Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Reviews

I have owned a Harvest Right freeze dryer for several years now and I can honestly say that it is the single best food storage appliance I have ever purchased. I was on the fence about making the purchase, not only due to the cost of the unit, but due to some issues that I had read about online concerning the amount of work it might take to keep the unit running. My experience with the machine has been excellent. There is a small learning curve when it comes to making sure your items are appropriately dried and ready for packaging, and my machine requires frequent oil changes for the pump. Apart from these two issues, I would make this purchase again without hesitation. After three years of flawless service, I did have to replace the relay board due to the heaters no longer working. Harvest Right's customer service went above and beyond with me and I was able to replace the part and have the unit restored to full function quickly and easily. If you are on the fence about making this purchase, I would highly recommend that you pull the trigger...you will not regret it.

Bought my HR over a year ago and have been amazed at how easy it is to use. I do recommend pre freezing to shorten cycle times. The flavor and nutritional values are retained and my grandkids love snacking on fruit and candies we make. So glad I started freeze drying eggs last year when they were still affordable. Garden harvest was way better utilized and storage is much easier than canning. 24/7 customer service is available if you have trouble or just need some guidance. This has given us a great peace of mind in todays world. Highly recommend!

I have had my freeze dryer for about a year, and I am mostly satisfied with it. It initially had problems, and after hours of going back and forth with a technician, I was finally able to fix it myself, even with my limited mechanical abilities. The second time I had an issue with the touch screen, and the first tech was not very thorough, which caused me to get a part for my freeze dryer that I ultimately didn’t need. The second tech that I talked to about the same problem had a very simple solution for it which took a matter of minutes, and I was on my way. The newest updates in the software have been great, and have made the freeze drying process continually faster, for which I am grateful. Overall, I love my freeze dryer, and don’t regret my purchase. I would suggest doing lots of research before purchasing one, though.

I have had my freeze dryer for about a year, and I am mostly satisfied with it. It initially had problems, and after hours of going back and forth with a technician, I was finally able to fix it myself, even with my limited mechanical abilities. The second time I had an issue with the touch screen, and the first tech was not very thorough, which caused me to get a part for my freeze dryer that I ultimately didn’t need. The second tech that I talked to about the same problem had a very simple solution for it which took a matter of minutes, and I was on my way. The newest updates in the software have been great, and have made the freeze drying process continually faster, for which I am grateful. Overall, I love my freeze dryer, and don’t regret my purchase.

I purchased my first Harvest Right in 2022. I had produced seven batches but then ran into the dreaded "Vacuum Error". I contacted Harvest Right and they responded right away. I will say the method of getting the machine up and running is a process of trial and error. It took some time to do it but we found it and it has been running 6 months flawlessly. You have to become familiar with how the machine works and to do some basic maintenance but it bodes you well in the future. The freeze dryer is not plug and play, you have to be diligent by the payback is enormous.

This thing is a BEAST! It's very large and heavy, but does a great job. I use it a lot to preserve our berry harvests & other fruits- it does this job exceptionally. My family is in love with the strawberries, pineapple & peaches especially. Ice cream is a ton of fun to do, as is candy.

It's a bit loud- make sure it's not in a main part of your house. It does warm up a room, which isnt great in the heat of the summer. I have had my freeze dryer for 9 months now & have not had any issues

After running about 60 batches through my new Harvestrite, I started to have some issues with vacuum. I eventually got connected with an excellent technician. I was patiently guided through several tests of the machine. I was always given specific instructions for everything we did. They sent me a new pump and there were a few more details to clear up. After 4 months we had the machine freeze drying again. I wasn’t able to work on it as quickly as I would have wanted each time because of other commitments, so it took abit longer than probably needed. I do love this machine and hope to keep freeze drying.

I bought a large Harvest Right Freeze Dryer in August. I've used to to dry eggs, meats, fruits and vegetables. I started out drying single items and am now working on meals. I'm currently working on meatloaf and beef stroganoff. I love the variety of foods and innovation involved in this machine. I feel almost like a mad scientist in the kitchen! I had a problem with my software. Jay Right commented on my Facebook post and within hours, he assisted me in downloading the newest software version on my machine. I am very happy with my machine and the food that I can customize to freeze dry!

Love love love my Harvest Right…

Love love love my Harvest Right machine. We have had a few glitches along the way, but the customer service has been very friendly and helpful. We as a family have managed to put a LOT of food away for the future, had to convert the spare bedroom into a pantry. The machine is a work horse, we have it running most days. Even the dogs love it, they have learned that when we open the drain valve it means food will likely be falling on the floor as we pack it up, they also love all the dog treats we have made for them. I can’t wait to start freeze drying my spring and summer garden produce.

I’ve owned a HR freeze dryer for approximately 8 months now and I love it! There are definitely pros and cons with the machine(as with everything) that are important to keep in mind before you purchase one.

1) Not every food is good for freeze drying. I really enjoy using my freeze dryer for fruit, powdered items and ready-made meals but food that is super high in fat or sugar are not appropriate to freeze dry.

2) This is a large and expensive machine and they will have issues from time to time. Harvest Right does not have the capacity to send technicians out to you. You are more than welcome to call in and get the tech support but you will be expected to help diagnosis your machine/replace any malfunctioning parts. I’ve had two issues with my machine so far.

The first time, it was down for several weeks while I trouble shot with Harvest Right to fix the issue (there was a small vacuum leak that was fixed with the epoxy fix). The second time it was only down for a few days. The issue was user error that I was able to fix mostly on my own.

3) While using your machine, make sure that you understand how it works. If there’s an issue and you already know the solution or how to trouble shoot for it. It will be a lot less frustrating and your machine will last a lot longer if you take proper care of it.

4) Most of all, enjoy your machine! You now have the opportunity to save the garden harvest, buy in bulk and make some really cool food that you won’t be find anywhere! If you do find it, it would be prohibitively expensive.

Experiment! I already dehydrate and can a lot during the summer time so buying a freeze dryer was the next step for me in my family’s food prep journey. We also eat a plant-based diet (no animal products) and HR allows me to make a lot of vegan products that aren’t available anywhere!

Learn about your freeze dryer so you can use it wisely and maintain it and enjoy yourself while you’re at it!

I bought my Harvest Right freeze dryer in March of 2022. I have loved it! It is such a fantastic machine. It is constantly busy doing just about everything- cheeses, meats, vegetables, sour cream, fruits, soups, leftovers and anything else I can think of. The possibilities are endless. It has been a life saver when I need to prepare a quick meal or take a treat to a neighbor. Rehydrating full meals is so easy and super fast. Everything tastes just as good as it did before I dried it. Besides the great taste, it is so much less expensive than buying freeze dried foods in the store, and I know exactly what ingredients are my food. I love my Harvest Right!!!

Harvest Right Freeze dryers are great, and you can preserve quality food, for hiking trips, long term storage, etc.... There are many videos out there from the company to help you trouble shoot issues, but if you have to send it back to the company for repairs, follow the shipping instructions and be prepared for FedEx to stand you up a few times, after a week of FedEx not picking up the freeze dryer, my husband and I loaded the freeze dryer in our pick-up and took it to the nearest FedEx, 30 miles from where we live. The rest of the process to get the freeze dryer repaired has gone smooth, I paid the shipping cost and then had to bring the item to FedEx?? Maybe Harvest Right needs to re-evaluate the contract with FedEx.

I am so excited to have my Harvest Right Freeze Dryer. It is truly a dream come true. I have always preserved food but now I can have a really long term storage instead of just a few years. I love the ease of operation and when there have been problems the people at HR have guided me through getting it fixed. They are so friendly and helpful! I'm expanding my garden this year and expect to build my food storage with a variety of nutritious foods for myself and my family at a minimal cost! You can't beat that. It will definitely pay for itself. Mine is a medium and I love it.

I have had two harvest right freeze dryers for about 5 years. We use them almost daily freeze drying fruit and berries for our business. We started with the original oil pumps on both units and upgraded to the oil free eagle pumps once they were available. The main freeze dryer units have performed very well with only one minor issue in over 5 years.

The older (not premier) oil pumps required regular maintenance and oil changes every cycle. The oil free pumps are generally maintenance free until they have had to be rebuilt with new seals after about 1.5 years of frequent use. Customer service has been responsive when we have had issues with the pumps.

My Harvest Right freeze dryer is easy to use and is a great tool for storing food and incredible meal prep. It helps eliminate food waste and helps with the grocery budget by allowing me to shop sales and easily store fresh food from our garden. Healthy snacks, meals ready in seconds and fun treats (like ice cream) are a few of the benefits.

I have had my freeze dryer for a few weeks now and had a few issues while getting it ready.

I wish they had a video for you to watch to help you set up. Instead they have an "ok" manual you have to read. You must read it front to back.

After reading the manual, you still have a trial and error you go through.

Get on some videos from Google and you will find a plethora of do's and don'ts.

Had some vacuum issues on my 1st run, contacted their support and they helped alleviate that issue.

We purchased the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer last month and after 2 weeks we loved it so much we purchased a 2nd one! The instructions are super easy to follow and the machines are very easy to use. We have loved experimenting with all the different foods and candy!

We had some questions and called customer service, they were very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. I would recommend this freeze dryer to anyone looking to preserve food or just looking to have some fun making all kinds of candy! Happy freeze drying!

We purchased a medium black freeze dryer in December 2022. After a couple batches I realized that I am going to prefer freeze drying our food over canning (salsa may be my only exception).

Freeze drying retains nutritional value better than other drying methods / canning. I recommend you purchase an extra set of trays so you always have a batch in the freezer ready to dry.

Also, purchase a scale so you can weigh your food, that helps you determine when your food is completely dry. If you enjoy canning or any type of food preservation I highly recommend you invest in a freeze dryer.

My family and I, have enjoyed every minute using our large Harvest Right freezer dryer. We have preserved many items from our garden and had fun with candies and other items we have acquired. It is very satisfying seeing food preserved for years to come. Knowing that it retains so much of its nutritional value and taste, makes it even more satisfying. Their customers service has been very efficient in helping answer my questions. We consider our freezer a great investment.

We received the unit in January of 2023.

Up until we received our medium Harvest Right freeze dryer, we were looking into food that was already freeze dried which is extremely expensive. This purchase will pay for itself!

The freeze dryer itself works great and is super easy to operate. Just turn the freeze dryer on, turn the pump on, and start. Let it pre-freeze for 15 minutes, load your food, close the drain valve, and hit start. Set it and forget it!

To date, we have completed shredded cheese, chicken, soup, and eggs. Everything rehydrates perfectly and tastes great.

We had a few issues getting up and running and the Harvest Right Technical support team was phenomenal. The support team worked with us including many follow-ups (Both phone and email) to ensure any issues were mitigated.

The freeze dryer came with a lot of extras. We received 50 mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, a premier vacuum pump, vacuum pump oil, a set of 4 stainless steel trays, freeze drying guide, and an impulse sealer. The impulse sealer works fantastically; takes less than 10 seconds to seal a mylar bag. Much better than the curling iron we were using prior on our mylar bags!

Additionally, Harvest Right has a lot of accessories to help make freeze-drying easier like silicone tray mats, silicone food molds, tray lids (Great for liquids), and of course extra oil and mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.

Can’t wait for our first camping trip of the year, freeze-dried food is easy packing and all you need is water to rehydrate. More fun less cooking!

This machine exceeds our expectations and I highly recommend it!