LEP 24.5.

[yvannairie]

One technology I wish I had access to is freeze drying for the explicit purpose of making treats for myself and nothing else.

But having seen the Technology Connections video on freeze drying, I understand that for now that time is a beautiful dream for the future.

Comments

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I've been tracking that for years! :D We love freeze-dried things. I've loved astronaut ice cream since I was tiny. Over the last 5-10 years, local vendors at street fairs have started carrying options. Our favorite is freeze-dried saltwater taffy. I also love freeze-dried strawberries.

Recently we found a vendor who will rent out her machine! She charges $25 for 1-2 gallons of whatever you want to freeze-dry. So we're slowly collecting a load of nonperishable stuff like Peeps (another of my partner's favorites) and may add other things like different candies or fresh fruit. So if you're a fan of freeze-drying and you have local vendors of it, check to see if any of yours are offering that service. Around here, sometimes the Amish stores will have a massive box of produce for $5-10, and now we have someone to call for, "Hey, I'm looking at several gallons of cheap tomatoes, is your freeze-dryer available today or tomorrow?"

The cheapest freeze-dryer currently is a bit over $1000 and most are in the $2-3000 range, but at least they're down to major appliance levels from the professional only levels they used to be at. When they get below $1000 I'll start looking in more detail.

Re: Yes ...

[yvannairie]

I figured this was probably the case for people in other places but consumer grade freeze drying machines are even harder to acquire in Finland than they are in the US, seeing as there aren't even any companies currently serving a non-producer market. I really doubt anyone within a sensible traveling distance from me would have one that wasn't industry-grade -- I know some of the farms around here have access to services like that but they are buying industrial quantities of stuff.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Alas!

Okay, for that context, there is a different option. Some places have community kitchens for folks who like to cook but have only a tiny space at home. Some apartment buildings have one, some community centers do, and they can even be freestanding for a cooking club or community classes. A place like that could buy a freeze-dryer for members to share. Kinda like they do with a glass forge or ceramics kiln that most people don't have room for at home and couldn't afford. If there isn't one already, you could ask around to see if anyone else shares your interest and team up to create one.