This is a final follow-up to my experiment freeze drying with dry ice. I rate it a dismal failure. It may be theoretically possible to freeze dry foods with dry ice, but it certainly is neither convenient nor cost effective. Another way of freeze drying in the link above was to flash freeze with dry ice, then put the frozen foods on an open tray in a frost free freezer. I did that with a tray of apple slices. They are not yet at the dehydrated bendable stage after six days in the freezer. I don't know if they will ever get to a dry enough state to snap when bent. I do not rate this system as practical either, because it takes the purchase of dry ice and use of lots of freezer space for the process. The third method of freeze drying was to flash freeze with the dry ice, then put it in a vacuum chamber to draw out the moisture. Wartach astutely noticed the $15 harbor freight vacuum pump. The acrylic for the top is available from Lowes. I was planning to use a large stock pot for a chamber and a cut rubber mat for the gasket. I would still have to figure out the line to the chamber from the pump. Thanks, Rick for the reminder to be careful with dry ice. At the moment, I am so disappointed in the dry ice, I may not even proceed with the vacuum chamber experiment. Its interesting that people put processes on line that they have never tried and then do not report any results of their own experiences. I don't want to leave people with a false impression so am supplying this report. On a pleasant note, I just finished reading the biography BIRDSEYE, The Adventure of a Curious Man and I highly recommend it. Birdseye learned about flash freezing while living in Labrador and preserving food for the winter. He wondered why foods frozen in mid winter stored so much better than foods frozen in fall or spring. When he returned to the states, he used EXISTING knowledge and technology to invent a practical way to flash freeze foods and store it. Unfortunately he was ahead of his times. There was not distribution or storage available either commercially or in homes to appreciate what he had done. Never the less, food storage world round has been transformed by his success and perseverance. After succeeding in that venture, he turned to dehydration as the most practical way to preserve and distribute foods. He did not live long enough to discover that his original flash freezing was also the key to quality dehydration. Carol

Appreciate the "heads-up" thanks. This year, my 3-4 year old Asian persimmon gave up 4 fruit - the size of a soft ball. I thought they would never ripen - but after a few cool nights, they turned a beautiful orange-pink. Even then, after I'd picked them, they needed a bit more ripening in my south-facing window. Finally, I tried one, and it was delicious. As luck would have it, because the leaves turned orange when the fruit did - I missed the last one - and it might have been the tastiest one of all, but it mushed when I picked it - so that's the breaks. I'll know what to expect next year, and hopefully, it has decided it likes it here. I promised myself that I would fertilize it come spring - honest. Bejay

I tried but no luck. I put a nursery pot in the ground in my veggie garden and planted the seed in there 2 years ago and did not germinate. So dont know if it was bad seed or how I tried. Got the info on how to do it from a woman on peony forum . Said she had good luck that way. Usually takes a year to germinate. Good luck. Judy

I do it all the time. I either reheat in the toaster oven or air fryer. Blot with paper towels after reheating and munch away. They freeze well and reheat well too. I usually make a double batch of fritters because they are my favorite way to eat zucchini or any summer squash and my favorite vegetable dish. By freezing the fritters, I’m able to eat them anytime I get the hankering. I just prepare the fritters as usual, drain on paper towels, let cool, and freeze individually on baking sheets lined with plastic wrap. Once frozen, I wrap about 4-6 together and then place in a larger freezer bag.