The Magic Behind Freeze Drying
What is Freeze Drying?
To put is simply: if you freeze a coconut and lower the pressure of the atmosphere in which it is contained, such that the water frozen in the product is allowed to sublimate (that is, go from the solid to the gaseous state without passing through the liquid state) all the nutritional characteristics of the food are essentially preserved. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?
Benefits of the Freeze Drying Process
If you picture putting the fruit to sleep, then freezedrying protects natural goodness intact. Dried. Nutrients, colors and flavors are locked in much much better than with traditional drying methods.
Health Benefits of Freeze Dried Coconut
Rich Source of Nutrients
Why, then, is the coconut proclaimed so often as a superfood? The answer partly also lies in the fact that it contains vitamins and minerals and, in addition, plenty of fibre that are all important to keeping you healthy – and, on top of this, the desiccation procedure makes the nutrients easily accessible to you. As the Patagonia advert suggests, you really get ‘almost everything’ out of your fresh coconut and into your freeze dried snack.
Ideal for Weight Management
What with all the diets out there and people needing to be guilt-free, you know, low-calorie, something that fills you up and has no carbs, I suggest freeze dried coconut. It has no calories but it’s full of dietary fibre, which fills you up. So when you eat it, you eat less. Plus, it’s so good!
Supports Digestive Health
NO FACT: coconuts contain dietary fibre which is good for elimination and healthy bowel movements, allowing you to poop with a smile on your face.
How Does It Compare to Other Health Snacks?
Traditional Dried Fruits
While dried fruits in the modern sense are more likely to be sweetened and therefore nutritionally compromised, much of the goodness remains intact in even a warm-dried fruit. How much goodness is retained in a fruit trapped in its clean, pickled state – compared, say, with a dried one?
Fresh Fruits
Although fresh fruits are divine, they also become rotten fast. Your freeze dried coconuts will lasta lifetime, so you will not end up throwing food away. You will always remember to refill your fresh fruits when they disappear.
Incorporating Freeze Dried Coconut into Your Diet
As a Standalone Snack
[begins talking to self]FETCH HUNGRY?OK!OH, YES! ARE YOU HUNGRY?YEAH [to audience]HOW HUNGRY ARE YOU? [to self]OH! YOU’RE HUNGRY!FETCH HUNGRY?!OK! YOU’RE HUNGRY! [to audience] ARE YOU HUNGRY? ARE YOU?! ARE YOU?! IN FIVE YEARS YOU’LL BE EATING COCONUTS OUT THIS CHROME BAG. LIKE I ALMOST ALWAYS DO, ALMOST ALONE, RIGHT HERE! [gestures around the set] [turns to audience] BUT THESE ARE FREEZE DRY COCONUTS. LOOKS JUST LIKE A BANANA CHIP. HERE YOU HAVE COCONUTS. BUT THEY ARE EASY TO CARRY WITHOUT NONE OF THEM GOING MUSHY. TOMORROW YOU WILL EAT THAT BAG! [turns to himself again] ALL OF IT! [turns to audience again] ARE YOU HUNGRY?!
In Cooking and Baking
About the sugared, desiccated stuff? Sprinkle it over a salad, or stir it crunchily into oatmeal - or bake it into a cake, for a spike of coconut flavour.
In Smoothies and Beverages
Or maybe it’s a morning smoothie. Dump in some dry-cured coconut before liquefying to start your day with a tastebud-tickling kick and a lightening of the vitamins. I know your tongue will thank me for this.
Purchasing and Storing Tips
Choose Organic
Make sure, when you buy, you get organic coconut that comes freeze dried so they haven’t added anything nasty in the manufacturing process.
Store in Cool, Dry Places
Pack neatly in a cool, dry place – if you like the sound of the word, your coconut now has a home: the perfect freeze dried snack.
Conclusion
An on the go healthy snack that you can use to jazz up your recipes, breakfast and of course as a stand-alone snack itself. So the next time you go on a health snack hunt, grab some freeze dried coconut. Its tastier than you think.
FAQs
Is freeze dried coconut as nutritious as fresh coconut?
Yes, the freeze drying process preserves most of the nutritional value of the coconut.
Can I use freeze dried coconut in place of fresh coconut in recipes?
Absolutely! Though the texture might differ slightly, the flavor remains rich.
Is freeze dried coconut crunchy?
Yes, it has a light and crunchy texture, making it a delightful snack.
Does freeze drying involve any chemicals or additives?
No, freeze drying is a natural process without the need for additives or preservatives.
How long can I store freeze dried coconut?
If it’s well stored, it will last for months without its flavour or its vitamins changing at all.
