Crunchy Delights: Freeze Dried Snack Magic

It’s not a new technology by any stretch of the imagination – humans have been drying and keeping food for literally millennia – but freeze drying in particular has been around for decades, with astronauts proselytising its vitamin-preserving, nutrient-retaining, flavour-incurring potential. So what’s happened now? In recent years, freeze drying has taken over the snack world, creating all kinds of crunchy, salty, sweet, nutritious, protein-packed, exotic, savoury snacks that casual snackers and hardcore preppers alike can enjoy. Here for all of you is maybe the most comprehensive guide to freeze-dried snacks out there: why you should try them, and how they’re going to change the snacking world.

Understanding Freeze Drying

What is Freeze Drying?

Freeze drying, also known as lyophilisation, is a process whereby a product is first frozen and then stripped of its water by reducing the ambient pressure and allowing the water in the matrix to sublimate directly from the solid to gas phase. A product that is dry, retains its colour, flavour and nutritional value and can be preserved with an extended shelf life.

Why Freeze Dried Over Traditional Drying?

Also, when food is dried in traditional ways, it usually has to be exposed to high temperatures. This results in substantial nutritional, flavour and texture loss for the final product. Freeze drying, however, keeps the product cool (it is done at the frozen state) and this results in no, or much less, damage to all components that define the cooked food. The difference in the product is obvious: the familiar crunch of something freeze dried, though certainly not in the first stage of its production, preserves the taste.

The Allure of Freeze Dried Snacks

The Perfect Crunch

When it comes to freeze dried snacks, the impossible is made possible. One of the unique and most exciting features of this type of dried snack food is its crunch. This is a texture you don’t get with conventional dried snacks. It is a definite, crunchy, snap-you-can-hear-it quality that in and of itself draws people into these kinds of treats, making them the best snacks out there.

Nutritional Integrity

By preserving food through freeze-drying, the original nutrients in it also remain, so whether it is fruit and vegetables or even meat products, you can remain confident knowing that the vitamins and minerals are largely still there and so these snacks are not just delicious but also healthy too.

Extended Shelf Life

Since most of the water is excised, it’s no wonder that freeze-dried snacks have that seemingly endless shelf life; they’re a star favourite among campers, hikers and those office toilers galvanising their entrepreneurial spirit on the commute.

Popular Freeze Dried Snacks

Fruits

From strawberries, bananas and kiwis, to mangos and the broader berry family, even the most finicky toddler is spoiled for choice by this immense array. They are both crunchy, and yet taste intense – clearly a favourite item for our whole family.

Veggies

Peas or broccoli florets are raw, so you can get crunchiness without oils or fats in the frying process. Freeze-dried veggies are probably the guilt-free snacks you’ve been wanting.

Meats

For the high-protein dieter, or just any lover of meat, freeze dried meats such as chicken, beef and even shrimp are available.

In Conclusion

It’s not an easy feat, this mix of surprising crunchiness that somehow doesn’t scrimp on nutrients. And that’s what I love about freeze dried snacks: this crunch, this explosion of flavour that still feels virtuous. Whether you’re summiting a mountain, lounging on the sofa or preparing a pretentious snack for your annoying child, there’s a freeze dried product ready to satisfy your senses. As snacking changes, one thing will surely remain: The crunch will always endure.