What Is the Purpose of Freeze Drying?

Many people understand longevity as the main purpose of freeze drying, but there are several other benefits you’ve probably never heard of before.

Freeze drying is a special process that requires specific equipment, time, power, and ingredients. This process offers the flexibility to remove moisture content and preserve almost any fruit, vegetable, sweet treat, or snack. But apart from sheer variety, there are many other reasons why freeze drying is a sound idea.

Keep reading to learn more about what makes these foods so tasty, accessible, and convenient.

What Does a Freeze-Dryer Do?

The freeze drying process begins by “freezing” the food until it hits negative 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the food is nice and cold, the air in the chamber is removed by a vacuum pump, leaving the food under very low pressure. When you remove the pressure, the food gets even colder. 

At this low pressure, water and the other chemicals begin to change their state at a much lower temperature. Water will evaporate before it’s warm enough to melt. This process is called sublimation.

During sublimation the temperature of the freeze-dryer chamber is slowly raised to negative 10 degrees. As the ice crystals in the food sublime, they gasify and disperse. This process is typically repeated a couple of times.

To complete the freeze drying process, the chamber is slowly raised to 120 degrees. This is to make sure all the liquid has evaporated. Once everything is done, 98 to 99% of the moisture in the food has been removed.

Why Try Freeze Drying?

From taste and texture to longevity and convenience, there are many reasons to try freeze dried foods! This isn’t the first place people look to as a dependable food source, but there are many advantages to adding freeze dried food to your diet. Whatever purpose of freeze drying appeals most to you, there are many benefits you’ll realize. Here are some of the best:

• Dietary Restrictions - Having dietary needs can be challenging. Finding suitable food can be difficult, and you’re probably always on the hunt for new things to try. Whether your dietary needs come from allergies, moral beliefs, or religious beliefs, looking for commercial freeze dried options is something you should investigate. You’ll have more options at your fingertips that will last longer than regular food.
  There’s a constantly growing variety of freeze dried foods on the market, and they don’t require preservatives for excellent shelf life. This means you always know exactly what you’re eating.

• Longevity - Freeze dried food can last for a long time. Most freeze dried goods last 25 years or more! This makes freeze dried food fantastic for building a food storage supply.

Packaging is very important in food storage. Here are some options to store your food:

• Mylar Bags – Mylar bags are useful because they don’t take up much room and can easily be resealed. They are also easy on your wallet. Once they’re in the mylar bags, place them in a storage container – rodents can easily chew through these bags. So, choose wisely where you store your food.

• Jars – Jars are an excellent way to store food. You can easily see what’s in each jar so you can quickly pick out what you are craving. Also, jars are resealable. If you open a jar but can’t quite finish its contents, no need to worry! Simply close the jar up tight and come back for seconds later down the road.
  A downside to jars is that they allow light to enter, so make sure your jars are stored in a darker area of the house, such as a cupboard or pantry.

• Tin cans – Tin cans offer a great way to store your food. They are airtight, block light that can promote bacterial growth, and are easily stackable. The downside to cans is that they aren’t easily reusable. Once a can is open, you won’t be able to close it again. Be sure you are ready for a hearty snack or meal once you open a tin can.

• Plastic Buckets – Plastic buckets offer a little bit of everything! They’re easily stacked, can keep out light, and are reusable. If you’re looking to store a lot of one particular food, plastic buckets are the way to go!

Preserves Nutrients - Even though eating is a favorite pastime of many, the primary purpose of eating is to absorb the proper nutrients our bodies need to survive. Much of the nutrients in food have a shelf life. If you don’t consume the food in enough time, you risk losing some nutritional value. Nutrients, like vitamins, are critical because they attach themselves to free radicals in your body; a process that helps filter out toxic materials.

Vitamins break down quickly in water, losing their nutritional value. Since freeze drying removes most of the water from food, the vitamins last longer, making them healthy whenever you plan on eating.

Self-Preparedness - Food can be a pain to plan whenever you’re headed camping or planning for emergency preparedness. Without a way to keep food cold, it can spoil quite quickly. Freeze dried foods are an excellent solution! As mentioned before, the food can last for a very long time, yet still tastes amazing.
Freeze dried food is very weight friendly. Other preserved food can be heavy and take up a lot of valuable space. Next time you’re planning a campout or setting up your 72-hour kits, think of freeze dried food; it can quite literally be a lifesaver.

Candy Jan is Always Here When You Need Freeze Dried Candy

Now that you understand the purpose of freeze drying, you’re ready to partake in some tasty treats and snacks! Doing your own freeze drying can be rewarding but is a daunting step for beginners. There are a lot of things to consider, and you can never know where it might take you!

While you are considering this decision, know that you are not alone. Here at Candy Jan, we are passionate about providing you with a variety of tasty, freeze dried candy that you can enjoy now or save for (much) later. We can probably ship it to you faster than you can freeze-dry it yourself anyway. Contact us and order today!