Blue Alpine Freeze Dryer Review

Investing in a freeze dryer had been a long-term decision for our homestead. The challenge was finding a durable storage solution for the meat and vegetables we raise. With meat, we have a greater level of control over production. However, with vegetables, while some years are lean, there are many times we get bumper crops, even during off years. Nothing is worse than raising a lot of food and having it go to waste!

The other and larger consideration is overall shelf life. In uncertain times—with rising costs, droughts, and natural disasters—we believe in being as prepared as possible, knowing there is no way to prepare for every situation. Most of all, we were looking for a way to preserve our food for a very long time. Beyond preparedness, focusing on homesteading longevity is key. Having a store of preserved meat and vegetables in our later years brings a great deal of comfort and peace of mind.

Why We Chose Blue Alpine

So, we decided to take the plunge and invest in a freeze dryer for our homestead, and we have been thrilled with this decision. We spent a lot of time reading and watching many reviews and examining user feedback, and ultimately selected Blue Alpine.

What set Blue Alpine apart was clearly their exceptional support. We made calls and emails, speaking directly to the people who manufactured, designed, and supported the product. As of this writing, we have zero regrets with our selection!

Sizing and Trays

Since it is just the two of us, we went with the medium size. While the individual trays are a little smaller, the unit still features five shelves, which offer ample storage for our needs. If you are unsure about the size, I would generally recommend the larger model, but that decision is based entirely on your homestead's output.

Keep in mind that if what you want to freeze dry does not fit on all shelves, you can easily keep it in the freezer until you have room to start another batch. A major plus is that Blue Alpine does not require a proprietary tray system; you can easily purchase compatible stainless steel trays off Amazon.

The cycle time is as advertised. However, in our opinion, cycle times can be misleading since so many factors determine how long a batch will take. The food is ready when it is freeze-dried to the desired consistency, not before. Once you have a few batches under your belt, you will have a much better feel for the process.

Assembly and Installation

After purchasing, the unit was shipped very quickly and arrived via common carrier on a pallet. It was very well packaged with no issues. The assembly process was smooth, and the instructions were crystal clear.

If you are considering a freeze dryer, I'm sure you are already aware, but it's important to mention that all freeze dryer manufacturers require the unit to be on a dedicated electrical circuit. We had our electrician pre-wire this for us prior to delivery.

The Customer Service Experience: A Real-World Test

After installation, we ran the tests as outlined in the instructions and freeze-dried some supplied candy just to make sure we were ready to go. After running several batches, however, we started seeing an error. As you can imagine, we started to become very anxious, especially after reading horror stories regarding repairs and support with other manufacturers.

While the initial hiccup was frustrating, it gave us a real-world opportunity to test Blue Alpine's support—and they exceeded expectations. After calling support, they were in constant contact. The person I spoke with continually followed up to ensure everything was working properly. They thought the mother board was malfunctioning but also sent a new pump, just in case. Both were sent out quickly, and we were back up and running within a week. We have had zero issues since.

Pro’s

• Incredible Support: Exceptional presale and post-purchase support.

• Build Quality: Quality of build is as advertised.

• Non-Proprietary Parts: Parts are easily interchangeable and can be purchased outside of Blue Alpine. This was a very important consideration in the event the unit is ever discontinued.

• Special Attention: They are a smaller company, and you receive very special attention as a customer.

Con’s

• Price: Freeze dryers are expensive. Blue Alpine is competitive, however, purchasing is a significant investment.

• Initial Malfunction: We had a temporary malfunction after the first few batches. However, with a machine that has this level of moving parts and circuitry, a minor issue can be expected, which only reinforced why outstanding service and support is a huge consideration.

The cons are few and really are not major issues when it comes to our overall experience. Since our initial issue, we ran our freeze dryer 7 days a week, 24 hours per day for months throughout the growing season and had zero issues.

During this time, we did have to change the oil after several batches, which is standard maintenance for the vacuum pump. Regardless of the unit or brand you purchase, we highly recommend the Dairyland brand of pump oil. The quality is exceptional—you can tell the difference—and it is also recommended by Blue Alpine.

Our Final Verdict

Our Final Rating: 4.5/5.0

If we had to do it all over again, we would absolutely purchase the Blue Alpine freeze dryer and have zero regrets.

Ready to Preserve Your Harvest?

If you are considering a freeze dryer and have more questions, leave a comment below with your biggest questions about freeze drying, or tell us what you plan to dry first! We are happy to share more of our hands-on experience and help you find the best solution for your long-term food storage needs.