That tool is a god send. No more damaging lids. I store all of my clean jars with a clean used lid and a ring on them. We are in a very small home/converted cabin, and I store me extra kitchen and canning supplies in an out building. So to keep the jars clean, I seal them.😊
Ham FDs wonderfully! I'm sorry if I'm reiterating previous comments but I can't remember if it is SchoolReports or Phil at 4800 feet on YT who actually tested the residue on the drum from FD raw eggs and discovered that there is in fact raw egg bacteria left in the drum which can transfer to future runs of food. So I do clean my drum thoroughly after running raw eggs. Eggs are the only thing I run raw and I don't run anything else with them. I've also learned to put more water dense foods in the middle two trays and less dense in the 1st and 4th positions. Really looking forward to your MRE videos! You make everything look so easy because you're so organized. When I do MREs everything gets out of control and I lose where I leave off on one and I just get so confused so I'm looking forward to your organization set-up skills as well as any recipes!
I combine scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, cheese, and ham in my ready made meal pouches!...great stuff!! P.s. dont forget to season the scrambled eggs before cooking and freeze drying. I use celery salt, onion powder, pepper, garlic, parsley, and a pinch of dry mustard powder👍
If your home uses a gas tank it will more than likely be filled with propane gas. You can buy propane cylinders for portable stoves but, you should check to see if it configured for propane , butane or natural gas. It's all about the gas to air mixture.
Got a medium Harvest Right recently. Had a hard time getting the vacuum pressure to work correctly. Finally figued out seal wasn't tight so my husband tightened door. Now have my first batch of pre-frozen mixed vegetables going. Didn't want to start with anything to complicated.
When I got my freeze dryer about 6 or 7 years ago, I have one of the original designs, I experimented with all kinds of things. Freeze dried ham in 1/4" cubes. Ate them dried, was almost like eating crispy bacon with a bacon flavor. The same with scrambled eggs. I fried up the eggs and freeze dried them. They were great right out of the package. The only thing I have re-hydrated is raw pork loins. Everything else was edible as is or was cooked.
I never heard of a picnic ham until I was about 40 yo. (About 40 yrs ago!) At first taste I said "Oh, smoked shoulder. Yum!" Here in New England we tend to refer to a lot of food and such by the old "Boston" vocabulary. 😉😃 😅love, Patricia 👵🏻
Ooh, great idea to do ham, and eggs. I LOVE all youre freeze drying videos, they’re my favourite. I can’t even tell you how excited I am for the MRE’s…. I am making veggie powders at the moment, to make some of the powdered soups in a jar, from youre ‘meals in jars’ recipe book. By the way Pam, I am noticing you are looking a little slimmer, and healthier in this video.
I wonder if using a couple of air fryer paper liners (they come square or round in sizes, like giant cupcake liners) or heavy-duty silicone cake pans on your freeze-dry trays would make the trays easier to handle or clean? Perhaps cupcake cups might make easy biscuit-sized egg rounds (or squares) to fry or steam 🤔
I wish you could do a review on different freeze dryers. I am not a girl with a gadget and don't understand the lingo like you florist in. But thanks for these videos.
I was told never to do raw and cooked in the same load. You think it’s ok? I put the trays in the freezer and pre-freeze before FDing 😊 I use a rolling pin on the zip top bag! Works great IMO! I think I’m too much of a fanatic about resealing my FD food! Lol I never leave my jars uncovered and sitting like that. 🤷♀️ I’m afraid they’re going to such in the air moisture. Excited for MRE videos. Thank you so much! I’ve watched every single one of your videos on both channels!
I have done it several times with no issues at all. We used to pre-freeze everything until the latest software update changed the cycle and now we don't and so far everything has worked fine.
I am just watching this video and see the size behind you about the canning class. Was this class recorded that i can pay to watch? Or will you be doing another one? Love your channels!
We have 2 canning courses available in our bookstore--water bath and pressure canning. They are online and you go through them at your own pace. You can check them out here: payhip.com/roseredhomestead
Dr Cantrell, what are your thoughts/educational opinions on liming eggs to preserve them during the non-laying periods? I have watched several homesteaders who save their fresh eggs in a lime solution a 5 gallon pail. My son just freaked out at this suggestion and thinks it’s too dangerous to use this method. Please share your thoughts. Many thanks!
Thanks for the question. USDA does not recommend that way to preserve eggs, so your son has good instincts! The only way I will preserve eggs is by freeze drying them.
As always, I love this video and it has sparked ideas for upcoming trips for me. Thank you. One question, no qualms about FD cooked food along with raw? I've been FD for a couple of years and was told this was a no no. I would love to find out from a scientific person that FD the two at the same time is just fine. Can't wait for your MRE videos!!
I see no problem with freeze drying cooked and raw food at the same time. I have done it several times with any issues. I just won't mix them in the same container for storing.
Interesting that you find no need to blend the eggs after fd them. I find the consistency is much more like fresh when they have been blended and they rehydrate much quicker! 😊
Pam: When you decided to purchase your freeze dryer what was the deciding factor for you when it came to size? I have read many reviews on Harvest Right brand and there do seem to be some problems. Have you experienced any problems with your unit?
I’ve always heard from others that freeze dry that cured ham cannot be freeze dried, at least not for long term storage. You may want to check into it.
Cured meats can't be pressure canned, but I have not seen anything about freeze drying them. It certainly came out nice and tastes great. We will see how long it is good for although we will most likely rotate through it fairly fast. Thanks.
I have watch a couple of different channels about freeze drying and most pre freeze the food and trays... they say it shortens the freeze drying time. I just ordered my dryer so have NO personal experience. Have you tried pre freezing?
We are getting ready to do our first freeze dried ham and I was so happy to see you had a video on how you do it! I check every day to see if you and Jim have put something out on either of your channels. In seeing that you are doing freeze dried raw eggs as well, I thought I would share another TH-camr who has a terrific channel on freeze drying as well. He talks about the best method for freeze drying raw eggs so they keep both the flavor and texture. I think you would appreciate the science behind it. His channel is Phil at 4800 feet and the link to his video on the eggs is here: th-cam.com/video/SHK1FspsWw0/w-d-xo.html I hope the two of you get to take your car trip soon and your tooth issues are a distant memory. The two of you really are terrific!
Pam I noticed on this video u did not put an Oxygen absorber in the powdered eggs like you did on your channel, or In The ham. Have u decided they do not need it now??
I wonder if using a couple of air fryer paper liners (they come square or round in sizes, like giant cupcake liners) or heavy-duty silicone cake pans on your freeze-dry trays would make the trays easier to handle or clean? Perhaps silicone cupcake cups might make easy biscuit-sized egg rounds (or squares) to fry or steam 🤔
The portable vacuum sealer will be great to take along in the toy-hauler to re-vacuum seal jars on trips.
Absolutely!
That tool is a god send. No more damaging lids. I store all of my clean jars with a clean used lid and a ring on them. We are in a very small home/converted cabin, and I store me extra kitchen and canning supplies in an out building. So to keep the jars clean, I seal them.😊
Thanks for sharing. That is a great idea.
Ham FDs wonderfully! I'm sorry if I'm reiterating previous comments but I can't remember if it is SchoolReports or Phil at 4800 feet on YT who actually tested the residue on the drum from FD raw eggs and discovered that there is in fact raw egg bacteria left in the drum which can transfer to future runs of food. So I do clean my drum thoroughly after running raw eggs. Eggs are the only thing I run raw and I don't run anything else with them. I've also learned to put more water dense foods in the middle two trays and less dense in the 1st and 4th positions. Really looking forward to your MRE videos! You make everything look so easy because you're so organized. When I do MREs everything gets out of control and I lose where I leave off on one and I just get so confused so I'm looking forward to your organization set-up skills as well as any recipes!
I combine scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, cheese, and ham in my ready made meal pouches!...great stuff!! P.s. dont forget to season the scrambled eggs before cooking and freeze drying. I use celery salt, onion powder, pepper, garlic, parsley, and a pinch of dry mustard powder👍
I will give that a try! Thanks.
If your home uses a gas tank it will more than likely be filled with propane gas. You can buy propane cylinders for portable stoves but, you should check to see if it configured for propane , butane or natural gas. It's all about the gas to air mixture.
Got a medium Harvest Right recently. Had a hard time getting the vacuum pressure to work correctly. Finally figued out seal wasn't tight so my husband tightened door. Now have my first batch of pre-frozen mixed vegetables going. Didn't want to start with anything to complicated.
I put the eggs in a plastic bag then use my rolling pin! Works great!
Great tip! Thanks for sharing.
When I got my freeze dryer about 6 or 7 years ago, I have one of the original designs, I experimented with all kinds of things. Freeze dried ham in 1/4" cubes. Ate them dried, was almost like eating crispy bacon with a bacon flavor. The same with scrambled eggs. I fried up the eggs and freeze dried them. They were great right out of the package. The only thing I have re-hydrated is raw pork loins. Everything else was edible as is or was cooked.
Thanks for sharing! That is awesome!
I never heard of a picnic ham until I was about 40 yo. (About 40 yrs ago!) At first taste I said "Oh, smoked shoulder. Yum!" Here in New England we tend to refer to a lot of food and such by the old "Boston" vocabulary. 😉😃 😅love, Patricia 👵🏻
Great video.. I love a ham n egg scramble with a little bit of salsa on it.. so good..
Have a great weekend ❤
Thank you! You too!
Ooh, great idea to do ham, and eggs. I LOVE all youre freeze drying videos, they’re my favourite. I can’t even tell you how excited I am for the MRE’s…. I am making veggie powders at the moment, to make some of the powdered soups in a jar, from youre ‘meals in jars’ recipe book. By the way Pam, I am noticing you are looking a little slimmer, and healthier in this video.
I wonder if using a couple of air fryer paper liners (they come square or round in sizes, like giant cupcake liners) or heavy-duty silicone cake pans on your freeze-dry trays would make the trays easier to handle or clean? Perhaps cupcake cups might make easy biscuit-sized egg rounds (or squares) to fry or steam 🤔
Wish we could have met up with you in the PNW... truly hope you had a nice trip. Thankful follower in WA.
I am glad i found your freeze dry videos finally. I am getting so many foods dried and in jars. Easy peasy burritos in 5 minutes.
We are glad you found them as well! Thanks.
Hey. Thanks for the video. Watched it all the way through. Very helpful! Like the idea of separating ingredients for diversity.
Happy Day! Another fantastic video! Thank you for making this video and for the grand ideas 💡 🙏 ❤️
I learned so much from this and look forward to learning more about how to use my new freeze dryer. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this freeze dry tutorial. Learning so much from you and loving our freeze dryer.
They are wonderful! A game changer for food preservation!
Love your channels! Thank you so much for sharing! Now I think I can actually do freeze dried eggs! Love to you and your family!
I wish you could do a review on different freeze dryers. I am not a girl with a gadget and don't understand the lingo like you florist in. But thanks for these videos.
Yummy breakfast!
I was told never to do raw and cooked in the same load. You think it’s ok?
I put the trays in the freezer and pre-freeze before FDing 😊
I use a rolling pin on the zip top bag! Works great IMO!
I think I’m too much of a fanatic about resealing my FD food! Lol I never leave my jars uncovered and sitting like that. 🤷♀️ I’m afraid they’re going to such in the air moisture.
Excited for MRE videos.
Thank you so much!
I’ve watched every single one of your videos on both channels!
I have done it several times with no issues at all. We used to pre-freeze everything until the latest software update changed the cycle and now we don't and so far everything has worked fine.
I am just watching this video and see the size behind you about the canning class. Was this class recorded that i can pay to watch? Or will you be doing another one? Love your channels!
We have 2 canning courses available in our bookstore--water bath and pressure canning. They are online and you go through them at your own pace. You can check them out here: payhip.com/roseredhomestead
Dr Cantrell, what are your thoughts/educational opinions on liming eggs to preserve them during the non-laying periods? I have watched several homesteaders who save their fresh eggs in a lime solution a 5 gallon pail. My son just freaked out at this suggestion and thinks it’s too dangerous to use this method. Please share your thoughts. Many thanks!
Thanks for the question. USDA does not recommend that way to preserve eggs, so your son has good instincts! The only way I will preserve eggs is by freeze drying them.
As always, I love this video and it has sparked ideas for upcoming trips for me. Thank you. One question, no qualms about FD cooked food along with raw? I've been FD for a couple of years and was told this was a no no. I would love to find out from a scientific person that FD the two at the same time is just fine. Can't wait for your MRE videos!!
I see no problem with freeze drying cooked and raw food at the same time. I have done it several times with any issues. I just won't mix them in the same container for storing.
@@trailgrazers3690 That is good to hear because I have a large & I would rather not always have to fill 5 trays with eggs when I FD eggs.
Thanks!
You are welcome.
Interesting that you find no need to blend the eggs after fd them. I find the consistency is much more like fresh when they have been blended and they rehydrate much quicker! 😊
I have done it both ways. It will take time on one end or the other!
Pam: When you decided to purchase your freeze dryer what was the deciding factor for you when it came to size? I have read many reviews on Harvest Right brand and there do seem to be some problems. Have you experienced any problems with your unit?
Where can I find that specific scoop you used to remove the eggs from the pan?
Am considering a Freeze Dryer. Not sure on which model….the one you add oil or the one you don’t. Could you cook your eggs first - scrambled, then FD?
I’ve always heard from others that freeze dry that cured ham cannot be freeze dried, at least not for long term storage. You may want to check into it.
Cured meats can't be pressure canned, but I have not seen anything about freeze drying them. It certainly came out nice and tastes great. We will see how long it is good for although we will most likely rotate through it fairly fast. Thanks.
Could you re-use the ham liquid to rehydrate your peppers?
Might be too salty.
I've never heard of a picnic ham so I looked it up. I don't know that I've ever seen that in the stores here.
A picnic ham is simply a smoked ham.
@@gardengrowinmawmaw8642 And that's how I've always seen them labeled in the supermarket.
It is probably called different things in different locations.
Having liquid and solid going in FD at same time what setting did you use?
Liquid or non liquid?
Thanx for great videos
I have watch a couple of different channels about freeze drying and most pre freeze the food and trays... they say it shortens the freeze drying time. I just ordered my dryer so have NO personal experience. Have you tried pre freezing?
Always add an oxygen absorber packet before sealing. Don't eat or cook the packet after opening. I don't reuse them when re-sealing 🙂
No need for both vacuum sealing and an O2 absorber--one or the other work equally well.
Pam, Jim, has anyone thought about freeze drying salsa yet?
I have freeze dried salsa. It turns out great!
I do freeze dry salsa also. Works great.
In previous videos you freeze the food before you put it into the freezer dryer. You didn't this time?
Save energy, freeze eggs in fridge freezer before moving to freeze dryer. Save a 12 hours.
I used to do that, but no more. It is easier to just start them in the FD.
O my word! What is your electricity cost per month 🤔 if the freezer machine takes 2 days to freezer it! South Africa 🇿🇦
Each batch is about $2 so it isn't too bad.
We are getting ready to do our first freeze dried ham and I was so happy to see you had a video on how you do it! I check every day to see if you and Jim have put something out on either of your channels. In seeing that you are doing freeze dried raw eggs as well, I thought I would share another TH-camr who has a terrific channel on freeze drying as well. He talks about the best method for freeze drying raw eggs so they keep both the flavor and texture. I think you would appreciate the science behind it. His channel is Phil at 4800 feet and the link to his video on the eggs is here: th-cam.com/video/SHK1FspsWw0/w-d-xo.html
I hope the two of you get to take your car trip soon and your tooth issues are a distant memory. The two of you really are terrific!
Thank you!
What does MRE mean please?
An easy google search would tell you that it means meals ready to eat.
Bless your heart. Of course. Good old Google. Imagine me, in my 80's, not thinking of that!@@trailgrazers3690
Pam I noticed on this video u did not put an Oxygen absorber in the powdered eggs like you did on your channel, or In The ham. Have u decided they do not need it now??
I usually do both. I just checked these jars and so far so good!
@@trailgrazers3690 I bought the 400cc absorbers for my 1/2 gallon jars. Is that what u would use?
I dislike processed ham to the point of 'will not eat'. It's picnic ham all the way for me.
Yay! Me too!
Very good video, Thanks for sharing. only you forgot the cheese. thumbs up!
You are right! We have FD cheese that would have worked very well.!! LOL!
I wonder if using a couple of air fryer paper liners (they come square or round in sizes, like giant cupcake liners) or heavy-duty silicone cake pans on your freeze-dry trays would make the trays easier to handle or clean? Perhaps silicone cupcake cups might make easy biscuit-sized egg rounds (or squares) to fry or steam 🤔