasons.
Firstly, the customer service reviews for StayFresh were consistently positive, which was a big deal for me. I wanted to know that if I had any issues or questions, I’d be supported. Plus, the price was competitive, and the features they offered were exactly what I needed.
I also looked into Harvest Right, but I found a lot of negative reviews about their customer service. It seemed they were even offering people $100 in items for positive reviews, which felt a bit sketchy to me. I wanted to go with a brand that felt more trustworthy.
Blue All Pine is another option that's getting some buzz, but it's still pretty new to the market. There just wasn’t enough information or a long enough track record for me to feel confident in spending that kind of money on a newer product.
What really sealed the deal for me with StayFresh was the extras they included - 50 Mylar bags, a sealer, a blower, and a brush to keep the machine clean. And let me tell you, when they said they’d deliver on time, they weren’t kidding. My freeze dryer actually arrived a week and a half early, which was a fantastic surprise.
So, all in all, StayFresh stood out to me as the best option, balancing great customer service, competitive pricing, and solid features.
Just an fyi… Stay Fresh is only 2 years old. And yes, they have problems. All of them do.
HarvestRight has been around for 10 years this year. Everything that StayFresh is modeled after, is modeled after HarvestRight with the exception of the ball valve.
Tim ( Toungu) the owner of Stay Fresh, actually bought a HarvestRight and tore it down to model his after it.
Even Stay Fresh’s trays are modeled after the original HarvestRight Trays.
🙋🏻♀️ - 9 years verified multiple Freeze dryer owner
I think many inventions come from an original idea- including recipes! Harvest Right has worked for many, and while they have been bigger, it was the frequent complaints about the customer service that started to steer me in a different direction. Stay Fresh also included a candy mode (which Harvest Right then added as an update) and I liked the built in thermometer feature also. Blue Alpine seems like it might be worth exploring for someone considering a purchase, and was just coming out when I purchased.
@@DryItCanIt , , HarvestRight brought candy mode out in June of 2022.
STayFresh came out in July if 2922 and did not have a Candy Mode until November of 2022.
The thermometer probe only can measure the piece of food that it’s inserted into. It’s a gimmick.
BTW, HarvestRight had a CEO which used to call customers as well. In the first 2 years. Just like Stay fresh and Blue Alpine.
HarvestRight can’t really do that any more with. Over a million units sold in the last 10 years.
Yes, I’m a 9 year HarvestRight multiple unit owner. 2014 to 2023 and years in between.
Please make sure that you have your facts strait when presenting them.
@@kimmididwhat I'm glad your unit is working well for you, because as we both know, they are an investment. I am simply sharing my experience and preferences. Thanks for the update on dates of introduction! :-)
@@kimmididwhat Harvest Right does get a good number of complaints related to customer service now. As of of today, there are 21 pages of complaints (over the last 3 years) about everything from temperature control problems to vacuum seal issues and how poor the communication is with Harvest Right. To me, candy mode is gimmicky. I think everyone has facts that they cling to when making decisions that are best for them.
I think you might be able to accelerate your rehydration time by placing the mixture in one of those chamber vacuum sealers or a side sealer with a vacuum container attachment accessory. It will rapidly suck the water into all those tiny pores in the freeze dried product rather than waiting for capillary action to do that work.
hmmmm.. interesting thought. I do not have that equipment though, but it is something to keep in mind and try for those that do!
So I’ve always heard you could not do dairy and the freeze dryer. But so far I have seen people do sour cream, cottage cheese, and even half-and-half and all seems to work out well.
Milk. raw scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream, and half and half have all worked well for me. Whipping cream was a failure, and of course butter is not going to work. Each is amazing! I especially like the cottage cheese. I have done shredded cheddar also, though rehydrating that is a bit trickier.
Hi Beth! Thanks for the video. Where did you purchase your green tray dividers?
I purchased from a supplier who I found online, but know that they fit the Harvest Right machine. I cut each off to fit my Stay Fresh machine. The result works fine, just in the end all the squares are not the same size- not a big seal for me! Here is the link: www.freezedryingsupplies.com/products/freeze-dryer-tray-dividers
Perfect, thank you very much!!
I have Blue Alpine, i got mine in June '24, at the beginning I would text them at least once a week becomes i had no idea what I was doing. They answered me within a couple of hrs.
I have found the Blue Alpine is fast than HR to complete a cycle.
There are 3 other UA-camr that have a HR that i watch for basic information.
I wish I could find a good book that gives the actually setting although i know it would be just a suggestion because of the difference in elevation and humidity.
Elevation is not an issue with freeze driers, though humidity and temp in your home will make things vary. This is my go to book I use: linktw.in/dJdznM Though it is written about the HR, it totally is comprehensive and covres, dairy, fruits, veggies and meat. Great adaptable log sheets and recipes as well. HIGHLY recommend this one!