Hi friends! It’s Stacy here, and I have to share something that has transformed how I handle the amazing produce from our food co-op.
When we get those bulk orders at incredible prices, it used to be a tad stressful trying to preserve everything before it spoiled.
Not anymore!
How I Ended Up with a Freeze Dryer
Recently, we were contacted with an offer to review the Stay Fresh Freeze Dryer.
We’re pretty picky about what we’ll actually test. We say no to most requests because we only want to share things that could truly help you.
But when Tim from Stay Fresh contacted us about their freeze dryer, something felt different.
Jordan already has a freeze dryer, so I decided it was finally time to learn this unique food preservation skill.
After doing some research and seeing the positive reviews, I was excited to give it a try!
The Big Delivery Day
When the Stay Fresh 5-Tray Freeze Dryer with Commercial Pump arrived, I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed.
This thing is heavy! I had to find a temporary storage spot until we could figure out the best location and get help moving it inside.
Since this was going to live in my dining room (a small-house reality), I wanted something that looked good.
That meant shopping for a table that could handle the weight while still fitting our space and lifestyle. I went with this mobile work table:
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After some planning and building, we tucked it into a corner where we could easily access the back without disrupting our daily traffic flow.
The Learning Curve (And My Mistakes!)
I’ll be honest:
My reading comprehension isn’t perfect, and I made a few rookie mistakes. The biggest one?
Forgetting to turn on the pump before starting a run.
I ended up freezing bread for 15 hours while the machine patiently waited for me to realize what I’d done wrong!
But here’s what impressed me:
Tim—the guy who actually designed the machine—personally responds to support emails.
When I sent him my late-night panicked questions, he replied quickly with clear guidance. That level of customer service is rare these days.
We also needed a longer power cord to reach our outlet, but Tim recommended exactly what we needed and made it so easy to get.
I was worried about overloading our electrical circuit, but we haven’t had any issues at all!
What Makes Freeze Drying Different (Spoiler: It’s the Nutrition)
Before diving into the specifics of the Stay Fresh machine, let me share what I’ve learned about freeze drying itself.
This process is absolutely incredible for preserving food, and the science behind it blew my mind.
Almost 97% of the nutrition is retained in freeze-dried food, which means you’re getting nearly the same nutritional value as fresh food.
Freeze-drying is one of the best ways to retain the activity of beneficial plant compounds, such as phytochemicals, and nutrients while preserving color, flavor, and structure.
The process works by freezing food and then removing water through sublimation—essentially turning ice directly into vapor without going through the liquid phase.
This happens at low temperatures, which is why freeze drying is exceptional in its ability to preserve nutrients, especially sensitive vitamins and antioxidants, reducing nutrient loss significantly.
For someone like me who receives bulk produce orders, this is perfect. I can process large amounts when they’re fresh and store them for years without losing the nutritional benefits.
The Stay Fresh Difference
What sets Stay Fresh apart from other freeze dryers on the market?
After seeing it in action, here’s what stands out:
Quality Construction: Stainless steel/aluminum construction for major parts means this machine is built to last. The industrial pump that comes with my upgraded model is quiet and efficient.
Smart Features: The patented smart freeze drying algorithm takes the guesswork out of the process. There are multiple drying methods for beginners and advanced users, so I could start simple and get more sophisticated as I learned.
Real Capacity: With 800 sq. inches of tray space, I can process up to 18lb of food in one batch. For my five-tray model, the trays are each 8″ x 20″ x 0.75″, providing plenty of room for family-sized batches.
Allow me to pause here for a minute and brag on Stay Fresh’s smart freeze drying algorithm + temperature probe.
I know from speaking with Jordan that the Harvest Right does NOT come with a probe.
This is one of my favorite features, especially considering I’m new to all of this!
The temperature probe actually sticks into your food and internally monitors the temperature during the drying process, helping the machine make real-time adjustments.
Instead of just running a preset program and hoping for the best, the Stay Fresh is constantly checking to make sure everything is drying properly.
For someone like me who’s still learning what “properly dried” even looks like, having the machine essentially think for itself takes so much pressure off.
I don’t have to worry about underdrying (which could lead to spoilage) or overdrying (which wastes time and energy).
The probe gives me confidence that each batch will turn out right, even when I’m experimenting with new foods I’ve never freeze-dried before.
My First Projects
For my first run, we went to our gleaning co-op to get bread.
Since bread runs are used to clean and condition the machine, and the bread gets discarded afterward, we didn’t want to waste money buying bread just to throw it away.
Even with my pump mistake, the process went smoothly once I figured things out.
Currently, I have five trays of frozen Michigan peach slices waiting for their turn. I’m excited to see how freeze drying affects their sweetness and texture—from what I understand, the flavors actually concentrate during the process!
Finally, A Way to Handle Seasonal Abundance and Bulk Deals
If you’re like me—working with a small urban garden and/or bulk co-op orders—this machine solves so many problems:
Seasonal Abundance: When your garden produces more than you can eat fresh, or when the co-op has an abundance of bulk produce, you can preserve everything at peak ripeness and nutrition.
Space Efficiency: Freeze-dried fruit is convenient because it’s lightweight, portable and lasts a long time. You can store months worth of preserved food in a fraction of the space fresh or frozen food would require.
Nutrition Retention: Unlike canning or dehydrating, freeze drying preserves color, flavor, and structure while maintaining nearly all nutritional value. Freeze-dried fruit holds up to 90% of its original nutritional content and is a good source of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and fiber.
Long-Term Storage: Properly stored freeze-dried food can last 25+ years, making it perfect for emergency preparedness alongside everyday meal planning.
FREE FOOD STORAGE PLAN!
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Versatility: You can freeze dry almost anything—fruits, vegetables, complete meals, herbs from your garden, even eggs if you keep chickens.
The Reality Check: What to Expect
Let me be honest about the challenges too:
Initial Investment: This isn’t a small purchase. The Stay Fresh 5-Tray with Commercial Pump runs $3,360, though they often have sales.
Learning Curve: While it’s not complicated, there is some learning involved. Reading the manual carefully (unlike me!) and starting with simple foods helps.
Time Commitment: Main drying time is 16-30 hours for up to 18lb of food. It’s not instant gratification, but you can set it and let it run.
Space and Setup: You need dedicated counter space and proper electrical setup. A dedicated 15/20 Amp electrical outlet is recommended.
Why I Recommend the Stay Fresh Freeze Dryer
I genuinely enjoy this machine, and here’s why:
Having Tim personally respond to questions is incredible. When you invest this much money, that level of customer support really matters.
The commercial pump upgrade is absolutely worth it because it’s quiet, efficient, and built to last, while the stainless steel construction feels solid and dependable.
I also appreciate how user-friendly the design is—the interface is straightforward, and the smart algorithm helps prevent mistakes (even when you forget to turn on the pump like I did!).
But most importantly, the results speak for themselves.
The food quality is amazing with colors that stay vibrant, flavors that actually concentrate, and nutrition that’s preserved at levels you just can’t get with other preservation methods.
I’m still learning and experimenting, but I’m already planning to preserve herbs from this year’s garden and maybe even try some complete meals.
The fact that freeze-dried food retains its taste, smell and nutritional profile while being shelf-stable opens up so many possibilities.
For anyone considering a freeze dryer, I highly recommend Stay Fresh.
Yes, it’s an investment, but when you consider the food waste it prevents, the nutrition it preserves, and the convenience it provides, it pays for itself over time.
And honestly, there’s something satisfying about having shelves of beautifully preserved food that will last for years! ❤️
