Many people think freeze drying is just about making things last longer. But there are other benefits too.
Freeze drying is a special process that requires special equipment, time, power, and ingredients. This process can be used to remove moisture from almost any food. Freeze drying is a good idea for many other reasons too.
Read on to learn more about these tasty, accessible, and convenient foods.
What is a freeze-dryer?
The first step in the freeze-drying process is to "freeze" the food until it reaches a chilly -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. This is done very carefully so as not to disturb the food in any way. As you remove the pressure, the food gets even colder.
At this low pressure, water and other chemicals start to change state at a much lower temperature. The water will evaporate before it warms up enough to melt. This process is called sublimation, which is a fancy way of saying that the water changes state from a liquid to a gas without actually melting.
During this process, the temperature of the freeze-dryer chamber is slowly and gently 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. Don't worry, though! This is all part of the process.
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.
Freeze drying is the best way to preserve your samples.
- Dietary Restrictions - Having dietary needs is hard. It can be hard to find food you can eat, and you always want to try new things. If you have dietary needs, look into commercial freeze-dried options. You'll have more options that last longer than regular food.
- There are more and more freeze-dried foods on the market. They don't need preservatives and last a long time. You always know what you're eating.
- Freeze-dried food lasts a long time. Most freeze-dried goods last 25+ years! Freeze-dried food is great for building a food supply.
Packaging is important for food storage. Here are some ways to store food:
- Put the bags in a storage container. Rodents can chew through them. Choose the best place to store your food.
- Jars are a great way to store food. You can see what's in each jar, so you can quickly get what you want. Jars can be resealed. If you open a jar but don't finish it, that's okay! Just close the jar and come back for seconds later.Jars let in light, so store them in a dark place like a cupboard or pantry.
- Tin cans are great for storing food. They are airtight, block light, and stack easily. Cans aren't easy to reuse. Once a can is open, you can't close it again. Be sure you're ready for a snack or meal.
- Plastic buckets are reusable, stackable, and keep out light. They're great for storing a lot of one food.
Eating preserves nutrients. Our bodies need nutrients to survive. Food nutrients have a shelf life. If you don't eat food quickly, you might lose some nutrients. Nutrients help filter out toxins in your body.
Vitamins break down in water. Freeze-drying keeps food vitamins healthy for longer.Planning food is difficult when you're camping or preparing for an emergency. Food spoils quickly without a way to keep it cold. Freeze-dried foods are a great option! They last a long time and taste great. They're also lightweight and can be a lifesaver when you're camping or preparing for an emergency.