9 months ago

178

Making beef stew for freeze drying,
(The freeze drying video - 35 lbs of Beef Stew https://youtu.be/MbGtzTnCUJ0 )
Yield: about 55 cups

4 1/2 pounds lean Beef, 3/8" cubes
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 cup flour
Olive oil for browning beef (could cook the bacon first and use that fat)

2 cups tomato puree
4 Tablespoons real Beef Base
1 cup red wine, optional
12 cups beef stock
16 cups carrots, 3/8" cubes (5 LBS.= 2270 grams)
8 cups onion, 3/8" cubes (2 1/2 LBS.= 1130 grams)
3 tablespoons garlic minced
17 cups potatoes, 3/8" cubes - Yukon gold -7 to 8 LBS. (6 LBS = 2700 grams)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 each bay leaves, whole
7 cups green beans frozen, 1" pieces (2 LBS.)
8 tablespoons cornstarch, in 1 to 2 cups of beef broth for thickening
salt and pepper, to taste

1. Cut beef into small pieces, 3/8" cubes, coat with soy sauce and flour and brown in olive oil in small batches. (works well on baking sheets in a 425°f oven for about 15 to 20 minutes)
8 oz bacon 1/2" pieces cook and drain
200 grams mushrooms - chopped fine add to the bacon and cook down
2. Add beef to pot with everything except green beans and cornstarch.
3. Simmer until vegetables are almost tender then add the cornstarch mixed with cold broth and simmer 5 minutes more. Take off heat and add the frozen green beans.
4. Salt and pepper to taste.

This time:
Second batch on 1-22-23 (Changes from regular batch)
Used - 7 lbs of beef
Used - Red potatoes
Added - 8 oz bacon 1/2" pieces
Added - 200 grams mushrooms - chopped fine
Used - 14 1/2 cups beef broth

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Before buying a freeze dryer perhaps research to find out more about the downside of the machine; some people have problems with their machine and it's big and heavy and hard to return!
When trying to decide what to freeze dry you can start by asking why.
Start by asking yourself this question. Why are you freeze drying food? Knowing this should help you decide what you should freeze dry first.
I'm freeze drying because:
Just to freeze dry leftovers?
You want to make your own food for camping/backpacking?
For if/when the SHTF?
For a short term emergency?
You have your own garden and want to freeze dry the food?
You love Costco but don't have a family of 6?
You are good at finding the food sales but only have 1 freezer?
When you cook homemade chili just for yourself you make 10 gallons? Because you have 3 full freezers and are worried about power outages?

If I knew then what I know now, I would have freeze dried things in a different order. Or maybe not, because I started freeze drying because we had 3 full freezers, I was thinking of getting another one, and I decided I should buy a walk-in freezer instead. I started looking into walk-ins and realized they were expensive to buy (even used ones) AND expensive to own and operate. Then I found out Harvest Right was making home sized freeze dryers. One of my first thoughts was "I like Mountain House!" I have used their food for backpacking almost 45 years and we even kept some in our travel trailer, for just in case.

Freeze dried food will stay fresh for many years and be ready and waiting when you need it.
We do videos showing how we are using our Harvest Right Freeze Dryer to freeze dry food for long term storage. (We have the medium size machine that we got in August of 2017) We talk about how to load and unload the freeze dryer, how to know if the food is dry, is it better to freeze dry raw food or cooked food, and do a few taste tests. Freeze dried food is also great for prepping or just for camping and snacking!

AFFILIATES & REFERRALS
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If you are thinking of buying a freeze dryer, please consider supporting us by purchasing through our link. It helps us and costs you nothing! https://affiliates.harvestright.com/995.html
We have the medium freeze dryer with the original vacuum pump.
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Amazon affiliate links to some of the things we have been using; it helps us and costs you nothing.
• Escali Primo Kitchen Scale https://amzn.to/3r8VqRe
• Etekcity Kitchen Scale11lb/5kg https://amzn.to/3K3ajhY
• Teflon Tape for Impulse Sealers https://amzn.to/3pt2nMd
• Dial Thermometer -40 to 120 F 1-Inch https://amzn.to/3NElaja
• Parchment paper - We usually get our at Costco, but they also have it on Amazon https://amzn.to/3owy5qC or https://amzn.to/3Cw1WXL
• Corrugated Plastic Sheets we use in our freezer https://amzn.to/2YqAM2A
• Drill Bit 5/32" x 10" Extra Length https://amzn.to/3tEOvRx
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