Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Reviews

I’ve had my Harvest Right freeze-dryer (FD) for a year, have run about 70 batches, and enjoy it for many different reasons. The machine itself is a quality, very well-constructed product and the installed software monitors the FD process for me. The machine makes the process as simple as twisting a valve 90 degrees and pressing a button two times.

However, I had one issue where the FD simply would not work. I was given a “vacuum error” which caused me some concern. I contacted the Harvest Right tech support via email and included the easily downloadable batch report from the machine. I was contacted by Elle via email the next day. As it turned out, it was not a hardware vacuum issue, but rather the software needed a simple update.

From start to finish, my issue was fully resolved within 48 hours. Elle followed up by her not once but twice over the subsequent week to verify the machine was working like it should (and it was).

I very much appreciate not only the quality construction of the FD but the quality service given by Elle from their support division. Harvest Right builds a great machine and they hire quality people. I expect it’ll be a long time before I have mechanical issues with my FD, but it is nice to know that whenever I do need support, Harvest Right (and Elle) are there to solve issues.

When I ordered my Harvest right freeze dryer

When I ordered my Harvest right freeze dryer, it was easy. I put money down on my large freeze dryer as a lay away plan. I called and made payments until it was paid in full. The process was easy peezy. The delivery process was explained and went as indicated. Harvest Right updated me step by step. I love my harvest right large freeze dryer. Customer support was quick and efficient. The Machine is easy to use. I love having food security by being able to preserve food for up to 25 years or longer. No food has to go bad anymore, I just freeze dry it. If the power goes off, I don’t worry about the food spoiling like if it was in the freezer. Buying my dream freeze dryer was way easier thank I ever expected. I might do it again and buy myself the extra large freeze dryer!

I can't rave enough about this machine—it's been a game-changer in my life as a single mom raising two hungry teenagers. Weeknight dinners used to be a struggle, but now, prepping ingredients or whole meals in advance has made cooking a breeze and cleanup almost non-existent.

Our love for camping and travel has also taken a new turn, thanks to this gem. Being able to bring homemade food without the hassle of added processing or worrying about ingredients has saved us a ton on eating out, allowing us to explore more without breaking the bank.

What's really amazed me is the impact on my kids' eating habits. One of them wouldn't touch berries until trying them freeze-dried. Knowing that the freeze-drying process retains so many nutrients is a huge relief for me as a mom.

We recently did a taste test between store-bought freeze-dried fruit and our homemade Harvest Right version. Hands down, ours won! It's like our own mini flavor factory at home.

Sure, it's an investment upfront, but the money it saves on groceries and the ability to consistently provide healthy, home-cooked meals in the time I have available is a win in my book.

And the machine itself? Solid quality, and the touchscreen operation is straightforward and user-friendly. It's become an essential part of my kitchen routine without a doubt.

I am from Alaska where Freeze drying is popular. We have an authorized dealer at “Three Bears Alaska” where I purchased my Medium Freeze Dryer. Before departing the store with my purchase, the sales staff made sure that the machine was free of dents or any other visual defects, then repackaged the freeze dryer and helped load it into my car. Note: My car is an SUV, and the box barely fit. You will need a pretty decent size cargo area for this purchase.

I want to mention how well the HarvestRight was packaged and easy to unpack.

Customer service from HarvestRight has been great. I was excited about this purchase but a little uncomfortable using it. I called multiple times to get guidance and to help me setup the registration. I was always able to get a friendly, helpful representative.

I had been looking into getting a freeze dryer for a couple of years. The $500 discount for Black Friday was the incentive my husband and I needed to go forward with this purchase. We also went with the upgraded vacuum pump (not the oil free). I have talked to a few people who have it and they said the oil change isn’t a big deal.

We set ours up in a small room we have next to our kitchen. I have done 3 loads plus the initial bread load. It works out well being close enough to the kitchen to move my trays to and from the freeze dryer, and far enough that I don’t hear it running. It isn’t any louder than a washing machine or dishwasher.

My first load, after the initial burn in load, was dog treats of processed salmon that was blended and poured into trays and some into the silicone molds. I froze the salmon treats in the trays in my chest freezer before loading them into the freeze dryer. The freeze dryer will freeze foods, but I wanted to see if there is any advantage in pre-freezing before utilizing the freeze dryer. Jury is still out on that. It took approximately 36 hours for the salmon treats to finish in the freeze dryer. I was very pleased when everything was dry without any moist spots, and our dogs love their new treats!

My second load was candy and fruit. It finished in 15 hours. The bananas and apples were incredible. The candy results were mixed. The marshmallows turned out well, very much like the ones in cereal, but better. The fruit snacks were too chewy, as were the jelly beans.

My third load was leftover homemade seafood chowder, a chicken artichoke and spinach sauce for pasta, and pork broth. It took 24 hours. Everything dried out well and has been packaged. I was a little frustrated with the included bags/packaging. It was hard to tell if I had a good seal. I had a bit of a learning curve with the impulse sealer. Additionally, I was frustrated with the included desiccant packages. According to the instructions, the moment you open the package, these packets begin to absorb moisture from the air. They even have a small O2 indicator that very quickly starts darkening when exposed to air. However, there were no instructions (other than the caution that I mentioned earlier). You have to move quickly so that the absorbers aren’t ruined. I wasn’t sure if I was moving quickly enough, or not. A bit more detail would be helpful.

After my initial test’s, I am very pleased with our new purchase and look forward to more freeze drying in my future.

This review is long overdue!

I purchased my Harvest Right Large Freeze Dryer over a year before I was finally able to install it. My reason for getting it was primarily to preserve extra garden produce. Between the need for a special circuit to be run where I wanted it, physical help to lift it into positions, and all the “life” issues that seem to come up while working short-handed, I was finally excited to be able to use it a year later, and….no vacuum. Bummer.

Contacted HR Tech Support. They were absolutely AMAZING! As it turned out, I had a defective drain valve, an easy fix, but in the process, the tech person (BL) walked me though a complete update of my machine, from software, to sealing all possible sources of leaks, re-adhering heat pads to shelves, and all the things that were my fault for waiting too long to get it up and running.

Since then, I’ve processed numerous batches of things I use, and am in the process of doing my first oil change. I’ve done meats, dairy, veggies, fruit, just about everything you can think of, and it’s run perfectly ever since. The excess produce from the garden is waiting in my freezer for it’s turn in the machine. Fortunately, prep work to freeze produce is the same as getting it ready for freeze drying, so I should be one step ahead, and have plenty of freeze dry processing to do over this winter. Need to empty those freezers to get ready for next year’s garden!

Not only do I highly recommend the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer as a product, their tech support is superb! I’d suggest anyone interested in buying one get a model one size larger than you think you need, though the release of the new “Pro” models with extra shelves may help with that decision. It’s a great machine!

We have two Freeze Dryers, a Medium and an XL. Both are superb - the XL puts out a HUGE amount of product. I highly recommend Harvesright freeze dryers.

My only comment for improvement is that their shipping times for accessories sometimes is quite lengthy - which speaks to their popularity.

I have had my Harvest Right freeze drier for 1.5 years. The freeze drier has been trouble free. There have been a couple times in which I have needed to consult with Harvest Right Customer Service. My requests have been focused on improving my process, maintenance of the system, etc. In each case, I have been amazed at the level of expertise provided by the Harvest Right Customer Service Department. My questions were not only answered but the dialogue with Customer Service generated additional questions about my system. All the questions were answered and each time I left the conversation with a greater understanding of the system.

The Owner’s Manuals provided with the new product provides sufficient information to begin freeze drying. However, their Customer Service department allows a tremendous resource to gain the best value from your freeze drier.

My wife and I purchased a Harvest Right medium-size freeze dryer in June of 2022. Since that time, we have run it almost constantly. It's a real work horse of a machine! We've cranked out quite a few packages of excellent freeze-dried food, from soup to steak, and everything in between. Recently, it began acting up, so I contacted tech support at Harvest Right. They were quick to respond with suggestions.

David Morrey was my contact, and he stuck with me during the entire repair process. By phone, he patiently talked me through the process of updating the software. He also explained many features of the machine that I never would have known otherwise. (We spent a considerable amount of time on the phone.) Using the log files I emailed him, he diagnosed the issue as a failed relay board, possibly because we had been running the unit under too-hot temperatures. We could have shipped the unit back to their repair facility, but since it weighs 220+ pounds, I opted to follow the YouTube video David sent me and dismantle the machine myself.

He sent me a new relay board, free of charge, and I was able to replace the old one with the new one, though I have zero experience working with circuit boards. (See photo.) The hardest part was manually removing (and replacing) the Allen bolts that hold the panels in place, using Allen wrenches. I would have preferred bolts with Square-recess or TORX heads, since I have driver bits to fit those types. Anyway, with a few more tweaks that David suggested, the unit now works perfectly.

One of the real advantages to the Harvest Right freeze dryer is that you can preserve food—cooked or uncooked—when you have a surplus. This helps to cut down on food waste, and the freeze-dried food (when packaged properly) can last for ages. Homemade freeze-dried food is much cheaper and tastier than the survival products you can find in stores. These units are also easy to use, once you know what to do.

My freeze dryer is one of my favorite things I've ever purchased and works fantastic. When it comes to the customer service side of things, the very little support and information you get is upsetting.

I had to talk to multiple people and eventually was told I would have to pay 45$ for technical support, on a machine I already spent over 2000$ for.

We got the freeze dryer to preserve homemade foods. Our home has dietary restrictions, like Celiac Disease, Kidney, and other issues. When you buy pre-made meals or eating out, you really do not know what ingredients are in your food.

Our freeze dryer has been a lifesaver. With home prepared foods, we have peace of mind knowing what is in it and how much salt or flavorings were used. When properly prepared, this also allows us to have emergency dog food and snacks at the ready. We have had taco meat, eggs, chicken, jerky; you name it. This is fast food, our way ready to go when we need it.

Brandon Bloom and Madison Right went above and beyond with questions to pinpoint the issues I was having with my 2nd and 3rd Medium FD. Even with my busy and hectic schedule their follow up and follow through got both issues resolved quickly.

I had concerns based on comments made on some of the FB Freeze Dryer pages to where I almost delayed my business venture. Madison reached out to me directly from a question I asked on one of the pages. She was extremely interested and helpful in getting my issues resolved ASAP. Madison connected me with Brandon who not only sent me a Thumb Drive with the software upgrade (since I live in a rural location because me buying one next time I was in town would delay the resolve) but he called to walk us through the process and then again with a follow up call to make sure everything was running as it should. 5⭐️’s + for the customer service I received from Madison Right and Brandon Bloom. Thank you. I would definitely with confidence recommend Harvest Right to anyone asking for the best Freeze Dryer.