Calculators

Freeze dryer calculators

Nine tools for the questions that come up around every batch, from “how much fits?” to “what do I charge?”. Each one shows its math and its sources, and every result can be shared or printed as a batch sheet.

Before the batch

01Tray Capacity and Harvest PlannerHow much of a food fits per tray and per batch on your model, and how many batches a harvest takes.02Batch Time EstimatorA realistic hour range for a food, adjusted for thickness, load and room temperature.03Freeze-Dried Yield and Bag PlannerWhat fresh food weighs after drying, and how many bags it will fill.

During and after

04Is It Dry? Weight CheckTwo weighings tell you whether a batch is really done, and how close it is to its expected dry weight.05Rehydration Water CalculatorHow much water to add back to any freeze-dried food, by weight or by water content.

Storage

06Oxygen Absorber CalculatorWhich absorber size, or combination, each mylar bag or jar needs.

Money

07Freeze Dryer Cost per BatchElectricity, bags, absorbers and oil per batch, per pound fresh and per ounce dried.08Freeze Dryer Payback CalculatorHow many batches until the machine pays for itself versus buying freeze-dried food.09Freeze-Dried Candy Pricing CalculatorCost per bag, fees and profit per batch for people who sell freeze-dried candy.

How these calculators work

Machine figures come from Harvest Right’s own published specs, food water content from USDA FoodData Central, and safety advice from university extension services (Utah State, Penn State, Iowa State, Minnesota). Where we use a rule of thumb rather than a published number, the calculator page says so. The methodology page lists every assumption.