Our machines have a larger investment, but bring higher performance, superior quality, and top-notch customer service.
You get what you pay for. The competition may cost less, but the missing quality will cost you more in the future.
Capacity
8-25lbs per batch
8-25lbs per batch
Depending on the model, our freeze-dryers hold about the same amount of food, even while taking up less space.
Speed
Average Cycle Time: 26 hours
Average Cycle Time: 48 hours
An almost 50% faster cycle time save you time and energy, and help you get through your harvest while it's fresh.
Freeze-drying with other brands can take twice as long, waisted time, energy and maybe even some of your harvest.
Hermetically Sealed
Yes
No
Hermetically sealed parts can dry off and clean easily, keeping your chamber free of mold and your food safe to eat.
Other brands have large pieces of screwed on corrugated plastic well known for growing mold.
Part Availability
Full access
Limited access
Almost every part is available on our site, with most being basic components you could pick up at a local hardware store if needed.
Our competition requires you to get approval before they will let you buy a part. They must decide if your machine needs it. Often they will charge you for this “service”.
Material
Extruded aluminum with powder coat
Sheet Metal
Our frame is strong enough to hold up a truck. (we tried it) So you don't have to worry about moving your freeze-dryer around.
Sheet metal is known for getting ugly bends and wrinkles by leaning on it wrong.
Maintenance difficulty
Moderate
Difficult
Freeze-dryers take care and effort, but with five sides of removeable panels, tool-free hose fittings and simple design, even your grandma could service a Blue Alpine.
With only one removeable panel, the need of Teflon tape, and complex fittings, plus a nest of unorganized wires make servicing other brands a headache and hassle.
Average Repair Down Time
1 Week
2 Months
We can diagnose your machine, ship you a part, and walk you through anything. Problems are solved in a few minutes to just a few days. Only in rare occasion will it take longer, but we'll go above and beyond to get you freeze-drying again quickly.
Other brands require exhaustive back and forth, and more often than not, shipping your machine to them at your expense even for small repairs. They have been known to take a few months to ship your freeze-dryer back to you.
Tray Type
Standard Baking Sheets
Proprietary Odd Sizes
They will easily fit in your freezer and oven, plus you can use them for normal baking! If you need more you can find them in any kitchen store!
Long and skinny trays that take up awkward space in any size freezer. You are dependent on the supplier if you need replacements.
Tray Mats
Included
Not Included
Our mats are 3rd party tested food safe. They include a lipped edge so nothing can get underneath them, making cleanup easy.
Other brands have flat mats sold separately, they will work alright for some foods, but become pointless with liquids.
Sensor Types
Digital
Analog
With more, all digital sensors plus redundancies, your food can freeze-dry perfectly every time.
Lower accuracy and fewer sensors can result in inconsistent textures or outright ruined food.
Weight
110-130lbs
115-160lbs
Build Location
Idaho
Overseas
Everything from welding to wiring, each freeze-dryer is assembled by hand with care and tested thoroughly before shipping.
Some miner inspections and corrections happen in the US before reboxing and shipping to you.
Refrigeration type
R-1270(Propylene)
R-410A(HFC blend)
A modern eco-friendly standard similar to all modern freezers, fridges, and other cold appliances you already own.
Other brands use an environmentally harmful gas that has been banned in Europe and is being phased out in the US. In short time, servicing your machine will become next to impossible.
Control
Full
Limited
Either press and go or take full control, change settings on the fly to work and experiment however you want.
Changing settings or skipping cycles will void your warranty, they try to make it easy, but limit your choice in doing so.
Takeaways:
When comparing Blue Alpine to the competition, there is no question of the superior quality. We really show the difference with faster cycle times, efficient design, stronger material, user friendly trays and mats, and future proof refrigerant. You can feel confident you have the best machine on the market, backed by top of the line customer service. Blue Alpine is a freeze-dryer that will last, it's the peak of preservation.
Learn More
Feel free to look at our spec sheet in our owners manual or check out our store to see more details about each freeze dryer, and feel free to call us with any questions at 208-607-1722.
