Having the proper Accessories for Freeze Drying Food will directly affect your food preservation efforts. From the efficiency of your Freeze dryer aka. the time it takes to dry the food, to how long it lasts on the shelf. I will list the 25 Essential Accessories for Freeze Drying Food you should have on hand to make your process efficient and successful! Not sure how Freeze drying works? click here
Accessories for Freeze Drying Food
- Nitrile Gloves
- Large bowl
- Vegetable Brush
- Colander
- Drying Mat
- Cutting Board
- Herb Stripper
- Mandolin
- Paring Knife
- Apple Slicer
- Egg Slicer
- Potato Peeler
- Food Processor
- Silicone Tray Liners
- Tray Stackers
- Vacuum Sealer
- Mylar Bags
- Oxygen Absorbers
- Sharpie
- Food Funnel
- Food Grade Storage Buckets
- Mason Jars
- Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer
- Zip Lock Bags
- Extra set of Trays and Liners
Nitrile Gloves
When working with large volumes of food, like hot peppers, acidic items, or raw meat, gloves are an excellent idea to protect you and your food.
Large bowl
Transporting your food items or letting vegetables soak/wash in a large bowl is very helpful to get them clean.
Vegetable Brush
Scrubbing off garden dirt or funkiness from the grocery store, you want to get those items clean.
Colander
Excellent for washing smaller items like green beans and berries or placed inside a larger bowl full of lemon water to toss cut apples while prepping others. Then, once finished, you lift the calendar and put apples on trays.
Drying Mat
Absorbs water, aids in drying, and stops food items from rolling around while waiting to be processed.
Cutting Board(s)
A large, flat cutting board makes cutting your items much more manageable. Cut food won’t fall/roll off the edge, making prep time quicker and safer.
Herb Stripper
A must-have tool if you work with large volumes of Herbs. It might sound silly initially, but after stripping 50 sprigs of thyme with your hands, you’ll wish you had one.
Mandolin
A Mandolin is your best friend for rapid, consistent, even cuts. This kitchen tool is a huge time saver. Having a uniform food thickness helps the food dry at the same rate. (WARNING: VERY SHARP. Follow manufacturer instructions for safe use.)
Knives
Good quality knives with non-slip handles and the ability to keep a sharp edge will make your cuts faster, safer, and more accurate.
Apple Slicer
If you’ve never owned one, freeze dryer or not, get one, core, and slice all in one motion. Ten apples are ready to go in about 10 seconds. Love it!
Egg Slicer
Use this one to make quick work of strawberries while getting slices of even thickness.
Potato Peeler
Whether it’s potatoes, carrots, apples, or any other vegetable you want to take the skin off, a quality potato peeler won’t cost you much, and your hands will thank you.
Food Processor
Slicing, shredding, or pureeing a food processor will not only speed up prep time but also give you a uniform thick with little effort.
Silicone Trey Liners
These liners stop your dried food from sticking to the tray and make clean-up a snap. If not included with your dryer, get some.
Tray Stackers
The best practice is to freeze your trayed food in a conventional freezer before putting it in the freeze-dryer. Unless you have a walk-in freezer, you will want to get tray stackers. They help save space and stop your trays from sliding off each other.
Vacuum Sealer
The real secret to food preservation is the storage method. A quality food sealer is a MUST HAVE. Your Freeze dryer takes the moisture out of the food. The vacuum sealer keeps moisture from reentering.
Mylar Bags
Use with your food sealer for lightweight, unbrakeable food storage. These bags keep oxygen and moisture away from your food once sealed.
Oxygen Absorbers
Placing the proper number of these in each mylar bag before vacuum sealing will help remove any moisture in the bag or food.
Sharpie
Used for labeling your vacuum-sealed mylar bags so you know what is inside. Food item, serving size, and date you sealed it is a good idea.
Food Funnel
Just like a typical funnel but with a much larger opening for food to drop through. Nobody wants to put 30 lbs of Skittles in a bag by hand.
Food Grade Storage Buckets
An absolute MUST-HAVE if you are planning long-term storage. Not only will buckets help keep moisture out while providing handy organization, but they also stop critters from eating through your mylar bags.
Mason Jars
Convenient for resealable storage and items in continual use.
Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer
As stated before, you must keep oxygen and moisture away from your dried items if you want them to last. Getting a quality Mason jar sealer will do the trick and give you peace of mind that your food is safe.
Zipper Top Bags
These bags give you an easy, quick, short-term storage option. Plus, they are convenient for the kids to grab that snack on the go without having to mess with glass jars.
Extra set of Trays and Liners
If you are serious about building a food reserve for your family, you want your next set of food items prepped and waiting to go as soon as your freeze dryer is ready.
Final Thoughts, and Thanks for Reading.
Having the right Accessories for Freeze Drying Food can be a huge time and money saver. With time-saving prep tools, an efficient vacuum sealer, Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and quality storage containers, you are ready to begin your journey into the world of freeze-drying. Remember, each step, from selecting the right produce to properly storing your freeze-dried food, contributes to food safety and quality.
With so many Accessories for Freeze Drying Food, why wait, get the items you need, and experience the satisfaction of creating your stash of nutritious, long-lasting food. Happy freeze-drying!