Granny Fricket's Thicket

So, I had been SERIOUSLY considering getting a freeze dryer for… a year probably, maybe more. I knew (I know) it could come in incredibly handy. But Dayam… kind of pricy. Okay okay, really pricy. But man what I could do with it.

Yeah, I get it. Most people are so excited about freeze drying candy (and don’t get me wrong, that is one of the first things I’m going to do because why the heck not).

But if you start going down a rabbit hole on YouTube, you can freeze dry SO MANY THINGS that make it way way practical.

Eggs

Milk

leftover soup (and I can’t for the LIFE of me make soup for two people that doesn’t end up with way the heck more than we can eat)

breakfast bowls

MASHED POTATOES!!!

Oh, snap… seasonal creamer so if I get a bug up my butt in July wanting just one cup of pumpkin spice coffee, I can just make myself one.

Chicken livers/chicken necks/ooo… feet? for the doggoes.

So… I did it.

I bought the biggest one that doesn’t require a dedicated line (really didn’t want the electrician charge right now). It was delivered like just over a week ago. Monkey Butt and I managed to get it in the house and to the basement. Rest… up onto the shelf of a heavy duty storage rack… rest.

Hint… they are FREAKING HEAVY… get help.

Yes, it’s been sitting there for a week.

Yes, I have been terrified of it.

Not of it doing anything bad. But it costs a small fortune and I didn’t want to ruin it the first time out of the gate.

So… I invested in some candy and this morning I went to the basement, strung up the hoses and lines, read the manual (much as I don’t tend to read the friendly manual, in this case, I wanted to be SURE, and started my first load.

Sigh

Following the manual instructions, I made two trays of bread slices. I kid you not, the manual said it helps get the new car taste out of the freeze dryer. And I didn’t want to mess up a load of candy.

Current status… I have two trays (8 slices) of bread in. They are currently on the freeze cycle.

Not that I’m paranoid, but I moved one of my ring cameras to the basement so I can kind of keep an eye on things (yay it has audio so if there is beeping I can hear it. AND… I can’t get the camera in a good enough place (yet) to monitor the tiny little computer screen to see what it says it is doing. THAT I’m going to work on… Wish I knew what I did with the Wyze I used to watch Bear on when he was alone upstairs and I was worried his oxygen would fall too low and he would be in trouble… Or die.. I don’t need to save video or anything… I just need to see/hear/not have to run down and check fifty times because (see above) I’m paranoid.

So… freeze drying bread 101… turn on freeze dryer and let it cool inside for 15 minutes. DO NOT SHUT THE VALVE (lesson 1)… load the trays of bread… shut the door, latch it, shut the valve, push the button… wait…

The little computer screen now says freezing.

by tomorrow morning, I will know what the deal is. And then I will throw away 8 slices of bread, defrost the freeze dryer, and get ready for my first real run.

Fingers crossed.

Wish me luck.

Granny
2/17/2024