Below are some frequently asked questions about our freeze dryers and freeze drying. If you don't see the answer to your questions, feel free to call us at 208-607-1722.
Questions About Blue Alpine
Blue Alpine is in St. Anthony Idaho. All freeze-dryers are built by hand here in our facility.
We've been growing at a impressive rate since we started selling machines in 2023, and have been in the green since our first year. We have no investors or debt. Our facility was built by us and we are already constructing another building next door. We are only growing bigger and will be around to support you far into the future!
Blue Alpine is the premium quality brand on the market. It's performance and build quality is unmatched. With that quality comes a higher investment, but also the piece of mind of the most reliable freeze-dryer.
Every Blue Alpine freeze-dryer has an industry standard 1-year full warranty, with 3 years on the refrigeration system. Additionally, every vacuum pump has it's own 1-year warranty.
Almost all replacement parts are listed on our site for you to purchase at anytime, with or without a warranty. While under warranty, our customer service team will help you diagnose issues, send you replacement parts, and walk you through any repairs needed.
About 65-75 decibels. It's comparable to a washing machine, but not as loud as a vacuum. Due to their constant noise, most people keep their freeze-dryer in a garage, mudroom or basement.
The Select line is our base model and it offers a simplified user interface and is great for most users. The Elite model has everything the Select has, but it also has sensors on every shelf for a more uniform dry, the ability to save recipes, more robust electronics and redundancies for better logging and updates, and other small improvements. Both machines freeze dry at the same rate because the refrigeration is the same size but the Elite gives you more control and precision.
The dimensions for the medium freeze dryer are 20" x 21" x 30". The large is 24" x 25.5" x 34". You will need space to open the door, and room next to the machine to keep the pump. Keep in a medium sized room to prevent overheating and allow at least 6 inches on each side of the machine for ventilation.
Blue Alpine freeze dryers weigh 80 and 100 pounds respectively, and the pump weighs 30 pounds. They can be slid on flat ground safely. Lift to move with at least two people.
With proper care, our robust design will last more than a decade, plus with our ongoing support and part availability, you can keep things running far into the future.
If you are feeding a family of five, and just starting out at freeze-drying, a medium should fill your needs perfectly, if you plan
In most home use cases, you will only need the premium vacuum pump, if you plan to freeze-dry as a small business or plan to use your freeze-dryer constantly, than the commercial pump might be right for you.
The three stage filter can dramatically reduce oil mist from your vacuum pump, as well as the oily smell the vacuum pump can sometimes make. A quick fix without the three stage filter is wrapping a microfiber towel around your default filter.
Freeze-dryers are padded and boxed, and ship on a wood pallet. Before shipping we will call and confirm a time for delivery, and hold if you are out of town so you don't have to worry. The shipping compony will coordinate with you and deliver your machine to your driveway, when you are home to receive it.
1x Freeze Dryer Machine, 1x Impulse Sealer, 1x Premium Vacuum Pump + Break-In Oil, 5x Stainless Steel Trays, 5x Silicone Mats, 50x Mylar Bags, 50x Oxygen Absorbers, 1x Hex Bit, 1x Screw Driver, 1x Power Cord, 1x Installation Guide and quality control sign off sheet.
General Questions About Freeze-Drying
Freeze dryers are sophisticated machines that utilize the principles of sublimation to remove water from a product. The freeze-drying process typically consists of three main stages: freezing, primary drying, and secondary drying.
Almost every food or meal will freeze-dry. Some exceptions include very oil based foods, like peanut butter, foods with too high of sugar content, like honey, or foods that are just to fragile, like canned pineapple. Otherwise you really can freeze dry almost anything, and even some of the exceptions with the right technique.
Most cycles in other brands take about 48 hours, but with a Blue Alpine your cycle time will sit around 26 hours depending on the load size and food type.
In a typical medium freeze-dryer you can fit about 8-16lbs of food per batch without effecting the cycle time dramatically. A large can fit 14-24lbs.
Freeze-dried food can maintain its quality and freshness for 25+ years when stored in proper conditions. Such as using a proper storage tool like a high-quality mylar bag.
Freeze drying is great at keeping the integrity and nutrients of the food, locking nutrients better than any preservation method. But freeze-drying preserves everything, meaning it will also suspend bacteria. So make sure to cook raw meats and eggs before consuming, and store food properly. As with any stored food, check carefully before you eat it. If in doubt, toss it out.
Freeze-dryers will draw 9-11 amps per hour on average. Depending on prices in your area, the freeze dryer will typically cost about $2.00-$3.00 of electricity per day.
For any freeze-dryer, you will need to change oil on your vacuum pump about every 5-10 cycles or when you feel it needs it. (Usually when the oil looks cloudy from ingesting water.) This process is very easy and takes at most 5 minutes. Besides this, you will want to periodically clean your freeze-dryer chamber and shelves.
With electricity costs, bags, oxygen absorbers, and oil, a typical load will cost between $4 to $8. This is of course dependent on electricity costs and what kinds of bags are being used.
You can make money with a freeze dryer by selling freeze-dried products or by renting your freeze-dryer to local users. Some of our own customers have had success selling freeze dried products they made from home, and in as little as a few months earned back the money they spent on their freeze dryer. Depending on your location, some products need no licensing or minimal licensing to sell. Check your local food laws to find what you need.
Vacuum pumps for freeze-drying are consumable, they will eventually wear out. Typically vacuum pumps last 3-5 years, and with proper care you can extend that lifetime to 8-10.
