How does Freeze Drying Work?

The process of freeze drying starts by flash freezing the item to be dried. This is typically done by placing the item in a freezer; for example, our Xiros Mikro Freeze dryer at a temperature below -40 °C. Next, the machine applies a vacuum to the frozen item, which causes the moisture to sublimate, or go directly from a solid to a gas, bypassing the liquid state. The result is a flash frozen product that’s better preserved and less likely to develop contaminants or other issues. Biological materials (such as cells, tissues, and enzymes) are commonly freeze-dried for storage and transportation purposes. In the cannabis space freeze drying is used to dry flowers and bubble hash. This process can save processors a tremendous amount of time and help preserve terpenes and lock in flavor profiles.

Why Freeze Dry?

The key benefits of freeze drying are that it preserves the taste, texture, and nutritional value of biomass better than other preservation methods such as canning or dehydration. Freeze dried food can be stored for years without refrigeration and can be rehydrated quickly by simply adding water.

Besides that, freeze drying is much faster than conventional drying methods. Instead of traditional cannabis drying, which often takes days or weeks, freeze drying cannabis flowers can be completed in less than a day’s time! If you’re interested in freeze drying your cannabis hash, this can be completed in our Xiros Mikro in as little as ten hours.

• Cuts drying times: The entire freeze drying process takes 9–24 hours, while conventional drying can take several weeks to complete. Saving time is one of the most important advantages in the cannabis industry. With a freeze dryer you can dry and process your harvest much faster than if you were using the traditional drying methods of the past.
• Prevents contamination: Because freeze drying removes the need for a drying room, there is much less risk of issues like pest contamination. Freeze dryers also have the ability to control humidity levels and remove moisture that could promote the growth of mold or mildew.
• Saves money and space: Freeze dryers allow manufacturers to save on square footage and operational costs by eliminating the need for large drying rooms. Our Xiros Mikro small freeze dryer features various shelf configurations that make it easy for you to use your freeze dryer for more than one application.
• Improves shelf life: When stored properly, freeze dried products can have an extended shelf life that is much longer than what is achieved with conventional drying methods. The product will retain taste, texture and nutritional value even though it is being stored for extended periods of time.

What is Best in a Freeze Dryer?

There are a few things to look for, when choosing a freeze dryer for your processing needs. Consider the following before buying a freeze dryer:

• CE marking: indicates that a product has been assessed by the manufacturer and deemed to meet EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements. Make sure that any freeze dryer you purchase meets these standards to guarantee reliability and safety.
• Pricing: Depending on the size of the operation, freeze dryers can get expensive. At Holland Green Science, our Freeze dryers are both functional and affordable. Our Xiros Mikro freeze dryers are commonly used across the globe for both pharmaceutical and recreational purposes.
• Refrigerant: Make sure you use an environment friendly refrigerant. At Holland Green Science we use ozone friendly R290 natural refrigerant for our Xiros Mikro freeze fryer. It Protects the environment with minimal carbon footprint and ultra-low GWP (Greenhouse Warming Potential).
• Capacity: Freeze dryers range in size and temperature, so you’ll need to be sure to choose the right one for your facility. The Xiros Mikro is perfect for those working with minimal space in their labs. Our Xiros Mikro comes standard with nine shelves, but can easily be converted to a seven or five shelf unit with our interchangeable shelving systems. This allows you to fit biomass of all various sizes! The small freeze dryer also has an easy to load and low profile design and has been designed to run 24/7 with superior performance. When your production needs a bigger capacity, it’s common to get more Xiros Mikro units to enlarge your capacity.