Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Reviews

Iv had my freeze dryer since July of 2024. I have had a total of 21 batches completed. What a wonderful machine, and great support from Harvest Right. So a little back ground information.... I live in a Temperate rainforest, yep. Good old Washington state Puget Sound, in fact I'm surrounded by water on all sides. My relative humidity in the summer is between 95-98%, and during the winter it is between 82-90%. Yep, if its not raining, it is either hot and humid, or cold and humid. So water/moisture is one of our biggest problems here. Iv had the pleasure of speaking with customer support on a few occasions. The first time was on our first batch; the door of the freeze dryer was dripping profusely. it was in the middle of July. I was worried that there was a problem with the machine, after many discussions with the tech support in Utah, we decided that the dripping was due to the high humidity in the aria and that it will not hurt the machine. unfortunately it meant that the machine was going to live in the garage. The second event I delt with was at batch 20. I could not get enough vacuum to run the batch. after some guidance with tech support, and a few videos, I spent an evening opening and cleaning the pump reservoir. After the I refilled the pump with premium pump fluid, it ran perfect and Batch 21 was successful. turns out that when I filtered the oil, I kept poring back in water and not oil. Again it was all a problem dealing with moisture. Luckily, the pump is almost bulletproof. Harvest right said it was a tuff pump and it is. they built these machines so that you have a great product that will run for a lifetime without having to gauge you on repairs. this machine works great, it has great tech support, and the freeze dried food you process tastes great.

Tech support was very supportive. I had a vacuum leak after 3 months

We accidentally broke our screen. Bought new one, upon installation, needed a software update. They sent an email with update files, but when we tried to install it, it didn’t work. We called customer service four or five times and repeated the process over and over again. Finally, they said they had to escalate the issue to tech-support, and the next day we paid $45 and got a call from tech-support. This time, they sent update files again. We did the exact same thing and it worked. My complaint is that if the first people sent the wrong files to begin with, we shouldn’t have to pay the $45 fee. They should’ve sent the correct files the first time. Otherwise, they were very responsive once they got their money

This is an honest review of my Harvest Right 5 tray freeze dryer. I've owned it 3+ years now and it has been used almost constantly on our farm for preserving livestock, poultry, and garden/orchard produce. It has worked flawlessly, other than a recent pressurization issue that was promptly and courteously resolved by customer service/tech support who sent us a replacement ball valve that was easily installed. The machine is now back to working as expected. It's simplified our preservation efforts exponentially and greatly reduced the amount of canning and dehydrating that was necessary in past years.

Unfortunately, I encountered some technical issues with my freeze dryer, but Harvest Right was incredibly responsive and efficient in resolving the situation. They reached out several times to ensure my issue was fully addressed, and my freeze dryer was up and running again. I had the pleasure of working with Giovanni, who did an amazing job guiding me through the process. Highly recommend!

My only complaint about the Harvest Right freeze dryer is all on me... I should never have waited so long to get one. Having a family member with chronic illness and a myriad of food allergies, this should have been an essential tool in the home years ago. The quality of the freeze dried food is amazing and I feel comfort knowing that safe food will be available for my daughter if we have some kind of natural disaster. It is easy to use and the one issue (which was user, not machine) was handled promptly and courteously by a tech at Harvest Right. Their customer service is top notch.

I purchased the medium 5 tray Harvest Right Freeze Dryer in August, and I love it, but we were having trouble with the Premier Pump, oil was spaying from the demister! After working with one of their technicians, it was discovered that the Gas Ballast Plate on the Premier Pump was missing. The part was shipped, installed, and new it works great!

I received a large Harvest Right Pro freeze dryer for Christmas in 2023. I'm not a very tech savvy person, but can follow instructions pretty well. Setting up my freeze dryer was not hard at all, they send a manual with the unit and it has very good instructions to follow. The large pro unit requires a stand alone electrical plug. My husband is an electrician and had installed it before the unit came in. After setting up the unit I did the bread run test and I was able to follow the instructions with ease. Whew, I passed the test and so did my new freeze dryer!!

I started filling my dryer with my garden vegetables, meats, eggs, etc. All the while learning as I go, watching videos from Harvest Right and different people on YT that use Harvest Right Freeze Dryers.

In September of this year 24, my unit had an issue so I called Harvest Right and they got right on it. I only had to speak to two people, the first one did a trouble shoot and decided i needed a technician, the second one was the technician that worked with me to get to the bottom of the problem and get it fixed. My tech sent me videos on how to do each task and sent me files to download to my unit. Each step was explained and if I needed more help they gladly gave it. After it was fixed and I had done a couple of more batches to make sure it was fixed a manager called to make sure the wasn't any problems, later my technician called me to see how it was doing,

and to let me know what a pleasure it was to help me get my freeze dryer working again.

Harvest Right is an awesome company!

My Harvest Right Freeze Dryer was an investment that has paid back my family dividends of the best of my little half acre farm!

The Harvest Right Freeze Dryer is an absolute game-changer for anyone serious about food preservation, emergency preparedness, or just wanting to enjoy long-term storage of fresh, nutritious meals. This machine brings professional-quality freeze drying right into your home, and the results are astounding.

First off, it’s incredibly easy to use. With just a few simple steps, you can freeze-dry everything from fruits and vegetables to meats, dairy, and even full meals. The control panel is intuitive, guiding you through the process seamlessly. It’s practically a "set-it-and-forget-it" system, which means you don’t need to be a tech wizard to operate it.

The quality of the freeze-dried food is second to none. Everything retains its original flavor, color, and nutrients. Unlike dehydrators, the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer locks in freshness, offering food that can last up to 25 years when properly stored. That’s incredible peace of mind, especially for those building long-term food supplies or reducing waste by preserving garden harvests. Plus, the food rehydrates beautifully, almost as if it was never freeze-dried at all.

What really sets Harvest Right apart is the versatility. Whether you’re looking to freeze-dry snacks for camping trips, preserve your summer fruits, or prep meals for months or years ahead, this machine handles it all with precision and consistency. It even has a candy mode for making freeze-dried treats!

In terms of investment, while it’s not cheap, the cost is justified by the long-term savings in food preservation and the reduced food waste. The quality and longevity of the machine itself are top-tier, so you know it’s built to last.

Overall, the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer is worth every penny. It’s reliable, easy to use, and delivers exceptional results every time. If you’re looking to revolutionize your food storage and preservation, this is the best tool you could ask for!

We picked up on of the Mid size units when canning just wasn't cutting it anymore and we wanted to get away from the salt of canning and weight/glass.

the best thing about this over just buying freeze dried food in a store is that you can make what you want the way you want it and its cheaper per ounce once you get up and running. I have had mine for a few years now and have offset the cost and operating cost of the machine with food my family enjoys and will want to eat if we need or use it.

and meat stored this way beats canning it hands down and the added time you can store it is enough on its own IMO.

The Harvest Right Freeze Dryer is a game-changer for anyone serious about food preservation. I just got mine, and it has exceeded my expectations in many ways. From fruits and vegetables to full meals and snacks, the ability to freeze-dry at home opens up so many possibilities. Just be prepared to troubleshoot as the process of freeze-drying is sometimes tricky and needs some finesse to get the process to go smoothly. Excellent customer service (made in America = American tech support). Must-have for pro gardeners like me.

I have had a large Harvest Right freeze dryer for a few years now and love the freedom it give me of alternative methods to preserve my harvest. I like it for preserving meals and ingredients for my kid who do a great deal of bike packing and need small amounts of good food for meals.

Recently I started to get an error message of a "mid batch heat failure". Upon consulting with a technician with the company, they gave me instructions to follow, and a follow-up phone conference that walked me thru the update of the program which solved the issue and got me quicklyback to a working machine.

We really like our Harvest Right freeze dryer. After one year the pump failed to reach a vacuum. Although there is a three year warranty on the unit there is only one year on the pump. In order to get any help it cost $45 to talk to anyone on the phone. We paid and they called promptly on time as promised. He said the pump needed replacement which we already knew. So, we took the pump apart, cleaned it up, and got it working again. In the meantime we’re able to get a refurbished pump from them for less than half the cost of a new one. Other than pump problems, the dryer works great and the end product is good. We store it all in vacuum packed mason jars.

Support took a while to respond to me but then was very helpful overall. I'm happy with my freeze drier but I am disappointed that I've only had it 2 months and already needed a software patch to fix an issue that was preventing me from using the machine.

I’ve been using my Harvest Right freeze dryer for almost a year now, and it’s exceeded my expectations. I didn’t think I would use it as often as I do, but it has become a go-to for preserving all sorts of foods. I’ve freeze-dried candy, cooked meats like sausage and ground beef, breakfast casseroles, and even peppers. It’s been a great solution for making sure the surplus from my garden doesn’t go to waste, and the best part is that it frees up freezer space once the process is complete.

While I’ve encountered a few technical issues with the machine, the customer support team has always been quick and helpful, resolving any problems efficiently. If you're into prepping or dealing with limited freezer space, I highly recommend giving a freeze dryer a try—it’s a versatile and worthwhile investment.

After a recent power outage our freeze dryer would not start up. I contacted Harvest Right and obtained a ticket number. They contacted me back by email and I had a phone appointment with them to review our freeze dryer issue. Within minutes after the Harvest Right tech's support advice the freeze dryer was up and running again. We have had the medium freeze dryer for almost a year and I have used it to freeze dry a variety of foods both raw and cooked. I am very satisfied with the results of the freeze dryer's performance and would recommend the Harvest Right's brand of freeze dryer to anyone...the machine performs very well and the tech support was excellent.

The Harvest Right rep was so helpful in getting our machine back online after a software issue! She walked us through the process step-by-step, kept in touch with follow-up emails and calls, and just really gave us confidence that she was committed to solving all our issues. The parts we needed were shipped promptly, and the software fix was easy to install.

We love our Harvest Right machine and have depend on it for the past two and a half years to preserve produce from our large garden. Since getting everything operational again, it has worked flawlessly to process over twenty loads of fruits and veggies. Thank you Harvest Right for an awesome product and amazing customer service! We feel that buying this unit has been one of the best investments we have ever made!

Mark C.

Wellsboro, PA

We got this freeze drier a couple years ago. It worked great for about 4 months, then was down for 6 months while Harvest Right tried to solve the issue. After sending it back, it was finally fixed. On the plus side, they extended my warranty by the time it was down, when I asked. There have been several other breakdowns, but they were solved within a week or so by a replacement part or a software update. Customer service overall has been helpful, but backed up.

My husband and I bought the large (6 tray) freeze dryer with the intent to preserve produce and meat grown and raised on our homestead. We have successfully freeze dried many things: carrots, onions, tomato puree, asparagus, herbs, watermelon, cooked chicken, raw scrambled eggs, leftover hot dishes/casseroles, etc. Having a freeze dryer has made an impact on our need to buy food at the grocery store.

We debated on whether to get the oil-free pump or the traditional oil pump. We chose the traditional oil pump. It is very easy to change the oil. Our machine tells us when it needs to be changed, and it is also easy to monitor by sight on the pump itself.

I’m glad we went with the large, despite needing to change the outlet for this size. We like being able to do larger batches.

Friends and family have asked what the difference between this freeze dryer and a dehydrator: the freeze dryer creates a different product. In most cases it retains flavor better and food is easier to rehydrate, if that is needed. Plus we can freeze dry cooked meat and raw eggs to make them shelf stable. Texture is definitely different, and some people don’t like the kind of airy crunchy texture of freeze dried foods. That only really applies to food that would be eaten as is, like apple slices, and not to things that would be rehydrated, like cooked chicken. But it is something g to consider.

We went on long road trip and took freeze dried meals that we made. Basically, we cooked a few large meals and put the leftovers in the freeze dryer. Placed in individual sized Mylar bags, each bag was a great meal-for-one. It was easy to rehydrate and heat them (right in the pouch) in our hotel room for dinner each night, and saved us some money. I wish we had this when my kids were in Scouts and went camping a lot.

Candy is a fun thing to freeze dry! It made great Christmas gifts to our family and friends.

Recently, we had an issue with our Harvest Right not freezing, and I called customer support. They were very helpful and communicated with me every step of the way as I sent our freeze dryer in for repairs. Customer service is wonderful.

I had to update my review. I bought a refurbished freeze dryer that didn’t work at all. Had to go through a process over weeks to exchange and replace the unit. After I sent it back I was sent emails questioning me as to why the unit I sent back wasn’t the same serial number as what they had on file. It felt like they were accusing me of switching the unit. Then I get an email saying Oh sorry we mixed up the numbers. I let them know I was upset about that and they stopped responding.