Learn how to freeze dry eggs so you can stock your pantry with long-lasting ingredients. If you don't have chickens or have a small pantry, this is especially helpful because you can freeze dry farm fresh eggs when you can get them, and they take up almost no space in the pantry.
Turn on your freeze dryer, and follow the prompts. It will tell you to chill the vacuum chamber for 15 minutes before loading trays of food. Be sure to close the valve (it should be perpendicular to the drain line).
If your eggs are freshly collected, wash them thoroughly. This shouldn't be an issue for store-bought eggs.
Crack the eggs either into a blender or a large bowl. For a blender, pulse until they are smooth. If you are whisking them, whisk in small batches so you can be sure to thoroughly incorporate the yolks.
Using a container with a pour spout, fill the freeze dryer trays until they are full. I find it easiest to keep the tray in the machine, pull it out just a little, and fill it. This way, I don't have to worry about carrying and spilling trays full of liquid.
Close and seal the freeze dryer door. Hit start.
Let the freeze dryer do its thing. How long the process will take depends on the number of eggs and the temperature of the room (if your freeze dryer is in a garage like mine, for example, it can take longer on hot days). But it usually takes somewhere around 18-36 hours.
Once the freeze dryer has completed the process, check the eggs to make sure they are completely dry. If there is any moisture at all, return all of the trays into the machine, and select "more dry time."
When the eggs are completely dry, store them in a glass jar with an air-tight lid (short-term storage) or in mylar bags with an appropriately sized oxygen absorber (long-term storage up to 20+ years).
Notes
Many find it helpful to pre-freeze the eggs on the trays before freeze drying. This is a totally viable option, but one I have skipped. Often, I don't have the freezer space to pre-freeze. Either way, it will work totally fine. If you pre-freeze them, they will need to be COMPLETELY frozen before putting them in your freeze dryer.Note: When packing your freeze dried eggs, don't dilly dally. The longer they sit out in the open, the more water they will absorb from the air. This happens faster than you'd imagine, so be prepared to get them in jars or bags quickly.