Wash the strawberries. Either pat them dry or just let them drain for a few minutes.

Hull and cut the strawberries into thin slices. Ideally, the slices should be about the same thickness. This will help them dry evenly.

Place the strawberries on the freeze-dryer trays. Some folks like to line the trays with parchment paper, but I haven't found this necessary. It's okay if the strawberries overlap on the trays, but they will dry faster and more evenly if they are in a single layer.

Place the trays into the freeze dryer. Close, and seal the freeze dryer door. Make sure the drain valve is closed (it should be perpendicular to the drain line). Hit start.

Let the freeze dryer do its magic! How long the process will take depends on the number of strawberries, the size of the slices, and the room temperature (if your freeze dryer is in a garage like mine, for example, in higher temperatures ). But it usually takes around 12 hours or more.

Once the freeze dryer has completed the process, check the strawberries to ensure they are completely dry. If there is any moisture, return the trays to the machine and select "more dry time."

When the strawberries are completely dry, store them in an airtight container (short-term storage) or mylar bags with an appropriately sized oxygen absorber (long-term storage up to 20+ years).