Introduction to Freeze Dried Strawberries

Strawberries are having a cultural moment. They might not be the usual ingredient on every red-hot trend list, but freeze-dried strawberries are suddenly popping up in cooking and baking, from all parts of the foodie and food-blogging universe. Their intense flavour, not-too-sweet taste and long shelf-life mean they're a lovely ingredient to add to lots of different dishes – and they open the door to some cool new things you can make at home.

What are Freeze Dried Strawberries?

A teeny, almost inconceivably minuscule amount. Often, the lyophilisation process starts with heating the fruit stock to kill microbes, but, in the case of hot berries, that step is skipped. Instead, the frozen fruit is freeze dried. The basic strategy is to chill a food to a low enough temperature that its moisture doesn't vaporise but instead freezes. The surrounding air is then reduced to a fraction of its usual atmospheric pressure – around 1 per cent of a millibar. Given a vacuum where frozen water doesn't expand, the frozen water in that strawberry can evaporate directly from the solid to the gas phase, jumping past the liquid phase. The strawberry that results is almost the same as the original when it comes to nutrients. It weighs less than 2 per cent as much as before. It takes up less space than before. It's still a strawberry.

Benefits of Freeze Dried Strawberries

Nutritional Value

As it turns out, freeze dried strawberries contain nearly all the nutrients that a fresh strawberry does. Each serving of those strawberries is bursting with Vitamin C, manganese, folate and important antioxidants.

Shelf Life

An advantage of buying freeze dried strawberries is that they can be stored for years. With proper conditions, stores can ensure that the fruits stay fresh and nutritious until they are used.

Versatility

One of the most appealing things about freeze dried strawberries is the way in which they can be served. They are multiuse, eaten both as a health food and as the basis for many different dishes.

Cool Things to Do with Freeze Dried Strawberries

Creative Culinary Uses

In Smoothies

Freeze dried strawberries make for the perfect topper on your morning smoothie. You literally will be amazed with how much flavor a couple of handfuls will add.

In Baking

They're perfect to add to muffins, cookies and cakes, and you can sprinkle them over things for decoration, like those little candies atop a cupcake. Strawberry powder would also be nice to add to icings and frostings, to give them a lovely pink colour and subtle strawberry flavour.

As a Snack

Airborne, freeze dried strawberries are perfect finger food, crunchy and satisfying by the handful. In a little oatmeal or yogurt or granola, they'll add welcome crunch and flavour.

Non-Culinary Uses

In DIY Beauty Treatments

Did you know that freeze dried strawberry powder can also be used in skincare treatments? Strawberries contain vitamin C and antioxidants that help to brighten skin.

As Decorations

Freeze dried strawberries can also be used as fun edible food decorations on cakes or cupcakes, but also on cocktails for that fruity effect.

Making Your Own Freeze Dried Strawberry Powder

Photo courtesy the authorWant a fun project for a sunny weekend? You can turn small quantities of fresh strawberries into your own freeze dried strawberry powder. This is perfect for rescued sloppy berries that are on the verge of going bad, or ripe berries you can't get through before they spoil. Could you double or triple batches? If you have the room for a few trays in your dehydrator, why not? The powder you make will be directly from strawberries, with no commercial chemicals added.

Where to Buy Freeze Dried Strawberries

But don't worry if DIY is not part of your skillset: dissolved freeze-dried strawberries are available in most supermarkets, usually in the dried fruit or health food aisle, or online. The ingredients list should be nothing but fruit, but check.

Conclusion

If you are a culinary adventurer or a strawberry fan, here are some possibilities for experimentation and freeze dried strawberries: versatile, healthy and long lasting they are perfect ingredients for your pantry. Try them and find out how tasty they are, which unexpected recipe they will be a hit, and even how strawberry powder can help keep your skin young and beautiful.

FAQs

1. What are freeze dried strawberries?

Freeze-dried strawberries are strawberries that have been lyophilised (ie, lyophilisation is a food-preparation process whereby the moisture is removed from a product at very low temperatures). All the flavour and nutrients of the fresh strawberry is retained in the dried fruit.

2. Why use freeze dried strawberries?

Freeze dried strawberries have a long storage life, are rich in nutrients and the concentrated bite and burst of flavour can be used to add interest to a range of dishes.

3. How can I use freeze dried strawberries in my cooking?

You can add them to smoothies and baked goods, nibble them as a snack, or sprinkle them on everything from desserts to cocktails.

4. Can I make my own freeze dried strawberry powder?

Yes, you could make freeze dried strawberry powder by starting with fresh, washed strawberries and basic kitchen equipment.

5. Where can I buy freeze dried strawberries?

Freeze dried strawberries can be found in nearly any supermarket in the dried fruit or health food section, as well as online.