Freeze Drying Blog
Freeze Dried Fruits for Snacking
Table of Contents
The Rise of Freeze Dried Fruits
Ever heard of freeze dried fruits? What is freeze drying? Basically, all the water is removed from the frozen fruit. The result? Snacks that crunch in your mouth just the same as nuts, have all the nutritional power of the fresh fruit and retain the flavour.
However, why is it becoming trendy? On the heels of the health wave and demand for more nutritious yet convenient snacks, freeze dried fruits have become one of the most popular, so who wouldn't want to enjoy their favorite fruits ANY TIME OF THE YEAR?
Benefits of Freeze Dried Fruit Snacks
When it comes to snacking, we all love something quick, tasty and healthy. Here's where freeze dried fruits can help you:
Preserve nutritional integrity: freeze drying allows for up to 95 per cent of the vitamins and salts present in fresh fruit to remain inside its structures. As a result, unlike dried fruit whose nutritional value is greatly reduced, you get to enjoy a bit of vitamin and salt-rich goodness while snacking on these rolls.
Increased shelf life: Forget about your fruits turning bad in a few days. Freeze-dried fruits can last for months or even years when not refrigerated.
Lightweight and easy to carry, they’re ideal for snacking on the go – especially when hiking or working long hours. Convenience: Lightweight and easy to carry, they’re ideal for snacking on the go – especially when hiking or working long hours.
How Freeze Dried Fruits Compare to Fresh Fruits
Ever wondered how these crunchy delights stand against their juicy counterparts? Let's dive in:
Taste and feel – feed: While freeze dried fruits have a texture quite different (crisp, light, larger), they are often less thinned by water, meaning more concentrated, adding an extra zing of flavour.
Nutritional Comparison: As discussed before, freeze dried fruits preserve most of the nutritional contents of fresh fruits. However, remember that the concentration of vitamins, especially vitamin C, might slightly reduce when the fresh fruits are all dried up.
Making Freeze Dried Fruit Snacks at Home
You probably think of freeze drying as a complicated industrial process, but did you know you can do it at home? Here’s how:
The Process:Place your fruits in the freeze dryer once frozen.Create a vacuum with lowering pressure and boost the temperature slowly.Remove moisture while retaining the flavour and nutrients simultaneously.
Gear: Sure it’s an investment, but for experimental snackers, a home freeze dryer is gold.
Top Freeze Dried Fruits to Try
What you like is subjective, but here are the universally popular best freeze dried fruits for those starting out:
Strawberries: Imagine the taste of the inside of a strawberry, only in crispy form. Great for cracking over cereals and into smoothies.
Bananas: Sweet and fulfilling, these make for an ideal snack.
Mangos: A tropical delight, freeze dried mangos are rich and flavorful.
Conclusion
The advantages of freeze dried fruits are convenience and nutrition in a perfect blend to be enjoyed snacking as you please while benefiting your heart. Be it a busy bee seeking for an instant replenishment supply or a health conscious person seeking out a nutritional delight – they check all the boxes perfectly. So the next time, you visit a grocery store, pack one for yourself and give it a munch. Because what says unrestrained indulgence like healthy turns out to be tasty?
FAQs
Are freeze dried fruits entirely natural?
Yes, most brands offer 100% fruit without added preservatives or sugars.
Do they contain any allergens?
Always read the label, but typically, they are free from common allergens.
How do you store freeze dried fruits?
Store in a cool, dry place. Ensure the packet is sealed to retain crunchiness.
Can I use them in cooking?
Absolutely! They can be rehydrated or added to dishes for a fruity punch.
Is the calorie content the same as fresh fruits?
While keeping the nutrients intact, it also removes most of the water, concentrating the foods by calories per volume.