{"id":8,"date":"2019-02-10T19:05:29","date_gmt":"2019-02-10T19:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packitgourmet.com\/blog\/?p=8"},"modified":"2022-06-28T18:52:40","modified_gmt":"2022-06-28T18:52:40","slug":"freeze-dried-dehydrated-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/10\/freeze-dried-dehydrated-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Freeze-Dried & Dehydrated Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re planning to start home-drying your own foods, or are interested in blending our pre-packaged ingredients to create your own meals, understanding the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated foods is the first step! From texture and appearance to cook-time and rehydration ratios, these key differences can make or break your DIY cooking adventure!<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start by taking a close look at freeze-dried vs dehydrated tomatoes! The below chart offers a glance at some of the key similarities and differences between these two methods of preservation for one of our favorite ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
FREEZE-DRIED TOMATOES
\n<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n
DEHYDRATED TOMATOES
\n<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n
FREEZE-DRIED<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n
\n
DEHYDRATED<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shelf-Life<\/strong><\/td>\nmore susceptible to outside elements; shelf-life up to 25 years*<\/td>\nless susceptible to outside elements; shelf-life up to 15 years*
\n<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/strong><\/td>\nlighter in weight;
\nmore fragile & bulkier<\/td>\n		denser & heavier in weight;
\nhardy & pack friendly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taste<\/strong><\/td>\nfresh & bright flavor<\/td>\nmore concentrated flavor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Texture<\/strong><\/td>\ncrispy & edible when dry; retains shape when rehydrated<\/td>\nhard & inedible when dry;
\nremains shriveled and somewhat leathery when rehydrated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nutritional
\nContent<\/strong><\/td>\n		nutritive values retained;
\nloss is minuscule<\/td>\n		some nutritive value loss occurs depending on the heat-based process or pre-cooking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rehydration Time<\/strong><\/td>\n~ 0 – 20 minutes
\nin hot or cold water; can be eaten without rehydration<\/td>\n		\u00a03 minutes -1-1\/2 hours
\nin cold water;
\n5-20 minutes in boiling water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Water Usage<\/strong><\/td>\nless water required to rehydrate<\/td>\nmore water required to rehydrate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

*shelf-life of both freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are dependent on both process and storage; and exposure to light, oxygen and humidity in its lifetime.<\/em><\/p>\n

FREEZE-DRIED FOODS<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n


\nWHAT IS FREEZE-DRIED FOOD?
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Freeze-dried food is food that has actually been frozen then dried \u2014 surprise!\u00a0 The process involves freezing fresh or cooked food in a special \u201cfreeze drying chamber,\u201d then removing the water by quickly changing the chamber\u2019s pressure and temperature.\u00a0 This causes the water in the food to change from a solid to a gas without ever changing back into a liquid.\u00a0 In nature this is called \u201csublimation.\u201d \u00a0This \u201cquick change\u201d process perfectly preserves the cell structure (the shape and form) of the food, so a tomato actually looks<\/em> like a tomato.\u00a0 And as a bonus, the freeze-dried tomato not only retains its form, the vitamins, nutrients, color and aroma of the tomato stays intact too\u00a0<\/sup>\u2014 pretty incredible if you ask us!<\/p>\n

Due to the need of specialized equipment, freeze-dried food was previously produced exclusively by large-scale manufacturers, but in the past few years personal use freeze-dryers have hit the market.\u00a0 In fact, you can purchase a home-freeze-dryer that\u2019s just a little larger than your microwave!<\/p>\n

On the Packit Gourmet website, you’ll find a great selection of freeze-dried ingredients including vegetables<\/a>, meat<\/a>, dairy<\/a> and fruit<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Packit Gourmet’s freeze-dried cheddar & monterey-jack cheeses, english peas, sweet corn, okra and strawberries.<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

WHAT ARE THE TRAITS OF FREEZE-DRIED FOODS?
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Lightweight & Shelf-Stable<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n

Freeze-dried foods are preserved by having about 98% of their water removed, making it safe to store them at room temperature for long periods of time.\u00a0 While proper preparation and storage play an important role in exactly how long these foods can be stored, some can stay “fresh tasting” for up to 25 years.<\/p>\n

The lack of water content results in a product that weighs 70-90% less than when fresh, making it the perfect hiking buddy!<\/p>\n

Appearance <\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Not to be partial, but in all honesty, freeze-dried foods are simply more beautiful than dehydrated!\u00a0 Due to the unique drying process, freeze-dried fruits, vegetables and meats look exactly the same when they enter the drying chamber as they do when they come out \u2014 retaining their color and shape.\u00a0 A freeze-dried chopped green pepper looks exactly like the fresh peppers you\u2019ve prepped on your kitchen cutting board!<\/p>\n

Taste & Texture<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/h5>\n

One of the best things about freeze-dried foods is that when they\u2019re in their dry state, they\u2019re as crunchy as a potato chip \u2014 and depending on the item \u2014 as delicious and addicting as one too!<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s cheddar cheese, broccoli or strawberries, these crunchy bites are perfect as a trailside snack and a fantastic healthy treat for kiddos!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And although they boast a great flavor when dry, rehydrating FD ingredients enhances the flavor back to its original fresh state.\u00a0 Because of the very low levels of heat that are used in the drying process, FD food is able to retain the taste, texture and aroma of its original state once its rehydrated.\u00a0 It\u2019s because of this that most people find the flavor and texture of FD foods superior to that of dehydrated.<\/p>\n

Nutrients<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/h5>\n

One key advantage of freeze-drying is that the food is preserved at the peak of ripeness and nutritional content.\u00a0 And while the drying process causes the food to lose its water, researchers agree that the freeze-drying process results in fewer nutrient losses than using a dehydrator.\u00a0 This limited loss of nutrients is most likely due to the lower temperatures in the drying process.<\/p>\n

Rehydration<\/em><\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/h5>\n

Freeze-dried foods are extremely moisture sensitive and can easily lose their vibrancy when exposed to humid air for even a short time.\u00a0 The benefit to this sensitivity is that their sponge-like sensibility allows them to rehydrate quickly with a minimal amount of water.<\/p>\n

Compared to dehydrated, FD foods offer the following benefits:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Faster rehydration with either hot or cold water \u2014 from instantly to mere minutes.<\/li>\n
  • The ability to fully rehydrate using cold water in only 15 minutes or less, while some dehydrated foods can take up to 90 minutes.<\/li>\n
  • Less water is needed to reconstitute the ingredients = less water to carry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \n

    DEHYDRATED FOODS<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n

    WHAT IS DEHYDRATED FOOD?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

    Dehydrated or dried food is made by slowly removing the water from the food through the use of heat.\u00a0 This is a practice that has been performed for hundreds of years as a means of preserving food and while most people use a home dehydrator for this process, even the natural sun can act as a dehydrator!<\/p>\n

    \"\"
    In the mid-70s, Packit Gourmet Co-Owners Debbie and Jeff (pictured above) used to slice up vegetables from the family garden and lay them out on screens in the sunshine \u2014 a natural dehydrator! <\/span>
    <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Depending on the water content in your food, dehydrating can be a lengthy process. After many years of dehydrating ingredients in preparation for family canoe and camping trips, it was the time-consuming nature of this process that led to the start of Packit Gourmet.\u00a0 Debbie (Packit Gourmet Co-Owner & Chef) found herself wishing there were pre-dried ingredients available for purchase in small quantities for DIY camp chefs.\u00a0 This was the first step in creating our “one-stop-shop” where trail meals & both freeze-dried and dehydrated components can all be purchased!<\/p>\n

    \"\"
    Packit Gourmet’s dehydrated carrots, shallots & mixed bell peppers.<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    WHAT ARE THE TRAITS OF DEHYDRATED FOODS?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
    Lightweight & Shelf-Stable<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n

    Dehydration removes about 90-95% of the moisture content, making dehydrated products safe to store at room temperature for long periods of time.\u00a0 The equipment used (commercial vs home dehydrator), proper preparation and storage play an important role in exactly how long these foods can be stored, resulting in a range between 1-15 years.<\/p>\n

    Dehydrated products typically weigh considerably less than their fresh counterpart \u2014 for example, 1 ounce of dehydrated tomatoes is equal to 4 ounces of fresh.\u00a0 Nonetheless, dehydrated food is a heavier alternative to freeze-dried \u2013 for example \u00bd lb of fresh tomatoes will dehydrate to 2 ounces but freeze-dry to 0.5 ounce.<\/p>\n

    Appearance<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n

    When fruits and vegetables are dehydrated, the plant cells compact resulting in a shriveled appearance and brittle texture.\u00a0 While this does lessen with rehydration, the food will never regain its \u201cfresh look\u201d and will always resemble its dehydrated state.<\/p>\n

    The food also becomes considerably smaller in size.\u00a0 The hard and shrunken attributes of dehydrated foods are actually an advantage when backpacking since there\u2019s no concern over crushing the food and small quantities can go on a long way in recipes!<\/p>\n

    Taste & Texture<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n

    Although dehydrated foods are inedible when dry, they plump up and soften once rehydrated.\u00a0 The texture of dehydrated ingredients in recipes can add flavor, body and texture that is sometimes lacking with freeze-dried ingredients.<\/p>\n

    While freeze-dried food offers a fresh and bright flavor, the process of using low heat for an extended period of time can create an intensified, almost roasted, type of flavor in dehydrated foods.\u00a0 For example, a dehydrated tomato\u2019s flavor is most similar to a sundried tomato.<\/p>\n

    Nutrients<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n

    The preservation of vitamins and nutrients in dehydrated food can vary depending on the method and level of heat used in the process.\u00a0 And while dehydration doesn\u2019t change the fiber or iron content of food, it can break down vitamins and minerals during the drying process and retain less of their nutritional value when compared to freeze-dried food.<\/p>\n

    Rehydration & Water Usage<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n

    The rehydration of dehydrated ingredients typically requires more time and water than its freeze-dried counterpart. For example, half of a tablespoon of water can rehydrate a \u00bc cup of freeze-dried tomatoes, but only one tablespoon of dehydrated tomatoes. At the same time, the rehydration will take place instantly with freeze-dried, but requires 5 minutes in hot water or 10 minutes in cold for dehydrated.<\/p>\n

    \n

    For additional questions about freeze-dried and dehydrated foods or the Packit Gourmet products listed, please feel free to comment below or reach out to us at trailfood@packitgourmet.com!\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Whether you\u2019re planning to start home-drying your own foods, or are interested in blending our pre-packaged ingredients to create your own meals, understanding the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated foods is the first step! From texture and appearance to cook-time and rehydration ratios, these key differences can make or break…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[51,52,49,50,57],"class_list":["post-8","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-groceries","tag-dehydrated","tag-freeze-dried","tag-groceries","tag-how-to","tag-shelf-stable","post_format-post-format-image"],"acf":[],"avatar_default":"\"\"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.packitgourmet.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}