Can you freeze dry meat at home?

Question

I just bought some freeze dried chicken treats for my dog. It as incredibly expensive! $10.95 for 2.5 ounces (about 1 cup)

Is there a way you can freeze dry chicken at home? Do they sell freeze dryers for home use?

Has anyone tried it!

I would love to be able to make this for my dog! To say he was crazy about the chicken is an understatement!

Answer 1

Freeze drying is an expensive process called lypholization and requires that the object be frozen and under a vacuum, it is dehydrated. This is difficult to achieve at home, if not impossible. The commercial units cost many thousands of dollars and even small laboratory units can be quite expensive, But if you can build a system that runs a vacuum pump for three days into a chamber that you can slowly release the vacuum in, then you can try freezing dog treats at home and drying them yourself. But otherwise, pay the extra amount to let someone do it for you!

Answer 2

The process of freeze-drying is a simple one which removes moisture from a frozen material while it remains in a frozen state retaining the object's shape and structure.

Food dehydrators removes moisture from food that is not frozen. This is not the same as freeze drying.

Also known as lyophilization, freeze-drying is the most natural means of preservation and it produces a result that favors extended storage for natural items, preserving the item's natural beauty. Freeze-drying is ideal for the preservation of floral products, whole animals, foods, drugs and even for the recovery of water-damaged items from fires or floods.


Freezedryers are specialized equipment and expensive. That is why freezedried products cost as much as they do.

This place sells freezedryers. But they don't list the prices for any of the models. That usually means that it's very expensive.

Freezedry Specialties, Inc.
4875 70th Avenue
Princeton, Minnesota 55371 USA
1-800-362-8380
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Answer 3

I've travelled with food before as well my mother. I had bags of chips and sandwiches in my carryon and the bigger food items, we wrapped it up and packed it in our checked luggage. Double check with the airlines as well but usually I never have any trouble when I pack them in my suitcase. I don't trust people, so I wrap them in foil and then a plastic bag. If it looks like it's been tampered with, I'll throw it out (but that has never happened before).

Answer 4

They are called food dehydrators, and the easiest place to find one would be online.