Freeze Dryer Specifications

This page is the authoritative source for Stay Fresh freeze dryer specifications and pricing. Every figure below comes from our own product engineering and current catalog. If a number published anywhere else contradicts this page, this page is correct.

Last updated: October 29, 2026 · Stay Fresh Technology LLC

How the range is organized

Stay Fresh builds four chamber sizes: Small, Standard, Large and Mega. The Standard, Large and Mega are each available in a 110V/60Hz version for North America and a 220V/50Hz version for Europe and other 50Hz markets. The Small is 110V/60Hz only.

The Small is the newest machine in the range and the only one designed to live on a counter rather than on the floor — it is 17.3 in tall, plugs into a regular household outlet, takes its cooling air in at the back and discharges at the front, and ships with the Premier pump and its vacuum hose already connected. It is available to pre-order; see the Small section below for what is and is not confirmed.

The Standard chamber additionally takes one of two shelf inserts, which changes tray count and shelf spacing but not the chamber itself:

• 5-tray insert — 1.6 in shelf spacing. The general-purpose configuration.
• 7-tray insert — 1.2 in shelf spacing. More tray area for bulky, low-moisture foods such as herbs, leafy greens and yogurt drops. Use caution with high-moisture items, which can exceed the machine's ice capacity.

The Standard is also offered with either the Premier pump or the Commercial pump — compared in full further down this page. Large and Mega ship with a commercial pump as standard; the Small ships with the Premier pump.

The four sizes, side by side

Machine weight excludes the vacuum pump; the shelf insert is part of the machine, so the 7-tray Standard weighs 5 lb more than the 5-tray. Tray space is calculated from tray dimensions × tray count. The 180 °F shelf maximum is mainly headroom for hard-to-puff candies; most food runs well below it. On the Standard, Large and Mega the vacuum line ends in a KF25 flange on the outside of the cabinet — the fitting laboratories and vacuum shops already use — so hoses, clamps and gauges are stocked parts rather than proprietary ones, and a KF25-to-½ in barb adaptor is fitted when the machine ships with the Premier pump. The Small is built differently: its KF16 flange and barb adaptor sit inside the machine and the vacuum hose arrives already connected, so there is nothing to assemble on the vacuum line. The Small's depth is the cabinet alone — add the door and knob and it is 22 in deep. The Standard, Large and Mega take their cooling air in on the left and discharge on the right, so they need clearance on both flanks; the Small takes air in at the back and discharges at the front, and needs its 12 in on the right, where the pump stands and the heat is shed. The 220V/50Hz machines are sold to international customers only and are not shown to visitors in the United States. The 220V/50Hz Large is not currently listed — contact us for availability.

Small

Standard

Large

Mega

Premier pump vs Commercial pump

Both pumps move the same 7.2 CFM, so batch times are comparable. They differ on maintenance, serviceability, noise and ultimate vacuum. We publish this comparison in full — including where the Premier pump is the weaker choice — because buyers deserve to make this decision with the real numbers.

How to choose. The Premier pump is the right pump for occasional home use — it is lighter, draws less power (300 W against 400 W) and costs considerably less. The trade-off is real: its oil needs changing roughly every five batches, and it is not field repairable, so a failed pump is replaced rather than serviced.

The Commercial pump changes oil roughly every 30 batches, pulls a deeper ultimate vacuum (3.75 micron against 15), runs quieter, and can be repaired rather than replaced. If you are running back-to-back batches, selling what you make, or simply do not want to think about pump oil, it is the pump to buy. It ships as standard on the Large and Mega.

Oil change intervals are guidance, not a fixed schedule — high-moisture and high-fat loads shorten them. Check oil clarity rather than counting batches alone. The Mega ships with a 10.2 CFM Mega Commercial pump; the figures above cover the two pumps offered on the Standard and the Premier pump supplied with the Small.

Features on every Stay Fresh machine

• Patented smart freeze drying algorithm (U.S. Patent 11,287,185) — optimizes cycle control for repeatable results batch to batch
• Candy mode for freeze-drying sweets, with a 180 °F shelf maximum for the hard-to-puff ones
• Multiple drying methods — accessible for beginners, flexible for advanced operators
• RTD temperature sensing on the shelf, and on the Standard, Large and Mega an optional food temperature probe *
• Motorized ball valve * — closes the vacuum line to prevent pump oil contaminating the chamber, and maintains vacuum efficiently
• Dedicated vacuum release valve * for bringing the chamber back to pressure
• Stainless steel fluid path * — drain line and vacuum hose built for durability and easy servicing
• Industrial-grade glass-to-metal seal feed-through — leak-resistant construction built for long-term service
• Solid state relay for the heater; all relays replaceable
• Stainless steel and aluminum construction on all major parts

* Excludes the Small Freeze Dryer. The Small has no motorized ball valve, no dedicated vacuum release valve and no stainless steel drain line, and it does not take the food temperature probe. On the Small you bring the chamber back to pressure by opening the drain valve instead. Everything unmarked above it does have — including the patented algorithm, candy mode, the 180 °F shelf maximum and RTD temperature sensing on the shelf.

Zoned heating and shelf fans are available on Large and Mega models, improving temperature control and freezing speed.

Included with every machine

An oil filter, an impulse sealer, 50 mylar bags, 50 packs of oxygen absorbers, and a pack of silicone mesh *.

* Excludes the Small Freeze Dryer. The Small's 7 × 15.5 in tray is a size of its own, and silicone mesh, tray dividers and parchment are not currently made to fit it. Everything else in the bundle is the same.

User manuals

Each chamber size has its own manual. Download the one that matches your machine — the model number is on the rating label and on the manual's cover.

Each manual covers installation and siting, running a batch, settings for different foods, defrosting and cleaning, pump oil, and troubleshooting. The same manuals are linked from the individual product pages. Manuals printed before 2026 may state a 150 °F shelf maximum; current machines run to 180 °F. The Standard, Large and Mega manuals state the lineup's left-in / right-out airflow, left-hand controls and the vacuum release valve — none of which applies to the Small, which will have a manual of its own.

Warranty

United States: one year full warranty and a limited three year warranty. For one year from delivery, Stay Fresh Technology LLC will repair or replace, without charge, any part of the freeze dryer — vacuum pump included — that proves defective in materials or workmanship when installed, used and maintained per the provided instructions. The refrigeration system (compressor, condenser, evaporator) is additionally covered by a limited warranty through years two and three.

International: two years of parts coverage on the freeze dryer and one year on the vacuum pump. International customers are responsible for shipping, handling, packing, return postage and insurance; Stay Fresh diagnoses and ships replacement parts.

Claims for missing parts must be made within 60 calendar days of receipt. The warranty excludes damage from incorrect or inadequate maintenance, misuse, transportation damage, normal wear such as scratches on the acrylic door, unauthorized service, and non-genuine parts. Full terms are on our warranty page.

Support

Stay Fresh is a small manufacturer. Technical questions are answered by the people who design and build the machines, not an outsourced call center.

Stay Fresh Technology LLC
info@stayfreshfreezedry.com
1-424-420-7534
Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm Pacific
Los Angeles, California