What is Freeze Drying?

Freeze-drying (lyophilization) is a dehydration process that removes moisture from food or other products by freezing them and then sublimating the ice under low pressure.

Step 1 - Freezing (water content in food becomes solid)

Step 2 - Sublimation (heat and pressure is added slowly to remove 95% of water content)

Step 3 - Adsorption (further drying and pressure locks in the new structure of the food)

This extends the shelf-life of perishable food items while keeping almost all their health benefits as if they were fresh.

Advantages of Freeze Drying

Since the product is frozen when the water is removed, the flavour and nutrients are "locked in".  This process retains up to 98% of those nutrients and concentrates the flavour. 

A dehydrator however, uses heat and airflow to evaporate the water.  Unfortunately, some flavour and nutrients are lost along the way.

Freeze dried products can be easily rehydrated by adding water making this process great for preserving your abundant harvest for use later in the year.

What happened to the candy?

In candy mode, the freeze drier actually warms the candy up before pulling a very strong vacuum in the chamber.  Not only does this remove the water but completely changes the texture of the candy.

Don't worry the flavour is all still there so you get your same favourite candy taste but a whole new eating experience. 

Things that were chewy become crunchy, things that were hard become crystallized, things that were dense become puffed up.  Making for a fun and unique snack/treat.

Fruits and Vegetables

Prefer a healthy snack?  Freeze dried fruits and vegetables are a great choice for a snack on the go.  Exploding with the natural flavours and sugars, fruits are a healthy snack for the family while satisfying the sweet tooth in all of us.  Strawberries are a huge hit with babies and toddlers.  They can handle them without the mess and the fruit quickly softens up in their mouths making them easy to eat.

Fruits, like Strawberries and Raspberries, are also great for baking.  Since the water is removed, the fruit holds up well in batters and mixes without becoming mushy and dissolving.  You can powder things like lemon and strawberries for use as an additive.