First Run of the Freeze Dryer - Monday

Then I put lemon juice in the bowl and filled it with water for the slices to soak in to keep them from browning.

I cored the apples then sliced them into up to 1/2 inch thick pieces and laid them cut side down on the trays. Each tray held about 3 apples worth since all 5 trays were filled by 14 apples.

I slid all 5 trays into the machine and then went to plug it in and realized that I still needed to deal with the power for it. The wire was just running out through the cabinet door and I needed to install the outlet to make it all safer. It had only taken an hour to get the 5 trays filled so I had time before getting R from school.

I used the drill and jigsaw to cut out a hole in the base of the center island.

In the hole I installed an outlet box then wired in the outlet. It is near the floor so the extension will sit low and not get hit or pulled out up higher.

The extension now has the 20 amp plug on one end and an outlet in box on the other. As soon as I got it all plugged in I started the dryer then went and picked up R from school.

Once home again I spent an hour or two processing the rest of the apples, this time for the dehydrator but that meant I needed to peel the apples. So I pulled out the corer/peeler and set it to only peel, then I cored each and then sliced it. They all went through a lemon water bath before getting laid on the dehydrator. By the end of the batch of apples I had filled 8 trays.

The Harvest Right freeze dryer has a bit of an issue that I have found already. The touch screen display is VERY sensitive and will accidentally cancel a cycle at the slightest touch of the display. So I was looking around the house and happened upon the exact right thing. Some of the boys toys by Melissa and Doug come in wood boxes with plastic slide covers on them, well the plastic is the perfect size to fit over the display.

I cut a piece off and then used aluminum tape to hold on the unit as a shield. It works exactly as I wanted and all I have to do is lift it up to use the display. I am going to email them with the idea to add to the units as I think it would be easy and very helpful.

So far it is 17.5 hours into the cycle and likely won't go too much past 24 if at all. The apple slices are thin and should desiccate fast.

I have a squash delivery this morning then R has school again, watching the freeze dryer and dehydrator for them to be finished, then prepare the farm for more weather moving in tonight.

Play Rabona the new soccer manager game on Hive!

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Fleming Family Farm
FLEMING FAMILY FARM, LLC
Sustainable & Organic Methods | Heirloom Produce

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