Freeze Dried food is becoming more and more popular as time passes. The current freeze dried candy craze is bringing about many questions regarding what the whole process is about and what benefits it has. As a growing number of consumers are drawn to learn more about freeze dried food, the question “Is freeze dried food frozen?” is often asked. Continue reading to learn more about what part of the process includes freezing and why freeze dried foods do not have to remain frozen to stay preserved.
Freeze drying food is a process that the food undergoes before it achieves a shelf-stable at room temperature that can last up to 25 years! Most conventional foods can be freeze dried (including candy!), however, including foods that would otherwise have to be frozen to remain safe to eat! Take raw meat, for example, a food that, once freeze dried, can stay protected in a mylar pouch in your pantry for decades.
The process itself created the term “freeze dried”, since flash freezing the food is an essential part of the beneficial outcome. Freeze drying can be done at home, though we at Shepherd Foods recommend contacting a professional wholesaler such as ourselves to process your food product. This is because our industrial grade machines and supplies ensure that your food items are processed safely and efficiently, as well as in large bulk amounts convenient for your wholesaling opportunity.
The 3 steps involved in the freeze drying process include:
- Flash Freezing: The food is very quickly brought to freezing temperatures. This makes sure all of the moisture in the food is prepared for removal. The same goes for primarily liquid foods like soup to already rather dry foods.
- Sublimation: At this stage, a vacuum mechanism in the freeze drying machine pumps all of the air out of the chamber containing the food. Next, the food is exposed to a small enough amount of heat that the ice begins to evaporate without melting.
- Packaging: Lastly, the food is placed into mylar pouches or other appropriate material containers. They are often packed with moisture absorbers to preserve the shelf life of the food that will instantly reverse once it comes in contact with water.
As you can see, while the food being processed is indeed frozen, the particular stage doesn’t last very long. It also definitely indicated that the food does not remain frozen or have to be stored in a frozen state. Freeze dried food is highly versatile and can be stored for decades at room temperature in the right packaging conditions.
For more information about how a superior quality freeze dried food product can benefit your brand by impressing your consumers and keeping them coming back for more, give Shepherd Foods a call at (800) 497-8321. You can also visit our website to learn more about our custom Co-Manufacturing and Co-Packing services.