Freeze dryers are an amazing appliance that can help with food storage and emergency preparedness. They can be quite the investment though, so you will want to make sure you are getting the best dryer, at the best price, and from the best place!
There are a few different places where you can purchase a home freeze dryer. The best place is from Harvest Right. They are the leading brand in home freeze dryers and have different sizes and price points to fit your needs. Their freeze dryers can be found online, in home improvement stores, and at many supply or emergency preparedness stores.
Freeze dryers can be incredibly useful tools for emergency preparedness as well as for everyday use. They can provide fresh, nutritious meals, snacks, and even treats that can be stored for a many years. Freeze dryers are generally easy to use and have a small amount of up keep to maintain your machine working well for years.(You might want to check out my article “Freeze Dryer vs Dehydrator: What Sets Them Apart“)
Where To Buy Your Home Freeze Dryer
Harvest Right
As stated before, Harvest Right is the high-quality home freeze dryer that will definitely get the job done. I personally own one of these freeze dryers and have found it to be quite dependable. You can find my full review in this blog post.
(Also, check out my blog post to see what types of foods I like to freeze dry and my many tips and tricks for drying them!)
There are three sizes of freeze dryers from Harvest Right that will fit all your needs. The smallest dryer can run up to 7 lbs of fresh food at a time, while the largest can do up to 16 lbs at a time.
Their freeze dryers come with all the accessories you need to get started right away! This includes drying trays, mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, an impulse sealer, and depending on the model you purchase, a vacuum pump and an oil filter.
Purchase Online
Harvest Right freeze dryers can be found online and then shipped to your door. This is an awesome option since the freeze dryer itself is quite heavy and can be hard to get from the store to your home if you do not have the sufficient strength or vehicle size.
By shopping online you can also take advantage of their sales and promotions. You can purchase any and all extra supplies that you will need in one stop as well.
Other things they have available on their website are:
- Replacement Parts
- Extra Mylar Bags
- Vacuum Sealers
- Food Trays
- Samples of Freeze-Dried Food
One more potential benefit from buying your freeze dryer directly from Harvest Right is to take advantage of their Layaway Program. Freeze dryers are an investment and can take a while to save up for and the company is aware of that.
This program lets you pay a small deposit upfront to reserve your freeze dryer and lock in any sale price happening. You then continue making payments on your own schedule until you have paid off your freeze dryer. Once you have paid it all off, they will ship your freeze dryer to you.
According to their website, you can call to set up this plan.
| Pros of Buying Online | Cons of Buying Online |
| Shipped to your home, you can purchase a freeze dryer without a store near your home. | Tend to be out of stock. You may be waiting anywhere from 8 – 10 weeks for your freeze dryer to ship |
| Layaway program | Cannot see the item physically before purchasing |
| Ability to purchase extra supplies without having to go to another store | You are subject to paying shipping and handling fees, as well as any damage that may happen during shipping |
In Stores
Harvest Right has a main store located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Fortunately though, their freeze dryers are available in many stores located across the United States and Canada. They can also be found internationally in select locations in Central America, Asia, and Europe.
A good number of home Improvement stores carry them, as well as general supply stores. They are also available at most emergency prep stores as they are such a useful tool. You can check their website to find a store near you.
| Pros of Buying in Store | Cons of Buying in store |
| No wait! You can see and take your freeze dryer home same day. | Subject to availability per store, including extra accessories |
| Avoid shipping and handling costs | Requires physical ability to move it and vehicle space to get it to your home |
Other Options for Home Freeze Dryers
Unfortunately there are not really other comparable options for home freeze dryers. There are a number of commercial or industrial freeze dryers that can be found on Amazon or home improvement stores. These machines are going to be much more costly and larger in size than an average family will need for basic use.
Renting or Sharing Freeze Dryers
Depending on where you live, you may have an opportunity to rent or share a freeze dryer. There are many people that own Harvest Right freeze dryers that may already, or be open to, renting out their dryer for a few days for a small fee. This could be a great way to see what types of foods you like or build your food storage without the hefty investment.
Reach out to your community, on social media, or to local city programs to see if there are already groups that you could participate in.
Another option is to get a group together to purchase a freeze dryer for use between you. Be careful though as you will want to really trust the other people in your group with such an investment. Family members and close friends who have similar food storage and emergency preparation plans would be a great place to look first.
Buying Your Home Freeze Dryer – FAQ
When you are considering a large purchase, such as a freeze dryer, it is important to get all of your questions answered and know exactly what you are jumping into. Here are a few questions and answers to consider before buying a freeze dryer to make sure it is the best fit for your family and situation.
How Much Does A Freeze Dryer Cost?
It is clear that buying a freeze dryer is definitely an investment, but just how much of an investment? The simple answer if that they range from $2,400 – $5,000. Check out my cost comparison here for more details.
How Much Space Do I Need?
Freeze dryers take up a good amount of counter or table space, so you will want to make sure you have sufficient room for it to run without it getting in your way.
For reference, here are the weights and dimensions from the Harvest Right website so you can figure out if you what type of space you will need to set aside. Be sure to note that the oil pump needs to sit next to the freeze dryer, so you will need a wider space to accommodate that as well.
| Small Freeze Dryer | Med. Freeze Dryer | Large Freeze Dryer | |
| Dimensions | 16.5’’W x 18.5’’L x 25’’ H | 18’’W x 21.25’’L x 28.5’’H | 20.25’’W x 23.75’’ L x 30.75 H |
| Weight | 61 lbs | 112 lbs | 138 lbs |
| Oil Pump Weight | 32 lbs | 32 lbs | 32 lbs |
Freeze dryers are also slightly noisy while running, which is a constant 20 – 40 hours at a time. So you will want to make sure you have a space for your freeze dryer down in the basem*nt or somewhere that the noise will not bother anyone.
Can I Buy A Food Dehydrator Instead? Does It Do The Same Thing?
Short answer is no, they are not the same. Food dehydrators are significantly less expensive because they do not remove as much moisture from the food as a freeze dryer will.
Will There Ever Be More Options to Buy a Home Freeze Dryer?
Hopefully, yes! Freeze dryers for home use are relatively new. This means there is plenty of room to get smaller, cheaper, more attainable models on the market.
Freeze dryers are also in high demand, so hopefully soon there will be more affordable options that work just as well.
