I freeze dried mandarin oranges and they turned out wonderful. I buy the sugar free cans so didn't have much a problems with sugar.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

The two weeks before canning season kicks in we go through the shelves and pull the oldest fruit and get it into the freeze dryer, sometimes we sprinkle some cinnamon on the peaches (tastes very different, like cobbler vs the fresh we FD), i love the pears, hubby the nectarines, and even have FD the applesauce and pear sauce for camping.

Thank you for these videos. I learned lots of emergency lessons, canning and dehydrating from you over these last 3 years and now i am freeze drying too.

@trailgrazers3690

Ай бұрын

You are very welcome and we appreciate your being with us for so long!!!

If you have @3 T of mandarin powder left on the tray, you could make a cup of juice.😊

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Great idea! I could also crush the fruit to make juice as well!

@babatwofive5727

3 ай бұрын

@@trailgrazers3690 That is true. We cannot crush and drink all the fruit we have on our trees in a timely manner, so we do freeze dry it (now that we have a freeze dryer). The food banks no longer take citrus, much to our chagrin, so the fruits usually get wasted. It's a tough pill to swallow.

Prayers that you have a speedy recovery. That freeze dried fruit looks so delicious.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

It is really good. Thanks--I am well now and hope to stay that way

The fruit looks beautiful ... as Jim said, like candy! I hope you feel better soon. Take some time off if you need to. We'll still be here. ❤

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. I am finally well and hope to stay that way.

Thank you! Hope u feel better ❤. Love both the channels. I haven't got a freeze dryer yet but hopefully soon and I can try all these snacks.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

I hope so too!

Two videos in a day, we're getting spoiled between RRHS and trail grazers, thank you!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

LOL! You are welcome.

AGAIN…..I’ve learned so much. I noticed a couple videos you did not pre freeze your food I know I’ve seen you pre freeze before and advocated the step have you changed your approach and if so may I ask way (want to learn) if I am mistaken my apologies Thank You Pam & Jim Just love you guys 😊

Of course, fresh fruit freeze dries best but I think any way you can preserve it, that’s awesome! Mandarin oranges turn out best, fresh but peeling all those…..🤦‍♀️ Grapes are lovely but my last batch took 70 1/2 hours!!! Fresh peaches and strawberries are our favorite. Feel better soon Pam.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing what you do with FD fruit. I really like dehydrated canned fruit as well.

What a winner of a snack. I use parchment paper or HRFD tray liners for sugar content foods. Easy cleanup.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Feel better soon! The oranges look awesome 😊

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thank you. They do taste great!

Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed your videos, a lot of information. Hope you feel better soon!

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

Wonderful place❤❤

@trailgrazers3690

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for visiting!

Hope you get to feeling better. Take Care of You!!

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thank you.

Great info. You washed the syrup off the pears, apricots and fruit salad too? Usually sugar there and soaked into the fruit. I think my grandkids will love them. I have not had much luck with the devices that are a bunch of spikes mounted and pushed down to tenderise meat. But something like that may open up the oranges more for the FD and the rehydration. Blueberries were too small.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Yes! Thank you!

I make syrup, jelly, or fd for tea pre freezer in small trys

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Great idea.

Pam, take care of yourself. Remember, you are retired. Hope you feel better soon.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

That makes. Y mouth where. I love freeze-dried fruit. I use pineapple juice in Hawaiian bread instead if water.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

I love that idea! Thanks for sharing.

We’ve recently bought a freeze dryer and have been freezing the food first in our stand up freezer. I notice you don’t and let the freeze dryer do it. Have you experimented with both ways and does it matter?

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

We used to do pre-freezing but when they came out with the latest firmware there was no longer the option of selecting for pre-frozen food, so we now let the freeze dryer do most of the freezing. However, we still pre-freeze liquids like buttermilk.

Praying you feel better soon. Do you ever prefreeze items before going in the freeze dryer?

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

We don't do it as often as we used to. With the last firmware update they did away with the pre-frozen setting for starting a new batch, so we just let the FD do the freezing. But I still pre-freeze buttermilk.

Get well soon Pam, please rest, that sounds like a nasty virus. We will be fine if you don’t want to film for a bit, you’re supposed to do this for fun only. Well wishes for a speedy recovery 🌷

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I am finally well and hope to stay that way.

Use the juice to make jelly. Hope you get some rest Pam. I’ve been recovering from a cold virus for two weeks now. It’s not good..

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Thanks Mary. I am now well and hope you are too!

I prefer freeze drying canned fruit rather than fresh. If I just have fresh fruit, I cut it into chunks and cook in a light syrup, then freeze dry.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I wonder if you put parchment paper under the Mandarin oranges maybe they would peel off easier?

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

I think that would be worth a try! Thanks.

If I want to store these long term, should I use an 02? How long do you think they would last? Thank you.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Yes, either that or vacuum sealing. So far ours have lasted over two years and are going strong.

How long does the fruit last in a jar or ziplock bag,? Without oxygen absorption or sealed? And if u snack on it every few days

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Probably a few months. If sealed then 2-3 years or more.

Have you had problems with your freeze dryer? I was bound and determined to get one. Was going to sell my golf cart to purchase one, then I started finding so many people having trouble with not being able to reach a vacuum. I was in the skilled trades so I know about good fittings and bad fittings and for the price they should have used the better fittings.

@theoldguy9329

3 ай бұрын

I have a really old one and have had no vacuum problems (well except for the old pumps they don't sell any more). From what I have heard most of the vacuum problems if the macine initially worked were from the door needing adjustment, or the ring that the door seals to getting g damaged. I gather the drainage valve -- the one Pam talks about -- seems to be subject to getting bumped and damaged if one is not careful.

@miarosie

3 ай бұрын

I bought the newer model the end of last year - the 5 tray medium in about Oct and have had zero issues.

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

We have had some issues with it not holding a vacuum which is common for vacuum equipment. We watched their repair videos and Jim followed those instructions and things are fine now.

Would pre-freezing or using packed in juice not syrup and washed make a difference?

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

I now rinse off canned fruit regardless of whether it is packed in syrup or juice. Prefreezing does not seem to make a difference.

@jago4673

3 ай бұрын

@@trailgrazers3690 Thank You

How did the pears taste?

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Loved the pears!

Why dud you name it Calvin

@jorthodox807

3 ай бұрын

I think it might be named Kelvin which is a unit of measurement of temperature.Named after William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin. Scientist use Kelvin because they want a temperature scale where zero reflects the complete absence of thermal energy.Perfect name for a freeze dryer!

@trailgrazers3690

3 ай бұрын

Yes, it is Kelvin!

Awesome video, but you're spreading your cold germs to the food.

@trailgrazers3690

2 ай бұрын

Not too worried about it. But thanks.