Is It Cheaper to Freeze Dry Eggs at Home or Buy Freeze-Dried Eggs?

Freeze-dried eggs are useful for long-term food storage, camping, emergency preparedness, and everyday meal planning. But commercially freeze-dried eggs can be expensive.

That raises a practical question:

Is it cheaper to buy freeze-dried eggs or freeze dry fresh eggs yourself?

One Harvest Right customer tested exactly that by freeze drying 60 eggs at home and comparing the cost with commercially freeze-dried eggs.

The results were dramatic—but the experiment was conducted in 2018. Egg prices, electricity rates, packaging costs, and commercial freeze-dried food prices have changed since then.

So instead of treating an old price comparison as today's answer, let's look at the original experiment and show you how to calculate the real cost using your own current prices.

The Original 60-Egg Freeze-Drying Experiment

In 2018, the creator behind Retired at 40 set out to compare home freeze-dried eggs with commercially freeze-dried eggs.

He purchased 60 fresh eggs for $8.49, scrambled and cooked them, and spread them across four Harvest Right freeze dryer trays.

He also connected a kilowatt meter so he could measure the electricity used during the batch rather than estimating it.

The measured electricity cost was:

$1.66

That gave him the following basic batch cost:

That calculation didn't include every possible cost. Packaging adds an additional expense, and the experiment didn't allocate a portion of the freeze dryer's purchase price or long-term maintenance to this particular batch.

Those costs matter if you're trying to calculate the complete cost of ownership.

How Did Home Freeze-Dried Eggs Compare With Store-Bought?

At the time of the experiment, Retired at 40 found a commercially freeze-dried egg product priced at $26.32 for approximately 12 prepared servings.

His comparison ultimately put the home freeze-dried eggs at approximately:

$0.17 per serving

versus:

$2.19 per serving

for the commercial product he selected.

That's a substantial difference.

But there's an important qualification:

Those are 2018 prices—not today's prices.

Egg prices fluctuate. Electricity rates vary by location. Commercial freeze-dried egg prices change. Packaging costs change too.

The original experiment is useful because it demonstrates how to make the comparison, not because its exact dollar amounts will apply to everyone today.

How Much Does It Cost to Freeze Dry Eggs at Home?

There isn't one universal answer.

At its simplest, your batch cost is:

Cost of eggs + electricity + packaging

For example, if you're freeze drying 60 eggs:

60 eggs = 5 dozen

If eggs cost $4 per dozen where you live:

5 × $4 = $20 in eggs

You would then add the electricity used for the batch and whatever packaging you use afterward.

If the eggs cost $2.50 per dozen, however:

5 × $2.50 = $12.50

Your economics immediately change.

That's why a fixed statement like “freeze-dried eggs cost X cents per serving” isn't very useful over time.

A calculator based on your prices gives you a much better answer.

A Simple Formula for Comparing the Cost

You can calculate your approximate cost with:

Egg cost + electricity cost + packaging cost = batch cost

Then:

Batch cost ÷ number of servings = cost per serving

Compare that result with:

Price of commercially freeze-dried eggs ÷ number of equivalent servings

Now you're comparing similar things.

For a more complete ownership calculation, you can also include an appropriate share of:

• Freeze dryer purchase cost
• Vacuum pump maintenance
• Pump oil and filters, if applicable
• Other maintenance expenses

That gives you a more realistic picture of the total cost.

Don't Forget the Cost of the Freeze Dryer

This is an important part of any honest cost comparison.

If you already own a Harvest Right freeze dryer and regularly use it for garden produce, leftovers, meat, dairy, complete meals, snacks, and other foods, comparing the incremental cost of running another batch can be useful.

But if you're considering buying a freeze dryer solely to save money on eggs, the purchase price of the equipment obviously matters.

One simple way to think about equipment cost is:

Freeze dryer purchase price ÷ total batches over its useful life = approximate equipment cost per batch

That's still only an estimate because the number of batches, maintenance expenses, and equipment life will vary.

It does, however, provide a more complete comparison than ignoring the equipment cost entirely.

The economics of owning a freeze dryer generally become more interesting when you consider all of the foods you can preserve with it, rather than evaluating the machine based on one food alone.

How Much Electricity Does It Take to Freeze Dry Eggs?

Electricity use can vary from one batch to another.

Factors include:

• Freeze dryer model
• Amount of food on the trays
• Moisture content of the food
• Cycle length
• Room and operating conditions
• Local electricity rates

The original Retired at 40 experiment measured $1.66 in electricity for that particular batch in 2018.

Your cost could be different.

If you want to know your actual electricity cost, you can measure the electricity consumed by your freeze dryer during a batch and multiply the kilowatt-hours used by your local electricity rate.

For example:

Kilowatt-hours used × electricity rate per kWh = electricity cost for the batch

That's far more accurate than relying on someone else's electricity bill.

Packaging Adds to the Cost Too

Once the eggs are completely freeze dried, proper packaging helps protect them from moisture and other environmental conditions.

Your packaging choice depends partly on how quickly you plan to use the food.

Airtight containers or jars can be convenient for ingredients you use frequently.

Resealable Mylar bags can work well when you want convenient access to smaller portions.

Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers are commonly used when properly packaging completely freeze-dried foods for longer-term storage.

Whatever method you choose, include the packaging cost if you're comparing home freeze drying with a packaged commercial product.

How Many Eggs Can You Freeze Dry at Once?

Capacity depends on the freeze dryer model, tray configuration, how you prepare the eggs, and how much food you place on each tray.

In the original experiment, 60 scrambled eggs were spread across four trays, and the creator reported that he still had additional capacity.

Rather than trying to reach a specific number of eggs per batch, focus on spreading the food evenly and avoiding unnecessarily thick layers.

Uniform tray loading helps food freeze and dry more consistently.

Should You Cook Eggs Before Freeze Drying Them?

The eggs in the original cost experiment were scrambled and cooked before being freeze dried.

This creates a convenient product that can later be rehydrated and used as part of a meal.

Cooked freeze-dried eggs can be useful for:

• Breakfast
• Camping meals
• Emergency food supplies
• Travel
• Meal preparation
• Using surplus eggs
• Reducing food waste

As with any food preservation method, use appropriate food-handling practices before, during, and after processing.

How Do You Rehydrate Freeze-Dried Scrambled Eggs?

Rehydration doesn't need to be complicated.

Add water gradually to the freeze-dried eggs and allow them time to absorb it.

Starting with less water gives you more control over the texture. You can always add additional water if the eggs still seem dry.

Warm or hot water can be useful when you're preparing eggs for a hot meal.

The exact amount of water needed depends on how the eggs were prepared, the amount you're rehydrating, and your preferred final texture.

Should You Store Freeze-Dried Eggs Whole or as Powder?

You can do either.

Freeze-dried scrambled eggs can be stored as pieces and rehydrated later.

They can also be ground into powder.

Powdered eggs take up less space and can be convenient when you're measuring eggs into recipes or preparing certain meals.

You don't necessarily have to choose one method for an entire batch. You can package some as scrambled egg pieces and powder another portion depending on how you expect to use them.

When Can Freeze Drying Eggs Save the Most Money?

Home freeze drying can become particularly economical when the food you're preserving would otherwise go unused or be purchased later at a higher price.

For example, it may make sense when:

You raise chickens.
Egg production can exceed what a household can use during productive periods.

You buy eggs in bulk.
Bulk purchasing can lower your ingredient cost.

You find eggs at a good price.
Preserving food when it's inexpensive can help you avoid buying it later.

You have more eggs than you can use before they spoil.
Preventing food waste has economic value too.

You already own and regularly use a freeze dryer.
The equipment cost is being spread across many different foods and batches.

When Might Buying Freeze-Dried Eggs Make More Sense?

Home freeze drying isn't automatically the right answer for everyone.

Commercial freeze-dried eggs have some obvious advantages.

Someone else has already:

• Purchased the ingredients
• Prepared the food
• Freeze dried it
• Packaged it
• Tested the process
• Stored it for sale

You don't need to purchase equipment or spend time preparing and packaging batches yourself.

If you only need freeze-dried eggs occasionally, buying them may be the simpler choice.

That's why cost isn't the only factor worth considering.

Is Freeze Drying Eggs at Home Worth It?

It depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

If you already own a freeze dryer, use it frequently, and can buy or produce eggs economically, freeze drying eggs at home can potentially offer substantial savings compared with purchasing commercially freeze-dried eggs.

It also gives you control over:

• The eggs you use
• How they're prepared
• Ingredients and seasonings
• Portion sizes
• Packaging
• How you intend to use them

But if you're purchasing a freeze dryer specifically for eggs, the equipment cost needs to be part of your calculation.

Neither answer is right for everyone.

The Bottom Line

The original 2018 experiment showed a dramatic difference between the cost of home freeze-dried eggs and the commercial product being compared at the time.

The home version was calculated at approximately $0.17 per serving, while the commercially freeze-dried eggs used in the comparison were approximately $2.19 per serving.

Those numbers are interesting historically, but they're not the most important takeaway.

The better question is:

What does it cost you to freeze dry eggs today?

Calculate:

Your egg cost

• Your electricity cost
• Your packaging cost
• an appropriate share of equipment and maintenance costs

Then compare that number with the current price of the commercially freeze-dried eggs you would otherwise buy.

That's a much better way to determine whether freeze drying eggs at home makes financial sense for your household.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to freeze dry eggs at home?

It can be, especially if you already own a freeze dryer and can buy or produce eggs economically. The actual savings depend on egg prices, electricity, packaging, equipment costs, and the commercial product you're comparing.

Can you freeze dry scrambled eggs?

Yes. Cooked scrambled eggs can be freeze dried and later rehydrated for meals.

How much does it cost to freeze dry a batch of eggs?

There isn't one universal cost. Add the cost of the eggs, electricity used during the cycle, and packaging. For a more complete calculation, include an appropriate portion of the equipment and maintenance costs.

How do you store freeze-dried eggs?

Completely freeze-dried eggs should be protected from moisture. Depending on intended storage time and use, options include airtight containers or appropriate Mylar packaging with oxygen absorbers.

How do you rehydrate freeze-dried scrambled eggs?

Add water gradually and allow the eggs time to absorb it. Continue adding small amounts until you reach the texture you prefer.

Can you powder freeze-dried eggs?

Yes. Freeze-dried eggs can be ground into powder, which can make them compact and convenient for measuring into recipes.