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Is a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Worth the Money? My Complete Cost Analysis to Help You Decide

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When it comes to food preservation, there is no doubt that the Harvest Right freeze dryer is at the top of its game.

This machine promises to turn food into lightweight, shelf-stable meals that will last up to 25 years, all while retaining the taste and nearly all of the nutritional content.

So if you are wondering how to stockpile long-lasting nutritious food and cut down on food waste, a Harvest Right freeze dryer might seem the obvious choice.

But do the benefits justify the price, and are these freeze dryers really worth the money?

In this article, we’ll break down the expenses and explore hidden savings to help you decide if a Harvest Right freeze dryer is the right choice for you.

Home Freeze-Drying Cost Analysis

First, let’s take a look at the immediate and ongoing expenses associated with a Harvest Right freeze dryer to get an idea of the overall cost.

Then we will explore some hidden savings and compare the price of a home freeze-dried meal to a commercially bought freeze-dried meal.

Hopefully by the end of this analysis you will have a better idea if a freeze dryer makes sense for you financially!

How Long Does Freeze Dried Food Last
You can freeze dry all types of foods!

Initial Cost Outlay

For the purpose of this exercise, we will use a medium Harvest Right freeze dryer as the example. I believe this is a popular size and it happens to be the size I own, so I know it well.

The upfront cost of the freeze dryer is $3,200, which includes the premier oil pump. Spread that over ten years, and you’re looking at $320 a year.

Larger or smaller units, plus different pump options, will change this figure. For example, upgrading to the oil-free pump adds $1,500 to the base price.

So, do your homework, compare sizes and pump types, and see which combination aligns with your freeze-drying goals.

Harvest Right Freeze Dryer
  • Freeze dry up to 10,000 lbs of fresh food every year.
  • Preserve your gardens harvest & prepare for emergencies.
  • Make your own camping & hiking meals.
  • Freeze dry your own pet food.

Ongoing Running Costs

Maintenance affects your wallet too. Annual upkeep might set you back $16 if you’re buying vacuum pump oil.

If you opt for an oil-free pump you will face higher initial costs but skip this recurring expense and maintenance task.

The first year you are covered by a full warranty, which means Harvest Right will repair or replace any defective parts at no cost to you.

In years two and three, the warranty covers major components like the compressor and condenser, but you’ll be responsible for diagnostic fees and any transportation costs.

Taking into consideration the warranty, let’s budget $100 each year for replacement parts – you may not need them, but it is best to err on the side of caution.

And remember, these are just estimates to give you an idea of any ongoing financial commitments.

Harvest Right Vacuum Pump Oil
A bottle of vacuum pump oil will cost you about $16 USD

Electricity Cost

Running a freeze dryer isn’t free – electricity adds up.

With cycle lengths stretching from 20 to 40 hours, considering this when calculating your bills makes sense, especially if you’re running back-to-back batches.

Expect energy use around 33 kWh per batch, translating to roughly $5.94 per cycle.

This is based on the June 2024 national average cost of $0.18/kWh. If you pay more or less than this, adjust the per cycle price accordingly by multiplying your per kWh rate by 33.

Harvest Right Batch Cycle Time
Most cycles take 20-40 hours so we are using 30 hours as the average for this cost analysis.

Packaging Costs

If your goal is to store your food for the long-term, it will need to be correctly packaged.

Harvest Right’s 8″x12″ Mylar bags cost about $0.50 each, and an oxygen absorber adds another $0.40.

I can often fit two meal servings in a single Mylar bag, which means the cost of packaging the food for storage is $0.65 per meal (half the cost of a Mylar bag plus the cost of one oxygen absorber).

You can also store your food in Mason jars which, although pricier upfront, are reusable unlike the single-use Mylar bags.

You will still need to factor in the price of the single-use oxygen absorber when using jars to store your food.

Mylar bag and mason jar of freeze dried fried rice
Mylar bags, mason jars and oxygen absorbers are essential for storing freeze-dried food long-term.

Raw Cost of Food

The raw materials you freeze-dry factor in too.

If, like me, you mostly plan to freeze dry excess produce from your garden or eggs from your chickens, that cost might be minimal.

If you buy food in bulk and on special, this will cost more, but your overall food expenses may still be quite manageable.

However, if you plan on freeze-drying expensive cuts of meat, you will obviously need to factor in much higher food costs.

Considering the variation in this expense, for the purpose of this analysis I have budgeted $15 per batch for food cost.

Think about what foods you are most likely to be freeze drying and the capacity of your freeze dryer, then adjust this figure accordingly.

ItemCost
Medium Freeze Dryer$3,200 (one-off expense)
Operational Costs
Electricity$5.94 per batch
Maintenance$16 per year
General repairs$100 per year
Raw Food Costs$15 per batch
Food Storage Costs$0.65 per meal

Hidden Savings

Now that we have explored all of the initial and ongoing cost associated with a freeze dryer, let’s take a look at the other side of the coin and explore the savings you might not have previously considered.

Reduced Food Waste

Are you tired of throwing out spoiled groceries every week?

With a Harvest Right freeze dryer, you can say goodbye to that guilt by freeze-drying your left-overs before they spoil, fruit and vegetables before they turn to mush and herbs before they wilt.

How many times have you purchased a bunch of herbs for a special recipe, used a sprig or two the recipe demands, and then promptly forgotten about the rest?

Now you can use what you need and freeze dry the rest, which means not only will you not find a sad wilted bunch of herbs in your fridge a week from now. You will also have a freeze-dried store on hand for the next time you decide to get creative in the kitchen!

By reducing spoilage, you’re stretching your food budget further. Think about how much money you toss away with every wilted vegetable or forgotten piece of fruit at the back of the fridge.

Freeze dried herbs in jars
Herbs are perfect for freeze drying.

Saving Money by Buying in Bulk and On Special

Buying in bulk or snagging those specials can be a double-edged sword – great savings but overwhelming quantities.

Your freeze dryer becomes an irreplaceable asset in this situation, allowing you to preserve large batches of food without worrying about expiration dates.

Picture your pantry stocked with discounted bulk buys, neatly freeze-dried and ready whenever you need them.

Not only do you save by buying cheaper, but you’re also avoiding the typical waste associated with bulk purchases.

Preserving Garden Excess

If you are a gardener, you are likely all too familiar with the challenge a glut of produce can create.

When your garden’s harvest surpasses your immediate needs, a Harvest Right freeze dryer once again proves its worth.

Harvest your vegetables and fruits at peak ripeness, freeze-dry them, and enjoy the taste of summer all year round.

Whether it’s an abundance of peas, a surplus of strawberries or 100 lbs of turmeric, you can preserve the harvest effectively.

With a freeze dryer, your garden’s productivity translates directly into year-long savings. In fact, here are 11 reasons I think every gardener should consider owning a freeze dryer.

Prepared and freeze dried turmeric
45 lbs of turmeric ready for the freeze dryer (top) and turmeric powder from a single freeze-dry cycle (bottom).

Less Frequent Shopping Trips

Making fewer grocery runs means less impulsive spending, after all, those little extras that sneak into your cart add up!

With a well-stocked supply of freeze-dried foods, you won’t need to shop as often.

This translates to savings in gas, time, and money!

You might even find yourself less stressed, knowing that your meals are already taken care of.

Commercial Freeze Dried Meals VS Home Freeze Dried Meals

By now you might be wondering whether you should just skip the freeze-dryer purchase and buy commercial freeze-dried meals instead.

They sure are convenient, but when comparing to home-freeze dried alternatives, there’s more than meets the eye.

Let’s do a cost comparison, plus explore some other considerations that should be taken into account.

Chickpea Curry meal pouch
A freeze-dried pouch of homemade Chickpea Curry.

Cost Comparison

There is no denying that commercial freeze-dried meals have their own charm – easy grab-and-go meals requiring no input by you.

But, lets check out the cost.

The average price of a meal pouch from popular brands such as Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry is around $10. These are advertised to provide two servings, but take a look in online forums and you will see most people agree that they are really only sufficient for one.

These pouches generally contain between 90-140g of food (dry weight). I tend to fit double that in a small Mylar bag which I am going to call two servings for comparison.

If we factor in all of the expenses detailed above, including amortization of the freeze dryer, and use a ball-park figure of 50 batches per year (almost one per week), a home freeze-dried meal costs roughly $4.36 per meal.

CategoryCost
Initial Investment
– Purchase Price$3,200
– Amortization$320/year
Operational Costs
– Electricity Usage$5.94 per batch
– Maintenance$16/year
– General Repairs$100/year
Storage Costs
– Storage Cost per Meal$0.65 per meal
Raw Food Costs
– Raw Food Price$15 per batch
Total Cost per Batch
– Excluding amortization & maintenance$20.94 per batch
Annual Costs
– Amortized Initial Investment$320/year
– Maintenance$16/year
– General Repairs$100/year
– Total Fixed Annual Costs$436/year
Per Batch Analysis
– Total Batches per Year50 batches
– Fixed Cost per Batch$8.72 per batch
Total Cost per Batch
– Including fixed costs$29.66 per batch
– Cost per Meal$3.71 per meal
– Storage Cost per Meal$0.65
– Total Cost per Meal$4.36 per meal
Comparison
– Home Freeze-Drying Cost per Meal$4.36
– Commercial Freeze-Dried Meal Cost$10

If you increase your number of batches to roughly two per week (or 100 batches per year), your fixed cost per batch decreases, resulting in a slightly lower total cost of $3.81 per meal.

This means you are saving more than half per meal when compared to the commercially bought ones!

Time Comparison

Time is money, or so they say, and preparing your freeze-dried meals will eat some of that precious resource.

Prepping, freezing-drying, and packaging at home don’t come close to the speed of ripping open a store-bought package and adding water.

Yet, think of it as an investment.

Sure, it requires a commitment, but you gain the satisfaction of knowing what’s in your food.

You’ll spend time chopping, blanching, and portioning, but each task connects you to your meals in ways store-bought pouches can’t.

Shelled and blanched peas
Processing food for the freeze dryer can be time consuming. For example, peas need to be shelled, blanched and pre-frozen.

Full Control Over Ingredients

Control freak? Me too!

Home freeze drying gives you total control over your ingredients, which I absolutely love.

No more wondering if there’s hidden MSG or seeing a list of unpronounceable preservatives.

You can create meals to be as healthy or indulgent as you like, balancing nutrition with flavor on your terms.

You’ll find comfort in knowing each mouthful nourishes you how you intended, dodging shady additives.

Making split pea soup
I love knowing exactly what goes into our meals – this is split pea soup I am cooking to run through the freeze dryer.

Making Use of Your Own Produce

Got a green thumb? Put that garden produce to good use.

A Harvest Right freeze dryer lets you preserve your harvest without jarring, canning, or overwhelming your fridge.

Imagine slicing those just-picked strawberries and ensuring their ripened perfection lasts for years.

Instead of watching produce wilt away, you can stash your veggies for future soups, stir-fry’s and stews. Trust me, knowing you can keep your harvest fresh until you’re ready to enjoy it is a life-saver.

Sweet potato harvest and freeze dried
We harvested a ton of different types of sweet potato (top) and decided to dice and half cook them for freeze-drying (bottom) – perfect for adding to stews in the off season!

So while store-bought freeze-dried meals offer quick convenience, home freeze drying packs more punch in savings, control, and the joy of using your homegrown produce.

Still wondering if a freeze-dryer is right for you? Read my two-year, hands-on, no-holds-barred review of the Harvest Right freeze dryer here.

Disclaimer

This article uses current prices for electricity, freeze dryers, and food as examples. Your specific costs may vary based on location, energy rates, and product availability.

It’s essential to consider your circumstances and make adjustments accordingly. As always, do thorough research tailored to your unique needs before making any financial decisions.

Harvest Right Freeze Dryer
  • Freeze dry up to 10,000 lbs of fresh food every year.
  • Preserve your gardens harvest & prepare for emergencies.
  • Make your own camping & hiking meals.
  • Freeze dry your own pet food.
Simon Cuthbert

Simon Cuthbert

I am a passionate gardener and outdoor enthusiast who has been working on building food security through gardening since 2017. My 6 acre homestead encompasses well over 100 different fruit and nut trees. I also keep an extensive vegetable garden that keeps the freeze dryer and dehydrator running almost constantly. When not in the garden or the kitchen preserving the harvest, you will find me hanging out with my German Shepherd.