What's the Difference Between a Freeze Dryer and a Dehydrator?

What's the Difference Between a Freeze Dryer and a Dehydrator?

When it comes to preserving fresh food for long periods, you’d want to remove the moisture. Moisture is what causes food to spoil without any preserving agents. In an ideal scenario, you’d want to reduce the need for preserving agents to maintain the natural flavor of food. When removing moisture in food, two things come to mind: Dehydrators and Freeze Dryers.

While they both preserve food by removing moisture, they differ in how each operates and the end product they create. If you decide on getting either machine, here are some points that will help you decide which is best for you.

 

How a Dehydrator Work

Dehydration is a simple drying process. To preserve food, such as herbs, lay it on a mesh screen and air dry it. Air drying eliminates moisture, which prevents bacteria from developing inside the food.

Dehydrators take this concept up a notch and let your material dry faster at temperatures between 95 and 155 degrees Fahrenheit. The time and heat depend on your material. Delicate ones like herbs dry at lower temperatures, while meat takes a hotter temperature.

 

Pros of Dehydration

  • Affordable and readily available.
  • Easy to use and operate.
  • Great for making snacks like jerky and fruit leathers.

Cons of Dehydration

  • High temperatures can damage some vitamins and enzymes during the drying process.
  • Longer drying times compared to freeze drying.
  • Dehydrated food can lose its original texture, flavor, and nutrients.
  • Shorter shelf life (typically 1-3 years) compared to freeze-drying.
  • Only limited food can be preserved.

Foods Best Suitable for Dehydration

As a general rule of thumb, foods that are relatively uniform in texture and have lower water content tend to dehydrate more successfully such as:

  • Fruits (apples, bananas, berries)
  • Vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms)
  • Herbs and spices
  • Meat (jerky)

 

How a Freeze Dryer Works

Freeze dryers, like the Harvest Right home freeze dryers, are a little more complicated. They feature three steps to remove as much moisture as possible inside. Unlike dehydrators, freeze dryers process your material through Lyophilization.

In lyophilization, your material is heated to -30 degrees Fahrenheit to freeze the water content. This process usually takes around nine hours, depending on the Freeze Dryer. After that, the freeze-drying chamber is sealed in a vacuum, expelling the ice as vapor. This process is repeated until moisture levels are below 5 – 10 percent.

Pros of Freeze Drying

  • Superior shelf life (up to 25 years for most foods).
  • Retains most nutrients, flavor, and color of the original food.
  • Faster rehydration times compared to dehydration.
  • Preserve various foods, including dairy products, cooked meals, and meats.

Cons of Freeze Drying

  • Significantly higher cost compared to dehydrators.
  • It is bulkier and requires more counter or room space.
  • Longer drying times than dehydrators.
  • Requires a vacuum pump (may need oil changes for the home freeze dryer.)

Foods Suitable for Freeze-Drying

As a general rule of thumb, foods with higher moisture content or delicate structures are often better suited for freeze-drying than dehydration.

  • Fruits (strawberries, raspberries, mangoes)
  • Vegetables (corn, peas, broccoli)
  • Meats (raw or cooked)
  • Dairy products (cheese, yogurt)
  • Ready-to-eat meals

 

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Machine for Long-Term Food Storage

Size and Weight

 

Freeze Dried Bananas vs Dehydrated Bananas

 

Dehydrators are smaller compared to freeze dryers. They easily fit in your kitchen and weigh around 13 pounds. Some appliances, like the air fryer, also integrate dehydrator features.

On the other hand, freeze dryers occupy more space in your home. Many in the market take up as much space as a consumer refrigerator. On top of that, some freeze dryers need a vacuum pump to facilitate the extraction of the oil required for the freeze dryer.

Cost

Dehydrators are relatively cheaper and can be bought for as low as $100. Freeze dryers cost more, with the cheapest amounting to less than $2,400. This amount does not include the vacuum pump, which also needs oil.

Dehydrators cost less to use in the long run and do not run as long as freeze dryers; thus, they consume less power.
Freeze dryers, meanwhile, require oil changes periodically, although an oil-less pump is an option. While they consume more power than a dehydrator, they have a larger processing capacity.

Post-Processing

Freeze Dried Apple vs Dehydrated Apple

Dehydrated and freeze-dried food must be stored in airtight containers with oxygen absorbers to keep them fresher for longer. But there’s a difference in how long they stay good when exposed.

Dehydrated foods take longer to rehydrate, so they can last longer when placed in a humid environment. Freeze-dried food, however, absorbs moisture faster, allowing it to rehydrate more quickly.

When it comes to shelf life, dehydrated food can last an average of three years, depending on how it is preserved. Freeze-dried food can last at least 20 years, and high-fat content food can last around 15 years.

When it’s time to prepare it, dehydrated food material allows you to eat it as it is, such as jerky and raisins, or rehydrate it with a lot of water and slow cooking, such as stews and soups. Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods offer versatile options. Dehydrated food is also smaller than its original form.

What Food Are You Preserving?

While dehydrators and freeze dryers remove moisture for long-term food storage, the ideal method depends on what you're preserving. Dehydrators are budget-friendly and work well for fruits like apples and bananas (think fruit leathers!), sliced vegetables for soups and stews, herbs and spices, and jerky.

On the other hand, freeze dryers preserve a wider variety of foods. They maintain the shape and texture of fruits like strawberries and raspberries much better than dehydrators, making them an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy the taste and nutritional benefits of these delicate fruits year-round. In fact, if you're wondering is freeze dried fruit healthy, the answer is yes – the freeze-drying process preserves most of the nutrients found in fresh fruit.

Freeze dryers are also used to create unique treats like freeze-dried candy, which transforms the texture of your favorite sweets into a light and crunchy delight. Additionally, freeze dryers work well for various cuts of vegetables and raw and cooked meats. But the real advantage comes with their ability to handle dairy products like cheese and yogurt and even pre-cooked meals – perfect for emergencies or outdoor adventures.

The Verdict: Which One Should You Get?

A dehydrator is a good option for those on a budget who need more space for dried foods. It fits easily on your countertop and is included in some kitchen appliances.

A dehydrator is a good option for those on a budget and who need more space. It fits easily on your countertop and is sometimes included with other kitchen appliances.

A freeze dryer is a good option for anyone with space to spare for a more massive machine and who wants a longer-term preservation solution. As freeze dryers are a hefty investment, it’s also best to preserve large amounts of material to make the most of them.

Dehydrators and freeze dryers are welcome solutions for preserving or curing material. While they are designed for different users, they both achieve the goal of removing as much moisture from your material as possible. Both machines have advantages and disadvantages, so you can’t say one is superior. However, with the pros and cons listed, you should be able to make an informed decision.

In summary, here's how you should approach the topic:

Choose a dehydrator if:

  • You're on a budget and looking for an affordable option.
  • You have limited counter or storage space in your kitchen.
  • You primarily want to make snacks like jerky, fruit leathers, and dried herbs.
  • You don't mind longer drying times and a slightly shorter shelf life (1-3 years).
  • You're preserving foods with lower moisture content and uniform texture.

Choose a freeze dryer if:

  • You have the budget for a higher-cost appliance and are willing to invest in long-term food preservation.
  • You have ample space to accommodate a larger machine, similar to volumetric size as a consumer refrigerator.
  • You want to preserve a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, and even complete meals.
  • You prioritize superior shelf life (up to 25 years for most foods) and want to maintain the original texture, flavor, and nutrients of the food.
  • You don't mind the additional maintenance required, such as oil changes for the vacuum pump (if applicable).
  • You plan to preserve large quantities of food or if you want to start a freeze-dried business to make the most of your investment.

Choosing between these methods boils down to your priorities. If budget is a major concern, dehydrators offer a cost-effective solution. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and whether you prioritize affordability, space, extended shelf life, or superior food preservation.

Freeze Dryers vs Dehydrators: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between freeze drying and dehydrating?
Freeze drying involves removing water from food by freezing it and then sublimating the frozen water, while dehydrating removes water by using heat.
How do freeze dryers and dehydrators differ in terms of food preservation?
Freeze dryers preserve food by freezing it at low temperatures and removing water through sublimation, whereas dehydrators use heat to remove water at higher temperatures.
What are the benefits of dehydrating food compared to freeze drying?
Dehydrating food is a quicker and more cost-effective method of food preservation, but it may result in a loss of some nutritional value compared to freeze drying.
How does freeze drying retain the nutritional value of food products?
Freeze drying retains more nutrients in food compared to dehydrating, as the low temperature process helps to preserve the integrity of the nutrients.
Can you explain the process of freeze drying and dehydration?
Freeze drying involves freezing the food, creating a vacuum to remove the frozen water, while dehydration uses heat to remove moisture from the food.
What are the shelf life differences between freeze-dried and dehydrated foods?
Freeze-dried foods tend to have a longer shelf life compared to dehydrated foods, as the freeze drying process removes more moisture from the food.
How do freeze dryers and dehydrators differ in their methods of preserving food?
Freeze dryers use a freezing and sublimation process to preserve food, while dehydrators use heat to remove moisture and preserve the food products.

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